The Year of the Villain was an event/crossover starting in March 2019 and ending in March 2020, which followed Dark Nights: Metal.
The emphasis during this time was to give a little bit more attention to DC’s large roster of villains and supervillains throughout most of their active titles such as Batman, Superman and primarily Justice League.
Year of the Villain and its reading order is a little bit of a mess and making a reading order was tricky – Year of the Villain wasn’t the same kind of event as previous ones such as Darkseid War or any of the Crisis events, instead its more of a ‘celebration’ throughout the titles with separate events within the Year of the Villain event. Death Metal followed YoTV.
In any case, for anyone looking for a Year of the Villain reading order we’ve collated all the trades with these issues included as well as an issue by issue chronological guide (in the order they were released). Please let us know your thoughts on what we’ve produced in the comments.
Year of the Villain Trade Reading Order Checklist
Contents
As we said in the intro, the Year of the Villain was a bit messy, so there’s no “Year of the Villain’ trade with just the main series, instead its a bunch of connected tie ins without a single spine to hold them together. Instead, look at Year of the Villain as a companion to Scott Snyder’s Justice League, The Batman Who Laughs and Bendis’s Event Leviathan.
Shockingly, all the one shots and tie ins are not collected together and can only be read loose. An omnibus was solicited but there are still now new even now.
Either way, these are the trades you’ll need and then refer to the issue reading order to the order to read them. The one shots are not collected in a book.
How to use the trade reading order checklist?
This is the hardest reading order we’ve ever made as we feel DC never intended for the Year of the Villain to be read as a series in its own right, rather as the sub events contained within it. So, what we’ve done is found all the issues that tie in and what trade covers most of them. We would not expect anyone to go for all of these.
However, we’ve split them into categories –
- Main series – the core titles which are directly labelled as Year of the Villain
- Batman Who Laughs – A major arc which fits well with the theme of the villain
- Infected – A subset of the above but ties in with Year of the Villain
- Event Leviathan – Same as Batman Who Laughs, a major event which ties in nearly with YotV
- Tie ins – Tie in issues which are not connected with each other and intended to read on their own
You’ve got four choices –
- Stick with just the main series to keep it short and sweet
- Read the main series, Batman who laughs, infected and event leviathan
- Read the issues within the trades in the order listed in the Year of the Villain issue by issue reading order which is ordered by release date
The issue by issue reading order actually follows an order with named plot lines which are: The Offer, Dark Gifts, Evil Unleashed and Doom Rising. This is pretty straightforward but not for the trades. For the ultimate reading order, refer to the issues and read the trades in that order.
Good luck!
Main Series
Justice League Volume 4: The Sixth Dimension
YotV starts in earnest here with issue #26. This book collects Justice League issues #19-28.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Snyder, Scott (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Justice League Volume 5: The Doom War
Keeps going here just before the main event. Collects: Justice League #26-39.
- Hardcover Book
- Snyder, Scott (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen
This book has the Hell Arisen storyline by James Tynion IV and Snyder but also Year of the Villain #1 which is the first and only main series issue. Not to be missed for this reading order.
Hell Arisen is the conclusion of Year of the Villain, however you choose to get into this make sure to read this last.
Collects Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1-4, plus DC’s Year of the Villain #1.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Tynion, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Batman Who Laughs
Batman Who Laughs is a crossover storyline in itself, which we’ve made a seperate reading order for. In the context of Year of the Villain, the main issues will be more than enough.
- Snyder, Scott (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 232 Pages - 04/06/2021 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Infected Arc
Year of the Villain: The Infected
Collects the tie ins and some off issues. Collects The Infected: King Shazam, The Infected: Scarab, The Infected: Deathbringer, The Infected: The Commissioner, Hawkman #18, and Supergirl #36.
- Various (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 152 Pages - 06/23/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Batman/Superman Vol. 1: Who are the Secret Six?
One of the most clear Year of the Villain titles. Collects Batman/Superman #1-6. The Infected is a major Year of the Villain (and Batman Who Laughs) Arc and it starts here for Batman/Superman.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Williamson, Joshua (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Supergirl Vol. 3: Infectious
Supergirl #32 to #37 are tie ins, this trade collection has #34 to #42 and Superman: Leviathan Rising Special #1 which is in itself a sub event of Year of the Villain. Lastly, this is a tie in with The Batman Who Laughs who plays a big part in Year of the Villain – one the rare books that really fits in well with the whole thing.
- Andreyko, Marc (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 168 Pages - 11/03/2020 (Publication Date) - Dc Comics (Publisher)
Hawkman Vol. 4: Hawks Eternal
More Hawkman. This one is relevant to Infected and Batman Who Laughs in particular. Collects #20 to #29.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Venditti, Robert (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Event Leviathan Arc
Event Leviathan was an arc that happened during Year of the Villain. We won’t do the entire reading order for this event, just the basics to keep it relevant and concise for Year of the Villain.
Event Leviathan
The main series. Collects Event Leviathan #1-6 and Superman: Leviathan Rising #1
- Bendis, Brian Michael (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 264 Pages - 04/06/2021 (Publication Date) - Dc Comics (Publisher)
Superman – Action Comics Vol. 2: Leviathan Rising
Prelude and tie ins. Collects Action Comics issues #1007-#1011.
