Dark Nights Metal #5 Review

All Roads...

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, and FCO Plascencia
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018


To say I couldn't wait for this issue is a huge understatement, but it's a two-fold type of thing.  On one hand, I've been enjoying the story, but on the other, the delays are killing me!  It seems that while DC has been set on getting all the regular books out on time, the big event ones (this and Doomsday Clock) are having issues making their deadlines.  This isn't the time or place to rant and rave about that, though, since issue five of Metal is here!  So, do Snyder and Capullo kick ass and make me forget all about delays and all of that other business stuff?  Let's find out...


The issue opens with a little Barbatos/Batman Who Laughs pep rally with the BWL leading the cheers.  There are no catchy "2-4-6-8 who do we appreciate" chants, but instead, we get talk of wailing and anti-music.  Besides mentioning Superman stopping the sinking it's more style than substance at this point, but I like style and it continues to set up the mystery of what is going on with the Big Bads.

We then head to Bats and Supes at the Forge of Worlds where we get a little more explanation of the Forge going "dark", but explanation or not, things don't look good for our heroes.  We then catch up quickly with Aquaman and Deathstroke, but it's Green Lantern and Mister Terrific that drop a couple of atomic bombs on the reader.  We find out why Plastic Man is so important to this story and then get reacquainted with a character who most people I've talked to have been waiting to see since Rebirth started.

Snyder then takes us to Wonder Woman still fighting off Black Adam and Kendra and while no much happens beyond trash talking, I really love the inclusion of everyone in this story.  Snyder continues to write this series like a blockbuster summer movie and the break-neck pacing (and great art!) makes it all very exciting to read.

We continue with a spark of light at the Forge of Worlds and some good times for the good guys (I love Wonder Woman!), right before things get even worse. It's a darkest before the dawn scenario going on, but I'm not sure if there will be a dawn!  If you've been wanting more of the Dark Knights doing bad things, this issue is for you.

The issue ends with the reader (and Wonder Woman) being told that every move the good guys have made up until now was all part of an evil plan, Diana punching some sense (and truth) into Kendra and then showing that she is easily the most badass hero and never gives up.

With only the Wild Hunt and Metal #6 left in this story, I have to admit that I thought we were going to get a little more Barbatos in this issue.  He is still the mysterious baddie letting his Knights do all the dirty work and I hope we get a little more of him before the story is over.  As far as this issue, it's a lot of setup to lead us to the finale, but I had a great time reading it.  It was easily the most straightforward issue so far and while that may seem like it's a backhanded compliment, it isn't.  I loved the mix of action and character moments and while I still have a ton of questions, I can only hope they will all be answered by the end.  That's for future Jim to worry about in the next two reviews because present Jim had a good time with this issue. 

I have always been a fan of Greg Capullo's art and this issue is a combination of stellar and good.  Believe me, most of it was in the stellar category, but a couple of wide shots had less detail (I'm mainly talking about the villain group shots at the end) then I am used to with Capullo.  Still, the issue looks great overall.

Bits and Pieces:

We are getting near the end of our story and while Scott Snyder has a lot to tie up in a few issues, this one was a lot of fun...in a messed up way.  Things don't look good for our heroes, but a line has been drawn in the sand and the issue ends with a battle royale of epic proportions.  Greg Capullo's art is great and I can't wait to see if Snyder can wrap all of this up in style.

9.0/10