| Villainy Inc. | |
|---|---|
 Top: Jinx, Giganta, Trinity. Bottom: Cyborgirl, Doctor Poison, Queen Clea. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Wonder Woman #28 (March–April 1948) |
| Created by | William Moulton Marston Harry G. Peter |
| In-story information | |
| Member(s) |
|
Villainy Inc. is a team of fictional characters appearing in DC Comics publications and related media, commonly as an alliance of recurring adversaries of the superhero Wonder Woman.[1] The group debuted in 1948's Wonder Woman #28, though each of its eight initial members had previously appeared as antagonists in earlier Wonder Woman adventures. Historically, Wonder Woman #28 holds a distinction as the final issue of the series to be written by the heroine’s creator William Moulton Marston before his death.[2]
Three different incarnations of Villainy Inc. have appeared in DC Comics publications: (1) the Golden Age version, led by Eviless, (2) the Modern Age version, led by Queen Clea, and (3) the Rebirth-era version, led by Doctor Psycho and masterminded by Hera. Of these, the Golden and Modern Age incarnations consisted exclusively of women characters,[3] although three Golden Age figures among them – Blue Snowman, Doctor Poison and Hypnota – would likely be construed by 21st century readers as gender non-conforming. Since 2021, Blue Snowman has been specifically presented by writers as a genderfluid character.[4]
The team was adapted for the 2019 Warner Brothers animated film Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, in which it was led by Doctor Cyber and masterminded by Veronica Cale.
- ^ Jimenez, Phil; Wells, John (2010). The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 434. ISBN 978-0345501073.
- ^ Berlatsky, Noah (2015). Wonder Woman: Bondage and Feminism in the Marston/Peter Comics, 1941-1948. Rutgers University Press. p. 174. ISBN 978-0813564180.
- ^ Daniels, Les (2000). Wonder Woman: The Complete History. Chronicle Books LLC. p. 75.
- ^ DeLuca, Jude. "History of Violence: WONDER WOMAN, The Blue Snowman, and “Gender Issues.”" Comicosity, 15 February 2021, https://www.comicosity.com/history-of-violence-wonder-woman-the-blue-snowman-and-gender-issues/. Accessed 19 August 2022.