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Dark Crisis #2
- Writer:
- Joshua Williamson
- Artist:
- Daniel Sampere
- Letterer:
- Tom Napolitano
- Cover Artist:
- Daniel Sampere, Alejandro Sánchez
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $4.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-07-05
- Colorist:
- Alejandro Sánchez
After a year of foreboding in Infinite Frontier and months of preparation in Justice League Incarnate, DC's most anticipated event has finally come to pass -- the Justice League of Prime Earth is dead. A loss of this magnitude previously occurred once in DC history, in 2003's JLA: The Obsidian Age, when Batman had already established a backup League as a contingency. This time, the Titans have no one to look to for help, and Deathstroke is determined to reignite old rivalries. Written by Joshua Williamson with artwork from Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez and letters from Tom Napolitano, Dark Crisis #2 buries the heroes in deep trouble.
Dark Crisis #2 gives a little background into Pariah's motivations for causing the crisis event in the opening scenes. As a scientist who doomed his own earth, Pariah does the Great Darkness' bidding in hopes of restoring his world. The main story resumes from the last issue as Deathstroke leads his Secret Society in an all-out attack against the Titans. The ambush leaves massive signs of devastation on the Titans Tower, enveloping the structure in bellowing fire and smoke. Nightwing goes after the assailants, only to find his teammates and students in the clutches of Deathstroke.
With the world's premiere superhero team out of commission and no one standing as a last line of defense, it is open season on the supes and masks. Even before the heroes can react, the villains unify under one banner and take the war to the enemy. After a somber issue mourning a devastating loss, Dark Crisis #2 plunges into hardcore action, targeting the next generation of superheroes whose inexperience puts them in mortal danger. After a brief exposition from the Pariah's point of view, the story starts following Nightwing, the leader of the Titans and the teacher most responsible for the safety of his students. Writer Joshua Williamson sows the narrative with enough chaos to make every flip of the pages feel like a punch to the gut. The highlight of the climax remains the one-on-one grudge match between the archenemies Nightwing and Deathstroke.
Daniel Sampere's pencils and Alejandro Sanchez's colors blend together to capture a violent reaction on the pages of Dark Crisis #2. From imposing figures declaring their intentions with menace to characters striking their enemies in one fluid motion, the alternating dance of light and shadow have an intrinsic effect on the storytelling, applying a cinematic sheen over the pages. Sampere's lines add weight to every kick and punch thrown, delighting readers with one of the best depictions of hand-to-hand combat on the pages of a comic book. At the same time, Sanchez lights up the issue using only a limited palette of colors, predominantly using crimson in the background and a yellowish glow to set the scenes on fire.
Dark Crisis #2 lives up to its name, proving that it is more than just a passing gimmick. As if the death of the Justice League was not enough, Williamson takes things even further, this time burning the Titans to the ground. The aftermath of the issue is sure to have a lasting impact on the DC Universe. But all dark clouds come with a silver lining as Black Adam promises to lead the new age heroes out of the darkness. Dark Crisis #2 ends on a hopeful note, parting the blackest night for the brightest day.