Warning! Spoilers ahead for Justice League #53
The latest issue of Justice League serves a an epic tie-in issue to Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Dark Nights: Death Metal. Titled “Doom Metal”, of the of the best parts of the issue is Nightwing’s new look, as he ventures with Hawkgirl and Detective Chimp to find Perpetua’s throne. Along the way, they’ll find more heroes and allies in the most unlikely of places, and face more threats than they’d care to deal with. However, all the while Nightwing will be sporting the most epic ponytail of all time.
In Dark Nights: Death Metal #3, Wonder Woman and Batman freed Superman and the rest of the imprisoned heroes on New Apokolips, splitting up into teams to try and restore balance to the multiverse, pulling it out of the darkness brought to it by Perpetua and the Darkest Knight, formerly known as the Batman Who Laughs. Apparently, Nightwing and Hawkgirl volunteered to find and destroy Perpetua’s throne. To do so, they’ll need to free the Legion of Doom who have been held hostage to power it, thereby draining a large amount of power going to Perpetua herself.
In Justice League #53, written by Joshua Williamson with art by Xermanico, Nightwing and Hawkgirl are traveling through the Slaughter Swamp when they come across Detective Chimp, surrounded by Creepers. Nightwing, for his part, has completely embraced a new metal look just as other heroes have like the DC Trinity. Nightwing has become a hardcore warrior knight, wearing a hooded blue cloak, furred armor at the shoulders, and is wielding a new double-bladed staff. As he leaps at the Creepers, his magnificent ponytail flows in the wind with all the grandeur that a heroic warrior knight ponytail should.
Not only that, but Wonder Woman herself gifted Nightwing with Comet, the Super Horse. While the traditional Comet was more connected with Supergirl, this Comet has received a hardcore makeover as well, as it’s not a real horse, but an awesome robot horse. Forged in the fires of Themyscira, this version of Comet is the fastest horse in any world. Especially with Comet at his side, Nightwing’s new look is completely fitting with the new world that has been created.
After rescuing Detective Chimp from the Creepers, they prompt Chimp to help them find Perpetua’s throne and the Legion of Doom. After some prompting, he finally agrees, taking them to the ruins of the Hall of Justice, where a mysterious figure emerges from within: Lex Luthor. His face scarred and disfigured, he too is looking for the Legion of Doom, seeking redemption for the massive part he had to play in the creation of the Dark Multiverse (he helped Perpetua rise to power, but was betrayed when she chose the Batman Who Laughs to be her side second in command). While Nightwing and his allies are cautious to trust Luthor, it doesn’t seem as though they have a choice, needing all the help they can get if they hope to be successful in their mission.
As “Doom Metal” continues, it’s been seen in previews that equally hardcore and metal versions of Cyborg and Starfire will be joining Nightwing and his team, so fans should prepare themselves for the epic sight that will be.
