DC Comics were already running a major event over the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 – namely DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS – but decided to throw another world-spanning crossover into the works, though it ended up being quite underwhelming. I like the more ‘honed’ approach to DC’s larger events. Instead of having 73 tie-ins, many of the stories are shortened and included in a series of one-shots, making crossovers less bloated. But do the one-shots add much to this event? Largely… no.
‘Lazarus Planet’ was designed to tweak the powers of some existing characters and introduce some new ones, thanks to the Lazarus Rain. However, there seemed to be little impact once it was all said and done. Some of the titles that were launched after the crossover – like Unstoppable Doom Patrol and The Vigil – received praise, but it seems the market wasn’t there for them in 2023. They certainly weren’t ready for City Boy or Spirit World.
And, rounding this one out, is the epilogue event ‘Revenge of the Gods’ which is technically part of ‘Lazarus Planet’ but barely feels connected at all. In fact, it’s better to treat that mini and the Wonder Woman tie-ins as an entirely different story. One, I think you can pass on completely.
Major Crossover: With a lead-in mini-series, multiple one-shots rand elated tie-ins, Lazarus Planet is considered to be a major crossover.
Must-Reads: In the Quick List, essential chapters are in bold; in the Full Reading Order and the Fallout section, story arcs/issues marked with a ✔are essential to the story; while I’ve ticked the usual ‘must-reads, you can just read Batman vs Robin #1-4, Lazarus Planet: Alpha, Lazarus Planet: Omega and Batman vs Robin #5 for a much stronger, more streamlined 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.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- THE LAZARUS TOURNAMENT (2021-2022) – Robin discovers Lazarus Island
- SHADOW WAR (2022) – WHat lurks beneath Lazarus Island?
- SECRETS AND SHADOWS (2022) – Introducing the Devil Nezha
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- WildStorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 [8/12]
- Batman vs Robin #1-2
- The New Champion of Shazam! #4 (tie-in)
- Batman vs Robin #3-4
- Monkey Prince #9 (tie-in)
- Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [2/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 [3/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [3/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 [1/4]
- Monkey Prince #10
- Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 [1/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [1/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 [4/4]
- Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 [4/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 [1/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 [2/4]
- Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1[3/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 [2/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [4/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Omega #1
- Batman vs Robin #5
- Monkey Prince #11
- Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 [1/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1[3/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1[4/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1[2/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 [1/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 [2/4]
- Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1[2/4]
- Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 [4/4]
- Monkey Prince #12 (tie-in)
- Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 [3/4]
- Wonder Woman #794 [1/2]
- Wonder Woman #795 [1/2]
- Wonder Woman #796 [1/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 [1/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 [2/2]
- Wonder Woman #797 [1/2]
- Wonder Woman #797 [2/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #2 [2/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #2 [1/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #3 [1/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #3 [2/2]
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #4 [2/3]
- Wonder Woman #798
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #4 [1/3]
- Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #4 [3/3]
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| WildStorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 [8/12] (tie-in) Jack Hawksmoor visits Last Chance, California, and encounters the super-powered Cameron ‘City Boy’ Kim. Initially thinking he’s little more than a thief, Hawksmoor is reassured when he watches Kim give money to the homeless. 1st appearance: City Boy/Cameron Kim | |
