Event Leviathan is a 2019 crossover event created by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev for DC Comics, happening during the Year of The Villain.
It follows a team of detectives assembled by Lois Lane who investigates the infiltration and apparent destruction of various intelligence agencies within the DC Universe by Leviathan, the group formerly run by Talia al Ghul.
As the official synopsis says: With startling ease, a newly dangerous and aggressive secret organization called Leviathan has returned and has been systematically wiping out all its competition. The ways of the old world no longer work. Now Leviathan is turning its sights to molding the world into its own radical vision of order.
Can this new threat’s growth be stopped? Join Lois Lane as she leads Batman, Green Arrow, Plastic Man, Manhunter, the Question along with a couple of surprise sleuths in the search of the man who sits behind the cloak of Leviathan. But will whoever find him first capture him…or join him?
What to read before Event Leviathan?
Why Event Leviathan didn’t simply take place in Action Comics is the real mystery here. Bendis’s run on Action Comics leads into Event Leviathan, making it an important read to better understand the event.
- The Man of Steel (optional) – Bendis establishes the first elements for his Superman stories here.
- Superman: Action Comics Vol. 1: Invisible Mafia (optional) – A build-up to Invisible Mafia, who is going to be affected by the Leviathan stuff after.
- Superman: Action Comics Vol. 2: Leviathan Rising – This is where the story really begins.
- DC’s Year of the Villain #1 – One of the three stories focuses on Leviathan and the growing threat it poses.
- Superman Leviathan Rising Special – a shorter version of this special is collected in Leviathan Rising. This one offers more info about Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane and Supergirl.
Event Leviathan Reading Order
Event Leviathan Reading Order, the Collected Editions :
- Event Leviathan
Collects Superman: Leviathan Rising Special #1, Event Leviathan #1-6, DC’s Year of the Villain #1 - Superman: Action Comics Vol. 3: Leviathan Hunt
Collects Action Comics #1012-1016. - Superman: Action Comics Vol. 4: Metropolis Burning
Collects Action Comics #1017-1022.
Event Leviathan Reading Order, by Issue :
It begins with a follow-up to the Supergirl part of the story taking place in the Superman: Leviathan Rising special, and let’s just say that anything related to Supergirl is only relevant for Supergirl’s readers. I’ll tend to advise to just skip the Supergirl part, as it goes nowhere (and it frustrated me, seriously).
- Supergirl #34-#35
- Event Leviathan #1
- Action Comics #1012
Wonder Woman is, like Supergirl, a more than minor tie-in in the grand scheme of Event Leviathan, with no conclusion in the event. Completely optional.
- Wonder Woman Annual #3
- Event Leviathan #2
- Action Comics #1013
- Event Leviathan #3
- Action Comics #1014
Following the conclusion of Action Comics #1014, the title is still connected to the Event Leviathan but takes a little bit of distance with it in favor of Naomi during Action Comics #1015-1016.
- Event Leviathan #4
- Event Leviathan #5
- Event Leviathan #6
The Aftermath
Lois Lane is one busy journalist! In parallel to Event Leviathan, she was trying to find out more about the death of Mariska Voronova, a journalist who had been critical of the Kremlin in a story written by Greg Rucka and drawn by Mike Perkins. The 6th issue is about the Event Leviathan aftermath. The Action Comics issues takes place after the revelation of who is behind Leviathan.
- Lois Lane #6
- Action Comics #1017-1021
- Leviathan Dawn
What to read after Event Leviathan?
The fallout from Event Leviathan is explored in Leviathan Dawn, serving as both an epilogue and setup for the next Leviathan saga, Event Leviathan: Checkmate.
Here is the official synopsis: Leviathan has agents and acolytes all over the world-but what is the secret behind its power? The planet’s last, best hope to infiltrate Leviathan may be this motley collection of spymasters, now teamed up to try to take back the world that was stolen from under us all! Green Arrow, the Question, Talia al Ghul and other unlikely allies converge to tackle Leviathan as members of the new Checkmate-but who is the surprise hero behind this team?
Last Updated on March 10, 2023.