Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Secret Origin #1

Writer: Geoff Johns, Scott Snyder Artist: Ryan Benjamin, Francis Manapul, Jerry Ordway, Paul Pelletier Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: December 23, 2020 Cover Price: $5.99 Critic Reviews: 21 User Reviews: 48
9.1Critic Rating
8.7User Rating

The DCU’s darkest secrets are explored while two titans clash! The heroes search for a way to defeat the Darkest Knight through the universe’s past, while Superboy Prime faces down the demonic Batman!

  • 10
    Black Nerd Problems - Morgan Hampton Dec 24, 2020

    This is another tie-in to the main Death Metal story that actually holds quite a bit of weight. It has huge ramifications for the final issue, so I'd say it is necessary to read it before Death Metal #7 comes out. Lucky for us fans, it's worthy of our time and money. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Comics: The Gathering - Carlos R. Dec 22, 2020

    Snyder and Johns have wrriten a can't miss issue for Dark Nights Death Metal. The art is gorgeous all the way through and is essential reading if you've ever been a fan Superboy Prime. Read Full Review

  • 10
    But Why Tho? - CJ Dec 22, 2020

    Dark Nights: Death Metal-The Secret Origin #1 is a surprisingly engaging story that features a villain returning to his heroic roots. It also proves that any character can have a moving story in the right creative hands. I highly recommend this for Superman fans or readers who are engaged in Dark Nights: Death Metal's ongoing narrative. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Dark Knight News - Steve J Ray Dec 22, 2020

    Every Superman fan needs to buy this book. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Kabooooom - Matt Morrison Dec 22, 2020

    While it may not be a home run as part of the Dark Nights Death Metal event, The Secret Origin is a brilliant commentary on the state of DC Comics and an exploration of why we read superhero comics. That message, delivered alongside some amazing artwork, is ample reason to pick this one up, even if you haven't been reading the miniseries so far. Read Full Review

  • 10
    DC Comics News - Carl Bryan Dec 29, 2020

    This one is a love letter to all comic book readers. It stands on its own without having to invest so much in the history of Death Metal. It rivals Superman's origin story and as a lover of dogs, you will simply love Krypto in this issue. A dog truly can see into the soul! Well done Mr. Snyder and Mr. Johns…. Happy Holidays! Read Full Review

  • 9.6
    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz Dec 23, 2020

    Other artists on the book include the amazing Ryan Benjamin and Paul Pelletier. They all do a great job together. Scott Snyder and Geoff Johns write an incredible script too and it is a perfect Christmas gift from the entire creative team. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    GWW - Nick Friar Dec 22, 2020

    What's so interesting about Superboy Prime's story in Dark Nights Death Metal: The Secret Origin #1 is the rejection he receives at every single turn. He may be Clark Kent, but most of his experiences have gone very differently than Superman's. It's a surprise he still has any semblance of sympathy for anyone else " especially when some of the people he's helping are giving him a hard time. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Dec 22, 2020

    This special might not appeal to every reader, but it tells an important story point in Death Metal while giving Superboy Prime some overdue peace. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Dec 22, 2020

    It's a great way to close the door on an era of DC Comics, and easily the best tie-in of the event. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    The Brazen Bull - Charlie Chipman Dec 22, 2020

    For those invested in DNDM, Dark Nights: Death Metal The Secret Origin (2020-) #1 is a necessary issue that adds to the overall reading experience. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    GWW - Nick Friar Dec 22, 2020

    What's so interesting about Superboy Prime's story in Dark Nights Death Metal: The Secret Origin #1 is the rejection he receives at every single turn. He may be Clark Kent, but most of his experiences have gone very differently than Superman's. It's a surprise he still has any semblance of sympathy for anyone else " especially when some of the people he's helping are giving him a hard time. Read Full Review

  • 9.2
    Weird Science - Jim Werner Dec 22, 2020

    Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Secret Origin #1 was a good read that put a smile on my face and was also important going into the finale of Death metal. Imagine that! Scott Snyder and Geoff Johns gave this issue Rebirth feels I've been missing and has me more optimistic about what's coming up in 2021 because if it's anything close to this, I will be delighted! Read Full Review

  • 9.2
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Dec 22, 2020

    Every artist brings something unique and interesting to the table in this issue. There are some great nostalgic moments in some of the art and other passages that have the slick style of today and those moments do a great job of distinguishing time, place and emotion in the issue. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    ComicBook.com - Spencer Perry Dec 23, 2020

    It would be easy to think with the length and messiness of the Dark Nights story that there would be one shot that could encapsulate so much of the narrative into a digestible state and also be a primer for a fan-favorite character's place in it, but Dark Nights: Death Metal The Secret Origin #1 does all of that. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    AIPT - David Brooke Dec 22, 2020

    This is without a doubt a must-read for those who enjoyed Infinite Crisis and the Superboy-Prime character in general. As we get closer to the end of this event it's quite clear the creators are aiming to capture the joy and beauty of comic books on the largest stage one can take these characters. For that, the event feels richer with the Dark Nights Death Metal The Secret Origin story as one of its main chapters. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Newsarama - Oscar Maltby Dec 22, 2020

    Of all the Dark Nights Death Metal one-shot that have been released these past few months, The Secret Origin might just be the very best. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez Dec 27, 2020

    Scott Snyder and Geoff Johns deliver an emotionally powerful end to Superboy-Prime's story with Dark Nights: Death Metal The Secret Origin #1. Everything Superboy-Prime has done since Infinite Crisis is paid off in way that by the end you do feel that the character got the ending he deserves. Snyder and Johns writing of Superboy-Prime's story is further strengthened by the top-tier artists that all worked on Dark Nights: Death Metal The Secret Origin #1. This is a definite must by for those reading Dark Nights: Death Metal. Read Full Review

  • 8.4
    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj Jan 4, 2021

    Maybe this is the book I needed at the end of 2020. The bad stuff is hopefully behind us. There is hope ahead. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Comic Watch - Matt Meyer Dec 22, 2020

    Dark Nights: Death Metal - The Secret Origin #1 feels like it's trying to cram too much into an already-overstuffed story, and despite some strong and even unexpected character beats, winds up falling victim to its own lack of necessity. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Batman-News - Nicholas Finch Dec 23, 2020

    The fight against stagnation and repetition in comics loses at the end of The Secret Origin " time, like the world of DC Comics itself, is presented as nothing more than a flat circle. Read Full Review

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