I'll admit, this was a pretty ambitious concept, and while it was executed masterfully, from time to time it became a little convoluted and difficult to follow, both in concept and panel action. I really enjoyed it, but didn't love it.

Dark Nights Metal is the most turgid comic I have yet read. Reading it was like wading through mud, with a small hint of sweet treacle here and there. The first four issues are just plainly bad, there are no real scenes, just characters explaining what's happening to one another with very little actually, well... *happening*. I don't want to make the lazy and unknowable claim of 'laziness' but there's a very first draft kind of vibe to the density of this story, I thought when all the evil Batman came through the Dark Multiverse we'd get a bit more space and some actual character development, or something, but no. The only breathing space is found in the last two issues that wrap in a silly, contrived, but at least vaguely enjoyable way. I forced myself through the last half just to move onto the next thing, which I will happily do, with very little chance of ever returning to this mess.