To mark the launch of their villain-centric event FOREVER EVIL, DC Comics put their ongoing New 52 titles on hold for a month and ran 52 one-shots starring their biggest bad guys. To encourage readers to pick these issues up, they were numbered as decimal versions of the ongoing titles with each villains’ name adorning the cover. While all 52 issues are considered by many to be part of the FOREVER EVIL event, only 27 of them tie in directly. The rest simply stand alone or are connected to other storyarcs in the New 52 titles. See below to find out how it all slots together. This time around, each issue synopsis appears in as-close-to-chronological order as possible, without breaking issues down. Though we’ll show how the ‘Villains Month’ tieins break down throughout FOREVER EVIL when we run the guid eot that event soon.
SCROLL DOWN to the bottom for the KEY COLLECTED EDITIONS for this event!
Themed Event: All issues were released as part of DC’s Villains Month themed event with some issues tying into other crossovers.
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- ✔ Action Comics #23.2: Zod
- ✔ Batman/Superman #3.1: Doomsday
- ✔ Justice League #23.1: Darkseid
- ✔ Batman #23.1: The Joker
- ✔ Action Comics #23.1: Cyborg Superman
- ✔ Teen Titans #23.2: Deathstroke
- ✔ Swamp Thing #23.1: Arcane
- ✔ Flash #23.2: Reverse-Flash
- ✔ Green Lantern #23.1: Relic
- ✔ Teen Titans #23.1: Trigon
- ✔ Superman #23.3: H’el
- ✔ Green Lantern #23.2: Mongul
- ✔ Wonder Woman #23.2: First Born
- ✔ Superman #23.2: Brainiac
- ✔ Justice League Dark #23.1: The Creeper
- ✔ Batman #23.3: The Penguin
- ✔ Batman: The Dark Knight #23.4: The Joker’s Daughter
- ✔ Justice League of America #7.3: Shadow Thief
- ✔ Green Arrow #23.1: Count Vertigo
- ✔ Green Lantern #23.4: Sinestro
- ✔ Earth 2 #15.1: DeSaad
- ✔ Superman #23.1: Bizarro
- ✔ Justice League Dark #23.2: Eclipso
- ✔ Earth 2 #15.2: Solomon Grundy
- ✔ Justice League #23.2: Lobo
- ✔ Justice League #23.3: Dial E
- ✔ Action Comics #23.3: Lex Luthor
- ✔ Action Comics #23.4: Metallo
- ✔ Justice League of America #7.4: Black Adam
- ✔ Flash #23.3: The Rogues
- ✔ Aquaman #23.2: Ocean Master
- ✔ Aquaman #23.1: Black Manta
- ✔ Wonder Woman #23.1: Cheetah
- ✔ Batman and Robin #23.1: Two-Face
- ✔ Superman #23.4: Parasite
- ✔ Green Lantern #23.3: Black Hand
- ✔ Justice League of America #7.2: Killer Frost
- ✔ Flash #23.1: Grodd
- ✔ Batman and Robin #23.3: Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins
- ✔ Justice League of America #7.1: Deadshot
- ✔ Detective Comics #23.2: Harley Quinn
- ✔ Batman: The Dark Knight #23.3: Clayface
- ✔ Justice League 23.4: Secret Society
- ✔ Batman #23.2: The Riddler
- ✔ Detective Comics #23.4: Man-Bat
- ✔ Batman and Robin #23.2: The Court of Owls
- ✔ Batman: The Dark Knight #23.2: Mister Freeze
- ✔ Detective Comics #23.1: Poison Ivy
- ✔ Batman and Robin #23.4: Killer Croc
- ✔ Batman: The Dark Knight #23.1: Ventriloquist
- ✔ Detective Comics #23.3: Scarecrow
- ✔ Batman #23.4: Bane
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| Must Reads | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Action Comics #23.2: Zod On Krypton, brothers Jor-El & Zor-El find the young boy Dru-Zod after he’s spent a year in the wild following the death of his parents. Despite watching his mother and father being torn apart by the more ferocious creatures on the planet, Zod remained fascinated with monsters. And the wilds taught him to survive. In the years that followed, Zod became a great warrior. Zod successfully repels the alien Char attack on Krypton and takes the war to their world, earning the rank of General. But Zod, Non & Faora are found guilty of creating the hybrid ‘Char’ who attacked Krypton and are banished to the Phantom Zone. Also a part of POWER COUPLE |
| ✔ | Batman/Superman #3.1: Doomsday Lara Lor-Van of Krypton recalls the day she faced the monstrous Doomsday. Young Kara Zor-El is terrified by the story, so Zor-El tells her the tale of the Last Knight of the House of El. But Zod later speaks to her from the Phantom Zone and tells her that he and Doomsday will one daymake their escape… Also a part of POWER COUPLE |
| ✔ | Justice League #23.1: Darkseid Eons ago, Uxas grew tired of being trampled underfoot by uncaring gods. So he manipulated them, turning them against each other and killing them at their weakest point. Uxas stole the power of the Old Gods, while the last dying god granted Uxas’ brother Izaya the last of his power. They became Darkseid and Highfather, the first of the New Gods. Years ago, the creature Kaiyo brought the multiversal worlds of heroes to Darkseid’s attention, starting with Earth 2 then through to Prime Earth. Now, trapped on Apokolips, Darkseid continues with his plan to crush every reality’s Superman… Also part of CROSS WORLD |
| ✔ | Batman #23.1: The Joker A baby gorilla reminds the Joker of a toy he had as a child, so he steals it and raises it as his own and names it Jackanapes. Joker takes Jackanapes on multiple crime sprees over the years. Eventually, they confront a council-woman intent on demolishing Gotham Zoo. They mutate the council-woman who fights back and drags them both through a skyscraper window. Only Joker survives the fall. |
