DC's Dark Crisis and Batman's Shadow War Loom Over Upcoming Releases

Shadow War: Omega ends a crossover event between Batman, Robin and Deathstroke while Road to Dark Crisis marks the imminent arrival of a new one.

Batman’s Shadow War event ends while Dark Crisis debuts its final prelude in new releases from DC Comics.

Shadow War: Omega #1 hits shelves on Tuesday, the conclusion to a crossover between several titles penned by writer Joshua Williamson: Batman, Robin and Deathstroke Inc. The event began with the assassination of Ra’s al Ghul by a Deathstroke imposter, pitting Talia al Ghul and her followers against Slade Wilson and his Secret Society of Super-Villains in an all out war. Shadow War: Omega picks up after the death of Deathstroke in Robin #14 and the revelation that Geo-Force killed Ra’s, and now he wants Talia to follow suit. Of course, there is more coming out from DC this week though.

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While Shadow War is ending, Dark Crisis is only ramping up. Releasing alongside the Omega issue is Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1. The issue will be an anthology of various stories exploring the world after “The Death of the Justice League” and builds toward Williamson and artist Daniel Sampere’s 2022 event, which will officially begin on June 7 and run through December. Deathstroke will also be a threat in the upcoming event, though how he will return to life remains to be seen as of writing.

Shadow War: Omega and Road to Dark Crisis lead a light week of releases for DC, with other available books including annuals for Batman and Action Comics and the latest issue of the horror title, The Nice House on the Lake. The full list of releases can be found alphabetically below, covers and solicitations included.

ACTION COMICS 2022 ANNUAL #1

Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON and SI SPURRIER
Art by DALE EAGLESHAM and IAN CHURCHILL
Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
Variant cover by STEVE RUDE
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 5/31/22
As the Warworld Saga reaches a breaking point, battle lines are drawn between the two towering forces at odds: Mongul and Superman. In this special 2022 annual we’ll explore how our combatants have evolved over the years to represent the beacons of hope and tyranny that they respectively embody…and witness the first chilling chapter of their ultimate final battle!

BATMAN 2022 ANNUAL #1

Written by ED BRISSON
Art by JOHN TIMMS
Cover by MIKEL JANÍN
Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (ccccard stock)
ON SALE 5/31/22
Following the events of the Abyss story arc, Batman has now tasked Ghost-Maker to finance and lead Batman Inc.! First order of business for the new management? Clean up a huge mess Luthor created in Chechnya…but is this new group ready to face fearsome new threat the Gray Wolf? And prepare yourself for the evolution of Clownhunter!

JUSTICE LEAGUE: ROAD TO DARK CRISIS #1

Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, JEREMY ADAMS, BRANDON THOMAS, CHUCK BROWN, STEPHANIE PHILLIPS, and
PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art by CLAYTON HENRY, FICO OSSIO, EMANUELA LUPACCHINO, LEILA DEL DUCA, and more!
Cover by DANIEL SAMPERE
Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
1:25 variant cover by RAFAEL SARMENTO
$5.99 US | 48 pages | One-shot | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 5/31/22
The Justice League has tragically fallen in battle, and now we see the aftermath.
How does the world react to the Justice League being gone? Which heroes rise up…and which villains try to take advantage? And what dark forces are lying in wait to attack?
An all-star roster of DC talent showcases a world without a Justice League and sets the stage for next month’s Dark Crisis event!

THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE #9

Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art and cover by ÁLVARO MARTÍNEZ BUENO
Variant cover by NICK ROBLES
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 9 of 12 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 5/31/22
17+
All Arturo wants is for his partner, Sam, to be happy—so why isn’t he? What is scratching at the edge of Sam’s memories that keeps him restless and unsatisfied? As a journalist, nothing can keep Sam from the truth—no matter what that truth could cost the man he loves…

SHADOW WAR: OMEGA #1

Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Cover by JONBOY MEYERS
Variant cover by MIKEL JANÍN
1:25 variant cover by JAMES STOKOE
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 5/31/22
THE SHADOW WAR’S EPIC CONCLUSION!
The shocking finale of the Shadow War! Lives have been lost. Heroes and villains have fallen in battle. And now the real mastermind behind the Shadow War has been revealed. But they are far from done! Batman and Robin are all that’s left to put a stop to their real plans. Can the father-and-son duo work together to save the day? Events in this issue lead directly into DC’s next big summer event!