After the multiverse traversing journey of Dark Crisis, the world-changing Lazarus Planet event plunged DC's heroes into a war with the devil, Nezha. Now DC is going back to its horror roots with Knight Terrors, spanning four main titles and several two-issue one-shots, focusing on multiple heroes and villains. As the event starts with Knight Terrors: First Blood #1, a new supernatural villain rears their head to plunge the world into nightmares and terrorize everyone. Writer Joshua Williamson, artists Howard Porter and Brad Anderson, and letterer Troy Peteri kick things off with a fun first issue.
Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 shows the world of DC fall prey to dark forces where even the master of dreams finds horrors waiting for him. John Dee, better known as the supervillain Dr. Destiny, enjoys a picnic with his wife and children under a setting sun when suddenly his family morphs into garish monsters. Although he quickly realizes he is under attack in his dream, he cannot help himself from entering the dreamworld's version of the Hall of Justice, where the enemy has laid a trap for him. Deadman senses the disturbance and flies ahead to see Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman already investigating a tripped silent alarm, not knowing that John Dee's lifeless body lies in the next room.
Horror is all about building the premise before diving into the dread. Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 starts with a nightmare scenario targeting Dr. Destiny's deepest desires. The story uses him as a device to introduce the mystery and spook the reader, showing the master of dreams succumbing to his own nightmares through a mysterious entity named Insomnia. The linear flow of the narrative helps introduce the rest of the players, with The Trinity taking centerstage. But soon, the World's Greatest Detective takes the reins of the rest of the book as the unceremonious death of John Doe opens up a floodgate of uninvited terrors. Though dialogue is not the issue's strong suit, making the book sluggish and clichéd in some places, Joshua Williamson gives it enough twists to keep the reader's attention affixed.
Howard Porter's style works with the theme of the book. His illustrations bring out the gnarly look of Insomnia's demonic forces as the swirly lines take hold in the nightmare realm, making everything look writhing and dry, finding a balance between the Lovecraftian and the morbid. From molds foaming at the mouth to dreadful creatures slithering around, the artwork crosses over into the body horror territory, leaving behind garish scenes. Colorist Brad Anderson favors a bright purple tone for the terrifying backdrop to create an ominous atmosphere. The bright colors are for the heroes, but they are few and far between, given the circumstances. Meanwhile, letterer Troy Peteri uses a range of font styles to keep up with the different voices.
As the name suggests, Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 constructs a cage of nightmares and traps some of the most powerful beings of the DC universe inside it. The key to the entire story arc lies in this other realm that has unleashed every fever dream imaginable into the real world, where they have materialized themselves into beasts and monsters bred for chaos. With Insomnia taking out some of the big-league players, the event makes everything look grim and hopeless for now. While Deadman becomes a bystander as Batman relives his childhood trauma, he makes himself useful by the end, giving a glimmer of hope. Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 promises a rush as the house of cards the heroes have built comes crashing down.