| ✔ | Batman vs Robin #1 Bruce Wayne visits dusty old Wayne Manor. He answers a knock at the door and sees Alfred Pennyworth (who was murdered by Bane during CITY OF BANE, 2019-2020). Alfred answers all of Bruce’s questions correctly, proving he’s the real deal. Heading down to the Batcave, they find Robin (Damian Wayne), Tim Hunter and Jakeem Thunder reeking of magic. They make an attempt to capture Bruce, but Alfred slows Damian for a moment. Robin shoots Batman, but he and Alfred manage to escape in a Batboat. They head to Zatanna’s home, only to find her trapped between life and death. She reveals Robin has poisoned magic itself. Robin returns to his new masters – Mother Soul and the Devil Nezha… |
| ✔ | Batman vs Robin #2 Jinx and Tannarak steal the Mystic Gem of Ahri’ahn from Atlantis. Klarion and Zor steal Ragman’s Soul Suit. Nezha forces Black Alice to channel the items’ energies into the Helmet of Fate. After taking down an out-of-control Felix Faust, Batman and Alfred enter the House of Secrets and House of Mystery and witness visions of the recent Lazarus Tournament (as seen during THE LAZARUS TOURNAMENT, 2021-2022) and learn of Mother Soul and Lazarus Island. Finally, they’re shown the moment when Robin freed the Devil Nezha and became possessed. ‘Alfred’ may be a pawn of Nezha. On Lazarus Island, Mother Soul gives Robin his own Batman costume and allies him with the possessed former-Robins… |
| ✔ | Monkey Prince #9 (tie-in) (pp.1-14) King Fire Bull breaks into LexCorp Campus in Metropolis, almost kills Laura Shugel-Shen, and eats the Bizarro clones. Jinx and Tannarak kidnap Shifu Pigsy for Nezha. Winston Shugel-Shen takes Laura and his son, Marcus Sun, to see Laura’s father, Gerard Shugel… 1st appearance: General Golden Trident/Golden Horn King, General Silver Trident/Silver Horn King, Gerard Shugel |
| ✔ | The New Champion of Shazam! #4 (tie-in) The new Shazam (Mary Bromfield) realises Dr G is behind the recent disappearances at Fawcett Community College. Overcoming her Grotesqueries and Shadow Group, Shazam faces Dr G who reveals she’s actually Dr Georgia Sivana – daughter of Dr Thaddeus Sivana. When Georgia tries to transform herself, Mary becomes Shazam which shorts out the machines and turns the Grotesqueries and Shadows back into regular people. Back home, Mary sees a vision of green rain and silhouettes of Shazam (Billy Batson), Black Adam and one other… New identity: Lady Shazam/Mary Bromfield as Shazam Identity revealed: Dr G as Dr Georgia Sivana |
| ✔ | Batman vs Robin #3 Damian arms the possessed Nightwing, Robin (Tim Drake), Red Hood and Batgirl (Stephanie Brown) with magical weapons. He also takes Talia al Ghul prisoner. Batman arrives on Lazarus Island and leaves Alfred with the Batplane. The captured Shifu Pigsy reveals to the Devil Nezha that his son is back on Earth. Pigsy tries to talk Damian out of serving Nezha. Batman defeats Batgirl and Red Hood. Nightwing attacks Batman with the Sword of Sin, but Batman uses Alfred as a human shield, allowing him to be skewered. Batman knew ‘Alfred’ was an agent of Nezha. As the demonic spirit leaves Alfred’s body, a fragment of his true soul remains. Alfred tells Bruce to let go of his guilt over his death so his soul can find rest. When his spirit passes, Batman enters the central cavern of Lazarus Island… |
| ✔ | Batman vs Robin #4 Damian takes down the weakened Batman with brute force. Batman summons Talia al Ghul who prevents Nezha from claiming the power of the Helmet of Fate. Batman dons the Helmet, breaks Nezha’s control over the Robins and teleports them and the magic users to safety. Talia and Damian pursue Mother Soul. Talia pushes Soul into a cavernous pit. Batman holds his own against Nezha, but the Devil’s attempt to take the Helmet of Fate causes it to explode. The shards fall into the Lazarus Pit. Damian tries to kill Nezha with his own spear. Nezha blasts Damian, but Batman takes the hit and dies. King Fire Bull bursts in and attacks Nezha. Black Alice siphons Lazarus Magic from Nezha to resurrect Batman. As Damian, Talia and Batman head to Robin’s plane, the entire island erupts due to King Fire Bull tearing up through the mountain… |
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Monkey Prince #9 (tie-in) (pp.15-22) Supergirl’s search for Gerard Shugel is interrupted by Marcus Sun as the Monkey Prince. Gerard transfers his consciousness into the body of the Ultra-Humanite and confronts them both… New identity: Gerard Shugel as the Ultra-Humanite |
| ✔ | Monkey Prince #10 (pp.1-8) Monkey Prince blocks the blast of Ultra-Humanite’s hard-light projectile and is torn in two. When strange rain comes down it makes Monkey Prince itchy. |
| Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [2/4] (pp.1-3) Superman (Jon Kent) heads off a serial shoplifter in Metropolis, only to fall when he’s hit by the Lazarus Rain. The shoplifter suddenly exhibits powers… 1st appearance: Ash | |
| Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 [4/4] (pp.1-2) The green rain forces Firestorm to explosively transform back into Ronnie Raymond and Dr Martin Stein. But Stein is seriously injured… | |
| Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 [3/4] In Badlands Station, Nevada, actor Jules Jordain is exposed to the Lazarus Rain which grants him access to the Still Force. He absorbs rampaging energy powers from another victim of the Rain and cancels it out. The Flash of China arrives, sensing the Still Force. She offers to help Jules – calling him Circuit Breaker – to expel the energy… 1st appearance: Circuit Breaker/Jules Jordain [Does this continue in DC Pride 2023?] | |
| ✔ | Monkey Prince #10 (pp.9-13) Supergirl heads back to Metropolis to help those in need and finds she’s lost her powers while the citizens have gained powers… |
| Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [3/4] While observing the storm from LexCorp Tower, Lex Luthor’s bodyguard Mercy Graves is hit by lightning and sent crashing into one of Lex’s Warsuits. Two creatures from the labs are mutated by the storm, prompting Mercy to despatch them. Her body transforms, reflecting the Warsuit tech, and her new cyborg abilities help her take the second creature down. | |
| ✔ | Monkey Prince #10 (pp.14-20) Supergirl’s powers cut in and out while she fends off a guy with snake hair. Monkey Prince arrives and knocks him out, revealing him to be Dennis from Marcus Sun’s school. Monkey Prince and Supergirl head to the Hall of Justice. Meanwhile, Gerard Shugel works on rebuilding his Phantom Zone Projector to free the Monkey King… |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 (pp.1-3) Fleeing Lazarus Island aboard the Batplane, Robin starts to formulate a plan… |
| Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 [3/4] (pp.1-8) City Boy is drawn to Gotham City where the green rain amplifies his powers and he gains a strange junk-mouse guide. He nearly drowns while retrieving a tiara from the sewers, only surviving due to Nightwing’s intervention… | |
| Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [2/4] (pp.4-10) Jon Kent and his new friend Ash try to help people around Metropolis until Ash’s powers run out and he turns himself in. But it seems Ash was lying and he uses his powers to escape the authorities. | |
| ✔ | Monkey Prince #10 (pp.21-22) Supergirl sends out a distress signal which is answered by Blue Beetle, Blue Devil, Cyborg, Shazam and Power Girl… |
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 [1/2] (pp.3-8) Reaching Washington DC, the strange rain causes the plane to malfunction and crash into the Hall of Justice. Robin takes charge of the heroes gathered by Supergirl… |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 [1/4] Huntress enters Arkham Tower and puts down escapees Onomatopoeia and the Monarch of Menace, as well as the powered-up Big Top, Cavalier, Zodiac Master and Killer Moth. But her actions awaken a sleeping prisoner in the depths of Arkham Tower… 1st appearance: Insomnia (voice only) Also see NIGHT TERRORS |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [1/4] Robin and Supergirl give Batman a quick check-over in the medical bay. Dreamer teleports in, warning that the future’s gone dark. She jumps into the dreams of the current Doctor Fate (Khalid Nassour) but is unable to wake him. Instead, she emerges in the Lazarus Pit on Lazarus Island, summoned by the Helmet of Fate… 1st appearance: Yvette Turner |
| Monkey Prince #11 (pp.1-3) The Ultra-Humanite and Winston Shugel-Shen try and fail to summon an ancient monkey god from the Phantom Zone. With only Earthly materials to hand, they decide to take what they need from the Hall of Justice… | |
| Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 [4/4] In Seattle, Red Canary and Sideways team up when the Lazarus Rain causes statues to come to life. Identity revealed: Red Canary is named Sienna | |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 [4/4] Shazam (Mary Bromfield) arrives at the Kahndaq Embassy, demanding to see Black Adam. Instead, she meets Bolt (Malik White), the third man from her vision. She convinces him to break into the Rock of Eternity to free Billy Batson. The rain has warped the Rock’s magic and trapped Billy. Bolt convinces Billy to free himself. Becoming Shazam again, Billy traps the Rock of Eternity inside himself, instead. They’re observed by the wizard Mamaragan who declares none of them worthy… |
| Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 [1/4] With the Gotham City Police Department unable to solve a series murders involving college kids, Commissioner Renee Montoya investigates as the Question. She finds more kids as captives of the prime suspect, George Ellroy, who’s been transformed into a hulking creature by the rain. She narrowly defeats Ellroy and brings him in. | |
| Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 [2/4] Exposure to the Lazarus Rain has enabled Flatline to hear a voice that knows her name. She follows it to the Kawasaki Industrial Zone in Tokyo where she battles Ra’s al Ghul’s former bodyguard, Ubu. When she opens the urn he was protecting, energies are released and Ra’s al Ghul stands before her (despite being assassinated during THE SHADOW WAR, 2022). The Demon’s Head reveals he’s bee reborn (following his actual revival during FLASHPOINT FOREVER, 2022). | |
| Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 [3/4] The undead Theseus and his Army of Herakles try to kidnap Bia from the shores of Themyscira. Wonder Woman returns Bia to the surface. Queen Nubia and the Amazonians fend off the Army’s attack. The defeated Theseus warns them that the dead are coming… | |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 [1/2] (pp.8-23) Robin sends Blue Beetle, Cyborg, Power Girl, Shazam and Zatanna to the Tower of Fate. They’re blocked by Red Fire Bull’s agent, the Silver Horn King. Power Girl drags the Silver Horn King into the atmosphere. Batman, Blue Devil, Talia al Ghul and Supergirl go out in search of Nezha, but Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing get to him first. Supergirl and Blue Devil fend off the Golden Horn King… 1st appearance: Manitou Raven (unnamed) |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 [2/2] Back at the Hall of Justice, a tiny clone of Shifu Pigsy tells the Monkey Prince how Nezha and the Monkey King were once frenemies. Together they fought King Bull Demon who momentarily stole the Red Armillary Sash granted Nezha by Heaven to control his darker urges. Years later, Darkseid killed King Bull Demon, so Nezha took his son Red Boy under his wing. But Red Boy went on to become King Fire Bull. Identity revealed: King Fire Bull is Red Boy |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 [4/4] Power Girl is falling back to Earth when her mind links with the telepath called Omen. When Power Girl takes Omen back to civilisation, the former Teen Titans member reveals Power Girl now has psionic abilities. |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 [1/2] (pp.24-30) Shazam frees the magic users from the Tower of Fate. Supergirl buries the Golden Horn King under an avalanche. Nezha is defeated, but possesses Batman. King Fire Bull attacks the Hall of Justice, going straight for Robin… |
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Omega #1 [1/2] King Fire Bull grabs Black Alice. Unaware, Zatanna tries to teleport Alice to the Tower of Fate, almost tearing her in two until she’s saved by the Monkey Prince. Superman & son arrive alongside the Flash, Wonder Girl, two Green Lanterns and other heroes. They realise King Fire Bull is manipulating the storm and is able to switch the heroes’ power sets. Black Alice activates the Spectre in Jim Corrigan to funnel the storm’s magic and change it. Now fully in possession of Batman, Nezha uses the storm – which now carries the souls of its former masters – as a weapon against King Fire Bull. With the storm gone, the heroes rally. The Spectre casts King Fire Bull away. Magic seems to be behaving differently, now. Dreamer finds the restored Helmet of Fate. Black Alice is believed dead, but she’s walks away unnoticed. Zatanna teleports the heroes to safety. Batman returns to Robin at the Hall of Justice, but clearly isn’t himself… 1st appearance: Manitou Raven (named) |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Omega #1 [2/2] When the Monkey Prince decides to kill King Fire Bull, Shifu Pigsy reminds him of the path of vengeance against Darkseid that the young Red Boy chose, only for it to darken his soul. When Nezha tried to retrieve Red Boy from Apokolips, Darkseid revealed that it was Nezha’s fault the ruler of Apokolips found out about Heaven’s existence. Red Boy blamed Nezha for Darkseid killing his parents and transformed him into the Devil Nezha. |
| ✔ | Batman vs Robin #5 (pp.1-15) Robin escapes Nezha, who’s fully inhabiting Batman’s body. Monkey Prince comes to his aid, revealing Nehza will get stronger the longer he stays in Batman’s body. They need to kill Batman to save the world. Robin sends Monkey Prince on a mission and sends him away before asking the Bat-Family for help… |
