Crime Syndicate Reading Order

This reading order is designed to give a timeline of major storylines featuring the Crime Syndicate throughout DC Comics. It may not encompass every one of their appearances, but is an outline of the major ones and the stories that affect them.

The continuity details relating to each specific storyline are explained in the “Review” of each storyline. Every “Review” link will provide a detailed continuity breakdown of that story and will explain any reference the story makes to other aspects of the DC Universe. All of this can be found under the “Continuity” section of each link.

New 52

With the start of the New 52, the DC Universe was reset and a new version of the Crime Syndicate debuted. This version shares no continuity with previous versions but is essentially a rebooted version of the same concept.

This new Crime Syndicate was introduced through the Forever Evil (Reading Order). The team originally consisted of Atomica (Reading Order), Deathstorm, Grid, Johnny Quick (Reading Order), The Outsider, Owlman (Reading Order), Power Ring, Superwoman (Reading Order), and Ultraman (Reading Order). An unnamed Martian and the Sea King were also members of the team but ended up only making extremely brief appearances. The team is a huge part of the Forever Evil event and, later on, some of its members go on to play a role in the second half of the Darkseid War (Reading Order) event.

Essential Extra
Issue Collection Issue Collection
Justice League #23 Trinity War (Review) (Reading Order)    
   
Forever Evil #1 Forever Evil (Review) (Reading Order)    
   
    Trinity of Sin: Pandora #4 Trinity of Sin - Pandora Vol. 1: The Curse (Review) 1
   
Justice League #23.4 DC New 52 Villains Omnibus    
   
Forever Evil #2 Forever Evil (Review) (Reading Order) Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #1 Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion (Review) 2
Justice League #24 Justice League Vol. 5: Forever Heroes (Review)    
   
Forever Evil #3 Forever Evil (Review) (Reading Order) Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #2 Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion (Review) 2
Justice League #25 Justice League Vol. 5: Forever Heroes (Review)    
   
Forever Evil #4 Forever Evil (Review) (Reading Order)    
   
Justice League #26 Justice League Vol. 5: Forever Heroes (Review)    
Justice League #27    
    Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #5 Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion (Review) 2
   
Forever Evil #5 Forever Evil (Review) (Reading Order)    
Forever Evil #6    
Justice League #29 Justice League Vol. 5: Forever Heroes (Review)    
   
Forever Evil #7 Forever Evil (Review) (Reading Order)    
   
       
Justice League #47 Justice League Vol. 8: Darkseid War Part 2 (Review) (Reading Order)    
Justice League #48    
Justice League #49    
Justice League #50    

Justice League issues are from the Justice League Vol. 2 series.

Notes
  1. This issue explains what happened to the Earth-3 version of Martian Manhunter, whose only appearance is in this issue. It does little to enhance the team's history besides revealing a Martian was part of its original lineup.
  2. Issues #1 and #2 of Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion (Review) show a different side of the events from Forever Evil #2 and #3. Issue #5 of Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion shows was Johnny Quick and Atomica were doing immediately before Forever Evil #5. These issues are not necessary pieces of the Crime Syndicate's history but do provide more information about the group.

Rebirth

In progress

All DC Comics Reading Orders

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