| ✔ | Action Comics #23.1: Cyborg Superman Before Krypton was destroyed, Zor-El rejected Jor-El’s offer to save his family from the planet’s imminent demise. Instead, he tried to adapt illegal Brainiac tech, which temporarily allows the city of Argo to survive Krypton’s end. Nine months later, Brainiac found Argo and it’s last survivor Zor-El who he ‘rebuilt’ in the image of his superior brother as a cyborg with no memory of his past. Brainiac sent the cyborg out into the universe to seek out perfection… Also part of OUT OF THE PAST |
| ✔ | Teen Titans #23.2: Deathstroke Years ago, Slade Wilson quit the US Army after his last mission with Michael Cray left a number of children dead. Years later, Slade started taking his son, Grant Slade, on mercenary missions, only for him to die in Korea. The mission also cost Slade an eye. |
| ✔ | Swamp Thing #23.1: Arcane Following his most recent defeat (during ROTWORLD), Anton Arcane is trapped in a plane where nothing rots. The niece he raised, Abigail Arcane – the new Avatar of the Rot – visits him to learn about her mother. As she leaves via a portal, Arcane hurls his eye through after her. It emerges in a rotten apple on the Earthly plane… |
| ✔ | Flash #23.2: Reverse-Flash Three months ago, Daniel West was released from prison during the Rogues’ war with Gorilla Grodd (during GORILLA WARFARE). Mirror Master attempted to thwart Daniel’s attempt to escape the Rogues’, which sent him and the Speed Force Engine from Dr Darwin Elias’ monorail into the Mirror World. Daniel emerged, fused with shards of metal and with the power to turn back time. Now, as Reverse-Flash, he uses the Speed Force he’s absorbed from the Flash to travel 15 year into the past to confront his abusive father. But his younger self and young Iris West walk in on him as he’s about to kill their dad… Also part of REVERSE |
| ✔ | Green Lantern #23.1: Relic Long ago, the Lightsmiths utilised the power of the emotional spectrum, using it to wage war and to create cities. One being pleaded with them not to use up the resource for selfish means, believing it to be finite. The Lightsmiths rejected his pleas and called him a Relic. Though the power did evenetually fade, leading to the War of Dimming Light which ended with all things being sucked into the Source Wall. But a new universe was born and the Relic was the only survivor from the previous existence. Billions of years later, in our present, the anomaly is was opened by Lanterns – the modern lightbearers – and this time, Relic will need to use force against them to prevent death of this universe… Also part of THE ANOMALY |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Teen Titans #23.1: Trigon Countless years ago, the trio known as the Divine travelled from world to world, cleansing each one of evil. But one being who thrived on corruption survived their cleansing by consuming and absorbing the evil they’d expelled from hundreds of galaxies. This Trigon murdered the Divine and moved between worlds, intent on spreading his progeny to rule the galaxy in his name. But none of his children survived. Arella of Earth is brought to him, expressing her will to bear his child. Now, hving borne Raven as their daughter, she regrets her decision and seeks aid in stopping Trigon before he conquers Earth… |
| ✔ | Superman #23.3: H’el Following his betrayal at Supergirl’s hands (during H’EL ON EARTH), H’el was cast back in time and his inert form has ended up back on Krypton, ten years before he first met Jor-El. H’el’s astral form follows Jor-El and discovers the truth about himself – that he is a clone – and kills Jor-El for his role in his own existence. He’l decides the only way to save Krypton is to rule it… Also part of KRYPTON RETURNS |
| ✔ | Green Lantern #23.2: Mongul Warworld drifts into Oblivoron Federation territory. Their Admiral demands the surrender of whoever is in charge and finds himself teleported to Warworld’s arena and the presence of Mongul. He gives Admiral Pyri a tour of Warworld and a brief overview of his violent life. In that time, Mongul’s forces have destroyed Oblivoron-5 and begun recycling the planet for Warworld’s resources. Mongul beheads Pyri and prepares to face a sector house of the Green Lantern Corps… |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #23.2: First Born In Los Angeles, the First Born is near death after his confrontation with Wonder Woman. He turns to Apollo for help. The Oracles reveal the First Born’s origin. How Zeus ordered his first born child to die so he couldn’t claim his throne. The boy was taken away and left to die, only to be saved and raised by hyenas. He grew to fight life’s champions, wanting to be noticed by the gods. He raised an army to take on Olympus itself. Zeus wiped out his army in seconds, had the First Born erased from memory and sent him to the centre of the Earth. The Oracles reveal the future of Apollo, the First Born and their sister. Apollo puts the battered First Born back in his limo and drives off with him… Also part of WAR |
