# Salvation Run

Salvation Run is a seven-issue 2007-2008 DC Comics limited series which was designed to tie into the company's major event series Final Crisis in 2008.

## Premise

The series, which is based on a pitch from George R. R. Martin, follows a world where various supervillains are captured by the Suicide Squad and imprisoned on a distant planet. The story features the villains splitting into alliances and either attempting to escape the planet, known as "Salvation", or choosing to rule over it. Bill Willingham started as writer, but had to hand the project over to Lilah Sturges after only three issues due to illness. The first issue was released in November 2007.
Major characters in Salvation Run include Lex Luthor, the Joker, the Rogues (Heat Wave, Captain Cold, Weather Wizard, Abra Kadabra and Mirror Master), and other morally ambiguous heroes such as Scandal Savage and Catwoman. Tie-ins to the series were released in Countdown to Final Crisis, Outsiders, Checkmate, Catwoman, and Justice League of America.
A compiled paperback version of Salvation Run was released on September 24, 2008.

## Plot
### 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 the supervillains of the world and exile them to the distant planet Salvation via Boom Tube—including several Suicide Squad members once they are no longer needed (examples being Bane and Deadshot). According to Rick Flag, the prisoners would not be getting any supplies or equipment for their survival, as that would make the government responsible for them, and once they're offworld, they are no longer Earth's responsibility. The planet chosen was Cygnus 4019, a planet that was supposed to be peaceful. However, it turned out to be a "training planet" for the New Gods of Apokolips, overseen by DeSaad.

### 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 III, Clayface I, Effigy, Girder, Hammer and Sickle, a Hyena, Joker, Kid Karnevil, Killer Croc, Killer Frost II, 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.
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 transports Bane, Chemo, and Deadshot to Cygnus.
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. However, Catwoman spies on Manhunter and exposes his identity, causing him to be captured. Amidst this, 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.
One week later, DeSaad sends an army of Parademons to attack Cygnus, during which they kill Hyena, Brutale, and Solomon Grundy. However, Luthor and Savage work together to complete the portal and leave Cygnus, leaving Martian Manhunter behind. Shortly afterward, the portal explodes, killing the Parademons.

## Inmates

Villains placed on the planet include:
| Abra Kadabra Aryan Brigade Heatmonger Iron Cross Bane Black Spider III (Derrick Coe) Blockbuster III (Martian Manhunter in disguise) Bloodsport Body Doubles Bolt Brain Brutale Captain Cold Catman Catwoman Cheetah (Barbara Ann Minerva) Chemo Cheshire Cicada Clayface (Basil Karlo) Deadshot Doctor Light (Arthur Light) Doctor Sivana Effigy General Immortus Giganta Girder Gorilla Grodd Hammer and Sickle Heat Wave Hellhound Hugo Strange | Hyena Ibac Jewelee Jinx Joker Kid Karnevil Killer Croc Killer Frost (Louise Lincoln) Lady Flash Lady Vic Leather Lex Luthor Lock-Up Mad Hatter Magenta Mammoth Man-Bat Manticore Meanstreak Metallo Mirror Master Mr. Freeze Mister Terrible Monsieur Mallah Neutron Nocturna Phobia | Plasmus Poison Ivy Prankster Professor Ivo Psimon Rag Doll (Peter Merkel Jr.) Rock Scandal Savage Shadow Thief Shimmer Shrapnel Silver Monkey II Silver Swan (Vanessa Kapatelis) Skorpio Solomon Grundy Sonar Sterling Silversmith The Superior Five Hindenberg Jongular Lagomorph Splitshot Tremor Tapeworm Tar Pit Thunder and Lightning Tweedledum and Tweedledee Two-Face Vandal Savage Warp Weather Wizard |

## Collected editions

The series has been collected into a trade paperback:
* Salvation Run (192 pages, September 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1930-6, Titan Books, November 2008, ISBN 1-84576-981-3)