Review: Dark Days: The Forge

Quick Summary

Pros: The mystery in this story is fantastic. Connections to the DC Universe are plentiful in a way that will be very rewarding for long time fans. Also, the issue itself looks beautiful.

Cons: There are a lot of references to older DC characters and stories that might make it hard for new readers to simply jump in here.

Overall: This is a story that will pull readers in from the very start and captivate them until the last page. It poses the start of a mystery that has an absolutely abundance of potential. Despite not revealing exactly what this entire event will be about, readers learn enough to know that it is going to be one awesome ride to find out.

Story

When Scott Snyder announced he would be working on a large event for DC Comics which would tie in elements of everything he had worked on previously, there was obviously a lot of buzz. Events are a dime a dozen in the world of comic books so what would make this one any different. People wondered if this comic could deliver on the massive amounts of hype it was drumming up.

Put simply, it does. Dark Days: The Forge is the first issue of something unique. It is a comic filled with mystery, action, suspense, and potential. It is enjoyable to read in a way that will make readers even more excited to read the next issue. This is truly an even for fans of DC Comics as I doubt any fan will be walking away from this book unsatisfied.

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Mystery. This is a book filled with mystery. From the mystery Hawkman tried to solve in the past, to the mystery Batman is trying to solve today, and even to the mystery we encounter as readers. It is an enigma which will captivate readers as they make their way through this book. A lot of new questions are posed, most of which are not yet answered. However, this is fine because this is only the first piece of something much bigger and a little lingering mystery gives plenty of reason for readers to stay excited. Personally, seeing the machine from Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis was enough to guarantee that I will continue reading.

Though mystery drives the event itself, there is still plenty here to get readers excited for reading this. Batman saves a scientist by taking him through a volcano, the Joker taunts heroes in the creepiest way possible, and Hawkman shows a frightening past and an even more frightening future. So, despite mystery being the focus of this story, there is still plenty here to keep readers entertained.

Beside the story of the event itself, there is also some world building for Snyder’s new “Dark Multiverse” that this comic is set to launch. Originally teased in All Star Batman #9 (Review), this issue confirms Duke Thomas is not what he appears to be. His mother, and by extension him, have some sort of connection to the “Immortal Men”, who will be getting their own comic book this fall. Personally, I wasn’t that excited for Immortal Men as I didn’t really think the premise sounded that interesting. After reading Dark Days though, it may be the comic I am most excited about; that is how good of a story this is. Once again, this prelude gives fans plenty to look forward to.

The only downside of this comic is that it may be a little tough for new readers to jump into. References to Hawkman, Plastic Man, and Infinite Crisis are amazing for everyone familiar with them. However, for those who are not, they make an already enigmatic story even more confusing.

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Art

One thing to note about Dark Days is the strong emphasis placed on the artwork. From its initial announcement, the artwork and importance of artists was a huge part of the marketing for this event. It comes as no surprise then that the art in this issue is excellent.

Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, and John Romita Jr. bring a detailed and realistic art style this issue which brings out the best in the story. Characters look great, environments look epic, and everything is full of detail and life. Typically I mention my dislike for the way Romita Jr. draws character faces, however even this was not a problem in this issue. It really helps for a story to have killer art like this as it confirms this is the start of something big.

Continuity

This volume is a stand-alone event in the world of DC Comics. This means that it does not directly flow out of any one comic, instead it flows out of the universe as a whole. Because of this, readers should be at least somewhat familiar with the major heroes in DC Comics before reading this.

The story here will continue in Dark Days: The Casting (Review).

This issue also references and continues the stories from many other comic books, all of which are detailed below.

• Duke is confused why Hal Jordan can use his ring on Duke’s yellow costume. This is because Green Lantern rings used to be unable to effect anything yellow. This changed in Green Lantern: Rebirth.
• Elaine Thomas appears in this issue. Her misadventures in Batman Vol. 7: Endgame and All Star Batman #9 (Review) are mentioned here.
• Batman is surprised to see Mr. Terrific in “our universe”. Him leaving “our universe” is explained in Mister Terrific Vol. 1: Mind Games.
• Batman mentions taking someone “out of the box” and then proceeds to look at some sort of containment egg. This is the same egg seen in Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again.
• Two different metals are mentioned by the voice talking to Hal Jordan and Duke.
  • The first is Electrum. Electrum is first mentioned and explained in Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (Review).
  • The second is Dionesium. This is first mentioned and explained in Batman Vol. 9: Endgame.
• The machine Batman has hidden in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude is first shown in Crisis on Infinite Earths and then again in Infinite Crisis.