| ✔ | Superman #23.2: Brainiac Years ago, on the planet Yod-Colu, the eccentric genius Vril Dox was ostracised by his family and treated as a criminal. His discovery of a threat from the Fifth Dimension was dismissed, along with his insistence on ‘upgrading’ all other Coluans against the incoming invasion by the Multitude. Vril Dox was exiled for experimenting on his own son, so he upgraded himself and shrank the city where his wife and child resided while the Multitude destroyed Yod-Colu. He went on to shrink and archive a sample of every world in the Multitude’s path. He distributed an element of his consciousness into a representative on each world, acting under identities such as Abbakus, Brainwyrm or Mind2, but all an aspect of the Collector of Worlds. Krypton dubbed him Brainiac, but Jor-El repelled both Vril Dox and the Multitude. Brainiac managed to save the city of Kandor when Krypton was destroyed by other means. Now, on Noma, Brainiac admits his true methods for ‘saving’ worlds before destroying the planet. Before it’s destruction, the chief scientist sends a warning which is picked up by Dr Shay Veritas on Earth… |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #23.1: The Creeper In the 16th Century, the oni demon that called itself the Creeper was hunted by a samurai and drawn into his Soultaker sword. But the Creeper took control of the sword’s hellish internal dimension. The samurai was driven mad by Soultaker’s thirst and was killed with his own sword. He remained trapped in the Soultaker with the Creeper for 500 years, until Killer Croc shattered the sword. The Creeper also escaped the world within the sword and, weeks later, found a new host in deceased reporter Jack Ryder. Ryder reports on the carnage caused by a chaotic creature in San Fransisco, unaware it’s been caused by the demon inside his resurrected body… Also part of SOULTAKER |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Batman #23.3: The Penguin Slight-of-hand scammers, the Illusionists, ‘win’ $35,000 at the Iceberg Casino. Having just reclaimed his station from the Emperor Penguin, the Penguin handles this one himself. With Batman missing (following REQUIEM), Governor Carter Winston promises to shut down the Iceberg Casino himself. Penguin has Winston drugged and injected with Venom, inciting him with uncontrolled rage and causing him to murder his assistant. He uses this to bribe the Governor and remind him Gotham City is his. Winston shoots himself at his next press conference. |
| ✔ | Batman: The Dark Knight #23.4: The Joker’s Daughter A young girl, unhappy with her looks and her life, self-harms by cutting her own face. She eventually flees to the Nethers of the Gotham Underground where she finds Joker’s severed face and wears it as her own. Despite the Nethers’ leader wanting to help her, the ‘Joker’s Daughter’ defeats him to claim leadership of his tribe. Also part of GOTHAM UNDERGROUND |
| ✔ | Justice League of America #7.3: Shadow Thief Following her recent encounter with Hawkman (during WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS), the anti-alien former-spy Shadow Thief uncovers a planned arms deal by a band of Thanagarians. Before slaughtering them, she learns their deal was with her old Mossad comrade, Rahmiel Azaria, whose associates shoot her through a skyscraper’s window. After recalling how she gained the shadow suit and learned her contact at ARGUS was an alien Daemonite, she returns to the building and kills the arms dealers. She leaves Rahmiel alive and warns him not to deal with aliens… |
| ✔ | Green Arrow #23.1: Count Vertigo Young Werner Zytle and his mother fled from Vlatava to Canada when rebels killed his father. His mother sells him to men who perform experiments on him that give him superhuman abilities. Zytle escapes his captors and returns to Vlatava as ‘Count Vertigo’, using his powers to overcome the rebels and reclaim his ancestral castle. In the3 present day, Count Vertigo tracks down his mother in Canada, kills her and makes his way to Seattle to confront the Green Arrow… Also part of DISSONANCE |
| ✔ | Green Lantern #23.4: Sinestro Now free from captivity, Lyssa Drak seeks out Sinestro. Drak calls his origins – how he became a Green Lantern and was betrayed by Hal Jordan. She considers more recent history, including the fall of his home planet Korugar (during WRATH OF THE FIRST LANTERN). Drak realises there are surviving Korugarians in space and they’ll need Sinestro to lead them… |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #15.1: DeSaad Five years ago, DeSaad of Apokolips found himself on Prime Earth after losing the war on Earth 2. One year ago, having established an organisation of his own on Prime Earth, DeSaad’s forces, led by Cutter, attempt to steal the Quantum Tunneller from Holt Industries, only to find it and Michael Holt gone (during THE GATHERING). DeSaad sent Hakkou the Irradiated Man to destroy the Quantum Tunneller obtained by ‘Karen Starr’. He then tries to subvert an artist who refused to acknowledge him. Now, DeSaad calls upon Darkseid to bring him home to Apokolips… Also part of HUNT AND BE HUNTED |
