Crisis on Infinite Earths: Flaws Made It Perfect
DC Comics created the superhero back in the late ’30s, and helped popularize the concept, melding aspects of detective stories, pulp adventures, horror, and sci-fi. For a long time, the publisher was the one innovating, introducing aspects like the sidekick, the superteam, the supervillain team, and more.They started the Silver Age and introduced the multiverse. This last thing would become what they were known for in the ’60s and ’70s, but the rise of Marvel with their more realistic storytelling left them in the dust. The multiverse fell out of vogue, the House of Ideas created the event comic.DC had too evolve to survive. In 1985, they changed everything with an event comic that has gone down in the annals of comic history as the best ever.
Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman, George Perez, and Jerry Ordway, took the idea of an “event comic” to its ultimate extent. Crisis was the first event that actually mattered, and its ending had major repercussions not just for DC, but for comics as a whole. It’s not perfect, but those imperfections are part of the reasons why it is the greatest event comic of all time in the eyes of many readers.
Crisis on Infinite Earths has its problems for DC, but that doesn’t change how amazing it was. Wolfman, Perez, Ordway, editor Dick Giordano, and a researcher hired specifically to read every DC comic ever worked for years to put together a story that would pay homage to every era of the publisher. It was a labor of love, and that love shines through on every page. These creators cared deeply about the company and its characters, and did their best to present a story that would enthrall readers for an entire year, all while building up a story with stakes that no one had ever seen before.
Reading Crisis for the first time is engaging. The book’s main plot progressed slowly, seemingly to have the heroes go to the different time periods that DC had told stories in, like the future of the Great Disaster, World War II, medieval times, and more. It doesn’t even get to the Anti-Monitor untill several issues in. A lot of the story decisions were made to hit every era of the publisher. Superboy-Prime became hugely vital in the years since,but he was only there because Superboy was an integral part of DC history. Barry Allen and Supergirl’s deaths were heart-wrenching, but they were there because they represented the end of the Silver Age, as they were the two characters that defined that era. Lady Quark was a mystifying addition to the book,only there to show the scope of the war against the Anti-Monitor,that even the universes we’ve never been to were in danger.
One of my favourite parts of the story that a lot of people don’t like as much is the villains war in Crisis on Infinite Earths #9. It answered the questions of what the villains would do in this kind of situation, and made for a fun issue. An argument can be made that the story didn’t need to b
## ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ Remains the Gold Standard of Comic Book Events
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*Image Courtesy of DC Comics*
Despite the proliferation of sequel events and potential fan fatigue, *Crisis on Infinite Earths* continues to resonate with comic book readers as a landmark achievement. Published between 1985 and 1986, the 12-issue limited series remains a high point in the medium’s history, lauded for its enterprising scope, compelling narrative, and lasting impact on the DC Universe.
*Crisis* fundamentally reshaped DC Comics,streamlining a multiverse of parallel worlds into a single,unified continuity. [https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2020/11/23/a-history-of-crisis-on-infinite-earths](https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2020/11/23/a-history-of-crisis-on-infinite-earths) While subsequent events have attempted to replicate its success, many fans argue that none have matched its emotional weight or narrative complexity. Its imperfections, rather than detracting from the experience, contribute to its unique charm, reflecting the genuine passion of those involved.
The impact of *Crisis* extended beyond DC, influencing the entire comic book industry. It demonstrated the potential of large-scale, universe-altering events, paving the way for similar storylines at Marvel and other publishers. Notably, *Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars* (1984-1985) predated *Crisis*, but the latter is widely considered to have established the modern event comic format. [https://www.cbr.com/crisis-on-infinite-earths-secret-wars-comparison/](https://www.cbr.com/crisis-on-infinite-earths-secret-wars-comparison/) critics frequently enough point to *Crisis*’s more mature themes and narrative depth as key differentiators. It wasn’t simply a collection of battles; it was a story about loss, sacrifice, and the very nature of reality.*Crisis on Infinite Earths* remains the gold standard against which all other comic book events are measured, a testament to its enduring legacy and the dedication of its creators.What are your thoughts on *Crisis on Infinite Earths*? Share your opinions in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forums!