Janus Directive Reading Guide

Overview:

The Janus Directive is a crossover event from DC Comics published in 1989. Written by a group of prominent creators, including Paul Kupperberg and John Ostrander, it spans multiple titles like Checkmate, Suicide Squad, and Manhunter. Pencillers such as Steve Erwin and Kim Yale played key roles in bringing the art to life.

The storyline revolves around a conspiracy within the U.S. government’s secret organizations, mainly the Suicide Squad, Checkmate, and Task Force X. Amanda Waller, the tough and secretive leader of Task Force X, is a central figure, finding herself entangled in a complex web of manipulation and betrayal. The enemy is initially unclear, as different factions appear to be working at cross-purposes, but things escalate to a showdown between covert forces.

Fans and critics generally had a mixed reception to Janus Directive. While some praised its intricate political intrigue and the expansion of DC’s espionage universe, others found the plot somewhat convoluted and hard to follow due to the numerous cross-title issues. However, it holds significance as an important event for characters tied to DC’s darker, more grounded operations, like Waller and the Suicide Squad.

Best Way To Read:

• Suicide Squad Vol. 4: The Janus Directive
  • Collects: Suicide Squad #26-30, Checkmate #15-18, Manhunter #14, Firestorm #86 and Captain Atom #30

For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.

For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.

Reading Order:

References:

• Wikipedia
• Comic Book Herald
• Comic Book Reading Orders

Feature Image from Checkmate #17 cover art by Gil Kane