In the final review of the Knight Terrors event, Insomnia has the Nightmare Stone in hand. With it, he sets his final plans in motion.
Knight Terrors: Night’s End #1
Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Howard Porter, Trevor Hairsine, and Giuseppe Camuncoli
Main Cover by: Howard Porter
Variant Covers: Simone Di Meo, Dan Mora, Kendrick Lim, and Mico Suayan
Page Count: 48 Pages
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Synopsis (spoilers ahead):
Insomnia, wronged by the Justice League long ago, has released nightmares where they are monsters on the world using the Nightmare Stone. In addition to that, he has locked Boston Brand away in a dream where he gets to live with his family again.
The rest of our team, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Robin, Detective Chimp, Cliff Steele, Zatanna, and Sandman do their best to battle Insomnia himself inside the Hall of Justice. Insomnia berates our heroes for failing as all of their nightmares attack.
Sandman calls for Deadman who is lost in his dreams. Luckily he hears and snaps out it and lunges at Insomnia, getting a few good punches in. While Deadman distracts, the rest of the team heads for John Dee’s body, the last known place of the Dream Stone. Zatanna and Cliff Steele hang back and take care of the Sleepless Knights. Deadman pleads with Insomnia to help him destroy the stone before it corrupts him too far and there is no coming back. Insomnia tears Deadman apart.
Sandman, knowing that he can control the Dreamstone, takes it from Batman and attacks. Before Sandman gets there, Deadman attacks from the back, faking his death only a moment earlier. He grabs the Nightmare Stone and uses it to send Insomnia back to Nightmare Realm; needing a sacrifice, Deadman is taken to another world as well.
We end with Batman collapsing; Deadman may have caused to much damage while spending extended time inside him. Unfortunately, Insomnia’s plan also worked as the world saw the Justice League as monsters long enough to lose trust and have a lot more fear towards them. In all the mess, Amanda Waller has made a move as well, grabbing the Nightmare Stone and the Helmet of Hate. We end with a mystery person putting on both, becoming Dr. Hate.
Analysis
I enjoyed a lot of the story but if I’m going to be honest, the story confused me at times. Everything with John Dee making a dream construct that allowed the Dreamstone to be hidden at the Justice League… I have read it a few times now and I am still a little lost. I very much like the overall idea however. Insomnia’s goal is to get the world to be afraid of superheroes. His motivation behind this is great, along with his execution. Even though they stopped Insomnia, he still executed his plan. I love the end where Williamson revealed that Amanda Waller is going to use this to her advantage in some way.
The art did not hit for me at all in this issue. It seemed to be overly chaotic to the point where I would almost call it sloppy, specifically if I’m comparing it to the previous issues in the run. This could just be a style that doesn’t vibe with me. However, I feel this stands below the issues coming before it.
I will again point out the covers. This is another issue where I would be happy to get the original or any of the variants.
Final Thoughts
A solid but somewhat disappointing end to the Knight Terrors. It just doesn’t stand up to the issues that have come before it. I am, however, looking forward to what Amanda Waller has coming next.
Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with an advanced copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
