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Year of the Villain: The Infected Reading Order

DC is working hard to integrate The Batman Who Laughs into their stacked roster of villains, and this will continue through a branch-out crossover event known as “The Infected” during DC’s “Year of the Villain.”

In the relaunch of Batman/Superman the world’s finest heroes will recognize a sinister plot to infect six of the DC Universe’s greatest heroes with The Batman Who Laughs blend of Joker toxin. The infected will explore which heroes are infected, and what these heroes look like when the master planner of the dark multiverse convinces them to see things through his twisted red eyes.

Road to Year of the Villain: The Infected

DC Metal

An absolute blast, one of my favorite comic book events all time, and the debut of The Batman Who Laughs.

Justice League / Legion of Doom

 

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As writer Scott Snyder takes on an era of “New Justice” it’s revealed during Justice League #8 (one of the “Legion of Doom” specials) that Lex Luthor has kept the Batman Who Laughs as his prisoner / co-conspirator since Dark Nights: Metal ended.

Batman Who Laughs

Scott Snyder and Jock reunite for a seven issue miniseries of Batman vs. The Batman Who Laughs. This is the most direct lead-in to “The Infected.”

Note for those reading outside the collected edition, The Grim Knight one-shot was published after Batman Who Laughs #3.

Year of the Villain!

The Infected Comics Checklist

Batman/Superman #1 to #2

The Infected: King Shazam #1

Although Shazam’s Infected one-shot comes out after Black Adam and Batman / Superman #3, I think it makes more sense chronologically right here.

Black Adam: Year of the Villain #1

The Infected: The Commissioner #1

Batman/Superman #3

The Infected: Scarab #1

Hawkman #18

Batman/Superman #4

Supergirl #36

The Infected: Deathbringer #1

Hawkman #19

Supergirl #37

Batman/Superman #5

Batman/Superman #6

Hawkman #20

Hawkman #21

Hawkman #22

Supergirl #38

Supergirl #39

Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1 to #4

Importantly, the “Hell Arisen” story of Lex Luthor vs the Batman Who Laughs comes after Justice League #38 as well!

Next: Dark Nights – Death Metal

 

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View Comments (10)

  • Batman Superman 1 takes place after Justice League 35. Supergirl and Hawkman take place AFTER Batman Superman 5! All the Infected one shots take place between Batman Superman 2 & 3 except Gordon which takes place between Batman Superman 1 & 2.

    I tried following this list and was totally confused after the first Hawkman. This list has been copied and pasted everywhere and is not the correct order unless you want a frustrating experience.

  • Does Hawkman 22 and Supergirl 40 fit into The Infected? If so would they be before or after Hell Arisen? Thanks!

  • Where would Supergirl Annual #2 go? I know it doesn't really add to "The Infected" in regards to the "Secret Six" plot, but I think it helps justify Supergirl's decision to fully give in to the Dark Multiverse's influences.

    • Well supergirl turns in B/S #4 so I would put it right after that. Especially since supergirl #36 recaps how she turned in B/S #4 and continues forward. I suppose it could work after supergirl #36. But that's up to you.

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