Overview
DC Zero Hour: Crisis in Time is a massive comic book event published in 1994, packed with epic battles, time-traveling shenanigans, and a whole lot of universe-shaking consequences. The creative dream team behind this mind-bending adventure includes writers Dan Jurgens, Mark Waid, and artists Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, and others who bring their A-game to the table.
Fans and critics alike have praised Zero Hour for its ambitious scope and high-stakes storytelling. The event was a critical success, hailed for its breathtaking artwork and intricate plot. It’s no wonder that fans were left on the edge of their seats, eagerly flipping through the pages, eagerly awaiting each new twist and turn.
The core storyline brings together many major DC characters and teams, including the Justice League, the Justice Society of America, and the Legion of Super-Heroes. Heroes and villains alike must band together to face a common threat that threatens to unravel the fabric of time itself.
But before diving headfirst into this time-warping adventure, it’s important to know that Zero Hour is a sequel to the groundbreaking Crisis on Infinite Earths event, which reshaped the DC Universe. Building on the foundation laid by Crisis, Zero Hour delves deeper into the concept of time manipulation, unleashing a new level of chaos that challenges our beloved heroes in unimaginable ways.
Following the Zero Hour event, DC held Zero Month. Every remaining DC series had a #0 issue and retold the character’s origin according to the new timeline.
The impact of Zero Hour reverberates throughout the DC Universe, leaving a lasting legacy. Continuity is shaken, timelines are altered, and beloved characters face drastic changes. The repercussions of this event are felt for years to come, forever altering the course of DC’s rich comic book tapestry. (Full Review)
Background Reading
- Green Lantern – Emerald Twilight (Kyle Rayner vol.1)
- Green Arrow – Green Lantern/Green Arrow Hard Traveling Heroes
- Guy Gardner – Emerald Fallout (Guy Gardner: Warrior #18-21)
- Linear Men – Armageddon 2001
Best Way To Read:
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time Omnibus
Collects: Action Comics #703, Adventures of Superman #516, Anima #7, Batman #511, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #31, Catwoman #14, Damage #6, Darkstars #24, Detective Comics #678, The Flash #0 and #94, Green Arrow #90, Green Lantern #0 and #55, Guy Gardner: Warrior #24, Hawkman #13, Justice League America #92, Justice League International #68, Justice League Task Force #16, L.E.G.I.O.N. ’94 #70, Legionnaires #18, Legion of Super-Heroes #61, Outsiders #11, Robin #10, Steel #8, Superboy #8, Superman #93, Superman: Man of Steel #37, Team Titans #24, Valor #23, Zero Hour #4-0, Zero Month Sampler and material from Showcase ’94 #8-10
Alternative Collections
Main Story
- Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! (Trade Paperback)
- Collects: Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #4-0 and material from Showcase ’94 #8-9
Tie-Ins
- Batman: Zero Hour
- Collects: Batman #0, 511; Batman: Shadow of the Bat #0, 31; Detective Comics #0, 678; Catwoman #0, 14; Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #0; Robin #0, #10
- Superman: Zero Hour
- Collects: Adventures of Superman #0, 516, Superman #0, 93, Superman: The Man of Steel #0, 37, Superman in Action Comics #0, 703, Steel #0, 8, Superboy #8, 0
- Justice League: Zero Hour
- Collects: Justice League Task Force #0, 15-16, Justice League International #67-68, Justice League America #0, 92, The Ray #0, Extreme Justice #0, Guy Gardner, Warrior #0, 24
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 | Reading Recommendation | Collected In |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase ’94 #8 | Main Story Essential | Zero Hour Trade Paperback Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Showcase ’94 #9 | Main Story Essential | Zero Hour Trade Paperback Zero Hour Omnibus |
| The Flash Vol. 2 #94 | Flash TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| The Outsiders Vol. 2 #11 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #4 | Main Story Essential | Zero Hour Trade Paperback Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Darkstars #24 | Green Lantern (John Stewart) TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Batman #511 | Batman Not Essential | Zero Hour Omnibus Batman: Zero Hour |
| Superman: Man of Steel #37 | Superman TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus Superman: Zero Hour |
| Green Lantern Vol. 3 #55 | Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) Important | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Legionnaires #18 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Valor #23 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Superboy Vol. 4 #8 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus Superman: Zero Hour |
| Superman Vol. 2 #93 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus Superman: Zero Hour |
| Hawkman Vol. 3 #13 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Steel #8 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus Superman: Zero Hour |
| Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #3 | Main Story Essential | Zero Hour Trade Paperback Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Shadow of the Bat #31 | Batman Not Essential | Zero Hour Omnibus Batman: Zero Hour |
| Justice League America #92 | Justice League Important | Zero Hour Omnibus Justice League: Zero Hour |
| L.E.G.I.O.N. #70 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Justice League Task Force #16 | Justice League Important | Zero Hour Omnibus Justice League: Zero Hour |
| Detective Comics #678 | Batman Not Essential | Zero Hour Omnibus Batman: Zero Hour |
| Team Titans #24 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #2 | Main Story Essential | Zero Hour Trade Paperback Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Adventures of Superman #516 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus Superman: Zero Hour |
| Green Arrow Vol. 2 #90 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Guy Gardner: Warrior #24 | Green Lantern (Guy Gardner) TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus Justice League: Zero Hour |
| Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #1 | Main Story Essential | Zero Hour Trade Paperback Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4 #61 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Justice League International Vol. 2 #68 | JLI Important | Zero Hour Omnibus Justice League: Zero Hour |
| Damage #6 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Anima #7 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Robin Vol. 4 #10 | Batman Not Essential | Zero Hour Omnibus Batman: Zero Hour |
| Action Comics #703 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus Superman: Zero Hour |
| Catwoman Vol. 2 #14 | Batman Not Essential | Zero Hour Omnibus Batman: Zero Hour |
| Showcase ’94 #10 | TBD – Did not Read | Zero Hour Omnibus |
| Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #0 | Main Story Essential | Zero Hour Trade Paperback Zero Hour Omnibus |
Publications Impact
- Follow-up Issues
- 2008 follow-up tie-in Booster Gold #0
- Series Spun out of the Event
- Extreme Justice
- Fate
- R.E.B.E.L.S ’94 (replaced L.E.G.I.O.N. ’94)
- Manhunter
- Primal Force
- Starman vol.2
- Xenobrood
- Series Rebooted out of the Event
- Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4
- Legionnairees
- Series Ended in the Event
- L.E.G.I.O.N. ’94
- Valor
- Justice League International vol. 2
- Team Titans
References:
Feature Image Zero Hour: Crisis in Time – Cover by Dan Jurgens
Recent Posts
The Ravagers are a superhero team introduced in the New 52 continuity of DC Comics, comprising young metahumans who escape from captivity and seek freedom from those who exploited them. The team is...
The Outlaws is a team in the DC Comics universe primarily led by the anti-hero Red Hood. Originally conceived as a darker, more complex alternative to traditional superhero teams, they often operate...