| ✔ | Superman #23.1: Bizarro Two years ago, Lex Luthor obtained a sample of Superman’s blood. He planned to use the DNA to create a ‘Superman’ only he controls. Not long ago, Luthor’s experiment on human test subject A-0 had monstrous results. Lex was forced to use sunlight to kill the creature, though he learned from his findings. Now, test subject B-0 nears fruition… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #23.2: Eclipso Gordon Jacobs finally finds the means to make up for the failed experiment at Solar City. He has obtained the cursed Black Diamond and soon becomes aware that it’s a prison for Eclipso who recently failed to find the perfect host (during THE BLACK DIAMOND PROBABILITY). So Gordon agrees to cut himself with the Diamond, freeing Eclipso. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #15.2: Solomon Grundy In 1898 on Earth 2, the mother of a poor family who work at a slaughter house in Slaughter Swamp commits suicide after being assaulted by her boss, Mr Henry. Her husband, Solomon, murders Mr Henry and also kill’s himself. But the swamp wakes him from the dead. In the present, Solomon Grundy crashes back to Earth. And where he goes, death follows. The National Guard blow him up when he rampages through a city in search of the Green Lantern. But he quickly reforms again in the desert… |
| ✔ | Justice League #23.2: Lobo A young bounty hunter called Lobo accepts a smuggling gig in exchange for information. He realises he’s smuggling people who are due to be slaughtered, but this doesn’t deter him. Then he gets his prize… the whereabouts of a mean bastich also calling himself Lobo – an impostor also claiming to be the last Czarnian… |
| ✔ | Justice League #23.3: Dial E Some kids find themselves the target of criminals they stole a Q-Dial from. They use the Dial to transform into numerous dark personas from the to defend themselves. The Centipede emerges from a portal to reclaim the Q-Dial, but he’s knocked out by Roxie Hodder in the form of Rescue Jill. |
| ✔ | Action Comics #23.3: Lex Luthor Lex Luthor’s lawyers have released him from prison, but Superman is nowhere to be seen. After reconstructive surgery to restore his face, Luthor tests a new suit of battle armour and checks in on the clone he’s been growing. He also arranges a rocket launch, making it look like it’s in trouble in order to draw out Superman. But the Man of Steel doesn’t come and Lex decides not to rescue the astronauts so that Superman will look bad. Lex Luthor is back! Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Action Comics #23.4: Metallo Eighteen months ago, General Sam Lane restarted cyborg super-soldier Metal-Zero (aka Sergeant John Corben) with a piece of Kryptonite. Back on his feet – though mentally unstable – Corben is sent back into the field. His violent methods prompt Lane into blowing up an unmanned plane carrying Metal-Zero over the Atlantic Ocean. Corben walks through the depths and returns to America to seek revenge on Lane who unleashes Metal-2.0, a new cyborg soldier who is quickly defeated but sets off an explosive device. Corben is teleported away by the Secret Society of Super-Villains who offer Metallo a place among them. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Justice League of America #7.4: Black Adam 4000 years ago, Black Adam overthrew the barbaric Ibac the First to free Kahndaq. In the present day, the terrorist/revolutionary Sons of Adam fight to reclaim Kahndaq once again by resurrecting Black Adam following his most recent death (during SHAZAM!). Black Adam kills Ibac’s modern descendent and becomes Kahndaq’s protector, once more. But the sight of technology proclaiming “the world is ours” encores more rage from him… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Flash #23.3: The Rogues Earlier, the Rogues aborted a bank heist when people were endangered, sticking to their rule that Rogues don’t kill. Afterwards, Glider successfully pulled Mirror Master out of the Mirror World, but lost her astral form. Captain Cold is now leader again and the upgraded Rogues break into Iron Heights to free the Trickster, only to be bowled over by someone with similar powers to the Flash who gives them a coin to mark their membership into the Secret Society. Trickster is freed and, after gathering with the Secret Society, the Rogues return to Central City to take it back, but find it in ruins… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Aquaman #23.2: Ocean Master Ocean Master’s legal counsel at Belle Reve Penitentiary warns him he may be facing the death penalty (following his actions during THRONE OF ATLANTIS). When his legal counsel is killed in a sudden explosion, Ocean Master makes his escape. Ocean Master kills two murderous escapees and saves the son of Erin Shaw from more killers. