How a children's science show inspired a dark multiverse of nightmares
In short: What if our reality isn't just one possibility, but sits atop an ocean of reactive matter? This concept sparked a massive comic book saga where Batman faces off against corrupted versions of himself. It started not with a tragedy, but with a father watching a documentary with his son.
The 'Dark Multiverse'—a realm of unstable worlds created from the hopes and fears of living beings—was conceptualized by writer Scott Snyder. While viewing Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey alongside his five-year-old boy, Snyder found the motivation for his dark multiverse concept. Fascinated by the concept of dark matter, Snyder imagined a hidden layer beneath the core DC Multiverse where 'almost' versions of reality persist as reactive matter.
In the 2017–2018 crossover event 'Dark Nights: Metal,' this theory manifests as a literal threat. The story reveals that Batman is part of a prophecy involving five divine metals—electrum, dionesium, promethium, Nth Metal, and batmanium. These metals act as keys; when Batman was exposed to them, he inadvertently opened a door for the dark god Barbatos to invade every Earth.
The narrative explores the 'World Forge,' a mechanism that creates universes from sentient emotions. Originally intended to destroy unstable worlds, the Forge became corrupted after Barbatos murdered its creator, allowing dark universes to persist. The conflict culminates in a battle across various locations—including Atlantis, Thanagar, and the Rock of Eternity—as heroes attempt to prevent the Dark Knights from using a 'doomsday device' to unleash their reality onto the multiverse.
Beyond the plot, the event served as a major milestone for DC Comics, marking the first post-New 52 appearance of Neil Gaiman’s Dream of the Endless. It also functioned as the culmination of Snyder and Greg Capullo's acclaimed Batman run, which included arcs like The Court of Owls and Endgame.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Dark Nights: Metal
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-dark-nights-metal.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in UK & Irish culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
