Earlier this year, DC Comics promised that a pair of new one-shots -- "Dark Days: The Casting" and "Dark Days: The Forge" -- will kick off a mystery that "will reveal the dark underbelly of the DC Universe," and lead to Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's "Dark Nights: Metal" event. Shortly after that tease, DC announced its Dark Matter imprint, a line of titles headlined by "Metal" and focusing on its roster of superstar artists including Jim Lee, John Romita Jr. and others.

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Now, accompanying the first look at Lee, Romita and Andy Kubert's "Dark Days: The Forge" art we have a further clue as to what this all means for the DC Universe; in the text accompanying the preview, DC has revealed that "the Dark Multiverse is coming." As for what it is, that remains to be discovered, but this isn't the first time the phrase has been seen -- an early look at DC's Dark Matter art included a note referencing the Dark Multiverse as the source of power for the title character of Dan DiDio & Justin Jordan and Kenneth Rocafort's "The Silencer."

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According to DC's release, "The Forge" "begins with a discovery, and a secret. Aquaman, The Flash and more of DC’s pantheon of heroes suspect Batman of hiding a dark secret that could threaten the very existence of the Multiverse! What has he discovered? And how does this connect to the origins of one of DC’s most legendary heroes?"

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"Spearheaded by Snyder, METAL and it’s preludes will expand the DCU as we know it— revealing that the world of our favorite DC characters still has many areas left uncharted. Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman and the rest of the Justice League think they’ve been to every corner of the Multiverse—but a looming threat is coming from a place they never knew existed. Welcome to a crazy, melt-your-face, hard-rock space adventure like you’ve never seen before."

"Dark Days: The Forge" art by John Romita Jr.

"'Dark Days' posits a mystery that traces all the way back to when I started on 'Batman.' I've hinted at them over the years with Easter eggs and clues," Snyder said in an earlier statement regarding the big event. "This is a mystery that literally begins at the dawn of man and spans generations of heroes and villains and ultimately leads to huge revelations about the past, present and future of the cosmology of DC. I couldn't be more excited for 'Dark Days.' It's the prelude to the event we've been developing for years."

Slated to hit store shelves on June 14, “Dark Days: The Forge” is written by James Tynion IV and Scott Snyder with art by Jim Lee, John Romita Jr., Andy Kubert and Scott Williams.

"Dark Days: The Forge" art by Andy Kubert
"Dark Days: The Forge" art by Jim Lee