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Aquaman #23.1: Black Manta Death Storm and Power Ring stage a break-out at Belle Reve Penitentiary, interrupting Amanda Waller’s failing attempt to recruit Black Manta into the Suicide Squad. As the super-criminals flee the prisonve, King Shark offers Black Manta a place among the Secret Society. Black Manta and Ocean Master cross paths as they retrieve their gear. Black Manta commandeers a helicopter and escapes Belle Reve. At the site of the Justice League’s downed Watchtower satellite station, the Crime Syndicate of Earth-3 announce the death of the League and unmask the captured Nightwing. Ultraman kills the Monocle for implying the Syndicate are the Justice League. Ultraman blocks out the Sun with the Moon which impacts the tides, washing away Black Manta’s father’s grave. With Aquaman dead, Black Manta redirects his hate toward the Crime Syndicate. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #23.1: Cheetah The Cheetah is among those who escape Belle Reve. US Marshall Mark Shaw tracks Cheetah to a commune in Idaho run by her aunt – the woman who turned her into the Cheetah. Aunt Lyta hunts Shaw, but Cheetah kills her to remove the last person who ever knew her as Barbara Minerva. Warp teleports Cheetah away before Shaw can even try and apprehend her. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Batman and Robin #23.1: Two-Face Scarecrow gives Two-Face a coin, offering him a place in the Secret Society. He tosses his own coin and accepts. He goes on to kill rioters on Gotham’s streets or make them stand trial, deciding at the toss of a coin. This brings him into conflict with the Secret Society, so he kills their goons and returns their coin. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Superman #23.4: Parasite When Metropolis was attacked by a living alien flu, Joshua Allen was tested for his exposure to it at STAR Labs. He unexpectedly transformed into a Parasite who needs to feed on life-forces. When Superman tried to stop him, the Parasite fed from Superman and became considerably more powerful. Now, the breakout at Belle Reeve allows the Parasite the chance to escape and return to Metropolis… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Green Lantern #23.3: Black Hand Black Hand materialises back on Earth in the mortuary where he was raised. Finding riots and murder on the streets, he raises the dead and sends them after the police. He heads to the cemetery where Hal Jordan’s father is buried and raises him from the grave. The zombie Martin Jordan gives Black Hand his own right hand to replace the one his son cost him. Then Black Hand raises all the dead in the cemetery… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Justice League of America #7.2: Killer Frost Years ago, Dr Caitlin Snow’s colleagues at a secluded STAR Labs Arctic outpost tried to kill her on HIVE’s behalf. Instead, she was transformed into Killer Frost. After the Crime Syndicate reveal the Justice League are dead, Killer Frost turns her back on the Society, believing her one chance to be cured is gone now that Firestorm is dead. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Flash #23.1: Grodd The denizens of Gorilla City have successfully formed a peaceful alliance with the people of Central City (following the events of GORILLA WARFARE). But Grodd arrives with his new powers, ready to stake his claim. He fights off Society members and his fellow gorillas and takes over Central City in no time. But he quickly becomes bored and departs… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Batman and Robin #23.3: Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins With the Justice League dead, the Electroctioner is sent to offer Ra’s al Ghul a place among the Secret Society of Super-Villains. Electrocutioner tries to kill Ra’s when he rejects the offer, but Ra’s spears him first and leaves him to bleed out. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Justice League of America #7.1: Deadshot Deadshot recalls how the senseless death of his mother, father & sister changed the direction of his life. After he finally gets a chance at revenge (while getting paid for it), Deadshot gets a call from Amanda Waller who tells him Belle Reve is gone. She sends him 12,000,000 to come help her… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #23.2: Harley Quinn Disinterested in the Crime Syndicate’s plans and devoid of purpose, Harley Quinn returns to Gotham City. Days ago, she gave free game consoles to kids. Now she blows them up out of boredom. Deadshot approaches her, asking her to return to the Suicide Squad… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Batman: The Dark Knight #23.3: Clayface After a heist doesn’t go to plan due to his temper, Clayface finds out the Justice League are dead. He tries to earn the attention of the Secret Society by killing the Resistance who are rising up against thenm, but the Resistance was just bait set up by the Secret Society to draw out rogue superheroes. After being insulted by their leader, Clayface’s tantrum sets off a destruct sequence and blows himself up. Clayface joins another crew looking to carry out a job, but he has plans of his own. