Batman's role in DC Rebirth is about to get a lot more complicated with the reveal of Dark Days, a pair of one-shots that promise to reveal "the dark underbelly of the DC Universe."

Dark Days: The Forge #1 cover by Jim Lee. (DC Comics)

Batman #21 cover by Jason Fabok. (DC Comics)

Titled Dark Days: The Forge #1 and Dark Days: The Casting #1, these one-shots will feature Batman veterans Scott Snyder (All-Star Batman) and James Tynion IV (Detective Comics) working with superstar artists Jim Lee (Suicide Squad), Andy Kubert (Batman) and John Romita, Jr. (Superman).“Dark Days posits a mystery that traces all the way back to when I started on Batman," said Snyder in DC's press release. "I've hinted at them over the years with Easter eggs and clues. This is a mystery that literally begins at the dawn of man and spans generations of heroes and villains and ultimately leads to huge revelations about the past, present and future of the cosmology of DC. I couldn't be more excited for Dark Days. It's the prelude to the event we've been developing for years.”“We’re taking all the ethos and excitement of the work Scott and I have been doing in the Batman titles and unleashing it across the entire DC Universe,” said Tynion IV. “The size and scope of what we're looking to do with Dark Days could only be accomplished by the best of the best. Andy, Jim and John are legends. All of us on this project are pushing one another, and every concept, to the extreme.”Snyder refers to Dark Days being the "prelude" to another story, which we assume is the event comic he and artist Greg Capullo have been teasing since wrapping up their Batman run last year. For now, though, DC is remaining mum on what comes after these two one-shots. But between Dark Days and the upcoming Batman/Flash crossover The Button , it's clear the Caped Crusader will be keeping plenty busy in the months ahead.Look for Dark Days: The Forge #1 to hit stores on June 14, with Dark Days: The Casting #1 to follow on July 12.

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