Deathstroke has taken over the new Secret Society of Super-Villains, turning them into Deathstroke Inc (during THE LAZARUS TOURNAMENT). But his behaviour has become increasingly erratic, lately… and increasingly dark. He’s also taken on Respawn – a clone created by Ra’s al Ghul using genetic material from Deathstroke and Talia al Ghul. His daughter, Ravager, seems intent on breaking this twisted relationship.
Ra’s al Ghul has returned with a new promise for the people of the world. The news that he’s about to die has radically altered his direction. But it seems Deathstroke has other plans for Ra’s. Plans that will impact Batman, Robin and Batman Incorporated, while leading everyone on a path to the demon that resides beneath Lazarus Island. But if it can finally reunite Bruce Wayne and his wayward son Damian Wayne, could it be a good thing?
Major event: With a primary mini-series and numerous related tie-ins, Infinity Gauntlet is considered to be one of the biggest events in the history of the Marvel Universe.
Must-Reads: Issues marked with a ✔are essential to the story.
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.
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- EVENT LEVIATHAN – Fall of the US spy agencies; Talia loses Leviathan
- CITY OF BANE – The death of Alfred Pennyworth
- THE LAZARUS TOURNAMENT – Lazarus Island and Deathstroke Inc debut
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- ✔ Shadow War Zone #1 [2/4]
- Batman #122 [2/2]
- Batman #123 [2/2]
- ✔ Shadow War: Alpha #1
- ✔ Shadow War Zone #1 [3/4]
- Shadow War Zone #1 [4/4]
- ✔ Batman #122 [1/2]
- ✔ Deathstroke Inc #8
- ✔ Robin #13
- ✔ Shadow War Zone #1 [1/4]
- ✔ Batman #123 [1/2]
- ✔ Deathstroke Inc #9
- ✔ Robin #14
- ✔ Shadow War: Omega #1
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Shadow War Zone #1 [2/4] Years ago, the teenage Talia al Ghul took a dive off a cliff for a little excitement, but almost died. Her friend and personal guard-in-training Amal was blamed for Talia’s actions. Talia discovered the existence of Mother Soul and Lazarus Island. |
| Batman #122 [2/2] Years ago, Deathstroke tried carrying out a hit Robin (Dick Grayson) to claim the price on his head. Batman intercepted Deathstroke and demand to know who paid him. Deathstroke’s sudden insane laughter implied the Joker’s involvement… | |
| Batman #123 [2/2] Realising he’d been poisoned with Joker Toxin, Deathstroke decided to kill Joker. Batman saved the Joker from Deathstroke. Neither Commissioner James Gordon nor Batman told Robin there was a hit out in him. | |
| Shadow War Zone #1 [4/4] (p.1) Recently, as a member of the Secret Society of Super-Villains, Harley Quinn suggested using a monkey to assassinate an ambassador. Her tenure with the Society was short. Also see TASK FORCE XX | |
| ✔ | Shadow War: Alpha #1 (pp.1-36) In Gotham City, Batman is apprehending with Lock-Up when Oracle alerts him to the news that Ra’s al Ghul and his daughter, Talia, have surrendered and will stand trial in Washington DC. Robin (Damian Wayne) confronts his father, Batman, in the nation’s capital. Ra’s makes a public address at the Markovian Embassy, offering up the Lazarus Pits to the world. But he’s shot in the head by Deathstroke. Batman saves Robin from an explosion that incinerates Ra’s al Ghul’s body, while Deathstroke escapes. As does Talia, despite being shot a number of times. Robin walks away from Batman, promising to find Deathstroke. In Nepal, Talia gathers a legion of superhumans called the Demon’s Shadow and orders them to kill anyone associated with Deathstroke. 1st appearance: Angel Breaker (cameo) |
| ✔ | Shadow War Zone #1 [3/4] Black Spider turns to Ghost-Maker and Clownhunter for protection from the Demon’s Shadow. Ghost-Maker traps the ninja clan in a room with Clownhunter and Black Spider – forcing Clownhunter to use his training to survive. Ghost-Maker heads off to find more members of Batman Incorporated… |
| Shadow War Zone #1 [4/4] (p.2-10) Harley Quinn is on the run from the Demon’s Shadow. She’s observed by Luke Fox and Lashina who consider her for inclusion on their team… Also see TASK FORCE XX | |
| ✔ | Shadow War: Alpha #1 (pp.37-40) Angel Breaker leads a band of assassins into Deathstroke Inc, unaware that the man who shot Ra’s al Ghul was an impostor… |
| ✔ | Batman #122 [1/2] Cameron Chase, Director of the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO), show Batman how ‘Deathstroke’ tunnelled in to Washington. In Zandia, Deathstroke Inc fend off the ninja attack. Robin finds Ravager who wants her father dead. Batman confronts Talia al Ghul in Nepal, accusing her of being behind the death of Ra’s. She denies it and the two of them get close again… 1st appearance: Angel Breaker (full) |
| ✔ | Deathstroke Inc #8 The Demon’s Shadow hunt down members of the Secret Society of Super-Villains and Deathstroke’s family, while Deathstroke himself takes Respawn to his San Francisco hideout. In Nepal, Batman stops kissing Talia when he thinks about Catwoman. When Angel Breaker returns with Raptor as prisoner and Batman learns of the Demon’s Shadow’s orders, Batman helps Raptor escape. Robin and Ravager find Deathstroke and Respawn’s hideout… |