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Justice League 23.4: Secret Society The Joker of Earth 3 tried to break Owlman’s control over Gotham City by killing his sidekick, Talon (Dick Grayson). He squirted a fluid into Alfred Pennyworth’s face that made him laugh uncontrollably. When Owlman killed the Joker, the skies turned red. A week later, Alfred and Atomica escaped to Prime Earth and started forming a Secret Society of Super-Villains. The Outsider knows Owlman will ask the captured Nightwing to join them, but he needs to convince him to kill Nightwing instead… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Batman #23.2: The Riddler The Riddler arranges for a protest outside Wayne Enterprises Tower while he stages the ultimate break-in (for the first time since ZERO YEAR). Part of the reason for the break-in is for revenge on security officer and former-Arkham Asylum guard, George Lesley. Succeeding in breaking through to the top floor, the Riddler plays solitaire on the roof, awaiting news that his greatest opponent, Batman, isn’t dead after all. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #23.4: Man-Bat Kirk Langstrom tracks down the woman who betrayed him – Francine Lee-Langstrom, once his wife and now the She-Bat! Kirk becomes Man-Bat and defeats her, but she knew he’d combined her formula with his to become her superior. Man-Bat becomes Gotham’s protector in Batman’s absence, though his methods are far more deadly. Gotham PD open fire on Man-Bat following another example of bloodthirsty ‘heroics’. Kirk Langstrom’s formula soon turns the Man-Bat into a true monster… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Batman and Robin #23.2: The Court of Owls The Court of Owls have been controlling Gotham City for centuries, using their assassins, the Talons, to remove anyone who doesn’t follow their grand plan or might expose them. In 1862, one rogue Talon – Felix Harmon – went on a killing spree and had to be contained. Now, there are riots on the streets of Gotham. One of the Owls and his daughter head beneath the city to unleash the first Talon… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Batman: The Dark Knight #23.2: Mister Freeze Following the recent revelations about his mother and Nora Fields (see NIGHT OF THE OWLS), Mister Freeze decides to track down the father who abandoned him. The Arkham breakout gives him the chance to locate his father, only to discover he’s already passed away. So he freezes his father’s family to preserve them. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #23.1: Poison Ivy The rioting and brutality in a Gotham City without Batman to contain then, reminds Poison Ivy of moments in her childhood. She recalls murder of her mother at the hands of her father and how she took revenge. Getting fired from Wayne Enterprises led to the accident that gave her powers. Now she uses her abilities to turn Gotham into her ‘Green Kingdom’… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Batman and Robin #23.4: Killer Croc Three dirty cops lead a SWAT team into Gotham’s sewers to locate evidence that ties them to a smuggling operation. They’re taken out one-by-one by Killer Croc who’s intent on avenging the one man who ever showed him kindness. While the world burns above, Croc continues to build an empire beneath Gotham. Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Batman: The Dark Knight #23.1: Ventriloquist The telekinetic Ventriloquist reopens a Gotham City theatre with the promise of food and shelter for those who need it. When a band of desperate Gothamites head inside, Ventriloquist puts on a creepy show. The Crime Alley Cretins also bust in and the Ventriloquist kills them all, adding to the audience of corpses ‘watching’ her show… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #23.3: Scarecrow The Scarecrow enters the Gotham territories of Two-Face, Mister Freeze and Riddler and to warn him that someone is coming to claim Blackgate and go to war with the rest of Gotham City. His efforts to recruit Killer Croc don’t go so well, but he reveals a power source owned by the Court of Owls keeping Talons frozen in stasis that could save Poison Ivy’s plants, winning her over. But ultimately, Scarecrow plans to come out on top and to take Gotham City for himself… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| ✔ | Batman #23.4: Bane Bane leaves Peña Dura Prison in Santa Prisca, loads up a ship with Venom and heads for Gotham City. Bane witnesses the eclipse caused by Ultraman from his ship. Blackgate Penitentiary is targeted by costumed criminals under Bane’s direction from his ship. He orders the capture of the Scarecrow. As he reaches the coast of Gotha, Bane rallies his troops and grants them doses of Venom as he prepares to take the city… Also part of FOREVER EVIL |
