Review:
Insomnia, a frightful new villain striding through the DC universe, takes center stage in this book. Collected here is the core mini-series and one-shots that make up the backbone of this crossover event.
Insomnia has enough power to put the whole world to sleep and to then sift through the nightmares of billions of people, including the world's super-powered beings. Yet he must find a magical Nightmare Stone in order to really accomplish his goal of making the Justice League pay for how they made his life a miserable tragedy.
This incoherent dichotomy is just one of several frustratingly weak elements of this tale.
Since Insomnia cannot find the Nightmare Stone himself, he must manipulate the few heroes who remain awake in spite of the global nap-time he created: Deadman, in a long-term possession of Batman's body; Damian Wayne's Robin, who has trained his mind to control his dream states; and a resurrected Sandman. 'Motley' barely begins to describe this crew!
What, one wonders about others like Raven with her magical and underworld powers? or Martian Manhunter with his alien brain and mind-powers of his own? Or others with alien physiologies like Starfire or even Superman? although in his case, we do know that he succumbed as easily as any human.
Deadman easily falls into the trap that observant readers surely saw dozens of pages earlier, although he does have one card to play still, to break Insomnia's hold on the world. But can he break the nightmares that haunt Insomnia himself?
It all adds up to a brutal, horror-filled disappointment of a cross-over.
Artists like Howard Porter, Guillem March and more lean into the horror motifs and dreamscapes. Twisted bodies, tentacles and fangs, scattered and non-overlapping panel layouts all evoke the absurdities and terrors of a nightmare. If only they were enjoyable images. But too often they feel rushed, as though too much time was spent on those fangs and gory deformities, leaving too little time for faces and expressions. The colorists do a great job switching between the dark nightmares and the sepia-toned memories.
The introductions with Deadman breaking the fourth wall and addressing us readers directly add some nice touches.
And this hardcover volume includes the complete and stunning collection of variant covers from these comics.
But none of it is able to save an otherwise plodding, incoherent and unpleasant story.
Description:
Horror devastates the DC Universe as its greatest heroes confront their
worst nightmare in this terrifying epic, perfect for all fans of Batman,
Superman, and Wonder Woman!
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!
As Batman,
Deadman, and Wesley Dodds—the original Sandman—attempt to unravel this
mystery, Insomnia unleashes his horrifying army—the Sleepless Knights!
This
self-contained series is the summer blockbuster of comics events—set
firmly in current continuity, but a perfect jumping-on point for all
fans of DC and horror! Knight Terrors is written by DC mainstay and
horror comics veteran Joshua Williamson, and chillingly illustrated by
celebrated artists including Howard Porter, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and
Caspar Wijngarrd!
This volume collects Knight Terrors First
Blood, Knight Terrors #1-4, Knight Terrors: Night’s End, the full main
Knight Terrors story.
Collects: Knight Terrors First Blood, Knight Terrors #1-4, Knight Terrors: Night’s End
Authors: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Howard Porter, Guillem March, more
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Feb. 6, 2024
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1779524591
Pages: 232 pages
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