An evil erupted in DC's May 2019 (July cover date) one-shot, DC'S YEAR OF THE VILLAIN [2019] #1, beginning a year-long storyline event. Nearly all of DC's major series tie-in with the event, but each series can be read on its own as a self-contained story. Several of the variant covers of these tie-in issues were upgraded with cardstock covers and carry a higher cover price. Various one-shots also tie-in to the event. Five months were branded with a new 'chapter title' in parallel across all comic book series.
July issues (September cover dates): THE OFFER, in which Lex Luthor appears to villains across the DC Universe to pitch his most ambitious plan yet.
August issues (October cover dates): DARK GIFTS, in which the effects of Lex Luthor's 'Dark Gifts' spread across the entire DC Universe. Heroes are attacked by their greatest foes who are armed with new powers. The logos of this month's tie-in issues feature 'battle damage.'
September issues (November cover dates): EVIL UNLEASHED
October issues (December cover dates): DOOM RISING, in which a shared-universe incident heralds the twilight of the heroic age and will literally brand the skies with doom. Covers of several of this month's tie-in issues feature 'fallen icons,' showing DC's superheroes at their lowest points.
November issues (January cover dates): HOSTILE TAKEOVER, in which the heroes of the DC Universe are defeated by their greatest foes. Covers of this month's tie-in issues will feature dual-layered covers with the top layer as an acetate layer.
The storyline continued in additional ones-shots and the HELL ARISEN 4-issue mini-series. In the climax, Lex Luthor and his 'Apex' (forces of Injustice) battle the Batman Who Laughs and his 'Infected' (corrupted versions of some of DC's greatest heroes with new powers and blackened souls).
