Dark Days: The Casting #1 Review

Written By: Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV
Art By: Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, John Romita Jr., 
Scott Williams, Klaus Janson, Danny Miki, Alex Sinclair, 
Jeremiah Skipper, Steve Wands
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 12, 2017

The Dark Days event has intrigued me since it was first announced. By the looks of the preview, the future that it was leading to could be seen as a darker world of Injustice, where Batman assumed control. From the Forge, we learn that Batman is trying to look into something called the 'Dark Dimension' as it seems to be connected to this metal compound that he is related to The Court of Owls and Endgame storylines. So how will this all connect? What is the Dark Dimension and why should we be afraid? And more importantly: How is Hawkman involved in any of this? Let's dive in and find out!





*WARNING! SOME SPOILERS BELOW!*

I'm gonna be one hundred percent honest when I say that I have only the faintest idea of what is happening.

We follow Batman in the present as he searches for powerful items connected to The Metal, leading him to get a sword made for Apollo,  only to trade it for the Dagger of Shazam. Why is he getting these things? Well, he believes that using is Bat-Genesis device, seen in the Detective Comics 75th anniversary and Batman: Superheavy will allow him to look into the Dark Dimension IF he combines it with the items he has gathered over the past two issues. When he arrives at the Batcave, he tries and FAILS to look into the dimension, as the Dark Dimension blocks Batman's sight of it. This makes his search for these impressive items ENTIRELY pointless to make sure Batman can't have any advantage in the fight to come. 

Before Batman returns to the Batcave, Duke, Batman's recent protege, and Green Lantern Hal Jordan find that Batman has been keeping The Joker from Endgame locked away in the Batcave. I originally thought this was going to be deep, like Batman keeping him there because he knows he's the only one who can contain his madness and shall keep The Joker in check for the safety of Gotham. The actual reason is that The Joker is monologuing about the previously mentioned Dark Dimension because he took a dip in the metal back in Endgame. When I say the Joker monologues, I mean he monologues in nearly every panel he is in. The dialogue from him is so thick and dense, there are times it doesn't feel like the Joker. This also shows that Batman is completely insane in his pursuit to understand the dimension by breaking all of the Justice League's codes. Our hero everyone!

I think the highlight of this issue is the story of Hawkman and how he has prepared himself for the coming of this Dark Dimension threat. In this new recreated history, he had learned of a great destroyer residing in the dimension from cave drawings. This destroyer is drawn as having the form of a Bat while those sworn to keep it at bay are Birds. As Hawkman wishes to destroy this thing once and for all, he creates a variety of defenses to combat the threat: The Blackhawks and The Challengers of the Unknown. I love how Snyder and Tynion have found a way to bring back these classic characters into the spotlight, giving them a new level of importance in the post-flashpoint world. This is apparently going to be our first gaze into the Dark Matter banner of Rebirth comics, and if they are as great as they are drawn, I can't wait.


Overall, while this series makes BIG promises on how it will affect the DC Universe, it's one heck of a dense slog to get there. I barely have any idea of what is going on with a story that's all over the place, but with Batman now with Hal and Duke, it MIGHT become more focused and singular going forward. While I do like the art styles of Lee, Kubert, and Romita, watching them just shift throughout the issue randomly is a bit disorienting. With the actual Dark Nights: Metal coming out soon, maybe we'll finally get that clarity of what the heck is going on, to turn this potentially good Batman story into a great one.

5/10

Issue Description:
The Joker's surprise attack threatens to lay waste to all of Batman's carefully laid plans. Will the Dark Knight be able to regain the trust of his closest allies, Green Lantern and Duke, and prevent the forces of darkness from consuming the DC Universe?! Will Hawkman's warning stop our heroes from peering into the abyss?
The great comics event of summer 2017 is on its way, courtesy of superstar writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV with art by a master class of comics artists: Andy Kubert, Jim Lee, and John Romita Jr.!