| Issues & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| Flash #24 (2013) The Flash prevents Reverse-Flash from disrupting the timestream by killing his own father in the past. | REVERSE |
| Green Lantern Annual #2 (2013) Relice has his climactic battle with the Green Lantern Corps. | LIGHTS OUT |
| Supergirl #22-24 (2013) Having been transformed from the Cyborg Superman back to human form, Zor-El is forced to make a decision with his daughter’s life in the balance. | OUT OF THE PAST |
| Superman #24-25 (2013-2014) Superman, Supergirl and Superboy oppose H’El’s attempt to reset the timeline. | KYRYPTON RETURNS |
| Catwoman #24, 26 (2013-2014) Joker’s Daughter makes her bid to rule the entire Gotham Underground. | GOTHAM UNDERGROUND |
| Batman/Superman #5 (2014) Mongul heads to Earth with a bizarre plan to rule the planet. | GAME OVER |
| Superman/Wonder Woman #1-7 (2013-2014) Both General Zod and Doomsday escape the Phantom Zone. | POWER COUPLE |
| Wonder Woman #24-35 (2013-2014) The First Born stages his lengthy finl campaign against Wonder Woman and Apollo. | |
| Green Arrow #24 (2013) Count Vertigo has his planned showdown with Green Arrow. | DISSONANCE |
| Forever Evil: Rogue’s Rebellion #1 (2013) The Rogue’s decide not to ally with the Crime Syndicate, making them a target for the Secret Society. | FOREVER EVIL ROGUE’S REBELLION |
| Suicide Squad #24 (2013) Under Amanda Waller’s direction, Deadshot and Harley Quinn gather recruits for a new Suicide Squad to rescue Waller from what remains of Belle Reve. | FOREVER EVIL WALLED IN |
| Forever Evil: ARGUS #3 (2014) Killer Frost’s dire need to access the Firestorm Matrix – the only thing that might cure her condition – leads to her alying with Steve Trevor against the Crime Syndicate. Forever Evil #2-3 (2013-2014) Lex Luthor activates Subject B-0 prematurely, hoping to use him against the Crime Syndicate; ina world without the Justice League, Lex Luthor gathers B-0 (later calling himself ‘Bizarro’), Black Adam, Black Manta and Captain Cold as the Injustice League to combat the Crime Syndicate. | FOREVER EVIL |
| Issues & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| Forever Evil #4 (2014) Ultrman rips the Kryptonite from Metallo’s chest for consumption. Forever Evil #5 (2014) After siding with the Secret Society, Shadow Thief is killed by Black Manta (though she later returns). | FOREVER EVIL |
| Forever Evil: Arkham War #1-6 (2014) Despite Clayface, Killer Croc, Man-Bat, Mister Freeze, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Two-Face, Ventriloquist and others peacefully carving Arkham up in to their own zones under the Scarecrow and Pengiun’s direction, it’s all thrown into chaos when Bane makes his bid to take control of the entire city; the Pengiun makes a deal with Bane who delivers the Emperor Pengiun to him. | FOREVER EVIL ARKHAM WAR |
| Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #5-6 (2014) Gorilla Grodd returns to Central City with a whole host of animal-themed villains to oppose the Rogues; the Rogues prove their worth in the war against the Crime Syndicate. | FOREVER EVIL ROGUES REBELION |
| Forever Evil: ARGUS #5 (2014) Steve Trevor reclaims Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth from Cheetah. Forever Evil #6-7 (2014) Bizarro is killed by Mazahs; Lex Luthor’s Injustice League overcome the Crime Syndicate; the Secret Society of Super-Villains is disbanded | FOREVER EVIL |
| Forever Evil Aftermath: Batman vs Bane #1 (2014) Batman returns to Gotham City to depose Bane. | FOREVER EVIL ARKHAM WAR |
| Aquaman #25 (2014) Ocean Master is revealed to have stayed on the surface, making a new life for himself with Erin Shaw and her son. | |
| Sinestro #1-5 (2014) Lyssa Drak locates Sinestro. | |
| Robin Rises: Alpha #1 (2015) Talia al Ghul finds herself resurrected, initially unaware of her previous fate. | ROBIN RISES |
| Worlds’ Finest #25 (2014) DeSaad escapes Prime Earth and returns to Earth 2. | THE DARK AGE |
| Earth 2: World’s End #1 (2014) Darkseid begins his full assault on Earth 2. Earth 2: World’s End #4 (2014) Solomon Grundy faces the Green Lantern again. | WORLD’S END |
| Green Lantern #37 (2015) Hal Jordan is reunited with his resurrected zombified father, controlled by Black Hand. | GODHEAD |
| Superman/Wonder Woman #15 (2015) Parasite next faces Superman head-on. | TRUTH |
| Lobo #1 (2014) Lobo kills the apparent impostor Lobo, though his death doesn’t last. | |
| Batman #39 (2015) Uriah Boone – one of the Court of Owls’ first Talons from the 1600s – is resurrected to take on Batman; it’s not confirmed if Boone is the ‘First Talon’. | ENDGAME |
| Swamp Thing #36-37 (2015) Anton Arcane is revealed to have escaped the realm in which nothing rots. | |
| Justice League vs Suicide Squad #4-6 (2017) Eclipso finally makes his bid to control the population of Earth. | JUSTICE LEAGUE VS SUICIDE SQUAD |
| Deathstroke #11 (2017) The Creeper’s origins are altered to resemble the more traditional version of the character. | |
