I know. And I know all this is the result of our choices and the choices of those we failed. But hear me when I say regardless of blame or cause, what this universe has become... no one wants this. No one. And I will not let it stand. Today, we can reject our fate. We can reject death itself and give this universe a second chance. But only if we work together. Are you in?
Dark Nights: Death Metal #3 is an issue of the series Dark Nights: Death Metal (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 2020. It was published on August 11, 2020.
Contents
Synopsis for "An Anti-Crisis, Part III: Pick Up the Styx"
Inside the Center of the Sun, New Apokolips
Wonder Woman, Batman and their team reached New Apokolips, where the Batman who Laughs imprisoned several of the remaining heroes in the universe, including Superman. While Jonah Hex acted as a diversion against some of the Batmen guarding the access to the place, Wonder Woman, Batman, Harley and Swamp Thing are trying to reach Superman's cell, personally guarded by Darkfather, a Batman who took on the power of the Anti-Life Equation. While they are reaching the place, Swamp Thing feels something in the Green, on Earth: the Batman who Laughs is reborn, in a form that goes beyond Alec's comprehension. In any case, says Batman, they have to complete their mission here. They will worry about that madman later.
Superman is trapped in a machine built by Mister Miracle, exposing him to different shades of Kryptonite and the Anti-Life Equation: as the different Kryptonites will kill Clark's kryptonian cells, the Anti-Life cells will either destroy him or, if he accepts Darkfather's offer, turn him into a new version of Darkseid. In fact, Darkfather thinks that's his destiny: all the Supermen in the Dark Multiverse end up being tyrants, because that's Superman's greatest fear, but also, deep in his heart, the answer to all his questions. Becoming a ruler of humanity is the only way to save them from themselves.
With the team reaching the cell, Batman was able to protect himself from Darkfather's Omega Gun, and also he was able to use the Black Lantern Ring to stop the Anti-Life cells from transforming Superman: only his left arm was transformed when he got free. Taking a personal revenge on Darkfather, Superman knocks him into the sky with a bombastic punch. While he's recovering, Batman tells Superman to stay silent about what happened to both of them during the battle against Perpetua. Diana must not know. Then, Clark informs Diana that the rest of the heroes imprisoned are right under their feet.
Meanwhile, inside the Fifth Dimension
Someway, the Main Man, Lobo, gained access to the Fifth Dimension and now he's butchering some Imps. It seems Lobo was searching for something there, something he found inside one living tree. With this, Lobo finished his research, and is ready to deliver whatever he gathered to his boss. And his boss is nothing less than Lex Luthor, former right hand of Perpetua. He reveals to Lobo that he was able to take all the Death Metals, which will be key for Lex to reshape the Multiverse.
Inside Valhalla Cemetery, the Crypt of Heroes
Someone is transporting himself inside the Valhalla Cemetery, even if it shouldn't be possible as the place is protected. The intruder names himself the Robin King, and he came to announce that his boss is coming for them: the Darkest Knight, the new form of the Batman who Laughs, steps inside, with the only mission of getting Wally West, killing him to steal his powers and the remaining energy of Doctor Manhattan living inside him. To protect him, Barry and Jay share with him the remaining Speed Force they have, running against the Darkest Knight for survival.
Back to New Apokolips
As all the heroes are free, Wonder Woman explains to them the next part of the plan: John Stewart, leading the remaining Green Lanterns, will lead a fight on the remaining Earths of the Multiverse, to destroy the antennae Perpetua uses to absorb the crisis energy from the Dark Multiverse. A team led by Martian Manhunter will go after Perpetua's throne, to destroy it and free the seven negative forces of the Universe. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman's team will sneak into Castle Bat, to use the portal that conducts to the Dark Multiverse. Once there, they will redirect the crisis energy to Wally West, who, having the power of Manhattan flowing through him, will trigger an Anti-Crisis.
But how will Diana and her team pass through Castle Bat undetected? Well, they need the greatest telepathic mind ever for protection: Jarro. The little starfish oozes with joy when he sees the man he calls his father, Batman. After an heartwarming reunion, the team is now ready to save everything and everyone.
