‘Dark Crisis: The Dark Army’ #1 is the beginning of the end for 2022’s event

What’s Damian cooking up?

November 22, 2022

DC’s 2022 event series Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths may be winding down, but there’s still time left in the year for a tie-in. In Dark Crisis: The Dark Army #1, Damian Wayne has a plan to turn the tides of the war between good and evil. But to pull it off, it means leaving his best friend, Jon Kent, behind as he pulls together a ragtag group of heroes to trek the Multiverse.

Robin recruits classic DC heroes Power Girl and Doctor Light, Sideways from the short-lived New Age of Heroes, and newcomer Red Canary for his last-ditch effort. It’s a thoughtful team composition that spotlights heroes who haven’t had a chance to make much of an impression as of late and provides some necessary levity during the ongoing Crisis.

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Writers Mark Waid and Delilah S. Dawson set the stage in the first half of this 40-page adventure. But when the baton is passed to Dennis Culver, The Dark Army #1 really shines. Culver’s pages fulfill Dark Crisis’ promise to culminate storylines from the Infinite Frontier era while still conjuring major connections to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths.

With art from Freddie E. Williams II and Jack Herbert, this one-shot has the visual pedigree of the event it is tying into. Both artists provide readers with blockbuster two-page spreads and powerful-looking action. Herbert in particular sells the scene where Power Girl and Doctor Light combine their powers. It’s a huge moment for the book and for these characters and it’s rendered with drama and explosive power.

Williams gets an opportunity to flex toward the end of the book. He and colorist Adriano Lucas put together a two-page spread of Robin’s team and their multiversal counterparts. It’s a cool, showstopping moment that writer Mark Waid teases the importance of.

With solid writing and art, plus deeper DC Universe connections, The Dark Army #1 is mandatory reading for folks who are already on board the Dark Crisis train. Unfortunately at the same time, that makes this book hard to recommend for anyone other than the most hardcore DC readers.

‘Dark Crisis: The Dark Army’ #1 is the beginning of the end for 2022’s event

Dark Crisis: The Dark Army #1

With solid writing and art, plus deeper DC Universe connections, The Dark Army #1 is mandatory reading for folks who are already on board the Dark Crisis train. Unfortunately at the same time, that makes this book hard to recommend for anyone other than the most hardcore DC readers.

Reader Rating0 Votes

Solid writing, art, and action

Makes good on DC's promise of interconnectedness for the Infinite Frontier era

Certainly not new reader friendly, we're at the conclusion of a multi-year story

Nitpicking, but Jack Herbert's Damian Wayne is like 6' 3"

7.5

Good

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