Meet the Evil Batmen of Dark Nights: Metal

The Dark Knights are ready to dominate the DC Universe.

By Jesse Schedeen

DC's upcoming event comic Dark Nights: Metal will introduce a realm called the Dark Multiverse and the twisted, evil incarnations of Batman that rule that dimension. And at the DC Rebirth panel at SDCC today, DC gave fans their first real look at these so-called "Dark Knights." Check out DC's new teaser image below:

Each villain is a twisted fusion of Batman and another iconic DC hero or villain. From left to right, this lineup of villains features The Murder Machine (Cyborg), The Red Death (Flash), The Devastator (Doomsday), The Merciless (Ares), The Drowned (Aquaman) and The Dawnbreaker (Green Lantern).  DC also previously teased the existence of a seventh, Joker-inspired Dark Knight called The Batman Who Laughs, but it seems we'll have to wait longer to meet him.

Each of these characters will star in a one-shot special spinning out of the events of Dark Nights: Metal this fall. Here are the five issues DC has revealed so far:

BATMAN: THE RED DEATH #1 (on sale September 20)

Written by Joshua Williamson

Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico

BATMAN: THE MURDER MACHINE #1 (on sale September 27)

Written by Frank Tieri

Art by Ricardo Federici

BATMAN: THE DAWNBREAKER #1 (on sale October 4)

Written by Sam Humphries

Art by Ethan Van Sciver

BATMAN: THE DROWNED #1 (on sale October 18)

Written by Dan Abnett

Art by Philip Tan

BATMAN: THE MERCILESS #1 (on sale October 25)

Written by Peter J. Tomasi

Art by Francis Manapul

In other cool Batman news, Detective Comics writer James Tynion IV confirmed that Azrael will be donning his infamous Batman armor in the series' next major story arc. Azrael briefly took over the mantle of Batman during the Knightfall crossover in the early '90s. Tynion said that artist Alvaro Martinez has tweaked the familiar design as the armor makes its DC Rebirth debut.

Detective Comics #962 cover by Yasmine Putri. (DC Comics)

Tynion also confirmed that Tim Drake will be back in the spotlight with Detective Comics #965, which kicks off the storyline "A Lone Place of Living" (a nod to Tim's debut in 1989's "A Lonely Place of Dying"). This story will reveal why Mr. Oz felt it necessary to remove Red Robin from the world and the identity of Tim's mystery cellmate.

The panelists revealed several other interesting details about upcoming DC Rebirth storylines:

• Nightwing writer Tim Seeley said that the series' next story arc will bring Huntress and the Spyral organization back into play.
• Batwoman writer Marguerite Bennett revealed that Batwoman #6 will delve deeper into the evil future version of Kate Kane glimpsed earlier in the series.
• Batgirl and the Birds of Prey writers Julie and Shawna Benson teased an upcoming crossover called "Manslaughter" that will feature only female heroes, with Batwoman and Gotham Girl among the guest stars.
• Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps writer Robert Venditti said that issue #25 serves as the culmination of his run so far and that year two will push the series in a new direction, starting with the return of the New Gods.

Stay tuned to IGN all weekend for more news from the SDCC floor.

Jesse is a mild-mannered writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

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