Dark Nights: Metal- Dark Knights Rising

This Dark Nights collection reprints the seven one-shots devoted the most evil Dark

Knights of the Dark Multiverse. 

This book read like a library of Elseworlds stories. Yes, I know that these origin stories

are canon. But they have that imaginary 'what if' kind of feel to them that I love so

much when reading those Elseworlds classics.

The most surprising element to this volume is the level of violence. Some of your most

favorite superheroes are taken down by an evil version of the Batman in gruesome

fashion. It's almost like Robert Kirkman took a break from The Walking Dead to pencil

these ghoulish adventures. 

While Kirkman didn't have a hand at these amazing tales, a number of DC talents did.

Scott Snyder, Peter J. Tomasi, Joshua Williamson, and James Tynion IV are just a

few of the many, and I do mean many, artists and writers who contributed. They all

did a fantastic job. Almost.

Along with the seven one-shot origin tales, there was also a one-shot that focused

on Detective Chimp and the efforts of a number of scientists on Blackhawk Island

to combat this coming Dark Multiverse crisis. I literally remember zero of what these

guys contributed to Metal. Perhaps it's time to re-read it. I was so lost reading Dark

Nights: Metal because I hadn't read all of the prelude material. But I've just completed

all of that by finishing this volume. So I guess I am doing something that I rarely ever

do and giving something I've already completed a second read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

A Very DC Rebirth Holiday

Reprinting a trio of holiday themed issues from DC's Rebirth era. 

Reprinting Batman: Annual #1, spend the holidays in Gotham City. Marvel at a band of acrobatic thieves. Get caught under the mistletoe with the Scarecrow. Harley Quinn catches a ride back to Coney Island with the Dark Knight. Plus, the origin of Ace, The Bat-Hound is finally revealed. 

Then in the contents of Harley Quinn #10, Santa Claus has gone catatonic. The only person who can help him is Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Taking the term 'head shrink' to an all new meaning, Quinn is shrunk into Santa's brain in hopes of restoring his holiday spirit. 

Lastly is the DC Rebirth Holiday Special from 2016. Hosted by Harley Quinn, the Joker's Ex puts on a sort of old school variety show much like Sinatra or Andy Williams used to host. Just about every holiday of the season is explored through the eyes of Batwoman, the Green Lantern Corps, and the Titans. My favorite story is a Christmas Eve romp with Detective Chimp and Batman. There just aren't enough stories with Detective Chimp and this team-up was fantastic!

This should have been called Harley Quinn's Rebirth Holiday Special. She features prominently in all three main stories. I'm not complaining. This was great fun. It was way more enjoyable than 2018's DC's Nuclear Winter Special. There's just no way around it- Christmas-time specials need to be light-hearted and fun; not dismal and bleak.

Featuring the talents of Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Scott Snyder, Neal Adams and many more. This was classic DC fun in a Rebirth wrapper!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #42

It's a case of serious monkey business in this issue of Scooby-Doo Team-Up! Grodd, the super intelligent outlaw from Gorilla City has organized the evil simians of the DC Universe to take over the world! This is a case too big for the Mystery Gang along. So the teenage detectives call in for help. Enter Sam Simian, Congorilla and Detective Chimp!

I've praised how series writer Sholly Fisch has evolved this series away from the standard Scooby-Doo formula. Jokes about pulling the mask off of the monsters and goofy traps are still in the mix. But there's no ghosts or monsters in this story. Okay, there's a Nazi gorilla in the story. He's a monster. But how many episodes of Scooby-Doo do you remember Fred, Velma and Daphne battling agents of the Third Reich?

Dario Brizuela is on point in this story filled with more primates than the St. Louis Zoo! His technique is so classic. He's really the artist to go to in these DC crossovers.

A really exciting issue. It's jammed packed with guest stars. I'm a little disappointed that Detective Chimp wasn't used as much as he could have been. My hope is for him to return in another mystery, only maybe by himself. Or with Cain and Abel, the hosts of the House of Mystery and the House of Secrets. I'd be okay with a Halloween special with Scooby and those three supernatural characters.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.