Have some tissues ready because the next installment of Dark Nights: Death Metal is going to get a little emotional. The Justice Society of America, which features some of the most iconic heroes of the golden age, will be making their long-awaited (not to mention long-teased) return to the DC universe when the issue hits comic shops on July 14. For fans of the classic super-group, this might be the most welcoming piece of news to come from the publisher in quite some time.
In one of the preview images released by DC for part two of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s follow-up to 2018’s Dark Nights: Metal, we get a glimpse of J.S.A. members Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, Doctor Fate, and Wildcat as they meet with Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing, and Wally West. How they are meeting remains to be seen, but the idea that the iconic team will be assisting Diana and her crew is probably a good assumption to make. Whether that will include other team members like Hourman, Stargirl, or Wesley Dodds (the original Sandman) is unclear, though we can hope they'll show up in some capacity.
Seeing the Justice Society return (not to mention two classic holders of the Flash mantle reunite) is certainly a thrill, but it’s not the only thing to look forward to in the second chapter of Dark Nights: Death Metal. More details will be given as to what parts Harley Quinn and Jonah Hex will play in Batman’s rebellion against Perpetua, the reason for Lobo kicking around somewhere in space will be revealed, plus we’ll be introduced to someone called “The Robin King.”
The last issue showcased a number of returns by fan-favorite characters who'd been away from the DCU for a while. The war comics icon Sgt. Rock was certainly a highlight, as was everyone's favorite scarred western antihero Jonah Hex. We even got a brief peek at Etrigan as one of The Batman Who Laugh's henchmen, though it's unclear if the rhyming demon or his alter-ego Jason Blood will appear again. You never know, though. Events like these often give writers the opportunity to dust off forgotten or dead characters, and if the return of the Justice Society is any indication, there could be even more heroes and villains being reborn in the pages of Dark Nights: Death Metal. Issue 2 is in comic shops on July 14, 2020.