Dark Days : The Forge #1

Writer : Scott Snyder

Artists : Jim Lee, Andy Kubert and John Romita Jr.

Publisher : DC Comics

For me, summer comic book crossover storylines are like pancakes, in the beginning you’re all excited and by the end, you’re just sick of them. I usually avoid them, but there are a few exceptions like The Infinity Gauntlet, Civil War, Fear Itself, War of the Gods, Blackest Night and Forever Evil that are worth your time and money. Yes, you can just buy the main event series, but if it crosses over in an ongoing series (I’m talking to you AVX) you happen to follow, then you’re forced to buy them, read them and let’s face it, they’re just unnecessary fillers.

Another one of my beefs is, like this issue, you have too many cooks in the kitchen, having three different artists is distracting and disrupts the flow of the story. Now grant it, it is Jim Lee, Andy Kubert and John Romita Jr. after all, three giants of the comic industry and it looks fantastic. Because I’m so psyched for the main event Dark Days : Metal, I still appreciated this prelude.

The Story :

The ever so secretive Batman has been gathering data everywhere from an island near Atlantis, to the Batcave and finally to the sub levels of Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. With the story bouncing from past to present and even a future where Batman is either a tyrant, feared or worshipped, it seems an ancient type of “dark” metal harnessing incredible energy has resurfaced and threatens the entire DCU, you know the drill. Superman and Aquaman lend Batman a helping hand, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) does some snooping around and Mister Miracle does what he does best.
 

Final Thoughts:

As far as setting up the story to the highly anticipated Dark Days : Metal series, this is obviously a required reading, I thought it was intriguing enough and looked absolutely amazing, but a little on the pricey side.