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Even the most dominant Batman is still a reaction to some fear that has shaped him, built him into a newer, crueler incarnation, perfectly designed to overcome it. Now understanding this, I know I am not a Batman of any kind. Not a Batman Who Laughs, not a Batmanhattan, not even a culmination of all dark Batmen. I am more. And to be more, I must not be a reaction. I must be the thing that creates the reaction.
Dark Nights: Death Metal Legends of the Dark Knights #1 is a one-shot with a cover date of October, 2020. It was published on August 4, 2020.
Contents
- 1 Synopsis for "I Am Here"
- 2 Appearing in "I Am Here"
- 3 Synopsis for "King of Pain"
- 4 Appearing in "King of Pain"
- 5 Synopsis for "Batmanasaurus Rex"
- 6 Appearing in "Batmanasaurus Rex"
- 7 Synopsis for "This Man. This City."
- 8 Appearing in "This Man. This City."
- 9 Synopsis for "Road Warrior"
- 10 Appearing in "Road Warrior"
- 11 Synopsis for "I Shall Become..."
- 12 Appearing in "I Shall Become..."
- 13 Notes
- 14 See Also
- 15 Links and References
Synopsis for "I Am Here"
The Batman Who Laughs recalls his origins, while he just woke up from the operating table in Castle Bat, his home inside his version of Earth 0, the Metalverse. He was born Bruce Wayne and, just like all Batmen, he grew up to witness the murder of his parents in that same Dark Alley of every single Gotham in existence. He trained, and he became a bat. He fought with his allies against all kinds of villains. And if he was the original Batman, the true one, this will be the final sentence in his story. But he was not: he was born in the Dark Multiverse, a reflection of the Multiverse's own darkest fears.
He was product of Batman's fear of being brought too far by the Joker. In his world, he killed the Joker and was victim of his final joke: a toxin coming out of his heart, transforming him in the new Joker. He became a man with Batman's mind and Joker's black heart, a Batman who Laughs, a Batman who always wins. Then, he learned from Barbatos the true nature of the Dark Multiverse and rose with him in the conquest of the Multiverse above. A conquest which failed, but which also gave him the knowledge of the existence of Perpetua.
He then developed a plan to overtake Lex Luthor as Perpetua's right hand, and now he is proceeding with his plan about taking over Perpetua as well. In fact, he never revealed to anyone that in his travelling inside the Dark Multiverse, searching for new Dark Knights to recruit in Barbatos' army, he found a special one. A Bruce Wayne who, after finding the Button, experimented with it to recreate the energy flowing inside it. The energy of Doctor Manhattan. As Bruce entered the field of energy he himself created, he transformed into a being equal to Manhattan, but still weak in power. The Batman who Laughs lobotomized him, and took his body so that one day it could be his.
Now, he took hold of that body, and of that power. And thanks to it, he reached to all the universes in the Dark Multiverse, absorbing strengths and knowledge from all the Dark Batmen existing. Then, he reached a conclusion: all Batmen, even the original one, were reactions to that same event, himself included. But now, he has what it takes to be more: he will be the cause. He will be the Bullet, and the Multiverse his alley, it's planets the pearls spreading on the street. He will take Wally West, who has inside the power of the original Manhattan, and kill him to make his power his. With it, he will create a Multiverse of nightmarish planets, each and every one a bullet to shoot against Perpetua and beings like her.
He will make a Multiverse of conquest, that will engulf all the other Multiverses existing, so that the Darkest Knight, the thing he is now, will one day be the only thing standing in the Omniverse...and so, he wakes up on the operating table. And his first word is BANG!.
Appearing in "I Am Here"
Featured Characters:
- The Batman Who Laughs / The Darkest Knight (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters
- Army of Alfreds
- Barbatos (Flashback only)
- Dark Knights (Flashback only)
- Final Bruce Wayne (Flashback only) (Origin)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Alfred Pennyworth (First appearance) (Flashback only)
- Batman (Earth 0) (Flashback only)
- Batman-Court of Owls mashup (In a vision)
- Batman-Lex Luthor mashup (In a vision)
- Batman-Prometheus mashup (In a vision)
- Penguin of Batman-Prometheus Mashup's world (Dies)
- Batman-Ra’s al Ghul mashup (In a vision)
- League of Assassins of Batman-Ra's al Ghul's Mashup's world
- Batman-Bane mashup (In a vision)
- Batman-Mr. Freeze mashup (In a vision)
- Robins of Batman-Mr. Freeze Mashup's world
- Batman-Penguin mashup (In a vision)
- Batman-Neron Mashup (In a vision)
- Cannibal Batman (In a vision)
- Joker of Cannibal Batman's World (Dies)
- Earth -22 Characters
- Black Mask (Flashback only)
- Catwoman (Flashback only)
- Clayface (Flashback only)
- Commissioner Gordon (Dies in flashback)
- Justice League (Earth -22) (Flashback only)
- Martha Wayne (Flashback only)
- Mister Freeze (Flashback only)
- Poison Ivy (Flashback only)
- Robin (Damian Wayne) (Flashback only)
- Scarecrow (Flashback only)
- Thomas Wayne (Flashback only)
- Groblins (Flashback only)
- Grim Knight (Flashback only)
- Prime Earth Characters
- Harley Quinn (Flashback only)
- King Shazam (Flashback only)
- Lex Luthor (Flashback only)
- Suicide Squad (Flashback only)
- Scarab (Flashback only)
- Teen Titans (Flashback only)
- Wonder Woman (Earth 0) (Flashback only)
- Wally West (Mentioned only)
- Perpetua (Flashback only)
- Doctor Manhattan (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Multiverse (Also in a vision)
- Dark Multiverse (Flashack and vision)
- Earth -22 (Flashback only)
Items:
- Bat-Signal (Flashback only)
- Joe Chill's Gun (Flashback only)
- Lasso of Truth (Flashback only)
- Lex Luthor's Warsuit (Flashack and vision)
- Mister Freeze's Ice Gun (In a vision)
- Venom (In a vision)
- Comedian's Button (Mentioned only)
- Joker Venom (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
- Batmobile (Flashback only)
Synopsis for "King of Pain"
In this Dark Universe, Bruce Wayne showed the signs of being a future serial killer and psychopath since childhood. He killed his parents in Crime Alley, then put on a facade to make authorities believe he was a victim as well. Alfred of course knew he was the murderer, and when he also killed James Gordon when he arrived at Wayne Manor to question little Bruce on the case, Alfred tried to stop him, but was not able to, and was killed as well. Bruce, now naming himself the Robin King, rules over the Manor, and soon over Gotham, too...