| ✔ | Monkey Prince #11 (pp.4-22) The Monkey Prince returns to the Hall of Justice to find it in ruins, then finds his father, Winston Shugel-Shen, with Gerard/Ultra-Humanite experimenting on a Phantom Zone Projector. Monkey Prince and his tiny clones attack, only to accidentally open a stable portal to the Phantom Zone and jump in! There he clashes with his true father, the Monkey God, who then reveals how the infant Marcus Sun crashed on Earth from the Phantom Zone during one of the Ultra-Humanite’s first attempts to free the Monkey King. Monkey Prince asks his father to teach him ‘hair-into-clones’. When Monkey Prince returns to Earth, Ultra-Humanite stabs him with a complied device and promises to see him in a week… |
| ✔ | Batman vs Robin #5 (pp.16-38) Robin, the Batgirls, Nightwing, Red Hood and Red Robin use the Bat-Signal to draw Nezha/Batman into a trap. They weaken their foe before the Monkey Prince arrives and sends an army of clone Damian Waynes again Nezha! Pigsy, Zatanna and Enchantress arrive and transfer Nezha’s soul back to his own body, with Damian ordering them to take the risk! Damian then demands they switch his soul with Batman’s to save the Dark Knight. But it wouldn’t be enough. To save Batman, Damian petitions all of Gotham to offer a piece of their souls to revive him. Fully restored, Damian hugs his father. The next day, Lazarus Island is evacuated. There’s no trace of Nezha or King Fire Bull. |
| Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 [1/4] A group of friends find a naked man washed up on their local beach. Despite their paranoia, they take him to safety. The man escapes and, appearing feral, takes the family dog. Aquaman steps in to save the feral man, explaining that he’s a Trench who was mutated to human form by the Lazarus Rain. Aquaman promises to civilise all the mutated Trench. | |
| Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 [3/4] (pp.9-10) City Boy returns the tiara to its rightful owner, impressing Nightwing. | |
| Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 [4/4] (pp.3-10) Days after the explosive separation of Firestorm’s hosts, Ronnie Raymond assists Dr Ramirez of STAR Labs at the scene, but they’re attacked by a Shadow Demon. Ronnie merges with Dr Ramirez to become Firestorm and sends it back through the rift it originally emerged from. But when Ronnie and Dr Ramirez separate, Ramirez has been rapidly aged… the same effect that’s landed Martin Stein in hospital. 1st appearance: Dr Ramirez | |
| Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 [2/4] Raven and Beast Boy seek out a trio of half-demon brothers, newly-activated by the rain. But ‘Beast Boy’ was actually Trigon in disguise. He kills the two weaker demons and keeps the third, Liam, who he renames Trilogy. 1st appearance: Trilogy/Liam | |
| Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 [1/4] Red Hood follows the trail of a canister of Lazarus Resin arriving in Gotham. He meets the mysterious trio who took out the criminals behind the theft of the resin, only to get away with it themselves. Though these people seem to be on the side of ‘right’… | |
| Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 [2/4] General Blanche calls in a favour from his old friend Negative Man. Blanche allows the Doom Patrol access to the secret government facility where Sergeant Simon Choe – now a metahuman monster thanks to the Lazarus Rain – has trapped personnel. Negative Man realises Choe just needs help and asks him to join the team. Crazy Jane warns the morally-dubious Blanche not to cross the Doom Patrol while they’re under her command… Also see UNSTOPPABLE | |
| Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 [2/4] Days after the Lazarus Rain fell, Martian Manhunter meets Raphael Arce – a man who gained the power to empathically take away other people’s pain onto himself. His efforts to absorb all the pain in Metropolis inadvertently accidentally included the psychic remnants of Doomsday, giving the creature a chance to respawn. The Manhunter absorbs Domsday into his own psyche and begins to transform into his likeness. Arce absorbs it back and contains it, only to be crushed into the form of a psychic gem. 1st appearance: Raphael Arce | |
| Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 [4/4] The Envoy and Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) battle a slew of Jiangshi (hopping ghosts) in a graveyard in Gotham City’s Chinatown. John Constantine shows up, believing the Envoy recently scammed him. However, he decides to help her by banishing the combined jiangshi, but Batgirl is sucked into the Spirit World… 1st appearance: Envoy/Xanthe Zhou, Jiangshi Also see SPIRIT WORLD | |
