Dark Nights: Metal #4 Review

Hawks!

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, and FCO Plascencia
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 20, 2017

It's been a while since Metal #3 and while we have had some tie-ins, I have been waiting for the main title and am so glad it's here this week.  With a bunch of the regular books treading water and Doomsday Clock just beginning, I have been looking forward to the Metal story to continue and see where it is headed.  So, where is it headed?  Let's find out...


The issue opens with a little comic book catch-up (literally and literary) before we head off to the Dark Multiverse to visit Batman and Superman.  It's Batman versus versions of Superman made to defeat the Dark Knight, but as Batman says, Superman doesn't have much imagination.  It's a cool scene that ends with Dream showing up and fulfilling his promise of earlier in the series.

We then go off to see how the rest of the heroes are faring.  Spoiler alert...not so great!  Wonder Woman's crew fighting personifications of the Deadly Sins, Aquaman and Deathstroke find a hidden passage and Hal Jordan and Mister Terrific find...Starro among other things.  These bits have a really nice mix of action, adventure and humor and I was actually a bit upset when we headed back to Batman and Superman.

Dream gives them (and the reader) a walking tour of the creation of the Universe as well as a look at who was made to protect it.  The main point is that Bats and Supes need to get to the World Forge before it goes dark.  It's cryptic as hell, but if you've been reading, it really shoots the tension up to 100% and also gives our two heroes something concrete to do.  It also leads to an emotional scene between Bruce and Clark that might have felt a little forced, but still felt good all the same.

Back at the Rock of Eternity, Wonder Woman and Doctor Fate find out that Kendra is not really on the up and up and then things really get messed up!  The story started with Hawkman and Hawkgirl and it is continuing with them in this issue...but not the way you may have guessed or hoped for.  The issue ends with Batman and Superman up against some crazy odds, an awesome threat and the possibility that the war they are fighting is already long over.

While the fourth issue of a mini-series usually is full of setup, this setup lives up to the event status of this book.  A bonus is this is the most straightforward issue yet and a nice continuation of the feel of the Batman Lost issue.  Sure, there are no mysteries being solved here, but it's fun in both a light and dark way and that's something that I wanted more from this book since Scott Snyder pushed that idea when it started.

I love the art in this book!  I think that Rebirth has let a bunch of artists take a bit of the spotlight away from Greg Capullo, but that underdog status is bringing out the best in him.  Everything looks outstanding and while normal Capullo fans will not be surprised at all, those newcomers are sure to be blown away.  His character models are second to none and everything else looks almost as good.

Bits and Pieces:

While we don't get a lot of answers, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo give readers a fun issue full of great setup and fantastic art.  The delays have not helped the hype of this Event, but now that it's finally back, I am full on excited again!

9.0/10