Appearing in "King of Pain"
Featured Characters:
- Alfred Pennyworth (Flashback and main story) (Only appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department (Flashback only)
- James Gordon (Only appearance; dies)
- Thomas Wayne (Dies in flashback) (Single appearance)
- Martha Wayne (Dies in flashback) (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Robin King (Flashback and main story) (Origin)
Other Characters:
- Joe Chill (Dies in flashback) (Single appearance)
Items:
- Joe Chill's Gun (Flashback only)
- Martha Wayne's Pearl Necklace (Destroyed)
- Beware the Gray Ghost (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Dark Multiverse
- Gotham City
- Park Row (Flashback only)
- Wayne Manor (Flashback and main story)
- Gotham City
Synopsis for "Batmanasaurus Rex"
Bruce Wayne's brain is absorbed inside his T-Rex trophy in the Bat-Cave, giving birth to the Batmanasaurus Rex.
Appearing in "Batmanasaurus Rex"
Featured Characters:
- Scarecrow (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- B-Rex (Flashback and main story)
Other Characters:
- Mad Hatter (Flashback only)
- Magpie (Flashback only)
- Mister Zsasz (Dies in flashback)
- Two-Face (Dies in flashback)
Locations:
- Dark Multiverse
- Gotham City
- Arkham Asylum
- Batcave (Mentioned only)
- Gotham City
Items:
Synopsis for "This Man. This City."
Sacrificing his own son, Damian, and using his blood to make a demonic ritual, Bruce Wayne becomes Gotham City itself.
Appearing in "This Man. This City."
Featured Characters:
- Castle Bat (Origin)
Supporting Characters:
- Batman (Damian Wayne) (Only appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department (On a TV or computer screen)
- Barbara Gordon (On a TV or computer screen) (Appears only as a corpse) (Single appearance)
- Dick Grayson (Mentioned only) (Deceased)
- Jason Todd (Mentioned only) (Deceased)
- Tim Drake (Mentioned only) (Deceased)
Locations:
- Dark Multiverse
- 17th Century
- 21st Century
- Gotham City
- Arkham Asylum (On a TV or computer screen) (Destroyed)
- Wayne Manor
- Gotham City
Synopsis for "Road Warrior"
Batman lived in a world deprived of resources to produce energy. To help humanity, he put a piece of his conscience in all technology, but the people revolted against him, destroying him. Batman though had a backup plan: he transferred himself inside a Bat-Mobile, who became the Batmobeast.
Appearing in "Road Warrior"
Featured Characters:
- Batmobeast (Flashback and main story) (Origin)
Locations:
- Dark Multiverse
- Gotham City (Flashback only)
Items:
Vehicles:
- Batmobile (Flashback only)
Synopsis for "I Shall Become..."
After dying, Batman transferred his mind into the Cyberspace, uploading it inside a new body. A Batman of two lifetimes, unstoppable. He just forgot the new body would be newborn baby...
Appearing in "I Shall Become..."
Featured Characters:
- Baby Batman (First appearance) (Flashback and main story) (Origin)
Other Characters:
- The Joker (Mentioned only)
- The Penguin (Mentioned only)
- Scarecrow (Mentioned only)
- Two-Face (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
Notes
- Castle Bat's universe shown in "This Man. This City." is a resemblance to Batman in Bethlehem with Damian Wayne in his Batman counterpart and Barbara Gordon as the police commissioner.
- In the Robin King's origin in "King of Pain" the film that the Waynes saw was Beware the Gray Ghost which is named after the episode of the same name from Batman: The Animated Series instead of The Mark of Zorro usually seen in the original Batman origin.
