DC Year of the Villain: When Lex Luthor Made an Offer They Couldn’t Refuse
Remember the massive DC Year of the Villain event that spanned across DC Comics titles from 2019 into 2020? It was a time when the very fabric of the DC Universe seemed to darken, orchestrated by one of its most notorious masterminds. As IGN reported early on, Lex Luthor made villains across the globe an offer, a chance to gain immense power and fulfill their darkest desires. This wasn’t just another crossover; it fundamentally shifted the power dynamics within the DCU. As dedicated followers of comic storylines, we saw this event build upon epic narratives, particularly Scott Snyder’s Justice League run. Let’s dive into what made the DC Year of the Villain so impactful.
The core premise was both simple and terrifying. Lex Luthor, recently transformed and empowered, sought to unleash Perpetua, the ancient and malevolent creator of the multiverse. You can find a storyline summary on the DC Fandom wiki. To achieve this, he needed allies. Thus began “The Offer.”
What Drove the DC Year of the Villain Event?
At the heart of the DC Year of the Villain event was Lex Luthor’s ambitious and universe-altering plan. Following events in the Justice League series, Luthor shed his humanity, embracing a powerful new form often referred to as “Apex Lex,” a transformation Polygon discussed in relation to Scott Snyder’s work. His goal became singular: serve Perpetua, the dark mother of the multiverse who had been imprisoned for eons within the Source Wall. Freeing her meant embracing “Doom” over “Justice.”
Luthor believed humanity, and indeed the entire multiverse, was fundamentally flawed and leaned towards doom. Perpetua represented this ultimate truth in his eyes. To prepare the world for her return and empower her, Luthor embarked on a massive recruitment drive. He traveled the DC Universe, appearing before countless villains. His proposition, known as “The Offer,” was tailored to each antagonist. Essentially, he offered them significant power upgrades, resources, or knowledge to achieve their own villainous goals. In return, they merely needed to embrace their nature and sow chaos, furthering the cause of Doom. This major event unfolded across numerous titles published by DC Comics, making it a line-wide initiative. Many villains accepted, receiving enhanced abilities and becoming even greater threats. This buildup was meticulously seeded, kicking off formally with the DC’s Year of the Villain Special #1, which Superhero Hype covered along with the preview comic announcement. This special featured work by writers Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Brian Michael Bendis, and artist Jim Cheung, among others, with Batman News offering details on the launch.
Key Players and Sprawling Tie-Ins in DC Year of the Villain
While Lex Luthor and Perpetua were the central figures driving the DC Year of the Villain narrative, other major players emerged, significantly impacting the event’s direction. Perhaps most notable was The Batman Who Laughs. This terrifying alternate version of Batman, already a major threat, played his own intricate game throughout the event, often working towards his own dark ends, even while seemingly allied with Luthor, a dynamic Polygon detailed early in the event’s announcement. His presence added another layer of unpredictability and horror.
Numerous villains received Luthor’s offer, leading to dedicated one-shots and tie-in story arcs across the DC line. Fans saw characters like The Riddler, Black Manta, Sinestro, Cheetah, Bane, and many others grapple with Luthor’s proposition and gain dangerous new power levels. For instance, the Lex Luthor: Year of the Villain #1 one-shot, which Major Spoilers examined in their review, explored Luthor’s perspective, while The Riddler: Year of the Villain #1 showed Edward Nygma’s confrontation with Apex Lex, as highlighted by SyFy Wire. These upgrades were often visually represented by distinct comic book covers and story developments carrying the “Year of the Villain” banner, sometimes subtitled “The Offer” or “Hostile Takeover.” You can explore the digital collection on DC Universe Infinite.
Keeping track of everything became a fun challenge for dedicated readers. The sheer number of tie-ins across titles like Action Comics, Batman, Justice League, Catwoman, and more meant following the complete DC Year of the Villain required a reading order guide. Several resources popped up online, like this helpful reading order guide from How To Love Comics or Comic Book Treasury’s structured reading list, to help fans navigate the complex web of stories, showing just how expansive this event truly was for the community at Comic Book Addicts and beyond. The event wasn’t just a background theme; it actively drove plots forward, forcing heroes to confront newly empowered versions of their worst enemies. The stakes felt consistently high as Luthor’s plan unfolded and Perpetua’s influence grew, casting a shadow over the entire DC Universe.
The Legacy of Villainy
The DC Year of the Villain fundamentally altered the landscape of the DC Universe for a significant period. It wasn’t just about temporary power-ups; it explored themes of choice, ambition, and the nature of evil. Luthor’s conviction that the multiverse inherently leaned towards “Doom” forced heroes and villains alike to confront uncomfortable truths. The event served as a major culmination of Scott Snyder’s cosmic storytelling in Justice League and set the stage for further conflicts, directly leading into battles against Perpetua and The Batman Who Laughs.
Ultimately, DC Year of the Villain stands as a memorable, sprawling event that put the antagonists firmly in the spotlight. It showcased the terrifying potential of characters like Lex Luthor and Perpetua and demonstrated how a single, compelling offer could ripple across an entire fictional universe, empowering darkness in its wake.What were your favorite moments or villain upgrades from the DC Year of the Villain event? Did Lex Luthor’s plan intrigue you, or did you root for the heroes resisting the tide of Doom? Share your thoughts over on our Twitter page! We’d love to hear what you think.
