Panelology is a weekly podcast about comics. We talk about current books, what we're looking forward to, and how to get into reading comics in the first place.

Secret Six: Six Degrees of Devastation (DC Comics, 2006; #1-6)

Despite being a separate mini-series with a different title, Secret Six picks up right where Villains United left off.

  • The Six fend off and investigate retaliatory assassination attempts on their members in following their war with the Society.
  • This book has two modes: a heartwarming tale of an unlikely family protecting one another and enough sex and violence to make the ‘90s take notes.
  • It also makes an interesting distinction between Good vs. Evil and Noble vs. Ignoble.
  • And Simone’s writing remains funny while all of this is going on.
  • Walker, Palmiotti, and Mounts’s art is good-looking, fun, and over-the-top.

If I had any doubt whether I was interested in following Secret Six after Villains United, then this first arc removes it.  I’m in for the long haul.

Collected in

  • Secret Six: Six Degrees of Devastation (#1-6)
  • Secret Six: Villains United (#1-6; Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special #1, Secret Six 2006 #1-6)

Credits

Writer: Gail Simone | Artist: Brad Walker | Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti | Colorist: Paul Mounts | Letterer: Travis Lanham

Bitch Planet: Extraordinary Machine (Image Comics, 2014; #1-5)

Daredevil: Volume Two (Marvel Comics, 2011; #7-10, 10.1, ASM #677)