- Also in this version Bruce Wayne actually hated the film instead of loving it.
See Also
Links and References
- Issues Rated T
- Bob Harras/Executive Editor
- Tony S. Daniel/Cover Artist
- Tomeu Morey/Cover Artist
- Kaare Andrews/Cover Artist
- Scott Snyder/Writer
- James Tynion IV/Writer
- Joshua Williamson/Writer
- Peter Tomasi/Writer
- Marguerite Bennett/Writer
- Frank Tieri/Writer
- Daniel Warren Johnson/Writer
- Garth Ennis/Writer
- Tony S. Daniel/Penciler
- Tony S. Daniel/Inker
- Marcelo Maiolo/Colourist
- Tom Napolitano/Letterer
- Marie Javins/Editor
- Andrew Marino/Editor
- Riley Rossmo/Penciler
- Riley Rossmo/Inker
- Ivan Plascencia/Colourist
- Rob Leigh/Letterer
- Jamal Igle/Penciler
- Jamal Igle/Inker
- Chris Sotomayor/Colourist
- Dave Sharpe/Letterer
- Francesco Francavilla/Penciler
- Francesco Francavilla/Inker
- Francesco Francavilla/Colourist
- Andworld Design/Letterer
- Daniel Warren Johnson/Penciler
- Daniel Warren Johnson/Inker
- Michael Spicer/Colourist
- Rus Wooton/Letterer
- Joëlle Jones/Penciler
- Joëlle Jones/Inker
- Jordie Bellaire/Colourist
- Rob Steen/Letterer
- Bruce Wayne (Earth -22)/Quotes
- Bruce Wayne (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Army of Alfreds (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Alfrood (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Barbatos (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Dark Knights (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Dark Multiverse: Batmanasaurus Rex)/Appearances
- Bathomet (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Batmage (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Darkfather (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Earth -32)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Earth -1)/Appearances
- Doctor Arkham (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Bryce Wayne (Earth -11)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Earth -12)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Earth -44)/Appearances
- Alfred Protocol (Earth -44)/Appearances
- Final Bruce Wayne (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Origin Issues
- Joseph Chilton (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Joker (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Alfred Pennyworth (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Roman Sionis (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Selina Kyle (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Basil Karlo (Earth -22)/Appearances
- James Gordon (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Justice League (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Barry Allen (Earth -22)/Appearances
- J'onn J'onzz (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Patrick O'Brian (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Diana of Themyscira (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Martha Kane (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Victor Freeze (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Pamela Isley (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Damian Wayne (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Jonathan Crane (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Thomas Wayne (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Robins (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Dark Multiverse: The Grim Knight)/Appearances
- Harleen Quinzel (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Billy Batson (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Alexander Luthor (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Suicide Squad (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- George Harkness (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Floyd Lawton (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Tatsu Toro (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Waylon Jones (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Jaime Reyes (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Teen Titans (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Bar Torr (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Timothy Drake (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Kon-El (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Cassandra Sandsmark (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Diana of Themyscira (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Perpetua (Sixth Dimension)/Appearances
- Multiverse/Appearances
- Prime Earth/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Dark Multiverse: This Man. This City.)/Appearances
- Dark Multiverse/Appearances
- Earth -22/Appearances
- Gotham City/Appearances
- Park Row/Appearances
- Monarch Theater/Appearances
- Wayne Manor/Appearances
- Bat-Signal/Appearances
- Joe Chill's Gun/Appearances
- Lasso of Truth/Appearances
- Lex Luthor's Warsuit/Appearances
- Mister Freeze's Ice Gun/Appearances
- Venom/Appearances
- Batmobile/Appearances
- Alfred Pennyworth (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain)/Appearances
- Gotham City Police Department/Appearances
- James Gordon (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain)/Appearances
- Thomas Wayne (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain)/Appearances
- Martha Wayne (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain)/Appearances
- Joseph Chill (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain)/Appearances
- Martha Wayne's Pearl Necklace/Appearances
- Jonathan Crane (Dark Multiverse: Batmanasaurus Rex)/Appearances
- Jervis Tetch (Dark Multiverse: Batmanasaurus Rex)/Appearances
- Margaret Pye (Dark Multiverse: Batmanasaurus Rex)/Appearances
- Victor Zsasz (Dark Multiverse: Batmanasaurus Rex)/Appearances
- Harvey Dent (Dark Multiverse: Batmanasaurus Rex)/Appearances
- Arkham Asylum/Appearances
- Batman's T-Rex/Appearances
- Damian Wayne (Dark Multiverse: This Man. This City.)/Appearances
- Barbara Gordon (Dark Multiverse: This Man. This City.)/Appearances
- 17th Century/Appearances
- 21st Century/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Dark Multiverse: Road Warrior)/Appearances
- Batcave/Appearances
- Batcomputer/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Dark Multiverse: I Shall Become...)/Appearances
- Giant Joker Card/Appearances
- Dark Nights: Death Metal
- Comics
- 2020
- 2020, October
- August 5, 2020 (Publication)
- 2020, August (Publication)
- New 52
- Synopsis Written
- Comics by Title
- One Shots
- Comics D
- 2020 One Shots