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Dark Nights: Metal reading order

DC's 2017–2018 crossover in which Batman uncovers a Dark Multiverse and its evil Batmen invade. It starts with the two Dark Days prelude specials, then runs the six-issue main series with the Dark Knights one-shots and the tie-ins that matter.

  1. Start here

    Dark Days prelude2017

    2 issues · about 40 min2 essential issues · about 40 min

    Two oversized specials lay the groundwork: Batman has been secretly investigating strange metals and an ancient history linked to Hawkman. Start here, because the main series assumes you know what he found.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Dark Nights: Metal Compendium (2025)Covers Dark Days: The Forge #1; Dark Days: The Casting #1Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Dark Days: The Forge (2017)#1August 2017

      Batman's hidden investigation and the return of a forgotten mystery.

    2. Dark Days: The Casting (2017)#1September 2017

      Picks up directly from The Forge.

  2. Metal begins2017

    2 issues · about 40 min2 essential issues · about 40 min

    The Justice League is pulled into Batman's mystery, and a threat from the Dark Multiverse breaks through.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Dark Nights: Metal Compendium (2025)Covers Dark Nights: Metal #1–2Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Dark Nights: Metal (2017)#1–22 issues
      1. #1October 2017
      2. #2November 2017

  3. Gotham Resistance2017

    4 issues · about 1.5 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    A four-part crossover that follows Nightwing, the Teen Titans, Harley Quinn and Green Arrow through an invaded Gotham. It fills in what happens on the ground between the main issues.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Dark Nights: Metal Compendium (2025)Covers Teen Titans #12; Nightwing #29; Suicide Squad #26; Green Arrow #32Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Teen Titans (2016)#12November 2017, optional

      Part one; read the four parts in this order after Metal #2.

    2. Nightwing (2016)#29November 2017, optional

      Part two.

    3. Suicide Squad (2016)#26November 2017, optional

      Part three.

    4. Green Arrow (2016)#32December 2017, optional

      Part four; sets up a small detail picked up in Metal #3.

  4. The Dark Knights one-shots2017–2018

    7 issues · about 2.5 hours1 essential issue · about 20 min

    Each special tells the origin of one of the evil Batmen from the Dark Multiverse and his first moves on our world. The Batman Who Laughs issue is the one the wider story leans on.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Dark Nights: Metal Compendium (2025)Covers Batman: The Red Death #1; Batman: The Murder Machine #1; Batman: The Dawnbreaker #1; Batman: The Drowned #1; Batman: The Merciless #1; Batman: The Devastator #1; Dark Nights: The Batman Who Laughs #1Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman: The Red Death (2017)#1November 2017, optional

      The Red Death, a Batman fused with the Flash.

    2. Batman: The Murder Machine (2017)#1November 2017, optional

      The Murder Machine, a Batman merged with Cyborg's tech.

    3. Batman: The Dawnbreaker (2017)#1December 2017, optional

      The Dawnbreaker, a Batman who took a Green Lantern ring.

    4. Batman: The Drowned (2017)#1December 2017, optional

      The Drowned, Bryce Wayne, a female Batman from a world where she waged war on Atlantis.

    5. Batman: The Merciless (2017)#1December 2017, optional

      The Merciless, a Batman who took Ares's helmet.

    6. Batman: The Devastator (2018)#1January 2018, optional

      The Devastator, a Batman who used a Doomsday virus on himself to stop an evil Superman.

    7. Dark Nights: The Batman Who Laughs (2018)#1January 2018

      The leader of the Dark Knights, who returns often in later DC stories.

  5. Into the Dark Multiverse2017–2018

    2 issues · about 40 min2 essential issues · about 40 min

    The heroes split up to fight back, and Batman's own path takes a strange turn.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Dark Nights: Metal Compendium (2025)Covers Dark Nights: Metal #3; Batman: Lost #1Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Dark Nights: Metal (2017)#3December 2017
    2. Batman: Lost (2017)#1January 2018

      Batman trapped in the Dark Multiverse; read after Metal #3, and it leads into Metal #4.

  6. Bats Out of Hell2018

    4 issues · about 1.5 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    A four-part crossover with the Flash, the Justice League and the Green Lanterns trying to survive the Dark Knights' attack.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Dark Nights: Metal Compendium (2025)Covers The Flash #33; Justice League #32; Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #32; Justice League #33Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. The Flash (2016)#33December 2017, optional

      Part one; the arc is side action and the main series makes sense without it.

    2. Justice League (2016)#32January 2018, optional

      Part two.

    3. Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps (2016)#32January 2018, optional

      Part three.

    4. Justice League (2016)#33January 2018, optional

      Part four.

  7. Hawkman Found and the turn2018

    3 issues · about 1 hour3 essential issues · about 1 hour

    The story's long-running Hawkman mystery is answered, and the heroes regroup for a final push.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Dark Nights: Metal Compendium (2025)Covers Dark Nights: Metal #4; Hawkman: Found #1; Dark Nights: Metal #5Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Dark Nights: Metal (2017)#4February 2018
    2. Hawkman: Found (2018)#1February 2018

      Read between Metal #4 and #5.

    3. Dark Nights: Metal (2017)#5March 2018

  8. The Wild Hunt and the finale2018

    2 issues · about 40 min2 essential issues · about 40 min

    The last tie-in gathers the remaining heroes before the six-issue story wraps up.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Dark Nights: Metal Compendium (2025)Covers Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt #1; Dark Nights: Metal #6Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt (2018)#1April 2018

      Leads straight into Metal #6.

    2. Dark Nights: Metal (2017)#6May 2018

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