- Bendis, Brian Michael (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 184 Pages - 04/14/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Superman – Action Comics Vol. 3: Leviathan Hunt
#1013 to #1017 of Bendis’s Action Comics is a Leviathan story and a tie in to Year of the Villain. This book collects #1012-#1016 which is one short but has the bulk of it.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Bendis, Brian Michael (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Tie Ins
These trades go in and out of the four episodes The Offer, Dark Gifts, Evil Unleashed and Doom Rising. To get the most out of these, refer to the Year of the Villain Issue reading list.
Batman: City of Bane
Issues #75 to #85 of Tom King’s Batman is both a solo story and a Year of the Villain tie in. This story revolves around Bane taking over Gotham.
Read the City of Bane reading order here.
- King, Tom (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 344 Pages - 12/15/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Wonder Woman: Loveless
#75 to #82 are tie ins and this collection has #74 to #81.
- Hardcover Book
- Wilson, G. Willow (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Batgirl Vol. 7: Oracle Rising
Contains Batgirl’s Year of the Villain tie ins which are #37 to #41. Story deals with Oracle’s return via Lex Luthor’s actions. Collects Batgirl #37 to #44.
- Castellucci, Cecil (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 06/16/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Aquaman Volume 2: Amnesty and Aquaman Vol. 3: Manta vs. Machine
Collects just the two tie ins, with the other two in Manta vs. Machine. Collects #48 to #52 with Manta vs. Machine collected the other two and the Annual which are all Villain tie ins.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- DeConnick, Kelly Sue (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1: Lesser Gods
Batman and the Outsiders issues #3 to #7 are Year of the Villain tie ins and this trade collects #1 to #7.
- Hill, Bryan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 176 Pages - 01/28/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Catwoman Vol. 3: Friend or Foe?
Joelle Jones’ Catwoman had tie ins in #13 to #17. This trade collects #16 to #21. You might need to get Vol. 2 as well.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Jones, Joelle (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Deathstroke R.I.P.
Christopher Priest helms the Year of the Villain tie ins. This trade collects #44 to #50. Of which, #45 to #49 are the tie ins.
- Priest, Christopher (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 200 Pages - 07/28/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Detective Comics: Cold Dark World
Detective Comics has 8 Year of the Villain tie ins, #1008 to #1016. There is no one trade which has all of them, there are two you’ll need to find – Greetings from Gotham and Cold Vengeance. Cold Vengeance has 6 so if you just want the one then get that.
- Hardcover Book
- Tomasi, Peter J. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Flash Vol. 12: Death and the Speed Force
The Flash’s Year of the Villain tie ins deal with Captain Cold and the Rogues in issues #75-#83. Death and the Speed Force trade #76 to #81 with Vol. 13 having #82 to #87. This is another example of how Year of the Villain has been poorly collected by DC.
- Hardcover Book
- Williamson, Joshua (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Harley Quinn Vol. 4: The Final Trial
A rare perfect trade as you get ALL Harley Quinn’s tie ins and the Harley Quin: Year of the Villain one shot. Collects Harley Quinn #64-#69 and Harley Quinn: Villain of the Year #1.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Humphries, Sam (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Hawkman Vol. 3: Darkness Within
Issues #14 to #19 are tie ins and this trade has #13 to #18 which is just one shy.
- Venditti, Robert (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 168 Pages - 09/15/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour
Justice League are the driving force beyond YoTV and Dark #13 to #17 are tie ins and this book has Justice League Dark #14 to #19 which is perfect.
- Tynion IV, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages - 04/14/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Justice League Odyssey Vol. 3: The Final Frontier
More Justice League, #11 to #15 are tie ins and this trade has #13 to #18.
The Terrifics Volume 4: The Tomorrow War
Collects The Terrifics #19-#30. #18 can be gotten from Volume 3.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Yang, Gene Luen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Nightwing: The Gray Son Legacy
Nightwing #62 to #66 are Year of the Villain tie ins, this trade has #59-#64. His Joker War trade has the other two issues if you wanted to get that. We have a Joker War reading order.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Jurgens, Dan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Red Hood: Outlaw: Generation Outlaw
Red Hood and the Outlaws #36 to #40 are the tie ins, Generation Outlaw #37 to #41. The previous volume as the one issue if you really wanted to be complete.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Lobdell, Scott (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy
Happens towards the end, the entire miniseries is collected.
- Houser, Jody (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 152 Pages - 05/18/2021 (Publication Date) - Dc Comics (Publisher)
Teen Titans Vol. 3: Seek and Destroy
Part of the “The Gift” episode. The Terminus Agenda which came before it is optional.
- Glass, Adam (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 03/31/2020 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
Batman Vs. Ra’s Al Ghul
A miniseries penned by Neal Adams. Collects Batman Vs. Ra’s al Ghul #1-6
Year of the Villain Issue by Issue Reading Order
This our best attempt at making the issues flow in a coherent way.
