Villains United

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Villains United
Image:4-villain.jpg Cover to Villains United #1 Art by J.G. Jones
Publisher DC Comics Schedule Monthly Format Limited series Publication dates (Limited series) July 2005 - December 2005 (Infinite Crisis Special) April 2006 Number of issues six (along with a special) Main character(s) Secret Six Secret Society of Super Villains Creative team Writer(s) Gail Simone Artist(s) Dale Eaglesham Val Semekis Inker(s) Wade von Grawbadger Prentis Rollins Creator(s) Secret Six created by E. Nelson Bridwell Frank Springer

Villains United is a six-issue comic book limited series, written by Gail Simone with art by Dale Eaglesham and Wade von Grawbadger, published by DC Comics in 2005. Due to illness, Eaglesham could not provide the interior art for the third issue, so Val Semeiks stepped in to produce the pencils with Prentis Rollins supplying the inks.

Villains United is one of four limited series leading up to DC Comics' Infinite Crisis event and seven-issue limited series. This story follows the evolution of the latest incarnation of the Secret Six, and the group's ongoing plight against the machinations of the various supervillains belonging to Lex Luthor's expansive Secret Society of Super Villains.

Like all major intercompany events, there are a number of tie-ins with monthly DC Comics titles (including, but not limited to, Nightwing #109-111, Breach #7, The Flash #225, Superman #221, Action Comics #831, Firestorm #17, and Catwoman #46-49).

In December 2005, the series was collected in a 160-page trade paperback.

Contents 1 Plot summary 1.1 Luthor 1.2 The Mockingbird 1.3 Betrayal 1.4 The Six hunted 1.5 Mockingbird revealed 1.6 Villains United Special: A Hero Dies but One 2 The Society's roster 3 External links

Plot summary

Luthor

For months now, former President Lex Luthor has been using his resources to assemble an army against the superheroes. Luthor's team now has over two hundred members with a six-member core team consisting of Luthor, Talia al Ghul, Doctor Psycho, Deathstroke, Black Adam, and the Calculator. But not all the villains offered a chance to join this army are thrilled with this idea. Batman villain Catman has joined a team of five supported by the mysterious Mockingbird including Cheshire, Deadshot, Scandal, Ragdoll and Parademon to oppose this new Secret Society. Catman replaced the first Fiddler, after he was killed by Deadshot on Mockingbird's orders when Mockingbird felt he had not fulfilled his part in a mission.

The Mockingbird

Late one night in the mansion of the Secret Six, Catman and Deadshot have a discussion about their unknown leader, Mockingbird and the dramatic change in Catman's life, while Cheshire secretly listens in the shadows. After a short while Scandal informs everyone that Mockingbird has just assigned them to steal Thanagarian weaponry from a tanker in Gotham harbor.

Upon their arrival to the tanker they are ambushed by members of the Society, which include Weather Wizard, Cheetah, Doctor Polaris, Count Vertigo, Killer Frost, Captain Nazi, Hyena, Crazy Quilt, and others. After their capture, the Crime Doctor tortures the Secret Six, asking them the identity of Mockingbird among other questions. After a few rounds of torture, Catman breaks free and rescues his villainous teammates. While escaping they decide to send the Society a message by murdering the Hyena.

After their escape the Six infiltrated a Society installation in Brazil. After fighting their way through a legion of H.I.V.E. troopers, apparently led by the Queen Bee, they discover the Society's plans for the 'Vindication Scenario' - erasing the memories of all of Earth's superheroes. The facility is a giant battery, powered by a duo of kidnap victims, Firestorm and Gehenna. They release Firestorm just as Black Adam was arriving with a response team and the facility is destroyed.

Betrayal

Once the Six return to their base Cheshire and Catman are in bed together when Cheshire accuses Catman of being a spy and wanting to be a hero. However, she reveals that she has slept with him in order to conceive a child.

A short time later, most of the Society's founding council votes to mount a final strike on the Secret Six — Lex Luthor disagrees with a preemptive attack, but the remaining four members (Black Adam is absent for unknown reasons) decide the action is necessary. Simultaneously, the Six agree to a last stand, but only under the condition that any survivors be set free from Mockingbird's control with no strings attached.

