Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 will feature Sgt. Rock giving the comics industry the pep talk that writer Scott Snyder himself wants to give retailers and fans, firing them up to stay strong in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rock — or rather a zombie version of Sgt. Rock who is delirious and drained of his blood, because comics — is going to break the fourth wall with a speech about how he knows the loyal readers are still out there, still taking care and supporting the industry, like good soldiers. You can see the unlettered page below. The exact sentiments are yet to be unveiled, but in a chat with The Beat (full interview coming soon!) Death Metal writer Scott Snyder teased the nature of what was going on.
“I want to say thank you to everybody out there who keeps pumping lifeblood into the industry at this difficult time, especially retailers on the front lines and to fans as well,” Snyder said. “Death Metal is definitely written as a thank you in that regard. You’ll see on page one Sgt. Rock’s speech…He’s definitely partly out of his mind, but what he’s saying is what I want to say to retailers and fans and to everybody, everyone who’s keeping spirits high and blood pumping into comics because we’re all hoping it comes out of this stronger on the other side.”
Here’s the page in question:
Death Metal #1 is due out June 16. It’s a sequel to the Snyder-penned 2017 event Dark Nights: Metal, and it will once again see Snyder teaming with artist Greg Capullo, inker Jonathan Glapion, and colorist FCO Plascencia. It’s a sequel that to story, but it’s also a culmination of stories Snyder and others have been telling for the past four years in books ranging from The Batman Who Laughs miniseries to Batman Superman to Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen. Making it even crazier, Snyder has also said this story aims to sort out DC’s continuity in a way that makes all past stories matter.
But we’ll have more about that in our own forthcoming interview. For now, check out the new pages following this press release from DC Comics!
Dark Nights: Death Metal #1
“It All Matters”Get ready for the earth-shattering encore! The legendary team behind Dark Nights: Metal and Batman: Last Knight on Earth take center stage and reunite for one last tour. When the Earth is enveloped by the Dark Multiverse, the Justice League is at the mercy of the Batman Who Laughs. Humanity struggles to survive in a hellish landscape twisted beyond recognition, while Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman have all been separated and fight to survive. Unleash the beast and let the head banging begin!
Dark Nights: Death Metal #1
written by Scott Snyder
art by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia
card stock foil cover by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia
ON SALE 06.16.20
