Overview:
In 2019, DC Comics launched the Year of the Villain event, a crossover storyline that explores the dark motivations of its iconic villains. The event primarily features writers like Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, with artwork from prominent artists such as Greg Capullo and Jim Lee.
The narrative focuses on villains like Lex Luthor, who emerges as a central figure, rallying other villains to seize control of the DC Universe. Heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman, face new challenges as they confront their formidable foes. Each issue reveals how the villains are empowered, leading to a showdown between good and evil.
Year of the Villain is released alongside several ongoing series, enhancing its impact across the DC Universe. The reception from critics and fans is generally positive, appreciating its ambitious storytelling and rich character development. Fans particularly enjoy the complex motivations behind the villains, making them feel more relatable and multi-dimensional. The event sets the stage for future dark, villain-centric story arcs.
Background Reading:
- Dark Nights: Metal
- The Batman Who Laughs
- Justice League – Legion of Doom
Related Guides
Best Way To Read:
Main Collection
There was a planned Omnibus that DC cancelled before release. Most of the issues are not collected as an event.
- Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War
- Collects: Justice League #26-39
- Batman/Superman vol. 1: Who are the Secret Six
- Collects: Batman/Superman #1 To #5
- Year of the Villain: The Infected
- Collects: The Infected: King Shazam! #1, The Infected: Scarab #1, The Infected: Deathbringer #1, The Infected: The Commissioner #1
- Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen
- Collects: Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1–4, Year of the Villain #1
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:
Main Story
The main Year of the Villain story follows Lex Luthor’s transformation into Apex Lex as he empowers villains across the DC Universe to bring down the heroes, culminating in the epic Justice/Doom War between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom, with the fate of the multiverse hanging in the balance.
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| DC’s Year of the Villain Special #1 | Prelude | Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen |
| Justice League #25 | Prelude | |
| Justice League #26 | Prelude | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Justice League #27 | The Offer | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Deathstroke #45 | The Offer | |
| Harley Quinn #63 | The Offer | |
| Catwoman #13 | The Offer | |
| Red Hood: Outlaw #36 | The Offer | |
| Superman #13 | The Offer | |
| Supergirl #32 | The Offer | |
| Batman and the Outsiders #3 | The Offer | |
| Hawkman #14 | The Offer | |
| Justice League Odyssey #11 | The Offer | |
| Justice League #28 | The Offer | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Aquaman #50 | The Offer | |
| Nightwing #62 | The Offer | |
| Batman #75 | The Offer | |
| Teen Titans #32 | The Offer | |
| Justice League Dark #13 | The Offer | |
| Detective Comics #1008 | The Offer | |
| Batgirl #37 | The Offer | |
| Action Comics #1013 | The Offer | |
| The Terrifics #18 | The Offer | |
| The Flash #75 | The Offer | |
| Wonder Woman #75 | The Offer | |
| Justice League #29 | Dark Gifts | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Sinestro: Year of the Villain #1 | Villain One Shot | |
| Batman #76 | Dark Gifts | |
| Deathstroke #46 | Dark Gifts | |
| Harley Quinn #64 | Dark Gifts | |
| Aquaman #51 | Dark Gifts | |
| Justice League Odyssey #12 | Dark Gifts | |
| Wonder Woman #76 | Dark Gifts | |
| Batman and the Outsiders #4 | Dark Gifts | |
| Detective Comics #1009 | Dark Gifts | |
| Black Mask: Year of the Villain #1 | Villain One Shot | |
| Hawkman #15 | Dark Gifts | |
| The Flash #76 | Dark Gifts | |
| Teen Titans #33 | Dark Gifts | |
| Nightwing #63 | Dark Gifts | |
| Justice League #30 | Dark Gifts | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Justice League Dark #14 | Dark Gifts | |
| Detective Comics #1010 | Dark Gifts | |
| Batgirl #38 | Dark Gifts | |
| The Terrifics #19 | Dark Gifts | |
| Red Hood: Outlaw #37 | Dark Gifts | |
| The Flash #77 | Dark Gifts | |
| Wonder Woman #77 | Dark Gifts | |
| Action Comics #1014 | Dark Gifts | |
| Justice League #31 | Evil Unleashed | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Harley Quinn #65 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Batman #78 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Deathstroke #47 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Harley and Poison Ivy #1 | Villain One Shot | |
