Lead-up
Following Black Adam's rampage in World War III , the Amazonian attack on the United States, the murder of the Flash (Bart Allen), and the Injustice League's attack upon the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary, a government-sponsored secret program is put in place to combat the growing metahuman threat. Initiated by the President and executed by Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad, the purpose of the program is to capture supervillains and exile them to the distant planet Cygnus 4019, also known as Salvation, via a Boom Tube. Several Suicide Squad members are sent to Salvation once they are no longer needed (examples being Bane and Deadshot). According to Rick Flag Jr., the prisoners are not given any supplies or equipment for their survival, as that would make the government responsible for them. Once they are off-world, they are no longer Earth's responsibility. [4] Cygnus 4019 was intended to be peaceful, but was turned into a "training planet" for the New Gods of Apokolips, overseen by DeSaad. [4] [5]
Main plot
Having arrived on Cygnus first, the Rogues (Abra Kadabra, Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, and Weather Wizard) are the first to find out that the Cygnus is seemingly designed to kill any visitors. Kadabra deciphers the language of the local pygmies and learns of the "Safe Zone", a safe district. During their journey, they hear a second Boom Tube arrive and decide to go back. Out of the Boom Tubes come Black Spider, Cheetah, Clayface, Effigy, Girder, Hammer and Sickle, a Hyena, Joker, Kid Karnevil, Killer Croc, Killer Frost, Mammoth, Mr. Freeze, Mister Terrible, Phobia, Psimon, Rock, Shimmer, Shrapnel, Sonar, Tapeworm, and Tremor. For a short time, they attempt to assert their leadership over the second group. [4]
The Body Doubles, Hellhound, Iron Cross, Manticore, Meanstreak, Metallo, Rag Doll, Skorpio, and Tar Pit battle wild robotic beasts, during which Hellhound is wounded. Despite their plans to leave him to die, the other villains bring Hellhound along only to feed him to lion-lizards. Back at camp, Kid Karnevil tells the Joker that he has looked up to him and plans to surpass him by slaying him when he least suspects it. Psimon orates to the entire group that he has figured out a way for them to survive as a society, but it is rejected and he is killed by the Joker. Meanwhile, Rick Flag Jr. transports Bane, Chemo, Lex Luthor, and Deadshot to Cygnus as Flag Jr. has no further use for Bane and Deadshot. [6]
The villains fight heavily amongst themselves, with few mediators. Lex Luthor announces to the group that he, Doctor Sivana, Professor Ivo, and General Immortus have devised a way to escape. Those loyal to Luthor and those who prefer Joker battle before Gorilla Grodd calms them with his psychic powers and leaves. After the chaos, Blockbuster is revealed to be a disguised Martian Manhunter, who is observing the villains on Batman's behalf. [7] Catwoman spies on Manhunter and exposes his identity, causing him to be captured. Meanwhile, Grodd kills Monsieur Mallah and Brain after they attempt to ally with him and Vandal Savage reaches the Safe Zone at the top of a hill. [8]
As an imprisoned Martian Manhunter is confused as to why Thunder and Lightning are on Cygnus as they try to help, Bane shows up and defeats Thunder and Lightning. One week later, DeSaad sends an army of Parademons to attack Cygnus during which they kill Hyena, Brutale, and Solomon Grundy. [9]
Luthor and Savage work together to complete the portal powered by some of their fellow inmates. They leave Cygnus as Lex Luthor sets the portal to self-destruct, killing the pursuing Parademons. Martian Manhunter is still in his flaming cage. [10]