| Titans #11 (2017) Despite having already been shown to have died twice before, Deathstroke’s son, Grant Wilson, dies of a heart attack while fighting the original Teen Titans. | THE LAZARUS CONTRACT |
| Raven: Daughter of Darkness #1-6 (2018) Trigon makes his bid to claim Earth, but is opposed by Arella & Raven. | |
| Justice League: No Justice #2-4 (2018) Brainiac’s son is revealed to have survived and become Brainiac 2.0. | NO JUSTICE |
| Nightwing #48 (2018) Jackanapes is revealed to be alive (or replaced with an ape with the same name). |
Notable collected editions featuring the Villains Month (2013)…
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| DC Comics: The New 52 Villains Omnibus | Action Comics #23.1: Cyborg Superman Action Comics #23.2: Zod Action Comics #23.3: Lex Luthor Action Comics #23.4: Metallo Aquaman #23.1: Black Manta Aquaman #23.2: Ocean Master Batman #23.1: The Joker Batman #23.2: The Riddler Batman #23.3: The Penguin Batman #23.4: Bane Batman and Robin #23.1: Two-Face Batman and Robin #23.2: The Court of Owls Batman and Robin #23.3: Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins Batman and Robin #23.4: Killer Croc Batman/Superman #3.1: Doomsday Batman: The Dark Knight #23.1: Ventriloquist Batman: The Dark Knight #23.2: Mister Freeze Batman: The Dark Knight #23.3: Clayface Batman: The Dark Knight #23.4: The Joker’s Daughter Detective Comics #23.1: Poison Ivy Detective Comics #23.2: Harley Quinn Detective Comics #23.3: Scarecrow Detective Comics #23.4: Man-Bat Earth 2 #15.1: DeSaad Earth 2 #15.2: Solomon Grundy Flash #23.1: Grodd Flash #23.2: Reverse-Flash Flash #23.3: The Rogues Green Arrow #23.1: Count Vertigo Green Lantern #23.1: Relic Green Lantern #23.2: Mongul Green Lantern #23.3: Black Hand Green Lantern #23.4: Sinestro Justice League #23.1: Darkseid Justice League #23.2: Lobo Justice League #23.3: Dial E Justice League 23.4: Secret Society Justice League Dark #23.1: The Creeper Justice League Dark #23.2: Eclipso Justice League of America #7.1: Deadshot Justice League of America #7.2: Killer Frost Justice League of America #7.3: Shadow Thief Justice League of America #7.4: Black Adam Superman #23.1: Bizarro Superman #23.2: Brainiac Superman #23.3: H’el Superman #23.4: Parasite Swamp Thing #23.1: Arcane Teen Titans #23.1: Trigon Teen Titans #23.2: Deathstroke Wonder Woman #23.1: Cheetah Wonder Woman #23.2: First Born |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Aquaman by Geoff Johns Omnibus | Aquaman #23.1: Black Manta Aquaman #23.2: Ocean Master |
| Batgirl vol.4: Wanted | Batman: The Dark Knight 23.1: The Ventriloquist |
| Batman: Arkham – Ra’s al Ghul | Batman and Robin #23.3: Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins |
| Batman: Arkham – The Riddler | Batman #23.2: The Riddler |
| Batman by Snyder & Capullo Omnibus vol.1 | Batman #23.2: The Riddler |
| Batman: Arkham – Two-Face | Batman and Robin #23.1: Two-Face |
| Batman and Robin by Tomasi and Gleason Omnibus | Batman and Robin #23.1: Two-Face |
| Batman/Superman vol.1: Cross World | Justice League #23.1: Darkseid |
| Superman vs Darkseid | Justice League #23.1: Darkseid |
| Catwoman vol.4: Gotham Underground | Batman: The Dark Knight #23.4: The Joker’s Daughter |
| Dial H vol.2: Exchange | Justice League #23.3: Dial E |
| Dial H – The Deluxe Edition | Justice League #23.3: Dial E |
| Earth 2 vol.3: Battle Cry | Earth 2 #15.1: DeSaad |
| Flash vol.4: Reverse | Flash #23.2: Reverse-Flash |
| Flash’s Rogues: Reverse-Flash | Flash #23.2: Reverse-Flash |
| Flash by Buccellato & Manapul Omnibus | Flash #23.1: Grodd Flash #23.2: Reverse-Flash Flash #23.3: The Rogues |
| Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion | Flash #23.3: The Rogues |
| Forever Evil: Arkham War | Batman #23.4: Bane |
| Green Arrow vol.4: The Kill Machine | Green Arrow #23.1: Count Vertigo |
| Green Arrow by Lemire & Sorrentino – The Deluxe Edition | Green Arrow #23.1: Count Vertigo |
| Green Lantern vol.4: Dark Days | Green Lantern #23.1: Relic |
| Green Lantern: Lights Out | Green Lantern #23.1: Relic |
| Justice League: The New 52 Omnibus vol.2 | Justice League 23.4: Secret Society Justice League of America #7.4: Black Adam |
| Katana: Soultaker | Justice League Dark #23.1: The Creeper |
| Sinestro vol.1: The Demon Within | Green Lantern #23.4: Sinestro |
| Suicide Squad vol.4: Discipline and Punish | Detective Comics #23.2: Harley Quinn Justice League of America #7.1: Deadshot |
| Supergirl vol.4: Out of the Past | Action Comics #23.1: Cyborg Superman |
| Superman: Krypton Returns | Superman #23.3: H’el |
| Swamp Thing vol.4: Seeder | Swamp Thing #23.1: Arcane |
| Swamp Thing: The New 52 Omnibus | Swamp Thing #23.1: Arcane |
| Wonder Woman: The Cheetah | Wonder Woman #23.1: Cheetah |
| Absolute Wonder Woman by Azzarello & Chiang vol.2 | Wonder Woman #23.2: First Born |
| Wonder Woman vol.5: Flesh | Wonder Woman #23.2: First Born |
| Wonder Woman by Azzarello & Chiang Omnibus | Wonder Woman #23.2: First Born |
Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2023
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