| Action Comics #1015 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Justice League #32 | Evil Unleashed | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Aquaman #52 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Hawkman #16 | Evil Unleashed | |
| The Riddler: Year of the Villain | Villain One Shot | |
| Justice League Odyssey #13 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Superman #15 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Detective Comics #1011 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Catwoman #15 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Batman and the Outsiders #5 | Evil Unleashed | |
| The Flash #78 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Lex Luthor: Year of the Villain | Villain One Shot | |
| Supergirl #34 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Wonder Woman #78 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Nightwing #64 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Teen Titans #34 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Detective Comics #1012 | Evil Unleashed | |
| The Flash #79 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Red Hood: Outlaw #38 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Justice League Dark #15 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Batgirl #39 | Evil Unleashed | |
| The Terrifics #20 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Wonder Woman #79 | Evil Unleashed | |
| Justice League #33 | Doom Rising | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Batman #80 | Doom Rising | |
| Deathstroke #48 | Doom Rising | |
| Harley Quinn #66 | Doom Rising | |
| Detective Comics #1013 | Doom Rising | |
| Batman and the Outsiders #6 | Doom Rising | |
| Catwoman #16 | Doom Rising | |
| The Flash #80 | Doom Rising | |
| Hawkman #17 | Doom Rising | |
| Justice League Odyssey #14 | Doom Rising | |
| The Joker: Year of the Villain #1 | Villain One Shot | |
| Supergirl #35 | Doom Rising | |
| Superman #16 | Doom Rising | |
| Wonder Woman #80 | Doom Rising | |
| Justice League #34 | Doom Rising | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Aquaman #53 | Doom Rising | |
| Nightwing #65 | Doom Rising | |
| Teen Titans #35 | Doom Rising | |
| Action Comics #1016 | Doom Rising | |
| Batgirl #40 | Doom Rising | |
| Harley and Poison Ivy #2 | Doom Rising | |
| Justice League Dark #16 | Doom Rising | |
| Detective Comics #1014 | Doom Rising | |
| The Flash #81 | Doom Rising | |
| Red Hood: Outlaw #39 | Doom Rising | |
| The Terrifics #21 | Doom Rising | |
| Wonder Woman #81 | Doom Rising | |
| Nightwing Annual #2 | Doom Rising | |
| Justice League #35 | Hostile Takeover | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Batman #82 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Deathstroke #49 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Harley Quinn #67 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Batman and the Outsiders #7 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Catwoman #17 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Detective Comics #1015 | Hostile Takeover | |
| The Flash #82 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Justice League Odyssey #15 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Red Hood: Outlaw #40 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Wonder Woman #82 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Justice League #36 | Hostile Takeover | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Harley and Poison Ivy #3 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Nightwing #66 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Aquaman #54 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Teen Titans #36 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Action Comics #1017 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Batgirl #41 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Detective Comics #1016 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Justice League Dark #17 | Hostile Takeover | |
| The Terrifics #22 | Hostile Takeover | |
| The Flash #83 | Hostile Takeover | |
| Wonder Woman #83 | Hostile Takeover |
The Infected
A parallel storyline where the Batman Who Laughs corrupts several DC heroes, including Shazam, Supergirl, and Blue Beetle, turning them into dark, twisted versions of themselves known as the “Infected,” as part of his plan to spread chaos and overthrow the Multiverse’s heroes.
