The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a DC Comics title that debuted in May–June 1976. The series presented a group of DC's supervillains.
In the decades following the cancellation of the original book, the fictional group has returned in many forms.
History[]
One Year Later[]
Main article: One Year Later
One Year Later, most of the Society's inner circle is either in prison or has resigned from the group. Doctor Psycho was captured by the authorities after the Battle of Metropolis and is on trial in the Manhunter series; he has also appeared in Secret Six and Wonder Woman. Deathstroke the Terminator was apprehended by the Green Arrow, but escaped and started recruiting members for the Titans East.
With Talia returning to rule the League of Assassins, the Calculator remains the only original member of the "inner council" left running the Society.
Final Crisis[]
Main article: Final Crisis
Not long after the Society's dissolution, Checkmate instigated a crackdown on all villains in the DC Universe, who were captured and exiled to a prison planet as seen in the Salvation Run miniseries. The group included almost every villain in the DC universe, with rare exceptions. Though the villains escaped back to Earth, their desire for revenge drives the Society to depose Lex Luthor and replace him with a leader who promises them what they desire: the mysterious Libra.
The New 52[]
In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, the Secret Society's origins are traced to two shadowy figures (one of whom is later revealed to be Professor Ivo) who meet to discuss the growing superhero community.
DC Rebirth[]
The Society reappears in DC Rebirth, where its members consist of Vandal Savage, Hector Hammond, the Riddler, Professor Zoom the Reverse-Flash, Black Manta, the Ultra-Humanite, Deadline, the Raptor, and Killer Frost, with Lex Luthor being established as a former member. They place Deathstroke the Terminator on trial while debating whether he is truly reformed or not; however, the Riddler proves via Hammond's telepathic abilities that Deathstroke is 'evil'.
During the "Dark Crisis" storyline, Deathstroke led an incarnation of the Secret Society of Super Villains. After mourning the apparent deaths of the Justice League, the Secret Society of Super Villains proceeded to attack Titans Academy before they are repelled by Jon Kent. Then the Secret Society of Super Villains started attacking different superheroes. The Great Darkness later corrupted the Secret Society of Super Villains into serving it.
In other media[]
Television[]
- Three incarnations of the Secret Society appear in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU):
- The first version appears in a self-titled two-part episode of Justice League, consisting of Gorilla Grodd, Giganta, Killer Frost, Sinestro, the Parasite, Shade, and Clayface.
- In the third season of Justice League Unlimited, Grodd rebuilds and expands the Secret Society to combat the expanded Justice League by recruiting Luthor, most of his original Society save for Clayface, Angle Man, Atomic Skull, Bizarro, Blockbuster, Bloodsport, the Cheetah, Copperhead, the Cadre, Devil Ray, Doctor Cyber, Doctor Destiny, Doctor Polaris, Doctor Spectro, Dummy, Electrocutioner, Evil Star, the Gentleman Ghost, Goldface, Heat Wave, Hellgrammite, Javelin, the Key, KGBeast, Lady Lunar, Livewire, Major Disaster, Merlyn, Metallo, Mirror Master, Monocle, Neutron, Psycho-Pirate, Puzzler, the Puppeteer, Queen Bee, Rampage, Shark, Silver Banshee, Sonar, Sportsmaster, Star Sapphire, Tala, Tattooed Man, the Thinker, the Top, Toyman, Tsukuri, Volcana, and Weather Wizard.
- Additionally, the episode "Epilogue" includes a futuristic incarnation of the Secret Society known as the Iniquity Collective, consisting of Inque, Shriek, Stalker, and a monstrous future incarnation of the Parasite.
- The Justice Underground appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Deep Cover for Batman!", led by the Red Hood and consisting of unnamed heroic versions of Black Manta, the Clock King, Doctor Polaris, the Gentleman Ghost, Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, the Brain, and Kite Man.
- A group based on the Secret Society called "The Light" appears in Young Justice. The group was founded by Vandal Savage to counteract the Justice League's preserving of society's "calcified status quo", believing they directly inhibit mankind by protecting them from disaster, crime and tragedy — factors he believes are needed for humanity to evolve.
Film[]
The Justice Underground appears in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, consisting of a heroic Lex Luthor, the Jester, and the latter's monkey sidekick Harley.
Video games[]
- The Secret Society appears in DC Universe Online, led by Lex Luthor, Circe, and the Joker. This version of the group is affiliated with various villains.
- An alternate reality version of the "Society" appears in Injustice 2, led by Gorilla Grodd and consisting of Bane, Poison Ivy, the Scarecrow, Deadshot, the Cheetah, Captain Cold, and the Reverse-Flash.
- The Secret Society appears as a team bonus in DC Heroes and Villains, consisting of Vandal Savage, Cheshire, Livewire, Copperhead, and Ultra-Humanite.
Miscellaneous[]
A team based on the Justice Underground called the Brotherhood of Justice appears in Teen Titans Go! #48, consisting of heroic, alternate reality versions of General Immortus, Psimon, Mammoth, Doctor Light, and Madame Rouge, with Rouge serving as a double agent within the Teen Tyrants, posing as Blackfire.
Copyright[]
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia page Secret Society of Super-Villains. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