- The Flash #65
- The Batman Who Laughs #1-7
- Year of the Villain #1
- Justice League #25
- Justice League #26
- Justice League #27
- Deathstroke #45
- Harley Quinn #63
- Catwoman #13
- Red Hood: Outlaw #36
- Superman #13
- Supergirl #32
- Batman and the Outsiders #3
- Hawkman #14
- Justice League Odyssey #11
- Justice League #28
- Aquaman #50
- Nightwing #62
- Batman #75
- Teen Titans #32
- Justice League Dark #13
- Detective Comics #1008
- Batgirl #37
- Action Comics #1013
- The Terrifics #18
- The Flash #75
- Wonder Woman #75
- Justice League #29
- Deathstroke #46
- Harley Quinn #64
- Batman #76
- Aquaman #51
- Justice League Odyssey #12
- Wonder Woman #76
- Batman and the Outsiders #4
- Detective Comics #1009
- Hawkman #15
- The Flash #76
- Teen Titans #33
- Nightwing #63
- Justice League #30
- Justice League Dark #14
- Detective Comics #1010
- Batgirl #38
- The Terrifics #19
- Red Hood: Outlaw #37
- The Flash #77
- Wonder Woman #77
- Action Comics #1014
- Batman/Superman #1
- Sinestro: Year of the Villain
- Black Mask: Year of the Villain
- Batman Vs. Ra’s Al Ghul #1
- Justice League #31
- Harley Quinn #65
- Batman #78
- Deathstroke #47
- Action Comics #1015
- Justice League #32
- Aquaman #52
- Hawkman #16
- Justice League Odyssey #13
- Superman #15
- Detective Comics #1011
- Catwoman #15
- Batman and the Outsiders #5
- The Flash #78
- Supergirl #34
- Wonder Woman #78
- Nightwing #64
- Teen Titans #34
- Detective Comics #1012
- The Flash #79
- Red Hood: Outlaw #38
- Justice League Dark #15
- Batgirl #39
- The Terrifics #20
- Wonder Woman #79
- Batman/Superman #2
- Harley and Poison Ivy #1
- The Riddler: Year of the Villain
- Lex Luthor: Year of the Villain
- Batman Vs. Ra’s Al Ghul #2
- Justice League #33
- Batman #80
- Deathstroke #48
- Harley Quinn #66
- Detective Comics #1013
- Batman and the Outsiders #6
- Catwoman #16
- The Flash #80
- Hawkman #17
- Justice League Odyssey #14
- Supergirl #35
- Superman #16
- Wonder Woman #80
- Justice League #34
- Aquaman #53
- Nightwing #65
- Teen Titans #35
- Action Comics #1016
- Batgirl #40
- Justice League Dark #16
- Detective Comics #1014
- The Flash #81
- Red Hood: Outlaw #39
- The Terrifics #21
- Wonder Woman #81
- Batman/Superman #3
- The Joker: Year of the Villain #1
- Black Adam: Year of the Villain #1
- Harley and Poison Ivy #2
- Batman Vs. Ra’s Al Ghul #3
- Aquaman Annual #2
- Nightwing Annual #2
- Justice League #35
- Batman #82
- Deathstroke #49
- Harley Quinn #67
- Batman and the Outsiders #7
- Catwoman #17
- Detective Comics #1015
- The Flash #82
- Hawkman #18
- Justice League Odyssey #15
- Red Hood: Outlaw #40
- Supergirl #36
- Wonder Woman #82
- Justice League #36
- Nightwing #66
- Aquaman #54
- Teen Titans #36
- Action Comics #1017
- Batgirl #41
- Detective Comics #1016
- Justice League Dark #17
- The Terrifics #22
- The Flash #83
- Wonder Woman #83
- Batman/Superman #4
- The Infected: King Shazam!
- Harley and Poison Ivy #3
- The Infected: Scarab
- Batman Vs. Ra’s Al Ghul #4
- Justice League #37
- Deathstroke #50
- The Infected: Deathbringer #1
- Batman and the Outsiders #8
- Catwoman #18
- The Flash #84
- Harley and Poison Ivy #4
- Hawkman #19
- Justice League Odyssey #16
- Supergirl #37
- Harley Quinn: Year of the Villain #1
- Ocean Master: Year of the Villain #1
- Aquaman #55
- Teen Titans #37
- Nightwing #67
- The Infected: The Commissioner #1
- Justice League #38
- Batman/Superman #5
- Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1
- Action Comics #1018
- Batgirl #42
- The Flash #85
- Justice League Dark #18
- Red Hood: Outlaw #41
- The Terrifics #23
- Batman and the Outsiders #9
- Catwoman #19
- Harley and Poison Ivy #5
- Hawkman #20
- Supergirl #38
- Justice League #39
- The Flash #86
- Justice League Odyssey #17
- Nightwing #68
- Teen Titans #38
- Justice League Dark #19
- Batman/Superman #6
- Wonder Woman #750
- Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #2
- Batgirl #43
- Red Hood: Outlaw #42
- Action Comics #1019
- The Flash #87
- The Terrifics #24
- Harley and Poison Ivy #6
- Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #3
- Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #4
Last update on 2023-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API