Comic Review - Dark Days: The Forge & The Casting

Firstly, I have to clarify that I have always been behind Marvel since I was an 8 year old kid, but I must admit that DC has been doing a LOT of things right. Non-geeks all over the world already know how good the Wonder Woman movie is. Expectations are already elevated for the upcoming Justice League movie.However, as a comic geek, I have to say that I have not felt as much a comic geek as I do now - all thanks ro DC's Dark Days Event. It has brought back the level of excitement I haven't felt since I was a kid.

So far, only 2 books are out:

Dark Days: the Forge (1-shot)

Dark Days: the Casting (1-shot)BOTH of these books are SO GOOD. This is especially (and may only be) true for those who have been reading DC comics since the 80's (or around the time of Crisis on Infinite Earths). So for the newer readers, they may not get as much out of these 2 books as the older geeks.

Why these 2 books and the upcoming Dark Days event are making me feel like a kid again is because these 2 books are jam-packed with Easter Eggs on almost every single page & sub-plot. Visual clues are strewn all over the panels and you may miss some of them in a single read. 

Here, Batman is seen to be NOT in control of everything, and that gives him jittery nerves. Batman is afraid of something? Something we have NEVER seen before. Core to the story is of course Hawkman, who is the narrator of the books. I have always loved Hawkman but DC had always had a tough time with his history. Was he an alien Thanagarian or was he a Human who is the reincarnation of the ancient Egyptian Prince Khufu? It looks like DC will resolve this once and for all with this event.

I have included a few of my favorite Easter Eggs found within these 2 books here:

Anti Monitor's Cosmic Tuning Fork

Crisis on Infinite Earths is one of the BIGGEST company-wide events that happened to DC (some may argue the Industry) and it still is. It was a 12-issue maxi series that streamlined the Infinite Universes of DC into a single Universe. And the Big Bad that destroyed countless universes was none other than the Anti-Monitor.In his quest to destroy everything, the Anti-Monitor had depended on Devices of Universal Destruction (DUDs?) called the Cosmic Tuning Forks. Here, we see that Batman had somehow managed to snatch a unit of such a device and asked Superman to help him keep it save within the Fortress of Solitude.

I have included both the Original (above 2 images) and the upgraded versions (below) of the Anti-Monitor's armor.

SHAZAM

The sword made from the "Eighth Metal" that was in Talia's possession had the Symbol of the Wizard SHAZAM (whom we also discover is a member of the Immortal Men, along with Ra's Al Ghul, or aka Talis's dad.). The sword has a black hilt. So of course, we can all expect to see Black Adam. And where Black Adam goes, can the Marvel Family be far? 

Let's also not forget the Magical Elements that Batman usually does not handle (as he is a man of logic & science). Here we see Wonder Woman handing him Apollo's Sunblade. Oddly, Batman took it without flinching.

Outsiders

This is also one of my favorite DC Teams (along with Teen Titans and Legion of Super Heroes). This team came out in the 80s and the members were all 2nd & 3rd tier characters (ie: Metamorpho & Black Lightning) plus a few brand new characters like Halo, Katana & Geo-Force (whose sister was a member in Teen Titans and a key player in the Judas Contract - an all-time fan-favorite DC story). Here, they are described as Batman's very own Black Ops team. Tasked with missions too dodgy for his Justice League team members.

Challengers & Blackhawks

These are 2 of the more popular DC teams back in the 70s & 80s. To be honest, I was never a fan of War comics. Hence, titles like Sgt Rock, Haunted Tank, GI Combat, Unknown Soldier & Blackhawks have never been on my radar. So I do not own or have not read any of their stories unless they are guests in books I read. Perhaps like DC Comics Presents, Brave & the Bold, & Crisis on Infinite Earths.However, Challengers of the Unknown is basically DC's version of the Fantastic Four. And I LOVE the  Fantastic Four despite their dismal performance in the Cinematic Universe & non-presence in the comics the last couple of  years. I admit I haven't read that many Challengers comics but their stories are always as far out and fascinating as Fantastic Four's adventures.

The 4 Clans & the Immortal Men

These 2 issues told us about these 4 ancient clans and also somehow their relationship to each other and the Immortal Men, whose members include Ra's Al Ghul & Vandal Savage 

Bear - Immortal Man was Klarn Bear Clan leader in the ancient past. Anthro (see image below) was also from the Bear Clan.

 

Wolf - Vandar Adg (aka Vandal Savage) enemy of the Bear Clan

Hawk - Hawkman & Hawkwoman

Bat -  When Bruce was thought dead after Darkseid "killed" him with his Omega Beams in Final Crisis but he was actually ricocheting though time and ended up in the ancient past.

Plastic ManWell, Plas (as he is fondly known by his fans) has never been one of my favorite DC characters but he is well-loved by many. However, he had been missing since the New 52 launch from 5 years ago. So now DC is going to bring him back. 

Of course, the other characters that many fans are clamoring for are return of the Justice Society of America (we can see Mr. Terrific with Batman here) and the Legion of Super Heroes.