Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 is published by DC Comics, written by Scott Snyder, with art by Greg Capullo, Yanick Paquette, Bryan Hitch, inks by Johnathan Glapion, colors by Nathan Fairbairn, Alex Sinclair, and letters by Tom Napolitano. With all the power that can be summoned, Wonder Woman strides forth to battle He Who Laughs. Now, shining like the sun, the daughter of truth must defeat her final enemy once and for all. But what happens if she isn’t enough? Is the threat to the multiverse beyond even her strength to save it?
It is an old theme, but a good one. It’s been looked at, dissected, and analyzed many times. But those who read superhero stories never tire of them being explored and the question being answered: What does it mean to be a hero?
When veritable gods clash and entire planets are laid waste, what does it mean to endure for the cause of truth? What do sentiments like honor or justice really mean when all that is burns around you? And no matter how many times it gets asked, I never tire of the inevitable answer: They mean everything.
Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 delivers a powerful ending to it’s larger than life story. Snyder does a tremendous job of taking a clash between two cosmically powered beings and turning it into what feels like a deep, personal moment. As Diana and He Who Laughs battle for creation, truths are revealed, resolves are questioned and often shaken, as punches land with enough power to send their targets skipping through time itself.
Yet even as the story focuses on this final climactic battle between unfathomable powers, the story on the ground is never forgotten either. As all of Earth’s remaining champions, hero and villain, battle in a last, desperate stand, we see countless examples of selflessness, courage, and sacrifice. No matter how dark the situation, there are always some who will shine the brightest.
While Dark Nights: Death Metal #7’s story flings readers from the personal thoughts and struggles of gods to the ruined battlefield of creation’s final stand, the art in this book delivers; it’s a vast narrative with precision and skill. Every blow struck, the moment of internal dread, and every light that refuses to die is captured within the panels with the greatest care.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the book’s art is its coherency. Despite several different artists delivering pages for this book, I never once was jarred out of the narrative by a style change. It all flows together, a unified whole to deliver it’s story with.
The colorwork in Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 furthers the visuals beautifully. As the myriad of characters, locales, and time periods flash before readers’ eyes, every panel pops with a bright uniqueness that demands you notice it. From the golden shine of Wonder Woman’s new form to the pitch black of He Who Laughs and every color in between the two, the book’s color palette is a veritable cornucopia of colors that dazzle but never overwhelm or descend into gaudiness.
The final touch to this books presentation is the lettering. The letter work here delivers the emotions and the often unique voices that deliver them, with that final visual touch that only fine lettering can bring to a story.
When all is said and done, Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 manages to stick the landing on its titanic story. It does an amazing job delivering everything the superhero genre is known for. Huge battles, despicable villains, and the courage to shine brightest, even when the night looks never to end.
Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 is available now wherever comics are sold.
Dark Nights: Death Metal #7
TL;DR
When all is said and done, Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 manages to stick the landing on its titanic story. It does an amazing job delivering everything the superhero genre is known for. Huge battles, despicable villains, and the courage to shine brightest, even when the night looks never to end.
