Nightwing, Lex Luthor and a new writer take over Justice League title for Death Metal crossover

(Image credit: Liam Sharp (DC))

Flash writer Joshua Williamson will be taking over DC's Justice League title in September, just in time for a five-part tie-in to the concurrent Dark Nights: Death Metal event titled "Doom Metal".

(Image credit: Liam Sharp (DC))

"Nightwing’s on a mission to free the Legion of Doom from Perpetua’s clutches. But to do so, he’ll need the help of none other than…Lex Luthor?!" reads DC's solicitation for the kick-off issue, #53. "The surprises are only just beginning, as Nightwing, Lex, and a new Justice League must fight their way through an Earth twisted by the Dark Multiverse. Titans will be tested, hearts will be broken, and blood will be spilled!"

According to DC, this tie-in is integral to the larger Death Metal event - soliciting that this five-issue Justice League arc "will directly impact the finale of that event!"

Williamson will be working with Xermanico, an artist who has been drawing the title recently with current series writer Robert Venditti. Liam Sharp has drawn the cover to #53, with a variant incoming from Ben Oliver.

Although best known for his work on the Flash title, Williamson has written the JL on several occasions including the Justice League vs. Suicide Squad event, Justice League Odyssey, and co-writing Justice League: No Justice.

The Dark Nights: Death Metal event kicks off June 16 with Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 (of 7), and will include several concurrent one-shots such as Trinity Crisis, Speed Metal Multiverse’s End, Legends of the Dark Knights, a Metalverse Guidebook, and two additional teased specials dubbed 'Robin King' and 'Last 52.'

Williamson's Justice League run kicks off September 15 with Justice League #53 - just one week before his finale on The Flash.

Here's a full list of DC's September 2020 titles.

Chris Arrant

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)