As 2022 ends, the future of the DC Universe is about to begin. DC has announced that Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, the final issue of the current event series, will feature what the company is calling the “Dawn of the DCU,” heralding a new era for the home of the Justice League, Batman, and far, far more.

According to the issue’s solicitation text, the final part of the story takes place after the threat of the Great Darkness has ended, but there’s an even greater danger on the horizon: Deathstroke and his Dark Army. With the return of the Infinite Earths and the Justice League — both of which came back in the fourth issue of the series, recently released — there’s all to play for as the heroes of the DCU have to fight for everything they believe in once and for all.

"It's always darkest before the dawn...and now we're there. A new dawn of the DC Universe,” Joshua Williamson says in a statement provided by the publisher. “This whole event started with death, so here we end with life. Our epic last issue shows why the DC Universe is at its best when it's adding and growing the mythology. From the start we've said this series was a love letter to the DC Universe and the big events, and readers will see that with this issue. Daniel and I put a lot of love into every page of this story. It's been one of the most rewarding and intense projects we've ever been a part of. And here in the end we launch the DCU into a new exciting direction!"

To mark the event, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 will be released with multiple covers, including a regular cover by the interior art team of Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez, a Final Crisis tribute by Viktor Bogdanovic, and four 'Dawn of DC' variants spotlighting the Justice League by World’s Finest artist Dan Mora. Check out Sampere and Mora's covers below.

(Intriguingly, Sampere’s cover for the issue, bearing the legend “Dawn of the DCU,” features what appears to be a glowing Nightwing — what, exactly, is Dick Grayson up to by the time the series ends?)

Additionally, there will be a foil variant featuring the art jam tribute to George Pérez that originally appeared in the back of DC books following his death a few months back, including contributions from Dave Gibbons, Gary Frank, Walter Simonson, Jim Lee, and Todd McFarlane.

“This issue represents the culmination of the most exciting and important project I've ever been involved in,” says artist Daniel Sampere. “Fans will find an epic, shocking and heartfelt finale. This is going to be a blast and DC fans shouldn’t miss it!”

Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 will be released December 20.

This summer, Dark Crisis expanded into Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, and DC added additional special issues at the same time. Read up on what’s been going on all summer as the DCU got even bigger.