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #1 | The Infected | Batman/Superman vol. 1: Who are the Secret Six |
| Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #2 | The Infected | Batman/Superman vol. 1: Who are the Secret Six |
| The Infected: King Shazam #1 | The Infected | Year of the Villain: The Infected |
| Black Adam: Year of the Villain #1 | The Infected | |
| Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #3 | The Infected | Batman/Superman vol. 1: Who are the Secret Six |
| The Infected: Scarab #1 | The Infected | Year of the Villain: The Infected |
| Hawkman Vol. 5 #18 | The Infected | |
| Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #4 | The Infected | Batman/Superman vol. 1: Who are the Secret Six |
| Supergirl Vol. 7 #36 | The Infected | |
| The Infected: Deathbringer #1 | The Infected | Year of the Villain: The Infected |
| Hawkman Vol. 5 #19 | The Infected | |
| Supergirl Vol. 7 #37 | The Infected | |
| Supergirl Vol. 7 Annual #2 | The Infected | |
| Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #5 | The Infected | Batman/Superman vol. 1: Who are the Secret Six |
| The Infected: The Commissioner #1 | The Infected | Year of the Villain: The Infected |
| Supergirl Vol. 7 #38 | The Infected | |
| Hawkman Vol. 5 #20 | The Infected | |
| Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #6 | The Infected | |
| Supergirl Vol. 7 #39 | The Infected | |
| Supergirl Vol. 7 #40 | The Infected | |
| Hawkman Vol. 5 #21 | The Infected | |
| Hawkman Vol. 5 #22 | The Infected | |
| Hawkman Vol. 5 #23 | The Infected |
Hell Arisen
A four-issue mini-series that concludes Year of the Villain. It pits Lex Luthor, empowered as Apex Lex, against the Batman Who Laughs and his infected heroes, culminating in a showdown between these two major villains over control of the DC Universe.
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Justice League #37 | Road to Hell | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Deathstroke #50 | Road to Hell | |
| Batman and the Outsiders #8 | Road to Hell | |
| Catwoman #18 | Road to Hell | |
| The Flash #84 | Road to Hell | |
| Harley and Poison Ivy #4 | Road to Hell | |
| Justice League Odyssey #16 | Road to Hell | |
| Supergirl #37 | Road to Hell | |
| Harly Quinn: Year of the Villain #1 | Road to Hell | |
| Ocean Master: Year of the Villain #1 | Road to Hell | |
| Aquaman #55 | Road to Hell | |
| Teen Titans #37 | Road to Hell | |
| Nightwing #67 | Road to Hell | |
| Justice League #38 | Road to Hell | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1 | Hell Arisen | Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen |
| Action Comics #1018 | Hell Arisen | |
| Batgirl #42 | Hell Arisen | |
| The Flash #85 | Hell Arisen | |
| Justice League Dark #18 | Hell Arisen | |
| Red Hood: Outlaw #41 | Hell Arisen | |
| The Terrifics #23 | Hell Arisen | |
| Batman and the Outsiders #9 | Hell Arisen | |
| Catwoman #19 | Hell Arisen | |
| Harley and Poison Ivy #5 | Hell Arisen | |
| Hawkman #20 | Hell Arisen | |
| Supergirl #38 | Hell Arisen | |
| Justice League #39 | Hell Arisen | Justice League vol. 5: The Doom War |
| The Flash #86 | Hell Arisen | |
| Justice League Odyssey #17 | Hell Arisen | |
| Nightwing #68 | Hell Arisen | |
| Teen Titans #38 | Hell Arisen | |
| Justice League Dark #19 | Hell Arisen | |
| Batman/Superman #6 | Hell Arisen | |
| Wonder Woman #750 | Hell Arisen | |
| Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #2 | Hell Arisen | Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen |
| Batgirl #43 | Hell Arisen | |
| Red Hood: Outlaw #42 | Hell Arisen | |
| Action Comics #1019 | Hell Arisen | |
| The Flash #87 | Hell Arisen | |
| The Terrifics #24 | Hell Arisen | |
| Harley and Poison Ivy #6 | Hell Arisen | |
| Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #3 | Hell Arisen | Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen |
| Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #4 | Hell Arisen | Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen |
Publications Impact
Year of the Villain bridges the gap between Dark Nights: Metal and Dark Nights: Death Metal.
References:
Feature Image from Lex Luthor: Year of the Villain #1 cover art by Francis Manapul
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