With each issue of DARK NIGHTS: METAL, things have gotten worse for the heroes of the Justice League and the people of Earth (that would be us!). Batman and Superman have journeyed to the Forge of Worlds to obtain the pure, cosmically powerful metal that can destroy Barbatos and his twisted minions. But the Forge seems to have gone dark, guarded instead by a monstrous version of Hawkman. Meanwhile, the teams who have traveled the galaxy in search of Nth Metal have also been met with setbacks and defeat.

In short, things aren’t looking good. At all. As in, you-might-not-want-to-put-off-that-vacation-to-next-summer-after-all sort of bad.

Yet, sometimes when things are at their worst, when there seems to be no path forward and darkness surrounds you, sometimes you get a lift from the most unexpected of places. Like maybe…Mars! Imprisoned on Thanagar Prime and unable to use their weapons, it looks like “Game Over” for Hal Jordan and Mister Terrific at the start of this week’s issue #5. That is, until they get a visit from a badly missed friend. Enjoy this exclusive first look!

First Look: The Return of Martian Manhunter Pages: 0 Read Preview

DARK NIGHTS: METAL #5 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia is in stores this Wednesday.