Overview:
DC Crisis on Infinite Earths is a mind-blowing event that first rocked comic book fans back in 1985. This epic crossover is written by the legendary Marv Wolfman, with artwork by the incredible George Pérez. Talk about a dream team!
Fans and critics alike have hailed Crisis on Infinite Earths as a groundbreaking masterpiece. It’s an intense rollercoaster of emotions that leaves you breathless and begging for more. Brace yourselves for some major twists and turns!
The storyline brings together an all-star cast of DC’s most iconic characters, from Superman and Batman to Wonder Woman and The Flash. Plus, we get to see teams like the Justice League and the Teen Titans joining forces to save the multiverse from utter destruction. It’s like a superhero supergroup extravaganza!
Before diving into the main event, it’s important to know that DC’s multiverse was quite a chaotic place. Crisis is an ambitious story impacting multiple ongoing series and aims to streamline and unify the DC universe while addressing continuity inconsistencies that have accumulated over 50 years. Countless parallel Earths with their own versions of our beloved heroes and villains were floating around. But when a cosmic threat named the Anti-Monitor emerges, it’s time for everyone to put their differences aside and unite.
The impact of Crisis on Infinite Earths on the DC Universe cannot be overstated. It’s a game-changer that reshapes the entire DC comic book landscape. Some characters meet their fates, while others are reborn in unexpected ways. The aftermath of this crisis sets the stage for future stories and lays the foundation for a new era of storytelling. (Full Review)
Background Reading:
- There are several appearances of the Monitor within each ongoing series prior to Crisis. However, they are not essential to the core storyline.
Best Way To Read:
Crisis on Infinite Earths Box Set
Alternative Collections
Main Story
Tie-Ins
- Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 1
- Collects: DC COMICS PRESENTS #78, ALL-STAR SQUADRON #50-60, FURY OF FIRESTORM #41-42 and GREEN LANTERN #194-198
- Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 2
- Collects: Detective Comics #558, DC Comics Presents #86, Swamp Thing #44, Losers Special #1, Legends of the DCU: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1, Infinity Inc. #18-25, Justice League of America #244-245, Infinity Inc. Annual #1 and New Teen Titans #13-14
- Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 3
- Collects: Amethyst #13, Blue Devil #17-18, Wonder Woman #327-329, Swamp Thing #46, Legion of Super-Heroes #16 and #18, Superman #413-415, DC Comics Presents #87, 88, 94 and 95, Justice League of America Annual #3 and The Omega Men #31, plus a story from THE OMEGA MEN #33
For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.
For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.
Reading Order:
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| DC Presents #78 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| All-Star Squadron #50 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| All-Star Squadron #51 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| All-Star Squadron #52 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Fury of Firestorm #41 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Infinity, Inc. #18 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Green Lantern Vol. 2 #194 | Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) Green Lantern (John Stewart) Green Lantern (Guy Gardner) Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Infinity, Inc. #19 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Justice League of America #244 | Justice League TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Infinity, Inc. #20 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Detective Comics #558 | Batman Not Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| DC Presents #86 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Swamp Thing vol. 2 #44 | Swamp Thing Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Wonder Woman #327 | Wonder Woman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Wonder Woman #328 | Wonder Woman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Wonder Woman #329 | Wonder Woman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Infinity, Inc. Annual #1 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Infinity, Inc. #21 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #4 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #5 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 | Not Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| All-Star Squadron #53 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| All-Star Squadron #54 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| All-Star Squadron #55 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| All-Star Squadron #56 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Infinity, Inc. #22 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Swamp Thing vol. 2 #46 | Swamp Thing Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #6 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Infinity, Inc. #23 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Green Lantern Vol. 2 #195 | Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) Green Lantern (John Stewart) Green Lantern (Guy Gardner) Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Infinity, Inc. #24 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3 #16 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3 #18 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| DC Comics Presents #87 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Superman #414 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Omega Men #31 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Blue Devil #17 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Blue Devil #18 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| DC Comics Presents #88 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Justice League of America Annual #3 | Justice League Not Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #9 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Justice League of America #245 | Justice League Not important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Fury of Firestorm #42 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #13 | Teen Titans Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #14 | Teen Titans Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #10 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Omega Men #33 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #11 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Amethyst Vol. 2 #13 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Green Lantern Vol. 2 #196 | Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) Green Lantern (John Stewart) Green Lantern (Guy Gardner) Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Green Lantern Vol. 2 #197 | Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) Green Lantern (John Stewart) Green Lantern (Guy Gardner) Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 | Main Story Essential | Crisis on Infinite Earths Deluxe Edition |
| Green Lantern Vol. 2 #198 | Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) Green Lantern (John Stewart) Green Lantern (Guy Gardner) Important | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| Superman #415 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| Infinity, Inc. #25 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| The Losers Special #1 | TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 2 |
| DC Comics Presents #94 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| DC Comics Presents #95 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 3 |
| All-Star Squadron #57 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| All-Star Squadron #58 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| All-Star Squadron #59 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
| All-Star Squadron #60 | JSA TBD – Did not Read | Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion vol. 1 |
Publications Impact
- Series Spun out of Event
- The Man of Steel
- The Green Lantern Corps
References:
Feature Image Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 Cover art by George Perez
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