Zero Hour: Crisis in Time Reading Guide

Zero Hour: Crisis in Time

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.

Zero Hour Timeline
Revised Timeline art by Dan Jurgens
Zero Hour Timeline
Revised Timeline Cont. art by Dan Jurgens

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

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
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. So you may need to hunt for them.

Reading Order:

TitleReading RecommendationCollected In
Showcase ’94 #8Main Story
Essential
Zero Hour Trade Paperback
Zero Hour Omnibus
Showcase ’94 #9Main Story
Essential
Zero Hour Trade Paperback
Zero Hour Omnibus
The Flash Vol. 2 #94Flash
TBD – Did not Read
Zero Hour Omnibus
The Outsiders Vol. 2 #11TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #4Main Story
Essential
Zero Hour Trade Paperback
Zero Hour Omnibus
Darkstars #24Green Lantern (John Stewart)
TBD – Did not Read
Zero Hour Omnibus
Batman #511Batman
Not Essential
Zero Hour Omnibus
Batman: Zero Hour
Superman: Man of Steel #37Superman
TBD – Did not Read
Zero Hour Omnibus
Superman: Zero Hour
Green Lantern Vol. 3 #55Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)
Important
Zero Hour Omnibus
Legionnaires #18TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Valor #23TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Superboy Vol. 4 #8TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Superman: Zero Hour
Superman Vol. 2 #93TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Superman: Zero Hour
Hawkman Vol. 3 #13TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Steel #8TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Superman: Zero Hour
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #3Main Story
Essential
Zero Hour Trade Paperback
Zero Hour Omnibus
Shadow of the Bat #31Batman
Not Essential
Zero Hour Omnibus
Batman: Zero Hour
Justice League America #92Justice League
Important
Zero Hour Omnibus
Justice League: Zero Hour
L.E.G.I.O.N. #70TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Justice League Task Force #16Justice League
Important
Zero Hour Omnibus
Justice League: Zero Hour
Detective Comics #678Batman
Not Essential
Zero Hour Omnibus
Batman: Zero Hour
Team Titans #24TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #2Main Story
Essential
Zero Hour Trade Paperback
Zero Hour Omnibus
Adventures of Superman #516TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Superman: Zero Hour
Green Arrow Vol. 2 #90TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Guy Gardner: Warrior #24Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)
TBD – Did not Read
Zero Hour Omnibus
Justice League: Zero Hour
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #1Main Story
Essential
Zero Hour Trade Paperback
Zero Hour Omnibus
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4 #61TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Justice League International Vol. 2 #68JLI
Important
Zero Hour Omnibus
Justice League: Zero Hour
Damage #6TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Anima #7TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Robin Vol. 4 #10Batman
Not Essential
Zero Hour Omnibus
Batman: Zero Hour
Action Comics #703TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Superman: Zero Hour
Catwoman Vol. 2 #14Batman
Not Essential
Zero Hour Omnibus
Batman: Zero Hour
Showcase ’94 #10TBD – Did not ReadZero Hour Omnibus
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #0Main Story
Essential
Zero Hour Trade Paperback
Zero Hour Omnibus
List of Zero Hour Issues

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

Brett

In my mid-30s, I ventured into the mesmerizing world of comic books, and since then, they've captured my heart as one of my cherished pastimes. With a delightful dance between Marvel and DC, sprinkled with the occasional indie gem, I've immersed myself in this enchanting universe. As a true completionist at heart, my passion for collecting has birthed an abundance of reading lists that I'm thrilled to share with all of you, bringing us together on this thrilling comic journey.

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