Villains United

Cover to Villains United #1, art by J.G. Jones.

Publication information
Publisher| DC Comics
Schedule| Monthly
Format| Limited series
Genre|

* Superhero

Publication date| (Limited series) July - December 2005
(Infinite Crisis Special #1) April 2006
No. of issues| 6, with 1 Infinite Crisis Special
Main character(s)| Secret Six
Secret Society of Super Villains
Creative team
Created by| Secret Six created by
E. Nelson Bridwell
Frank Springer
Written by| Gail Simone
Artist(s)| Dale Eaglesham
Val Semeiks
Inker(s)| Wade Von Grawbadger
Prentis Rollins
Collected editions
Villains United| ISBN 1-4012-0838-X

Villains United is a six-issue 2005 comic book limited series, published by DC Comics, written by Gail Simone and illustrated by Dale Eaglesham and Wade Von Grawbadger, and later by Val Semeiks and Prentis Rollins.[1]

## Publication history

[edit]

Villains United is one of four miniseries leading up to DC Comics' Infinite Crisis event and a seven-issue miniseries. This story follows the evolution of the latest incarnation of the Secret Six, and the group's ongoing battle with Secret Society of Super Villains.[2]

Like all major intracompany events, this series ties in with several monthly DC Comics titles, including:

Action Comics #830-831
Batman: Gotham Knights #66
Breach #7
Firestorm #17
Nightwing #109-110
Superman #221
Catwoman #46-49
Green Arrow #50
Flash #225

## Plot summary

[edit]

Lex Luthor assembles the Secret Society of Super Villains, a massive alliance consisting of Talia al Ghul, Doctor Psycho, Deathstroke, Black Adam, and Calculator, among others. They are opposed by the Secret Six, who consist of Catman, Cheshire, Deadshot, Scandal, Ragdoll, and a Parademon and are supported by the mysterious benefactor Mockingbird.

The Six are assigned to steal Thanagarian weaponry from Gotham City, during which they are captured and tortured by the Crime Doctor. After several rounds of torture, Catman escapes and rescues his teammates.

The Six infiltrate a Society base in Brazil, where they discover the group's plans to erase the memories of Earth's superheroes. The Six release Firestorm before destroying the base.

A short time later, the Society mount a final strike on the Secret Six. Meanwhile, Scandal reveals that she is Vandal Savage's daughter, and the Six learn that Cheshire has been acting as a double agent. During the battle, the Six learn that Mockingbird is Lex Luthor and that the Luthor who organized the Secret Society is Alexander Luthor Jr., his son from an alternate universe.

## Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special

[edit]

In Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special #1, the Secret Six meet to discuss their future as a team, with Deadshot recommending they be an amoral mercenary team. They participate in the battle of Metropolis and decide to remain neutral, even after the battle.

## Society's roster

[edit]

See List of Secret Society of Super Villains members

## Collected editions

[edit]

The series has been collected into a trade paperback:

* Villains United (collects Villains United #1-6, 144 pages, January 2006, ISBN 1-4012-0838-X)[3]
* Secret Six Vol. 1: Villains United (collects the Villains United six-issue miniseries, Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special #1 and the Secret Six six-issue miniseries; 328 pages, DC Comics, February 2014, ISBN 1-4012-5075-0)[4]

The one-shot special was also collected in Infinite Crisis Companion (ISBN 1-4012-0922-X).[5]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 321\. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
2. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 304\. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
3. ^ Villains United details Archived September 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine at DC
4. ^ "Secret Six Vol. 1: Villains United trade profile". DC Comics.com.
5. ^ Infinite Crisis Companion details Archived December 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine at DC

## External links

[edit]

* Guide to Infinite Crisis: Villains United \- study of series as part of Infinite Crisis

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Secret Six

Artists|

* Dale Eaglesham
* Nicola Scott

Mockingbird|

* Lex Luthor
* Amanda Waller
* Edward Nygma

Current operatives|

* Black Alice
* Big Shot
* Catman

Notable operatives|

* Bane
* Cheshire
* Deadshot
* Harley Quinn
* Jeannette
* King Shark
* Knockout
* Mad Hatter
* Rag Doll
* Scandal Savage

Related articles|

* Villains United
* House of Secrets
* Suicide Squad
* Birds of Prey

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