Appearing in "An Anti-Crisis, Part III: Pick Up the Styx"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Batman (Earth 0)
- The Flash/Barry Allen (Earth 0)
- The Flash (Wally West)
- George
- Harley Quinn
- Ice
- Jonah Hex
- Justice Society of America
- Jarro
- Justice League
- Animal Man
- Atom (Ray Palmer)
- Batgirl
- Black Canary
- Black Lightning
- Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
- Booster Gold
- Firestorm
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)
- Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
- Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz)
- Green Lantern (John Stewart)
- Hawkgirl
- Martian Manhunter
- Metamorpho
- Mister Terrific
- Nightwing
- Plastic Man
- Steel
- Supergirl
- Vixen
- Titans
- Lobo
- Mister Miracle
- Sgt. Rock (Narrator)
- Superman
- Swamp Thing
Antagonists:
- The Darkest Knight
- Dark Knights
- Batrocitus (Only appearance; dies)
- Collector (Only appearance; dies)
- Darkfather
- Night Glider (Only appearance; dies)
- Robin King
Other Characters:
- Brainiac
- Cheetah
- Lex Luthor
- Sinestro
- The Flash (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain) (Mentioned only)
- Darkseid of Darkfather's world (Mentioned only)
- Nora Allen (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain) (Mentioned only)
- Perpetua (Mentioned only)
- Starfire (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Fifth Dimension
- Prime Earth
- Earth
- Earth's Sun
- Krypton (Mentioned only)
- Dark Multiverse (Mentioned only)
Items:
Vehicles:
- Lobo's Spacehog
- Trinity Rocket (Destroyed)
Concepts:
- Final Crisis (Mentioned only)
- Speed Force (Mentioned only)
Notes
- Brainiac is shown in one of the pods powering up Perpetua's throne, but he himself is supposed to be the throne as shown in Justice League (Volume 4) #36. The one in the pod in his place should be Gorilla Grodd.
- Darkfather tells Batman how Darkseid had sent him back in time using a gun during the Final Crisis. The gun however is the same as one used by Batman himself during the Final Crisis and contained a Radion bullet which he used to harm Darkseid, who had sent him back in time using his own Omega Beams.
Trivia
- The Para-Robins would say “Holy _____ Batman” as a response, which is a reference to the catchphrase Robin would say in the 60s Batman series
See Also
Links and References
- Issues Rated T
- Bob Harras/Executive Editor
- Greg Capullo/Cover Artist
- Jonathan Glapion/Cover Artist
- FCO Plascencia/Cover Artist
- David Finch/Cover Artist
- Steve Firchow/Cover Artist
- Scott Snyder/Writer
- Riccardo Federici/Cover Artist
- Stanley Lau/Cover Artist
- Doug Mahnke/Cover Artist
- David Baron/Cover Artist
- Greg Capullo/Penciler
- Jonathan Glapion/Inker
- FCO Plascencia/Colourist
- Tom Napolitano/Letterer
- Marie Javins/Editor
- Andrew Marino/Editor
- Diana of Themyscira (Prime Earth)/Quotes
- Diana of Themyscira (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Barry Allen (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Wally West (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- George the Hyena (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Harleen Quinzel (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Tora Olafsdotter (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Jonah Hex (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Justice Society of America (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Jason Garrick (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Alan Scott (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Ted Grant (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Kent Nelson (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Jarro (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Justice League (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Bernhard Baker (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Raymond Palmer (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Barbara Gordon (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Dinah Drake (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Jefferson Pierce (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Theodore Kord (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Michael Carter (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Ronald Raymond (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Oliver Queen (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Guy Gardner (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Hal Jordan (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Jessica Cruz (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- John Stewart (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Kendra Saunders (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- J'onn J'onzz (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Rex Mason (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Michael Holt (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Richard Grayson (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Patrick O'Brian (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- John Henry Irons (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Kara Zor-El (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Mari McCabe (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Titans (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Garfield Logan (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Donna Troy (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Kyle Rayner (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- M'gann M'orzz (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Raven (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Lobo II (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Scot (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Franklin Rock (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Kal-El (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Alec Holland (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Earth -22)/Appearances
- Dark Knights (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Batrocitus (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Collector (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Darkfather (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Pararobins (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Night Glider (Dark Multiverse)/Appearances
- Bruce Wayne (Dark Multiverse: King of Pain)/Appearances
- Vril Dox (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Barbara Minerva (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Alexander Luthor (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Thaal Sinestro (Prime Earth)/Appearances
- Fifth Dimension/Appearances
- Prime Earth/Appearances
- Earth/Appearances
- Hall of Doom/Appearances
- Valhalla Cemetery/Appearances
- Sol system/Appearances
- Apokolips/Appearances
- Anti-Life Equation/Appearances
- Black Lantern Ring/Appearances
- Chainsaw of Truth/Appearances
- Element X/Appearances
- Kryptonite/Appearances
- Omega Beams/Appearances
- Lobo's Spacehog/Appearances
- Dark Nights: Death Metal
- Comics
- 2020
- 2020, October
- August 12, 2020 (Publication)
- 2020, August (Publication)
- Dark Nights: Death Metal Vol 1
- New 52
- Synopsis Written