Earlier this year DC announced Knight Terrors, a crossover event that will run during the summer months and feature Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Deadman and others as they battle a new villain, Insomnia, in the realm of nightmares.
Now the publisher has revealed more details on the crossover event, which will take place across a special, a four-issue miniseries and numerous two-issue miniseries starring various heroes and villains trapped in their own nightmares. All of the issues appear to be planned for July and August, so by fall everyone should be awake again.
DC will kick off the event with an oversized special, Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 by Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter, which will set the stage for the event:
When Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman find the body of one of their earliest enemies inside the Hall of Justice, their investigation takes them past the land of the living, beyond the land of the dead, and directly to a new villain called Insomnia, who uses his powers to engulf every single hero and villain in their own dark and twisted nightmares. The only way to save the world is to call for the help of an unlikely hero—Deadman!
Here’s a look at some of Porter’s interior pages:
And the requisite variant covers, by Jae Lee, Francesco Mattina, Riccardo Federici and Ejikure, as well as black and white versions by Porter and Lee:
The First Blood special will arrive in stores July 4. It’ll be followed by a four-issue Knight Terrors miniseries, also written by Williamson and with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi and Caspar Wijngaard.
Following the events of Knight Terrors: First Blood #1, everyone in the world is trapped inside their nightmares, and Batman and Deadman are trying to figure out who Insomnia really is…and why he wants revenge on the heroes of the DC Universe!
It’s cool to see Deadman featured so prominently, as he is in the preview artwork for the first issue:
As well as on some of the variant covers, which are by Francesco Mattina, Alex Maleev, Evan “Doc” Shaner and a black-and-white version of the main cover by Ivan Reis:
That first issue arrives July 11, and will be followed by the second issue on July 25. In it, “Wesley Dodds, the Sandman, teams up with Batman and Deadman to uncover one of his oldest cases, which haunted him until the day he died. The trio are pointed in the direction of the Nightmare Stone, but Insomnia has unleashed his army, the Sleepless Knights, to hunt them down.”
Here’s a look at the main cover by Reis and variants by Mattina, Mahmud Asrar and Jeff Spokes:
Also kicking off in August, as mentioned above, are several two-issue series featuring DC’s heroes and villains. DC has announced the villains who will get miniseries (which is heavy on the “Bat” side), with the heroes expected to be announced later today. Here’s the rundown:
Knight Terrors: The Joker
When you’re the Clown Prince of Crime, what kind of nightmare do you have? Working a nine-to-five office job! How will the Joker handle meetings that could have been emails?! Why did management cancel bring-your-child-to-work day?! Who will want to make small talk at the coffee machine?! What is Alexis going to pick for lunch?! And who is the masked madman terrorizing Gotham at night?! Knight Terrors: The Joker #1 is available on July 4, written by Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing author Matthew Rosenberg and featuring art and main cover by Stefano Raffaele (GCPD: The Blue Wall). This first of two issues includes open-to-order variants by Francesco Mattina and Simone Bianchi as well as a 1:25 variant by Alan Quah, a 1:50 by Ryan Brown, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.
Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy
It’s another absolutely gorgeous and serene day in Pamela Isley’s lovely little new neighborhood in Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy #1 by Poison Ivy writer/artist team G. Willow Wilson and Atagun Ilhan! Everything and everyone here is wall-to-wall smiles! Nothing ever goes wrong, everyone is friends, and best of all, it’s made just for Ivy with lots and lots of love. Now, Pammy, don’t frown, don’t fuss, and don’t fret—just because this wasn’t what you thought you wanted, that doesn’t mean it won’t fit you like a glove! Have some pie, dear, don’t think too hard, and just smile. Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy #1 hits comics shops on July 4 with a main cover by Jessica Fong, open-to-order variants by Leirix and Jamie McKelvie, a 1:25 variant by Nimit Malavia, and a 1:50 variant by Jessica Dalva. Dustin Nguyen will also provide a Midnight variant cover.
Knight Terrors: Catwoman
Catwoman murdered Valmont, the man she loved, in order to save the other man she loved, Batman. She broke Batman’s one rule, and he will never forgive her for it, but Selina prays to Sister Zero for forgiveness and to wake up from the Nightmare Realm.Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1 is available on July 18 from Catwoman series writer Tini Howard and artist Leila Leiz (Mother of Madness). The first issue features a main cover and a 1:50 variant by Leiz, open-to-order variants by Tula Lotay and Corin Howell, a 1:25 variant by Dani, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.
Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn finds herself in a world beyond both the waking world and that of dreams in Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1 from Harley Quinn series writer Tini Howard and artist Hayden Sherman (Detective Comics). Harley’s nightmare world is one where her every choice creates a series of infinitely rippling profane reverberations. Plus, Leah Williams and Ben Templesmith help Harley crack a cosmic-mystery night terror in their backup story! Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1 is available on July 25 and features a main cover by Sherman, open-to-order variants by Jenny Frison and Tula Lotay, a 1:25 variant by Caspar Wijngaard, a 1:50 variant by Harley Quinn artist Sweeney Boo, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.
Knight Terrors: Black Adam
Black Adam is defending Kahndaq from a border assault when the deadly nightmare wave sweeps the planet, putting all people into the nightmare realm! But what are his deepest, darkest nightmares? What horror can put fear into the heart of Black Adam?! Knight Terrors: Black Adam #1 arrives in comic shops on July 4. It is written and drawn by Jeremy Haun (Constantine) with a main and 1:50 cover by Haun, open-to-order variant covers by Christian Ward and Tiago da Silva, a 1:25 variant by Karl Kerschl, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.
Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker
Deep in an abandoned Kobra safe house is a device able to access the dream powers of John Dee, a.k.a. Doctor Destiny. As heroes across the world succumb to nightmares, Angel Breaker wants it. Now, to infiltrate a hall of horrors, she’ll need the help of a professional thief—the man known as Raptor. But Angel Breaker and Raptor aren’t exactly friends. Can the mysterious merc trust a man who feels nothing but grudges as the strange pair encounter a horror as old as the Coda Sisterhood and even more dangerous? Written by Tim Seeley (Superman vs. Lobo), with art by Acky Bright (DC vs. Vampires),Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1 is available on July 25 with a main cover and 1:50 variant by Matteo Lolli, open-to-order variants by Ivan Tao and Leirix, a 1:25 variant by Chuma Hill, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.
Knight Terrors: Punchline
Alexis Kaye, a.k.a. Punchline, has no fears…or so she’d have you believe! They will be pried out of her in the nightmare world where she’s being hunted, and she’ll be forced to face her deepest, darkest nightmare in true horror-movie fashion! Knight Terrors: Punchline #1 is available on July 18 from writer Danny Lore (Multiversity: Teen Justice) and artist Lucas Meyer (Titans United: Bloodpact). It will feature a main cover and 1:50 variant by Gleb Melnikov, open-to-order variants by Ben Oliver and Otto Schmidt, a 1:25 variant by Tony Shasteen, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.