Dream Theater and Opeth honoured by DC Comics

Dream Theater and Opeth are among a series of bands who are being celebrated by legendary publisher DC Comics in a new Band Edition of their 2020 series Dark Nights: Death Metal.

In a statement, DC say, "Representing a cross-section of metal music from across genres and generations, each special edition will feature a variant cover spotlighting a different metal band, an introduction from the band and exclusive interview."

"So pumped about the new Dream Theater collaboration with DC Comics," Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci Tweeted last night.

Santi Casas, who has worked on Iron Maiden's Legacy Of The Beast comics, has created the Dream Theater cover, while French Artist Mathieu Lauffray, who has worked on the Star Wars (Dark Horse) covers and the graphic novel sequel to Treasure Island, Long John Silver has created the Opeth art.

Other bands featured include Ozzy Osbourne, Ghost, Megadeth and Sepultura. The seven issues will with the Band Edition covers will be published monthly, beginning in March, in eight countries: France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Turkey.

There will also be a Collectors' Omnibus Edition featuring additional content, which will also be published in Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, South Korea and Japan.

Dark Nights: Death Metal was launched in June 2020 as a sequel to the 2017-18 series Dark Nights: Metal. Written by Scott Snyder (American Vampire, Batman, Batman, Swamp Thing) and illustrated by Greg Capullo (Quasar, X-Force, Spawn, Batman), the original series introduced fans to the Dark Multiverse, where alternate, mutated versions of popular DC heroes can be found, including the Batman Who Laughs.

"When the Earth is enveloped by the Dark Multiverse, the Justice League is at the mercy of the Batman Who Laughs," explain the publishers. "Humanity struggles to survive in a hellish landscape twisted beyond recognition, while Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, who have all been separated, fight to survive."

Artists

Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.