Justice League Dark Annual # 1 2012 NM-

Justice League Dark Annual #1, published by DC Comics on October 31, 2012, serves as the action-packed finale to writer Jeff Lemire's first major storyline, "The Books of Magic". The oversized issue brings together all the magical heroes to face the villainous Nick Necro and Felix Faust in a battle for control of the universe's most powerful magical artifacts. 

Plot Summary

The story picks up with the team stranded in the Sahara Desert after escaping Limbo. John Constantine, Deadman, Zatanna, and Madame Xanadu regroup and call in powerful reinforcements to track down Nick Necro and Felix Faust. 

• The Pursuit: The heroes are aided by Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E., and Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, who Constantine summons to help restore young Timothy Hunter's connection to magic.
• The Villain's Plan: In the House of Secrets, Nick Necro reveals his grand plan to Zatanna: to capture the powerful Books of Magic, a quest that involves killing the destined wielder, Tim Hunter.
• The Showdown in Nanda Parbat: The heroes trace the villains to Nanda Parbat, a mystical Himalayan city. A massive magical battle ensues as the two sides clash over the Books of Magic, with betrayals and shifting alliances on both sides.
• The Resolution: The conflict culminates in a major confrontation where the original John Constantine is revealed to have an "inner demon" doppelgänger, who sacrifices himself for the team. The battle ends with the villains defeated for now, but the team's victory is bittersweet, leaving them with new internal conflicts and further cliffhangers for the series' next arc. 

Key Credits

• Writer: Jeff Lemire.
• Artist: Mikel Janín (penciller and inker).
• Cover Artist: Ryan Sook.
• Publisher: DC Comics