| ✔ | Monkey Prince #12 (tie-in) The demon Baigujing frees King Fire Bull from the gem prison the Spectre trapped him in, recruiting him to oppose the Monkey Prince. In Metropolis, the Monkey Prince is helping Supergirl restore the city when Baigujing’s Skeleton Demons attack! Despite Monkey Prince successfully cloning a small army of himself, the skeletons take Supergirl back to King Fire Bull who tries to drown her. Pigsy confirms the skeletons’ claims that the Monkey Prince is, in fact, a clone of the essence of the Monkey King. Monkey Prince, Shifu Pigsy and Shellestriah save Supergirl and trap King Fire Bull back in his gem. Marcus Sunnis is reunited with his family. 1st appearance: Baigujing (unnamed) |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 [3/4] The assassin Deadeye requests a meeting with Amanda Waller via the astral plane, due to her being stranded on Earth-3 (during WAR FOR EARTH-3, 2022). Deadeye was hit by the Lazarus Rain while fighting Everyman. Waller admits hiring Everyman to make Deadeye stronger. Everyman evolves into Amalgam Man, leaving Deadeye no choice by to kill him. 1st appearance: Deadeye/Archie Waller, Everyman/Amalgam Man/Hannibal Bates |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #794 [1/2] Now working for Checkmate, the immortal Viking warrior Siegfried has rescued Cheetah from the dubious International Milk Company. And they’ve discovered Deimos and Phobos are using the company to produce milk that will mind-control the population of the planet. Wonder Woman joins her allies in sending the avatars of the two rogue gods back to the afterlife. A Greek temple suddenly looms over Washington DC ‘piloted’ by a giant statue of Eros. Just as Hera’s milk begins to take effect on the coeds, Wonder Girl (Yara Flor) arrives to help out… |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #795 [1/2] Wonder Girl faces Eros once again (after their first encounter during HOMECOMING, 2021-2022) and he still swears he truly loves her. Eros confirms Hera’s involvement to Wonder Girl and Wonder Woman who fight back against his stone avatar. The Titan called Hyperion causes chaos on the streets below, prompting Wonder Woman to join Steve Trevor and Siegfried in facing it down. Wonder Girl rips up the Eros statue alone, revealing the true Eros. His arrow’s influence inspires the crowd to mob their beloved Wonder Woman… 1st appearance: Hyperion |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #796 [1/2] Eros threatens to drop Wonder Girl to her death, so she’s chops off his hand and falls anyway. She’s saved by her winged horse Jerry, while Wonder Woman punches Eros through a building. Eros retaliates by stabbing her with an arrow. Wonder Girl summons lightning to fry the love god and save Wonder Woman. Siegfried knocks Hyperion into the Potomac River. In Olympus, Zeus is revealed to be behind the fall of Eros. The Mamaragan – aka the wizard Shazam – murders Zeus, allowing Hera to take his crown and throne… |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 [1/2] Apollo gives numerous Philadelphia citizens glimpses of their future, including Billy Batson. Gods from other pantheons hit Cairo, Tokyo and Iceland. The revenge of the gods is all part of Hera’s plan. A hooded stranger finds the golden hand of a god where Hyperion fell. Wonder Woman agrees to go to Olympus to petition the gods, but finds Zeus dead. Hecate distracts Hippolyta while Hera convinces Wonder Woman that siding with humanity will lead to the end of the Amazons – no gods would mean no Themyscira! So Wonder Woman agrees to allow Hera to make her a goddess… |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #797 [1/2] (p.1) But Hera has tricked Wonder Woman… |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 [2/2] The hooded stranger kills two humans who try to film on Themyscira. He tells Nubia the gods have revoked the Amazonians’ immortality and magic and they need allies… |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #797 [1/2] (pp.2-22) Wonder Woman has been tied with the Lasso of Truth to a pillar on the Promethean Cliffs where she’s watched by Titans. The hooded stranger beheads a Titan and frees Wonder Woman. The Asgardian messenger god Ratatosk leads Wonder Woman to a portal while the hooded stranger faces the monstrous Euronymous alone. She emerges from the Well of Souls on Themyscira and fends off Euronymous’ pursuing undead with Nubia’s help. The hooded stranger arrives and agrees to journey for man’s world with Wonder Woman, while the undead armies of Hades swarm Themyscira… |
| Wonder Woman #797 [2/2] Mary Bromfield teleports from the Amazon Embassy in Boston to Themyscira in search of Wonder Woman. Transforming into Shazam, she and a group of Amazons defend the shores from Hades’ undead army. Hoppy summons Shazam back to man’s world to find Billy Batson… | |
| Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #2 [2/2] Hades emerges from the ocean and offers the Amazons immortality if they join his Enduring Dead. Nubia refuses and Kangaliers rally to the Amazons’ side. Nubia and to head to the armoury… | |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #2 [1/2] Billy Batson transforms into Shazam to take on the giants rampaging in Philadelphia when the new Shazam (Mary Bromfield) arrives. Billy leaves her to fight the giants while he follows a message from a spectral woman to head to Washington DC. There, he encounters the hooded stranger and battles the creature Orthros. As Wonder Woman’s been gone for two days, Cheetah and Wonder Girl assume she’s dead. Wonder Girl joins the fight against Orthros and defeats him. She takes Shazam to Olympus to confront Hera. Mamaragan emerges and drains Shazam of his powers… |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #3 [1/2] Wonder Woman returns to Washington to find it in flames and blaming herself. Cheetah finds her in tears. Hecate appears to the withered in his cell and reveals she sent him the message to come to Olympus. Wonder Girl and Hecate free Shazam so that Hippolyta can restore his might return him and Wonder Girl to Earth. In Washington, the Gods of Olympus converge on Wonder Woman and Cheetah. Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, Siegfried, Wonder Girl and Shazam arrive and battle commences. Hermes uses the Lasso of Truth to cause an explosion that halts the conflict. The hooded stranger arrives on the battlefield and reveals himself as Ares, God of War… |
| Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #3 [2/2] The battle continues to rage between Hades’ Enduring Dead and the Amazons. Nubia confronts Hades directly, though he explains he’s not allied with Hera. On the opposite side of the island, Philippus is about to sacrifice herself to summon Hippolyta, only for Hippolyta herself to materialise and prevent Philippus’ demise. Her new role as a goddess allows Hippolyta to call the Patron Goddesses to arms against Hades… | |
| Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #4 [2/3] On Themyscira, Hippolyta leads the charge against Hades. The Amazons convince him to leave. Hippolyta and the Patron Goddesses restore the magic to the island. | |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #798 [1/2] (pp.1-19) Humanity living in fear of the gods could bring an end to war, so Ares has decided to fight alongside Wonder Woman against Hera’s forces. They’re also joined by the female Shazam. When Hera and her lackeys arrive, Wonder Woman convinces her to have a one-on-one fight. When it looks like Hera has won, Mary Bromfield grants Wonder Woman her Shazam powers… |
| Wonder Woman #798 [2/2] Wonder Woman takes a momentary detour from her fight with Hera to give Mary Bromfield the Sandals of Hermes, the Gauntlets of Atlas, the Helm of Victory and a signed t-shirt. Mary rejoins the fight as Mary Marvel, immediately taking down the terrifying Typhon… New identity: Shazam/Mary Blomflield also as Mary Marvel | |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #798 [1/2] (pp.20-22) Wonder Woman flies up to face Hera… |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #4 [1/3] Despite her partnership with Mamaragan, Hera is still soundly defeated by Wonder Woman. Ares gives Eros’ lost hand to Atlantiades to ensure peace. Hera returns to Olympus, but her fellow gods have deposed her as queen. Mamaragan deems her unworthy… |
| ✔ | Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #4 [3/3] In Washington, Billy Batson summons Mamaragan and asks him to make Mary Bromfield his champion. But the goddesses arrive and give Mary the power of six females from their pantheon. Now. Billy and Mary are both Shazam! |
| Must Reads | Issue(s) & Fallout | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | DC Pride 2023 #1 (2023) The Flash of China continues to take Circuit Breaker under her wing. | |
| ✔ | City Boy #1 (2023) City Boy moves on to Metropolis where he takes on Intergang. | DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Action Comics #1051 (2023) Power Girl begins using her new telepathic abilities assisting Beast Boy who’s stuck in the form of a calf following his near-death experience at Deathstroke’s hands; Power Girl is assisted by Omen following a decision to set up a counselling service for metahumans. | DAWN OF DC HEAD LIKE A HOLE |
| City Boy #4 (2023) Nightwing assists City Boy against Intergang. | DAWN OF DC | |
| Detective Comics #1065 (2023) Ubu’s fate is apparently sealed after battling Batman on behalf of Talia al Ghul. | GOTHAM NOCTURNE | |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #1070 (2023) The Vigil resurface and assist Barbara Gordon against the Ogham Family. | GOTHAM NOCTURNE |