Previous to the battle between the Society and the Six, Deadshot visits Scandal's room to talk about the team's future. A framed picture on the woman's desk reveals that her father is the immortal Vandal Savage.

The Six hunted

Before the conversation has a chance to progress past base greetings, Lawton is ambushed by an irate Catman; he admits knowledge that Deadshot masqueraded as the villainous Deathstroke and murdered the lions comprising his pride. The two engage in a scuffle before pausing to find Deathstroke (the genuine article) leading a small band of villains to the front door of the House of Secrets.

As the motley crew debates as to how the Society was able to find them, Cheshire confesses to several traitorous deeds including giving Luthor the coordinates of the Six's base and covertly joining the Society. When asked what would possess her to do such a thing, considering the fact that the enigmatic Mockingbird has threatened to eliminate her daughter if she refuses utter compliance, Cheshire points out that the baby she's having with Catman would make a fine replacement for a lost child.

Mockingbird revealed

The Society storms through the castle, and Cheshire is shot and possibly killed by Deathstroke, who comments that "The Society doesn't need traitors". The Secret Six manages to fight successfully, though. Talia al Ghul and Scandal Savage, daughters of immortals Ra's al Ghul and Vandal Savage respectively, fight each other. Just when Talia has the upper hand, Scandal's mole in the Society, Knockout, knocks out Talia (it is also revealed that Knockout is Scandal's lover). Ragdoll convinces Solomon Grundy, a fellow "ugly monster," to switch sides. Ragdoll and his father fight until Parademon beats the elder Ragdoll. Catman and Ragdoll Jr. escape from Black Adam's group while Parademon blows himself (and the battleground) up, along with Ragdoll. Deathstroke and Deadshot duel, ultimately shooting each other at the same time. Vandal Savage, to save his daughter Scandal, infiltrates the Society's headquarters and threatens to kill Luthor if he does not disengage the Society's attack against the Six. Luthor reluctantly calls an end to the battle over Black Adam's objection; Deadshot is led away to medical help from the surviving Secret Six.

The central revelation of the book, however, is that Mockingbird is actually Lex Luthor, and that the Luthor organizing the Secret Society is some sort of "imposter". Mockingbird/Luthor reveals that he chose those six individuals because each had different knowledge and experience that could be used to oppose the Society: Catman, for his knowledge on Batman villains; Deadshot, for his knowledge on the remaining Suicide Squad members; Parademon, for his experience living on Apokolips; Ragdoll, because he grew up as a "nephew" to the members of the Injustice Society; Scandal, because she grew up with Vandal Savage and his associates; and Cheshire, for her knowledge on the villains of the Teen Titans. Mockingbird/Luthor reveals to Scandal that he had never placed the families and children of the Six in danger, and disbands the team. Also notable is the Society Luthor's apparent murder of Pariah, a character from the original Crisis.

Villains United Special: A Hero Dies but One

Main article: Battle of Metropolis

In the Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special, the Secret Six meet to discuss their future as a team, with Deadshot recommending they be a mercenary team for good or evil, "as long as we get paid."

In phase one of a master plan, the Society executes "Operation: Hope Abandoned," engineering breakouts at metahuman holding facilities worldwide. Oracle masses responses as fast as possible, but with the "Big Guns" of the Justice League unavailable, the heroes are having problems just holding the line. Contacting the Martian Manhunter, Oracle organizes a global telepathic link.

Meanwhile, the Secret Six intercept the Scarecrow and Amos Fortune fleeing Enclave M, and discover that all supervillains, once freed, are to head to Metropolis. They relay this information to Green Arrow, who informs J'onn. Lady Blackhawk commandeers aircraft to traffic all available heroes and national guardsmen to Metropolis.

An army of second-stringers, vigilantes, and retired metas (including Argus, Geist, Manhunter, and El Diablo) align with the authorities to fend off the Society's assault. Leading the villains' charge is Doctor Psycho, flanked by the monster he and "Monsieur" Warp unleashed from imprisonment: Doomsday.

High above the battle, Catman informs the rest of the Six they are to remain neutral, even after the battle. The Six leave, determined to be an independent group, while the battle continues with "the line between hero and villain... inescapably clear."

The Society's roster

See List of Secret Society of Super Villains members

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