| ✔ | Robin #13 Robin refuses to listen to Deathstroke’s insistence that he’s been set up. Respawn reveals to Robin that he’s a clone created by Ra’s al Ghul (see THE LAZARUS TOURNAMENT) and is essentially Damian’s brother! Respawn’s attack on Robin in interrupted by Batman. Deathstroke, Respawn and Ravager escape. Robin agrees to let Batman help him. Batman Inc are assigned to protecting the Secret Society… |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Shadow War Zone #1 [1/4] Oracle calls Black Canary to warn her that Talia al Ghul’s assassins are killing past associates of Deathstroke. Angel Breaker comes for Black Canary, but asks her to join the Demon’s Shadow. Canary refuses her former student and the two of them clash until Talia orders Angel Breaker back to Nepal… |
| ✔ | Batman #123 [1/2] Batman and Robin locate the false Deathstroke in Central City. Respawn, Ravager and the real Deathstroke head to Washington, DC, to the scene of the crime where he’s watched by the Hood. He figures out the false Deathstroke’s identity just as Talia’s ninja army attack. They kill Respawn and Hood. 1st appearance: Wingman, Trident |
| ✔ | Deathstroke Inc #9 With Respawn dead, Deathstroke asks Ravager to help him kill Talia al Ghul. He takes his Secret Society members from Batman Inc, steals a Batplane and blows up their building. In Central City, ‘Deathstroke’ escapes Batman and Robin. In Nepal, Talia orders Mother Soul to be taken back to Lazarus Island. Deathstroke’s forces invade the Demon Palace from the Batplane… 1st appearance: Crime Doctor/Bradford Thorne |
| ✔ | Robin #14 In Nepal, it’s all-out war between the Demon’s Shadow and the Secret Society. Batman, Robin and Batman Inc join the fight. Deathstroke tells Talia al Ghul of Respawn’s life & death. To torture her, Deathstroke will kill Batman and Robin. So Talia kills Deathstroke first. The fake Deathstroke emerges from the side lines and reveals himself to be Geo-Force – Prince Brion Markov of Markovia, a former-member of Batman’s Outsiders – and he wants Talia dead… |
| ✔ | Shadow War: Omega #1 Some time ago, Leviathan took control of Markovia (during EVENT LEVIATHAN). Talia al Ghul devastated Markovia to reclaim Leviathan from Mark Shaw. Now, Geo-Force plans to kill her. The Society grab Deathstroke while Geo-Force brings the Demon Palace down. Black Canary flies a Batplane in to pick up Batman, Robin, Talia & Ravager. Geo-Force creates a colossus from the earth to fight them, but Robin gets directly to him and knocks him out. Robin talks his mother out of killing Geo-Force who is taken to Belle Reve Prison. Talia al Ghul turns herself in to the DEO. Batman tells Robin how proud he is of him and they head off to deal with Killer Moth and Firefly’s latest scheme. Talon leads the Society to a Lazarus Pit. They hurl Deathstroke’s body in and the Pit turns black. Deathstroke emerges and prepares the Society to kill everyone! |
| Must Reads | Issue & Fallout | Event/Crossover |
| Batman 2022 Annual (2022) How Batman convinced Ghost-Maker to become the leader of Batman Incorporated is revealed. | SECRETS AND SHADOWS NO MORE TEACHERS | |
| ✔ | Robin #15 (2022) Talia al Ghul becomes a secret agent for the DEO; Robin returns to Lazarus Island, having made peace with his father (for now). | SECRETS AND SHADOWS |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #1060-1061 (2022) Talia al Ghul returns, making another play to win Batman over. | |
| ✔ | Robin #17 (2022) Respawn is revealed to be alive and goes back to stalking Robin on Lazarus Island. | SECRETS AND SHADOWS |
| ✔ | Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #6-7 (2023) Deathstroke is revealed to have become a host for the Great Darkness and has been driven insane; purging Deathstroke of the Great Darkness leaves him weak, giving someone the chance to kill him; the Secret Society of Super-Villains disband. | DARK CRISIS ON INFNITE EARTHS DAWN OF DC |
| Harley Quinn #18 (2022) Harley Quinn joins Lukas Fox’s Task Force XX and combats aliens intent on possessing key humanity. | TASK FORCE XX | |
| ✔ | Flashpoint Beyond #5 (2022) Despite the foreshadowing of his permanent death, Ra’s al Ghul returns to life once more. | |
| Harley Quinn #22 (2022) Angel Breaker returns just as someone kills Harley Quinn. | ||
| Batman vs Robin #1-5 (2023) As promised by Mother Soul, the Devil Nezha rises again; Mother Soul falls to her apparent death. | LAZARUS PLANET | |
| Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (2023) Ravager returns, joining the new StormWatch setting up show on the new Skywatch station (the repurposed Justice League Watchtower) and hunting down the superhuman Fourth Reich. | ||
| ✔ | Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1-2 (2023) Angel Breaker’s past is explored when she falls prey to Insomnia. | KNIGHT TERRORS |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Batman: Shadow War | Batman #122-123 Deathstroke Inc #8-9 Robin #13-14 Shadow War: Alpha #1 Shadow War: Omega #1 Shadow War Zone #1 |
Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2023
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