Overview:
In 2008, DC Comics dropped “Final Crisis” on us, a crossover storyline penned by the legendary Grant Morrison, with artists like J.G. Jones taking the visual reins. This event has been a mixed bag for fans and critics alike.
Key players in this cosmic chess game include iconic figures like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, but don’t expect the usual heroics. Major villains like Darkseid are throwing curveballs, and you’ll spot appearances from various teams, adding layers to the chaos.
Critically, it’s a bit polarizing. Some hail it as an ambitious narrative experiment, while others find it a tad too convoluted. The art, though, is generally celebrated for its depth and detail.
Fans can’t deny its impact on the DC Universe. Without spoilers, let’s just say the ripples from “Final Crisis” touch every corner of the superhero landscape. Whether you’re a die-hard DC buff or a casual reader, this event will make you rethink how crises unfold in comic book realms.
Background Reading:
- Crisis on Infinite Earths
- Infinite Crisis
- Seven Soldiers
- Countdown to Final Crisis
Best Way To Read:
Final Crisis Omnibus
Collects: Batman #676-683, 701-702, Birds of Prey #118, DC Universe #0, DC Universe: The Last Will and Testament #1, Final Crisis #1-7, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1-5, Final Crisis: Requiem #1, Final Crisis: Resist #1, Final Crisis: Revelations #1-5, Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge #1-3, Final Crisis: Secret Files #1, Final Crisis: Submit #1, Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1-2, Flash #240-241, Justice League of America #21, Superman/Batman #76, Teen Titans #59-60, Terror Titans #1-6
Alternative Collections
Main Story
- Final Crisis
- Collects: Final Crisis #1-7, Final Crisis: Submit #1, Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1-2, DC Universe #0, Batman #682-683
- Absolute Final Crisis
- Collects: Final Crisis #1-7, Final Crisis: Submit #1, Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1-2, Final Crisis Sketchbook, Final Crisis #1: Director’s Cut, Batman #682-683
Tie-Ins
- Final Crisis Companion
- Collects: Final Crisis #1: Director’s Cut, Final Crisis: Requiem #1, Final Crisis: Resist #1, Final Crisis: Secret Files #1
- Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds
- Collects: Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1–5
- Final Crisis: Revelations
- Collects: Final Crisis: Revelations #1–5
- Final Crisis Rogues’ Revenge
- Collects: Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge #1–3, The Flash (vol. 2) #182 and 197
- Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance
- Collects: Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1–6
- Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape
- Collects: Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #1–6
- Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink
- Collects: Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #1–6
- Final Crisis Aftermath: Run
- Collects: Final Crisis Aftermath: Run #1–6
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 Universe #0 | Prelude Essential | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis |
| The Flash #240 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| The Flash #241 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Teen Titans #59 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Teen Titans #60 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Birds of Prey #118 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Justice League of America vol. 2 #21 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Final Crisis #1 | Main Story Essential | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Final Crisis: Requiem #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis Companion |
| Terror Titans #1 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Terror Titans #2 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Terror Titans #3 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Terror Titans #4 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Terror Titans #5 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Terror Titans #6 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Final Crisis #2 | Main Story Essential | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge |
| Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge #2 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge |
| Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge #3 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge |
| Final Crisis #3 | Main Story Essential | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| DC Universe: The Last Will and Testament #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus |
| Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #2 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds |
| Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds |
| Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds |
| Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #4 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds |
| Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds |
| Final Crisis: Revelations #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Revelations |
| Final Crisis: Revelations #2 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Revelations |
| Final Crisis: Revelations #3 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Revelations |
| Final Crisis: Revelations #4 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Revelations |
| Final Crisis: Revelations #5 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis: Revelations |
| Final Crisis: Secret Files #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis Companion |
| Final Crisis: Resist #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Final Crisis Companion |
| Final Crisis: Submit #1 | Tie-in Important | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Final Crisis #4 | Main Story Essential | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Final Crisis #5 | Main Story Essential | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Batman #682 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Batman #683 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Final Crisis #6 | Main Story Essential | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Final Crisis #7 | Main Story Essential | Final Crisis Omnibus Absolute Final Crisis Final Crisis |
| Superman/Batman #76 | TBD | Final Crisis Omnibus |
Aftermath
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #1 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #2 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #3 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #4 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #5 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #6 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #2 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #3 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #5 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #6 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #1 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #2 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #3 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #4 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #5 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #6 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #1 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #2 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #3 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #4 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #5 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink |
| Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #6 | Aftermath Important | Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink |
References:
Feature Image Final Crisis Sketchbook Cover Art by J.G. Jones
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