| ✔ | The Vigil #1-2 (2023) The Vigil’s true purpose is revealed. | DAWN OF DC |
| Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 (2023) Amanda Waller is revealed to have somehow escaped Earth 3 and returned to Earth-Prime. | DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS | |
| ✔ | Dawn of DC Primer: Free Special Edition #1 (2023) Peacemaker locates the Helmet of Hate on Lazarus Island on Amanda Waller’s behalf. | DAWN OF DC OUT OF THE SHADOWS |
| ✔ | Tales of the Titans #2 (2023) Raven next clashes with Trilogy, but she decides to give him a shot at redemption. | OUT OF THE SHADOWS |
| ✔ | Superman #2 (2023) Mercy Graves exhibits her new cyborg powers defending SuperCorp from the Parasite. | DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1-2 (2023) The Doom Patrol seeks out those who’ve been transformed by the Lazarus Rain before General Blanche can get to them; Simon Choe gives himself the new moniker Psylosimon. | DAWN OF DC UNSTOPPABLE |
| ✔ | Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #1-2 (2023) Superman (Jon Kent) learns to control his new energy powers in a fight to the death with Ultraman of Earth-3. | DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Free Comic Book Day – Dawn of DC: Knight Terrors #1 (2023) The man woken from slumber in Arkham Asylum by the Lazarus Rain next appears. | DAWN OF DC KNIGHT TERRORS |
| ✔ | Shazam! #1-2 (2023) Shazam (Billy Batson) takes on a new moniker as the Captain; Mary Bromfield continues to operate as Mary Marvel; Zeus is revealed to be alive. | DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 (2023) Knight Terrors #1-4 (2023) The man woken and empowered by the Lazarus Rain is revealed to be a man calling himself Insomnia; while initially seeking the Nightmare Stone, Insomnia’s true intentions are eventually revealed. Knight Terrors: Nights End #1 (2023) The Helmet of Hate is one of the items used to empower a new agent for Amanda Waller called Doctor Hate. | DAWN OF DC KNIGHT TERRORS |
| ✔ | Action Comics Presents: Doomsday Special #1 (2023) Raphael Arce’s soul is sent to Hell due to him absorbing Doomsday’s essence before his death; Arce escapes Hell by utilising the power he absorbed from Doomsday and Martian Manhunter to become Bloodwynd and freeing souls trapped there on his way out. | DAWN OF DC NEW WORLDS |
| Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6-7 (2023) Psylosimon joins Flex Mentallo’s Flex Force who find themselves hunted by Peacemaker. | DAWN OF DC | |
| Catwoman #62 (2024) Black Alive returns and is revealed to have joined Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad. | DAWN OF DC | |
| Batman and Robin #6-10 (2024) Flatline returns to Robin’s life, but fails to mention the return of Ra’s al Ghul | DAWN OF DC | |
| Titans: Beast World – Central City #1 (2024) Circuit Breaker joins the Flash Family. | BEAST WORLD DAWN OF DC | |
| ✔ | Titans: Beast World – Waller Rising #1 (2024) Deadeye returns when Amanda Waller employs him to retrieve the Phantom Zone Projector that was stolen from her by Doctor Hate. | BEAST WORLD DAWN OF DC |
| Shazam! #10-12 (2024) Zeus confirms he did actually die during the ‘Revenge of the Gods’, but doesn’t reveal how he returned; Shazam/the Captain | ||
| ✔ | Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1 (2024) Deadeye is revealed to be Amanda Waller’s nephew, Archie Waller; Deadeye joins Amanda Waller’s new Suicide Squad. Batman #151-152 (2024) As a member of Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad, Black Alice clashes with Batman. | ABSOLUTE POWER DAWN OF DC |
| DC All-In Special #1 (2024) Firestorm is seen among the member of the new Justice League Unlimited (though it’s unclear if Ronnie Raymond is still aligned with Dr Ramirez) | DC ALL-IN |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Batman vs Robin | Batman vs Robin #1-5 |
| Lazarus Planet | Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 Lazarus Planet: Omega #1 Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 |
| Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods | Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1-4 Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 Wonder Woman #797-798 |
| Wonder Woman vol.4: Revenge of the Gods | Wonder Woman #795-799 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Monkey Prince vol.2: The Monkey King and I | Monkey Prince #11-12 |
| The New Champion of Shazam | The New Champion of Shazam #4 |
| Wonder Woman vol.3: The Villainy of Our Fears | Wonder Woman #794 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2024
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