Crisis on Infinite Earths

Rating:
Summary: Not without its good points...but not without its bad.
Review: ...CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS was DC's 1985/1986 attempt to clean house, to condense the numerous characters scattered across many (though not actually infinite) alternate realities into one main universe. This attempt can only be judged a failure, seeing as how they attempted it again in 1992 (with the abysmal ZERO HOUR) and now seem to have simply given up (as some of the supposedly destroyed universes have been seen again).

But what of the story's own merits and flaws?

On the positive side, this twelve issue series contains some spectacular art by George Perez. Some of the new characters are interesting, especially Pariah. The Anti-Monitor is certainly a powerful villain, and seeing so many comic book superstars in one story is a bit of a guilty pleasure.

On the negative side, however, Marv Wolfman is forced to use huge chunks of expository dialogue that will seem cumbersome even to comic book fans who have read such clunky dialogue hundreds of times before. Also, Wolfman doesn't explain many of the events in other comics (e.g., the Flash in the future) that have an effect on this story. As a result of this, combined with the huge number of characters whose names aren't given, CRISIS is not the easiest book for 'casual' comic fans to pick up and understand. There are a few plot holes as well, to be sure.

Now time for a couple of personal gripes. I own this in the hardcover collection, because at the time DC said that that was the only form this story would ever be collected in, and like a gullible fool I believed them. Then they come out with this thing, 66% cheaper than what I paid. Lesson: Don't trust DC.

Also, this story ruined many good characters. For example, Captain Marvel, the Marvel Family, and all the other Fawcett characters simply haven't been the same since they were forced to occupy the same universe as everyone else. On the upside, though, this story led to the Giffen/Dematteis era of the Justice League, which contain some of the funniest comics I've ever read.

Bottom line-- Big-time DC collectors and George Perez fans will want to buy this. Casual readers should steer clear until they've educated themselves a bit on DC. To see how this kind of thing can be done right, I recommend Marvel's "Avengers Forever" by Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco.

Rating:
Summary: A VERY IMPORTANT WORK AND FUN TO READ TOO!!!
Review: You can't talk about the DC Universe with anyone without referring to post-Crisis and pre-Crisis events.For these reasons alone, any DC Comics fan has to read the brilliant Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfan and George Perez. It is also unique in that it chronicles the deaths of several DC characters, most of whome have since remained dead. These include the deaths of Kara (the original Supergirl) and Barry Allen (the silver age Flash, who was the main Flash character for almost 30 years). These are some of the best deaths ever written in comics, especially the Flash's horific death against the story's antagonist the Anti-Monitor.
The Crisis is a massive, ambitious project which DC undertook in 1985 to simplify the DC Multiverse and turn it into a universe. The multiverse was too confusing with different versions of the same characters living in different parralel universes. The end result wasa single coherent universe in which different universes were merged into one. So it is obviously a very important story.
But that's not all because it also holds its own as a story. The Monitor is in a mission to save the positive universe from being devoured by the negative universe, ruled by the Anti-monitor. To do this, he gathers key heroes and villains from both the positive nad negative unverses to stop this.
The end result, as the advertisements of the time said, world lived, world died, but the unverse was never hte same again.
Like, say Lord of the Rings, Crisis has a main antagonist but does not seem to have a main character. In the beginning it seems that perhaps the Monitor and his helper the Harbinger are the main characters but at some points the focus shifts on other characters. There are literally hundreds of characters making appearances in this story and this is one of the things I like about it. In addition to the superheroes you would expect to see, characters like Swamp Thing, John Constantine, Jonah Hex, The Demon, Sgt Rock, Enemy Ace, Vandal Savage, Sam Simeon, Tomahawk, Johnny Double and others make appearances.
Although there are dozens of comics that crossover with the main Crisis story, its not necessary to read all of them to get the main storyline, which is good.
Unfortunately it seems that Crisi opened a Pandora's Box of crossover events, which now seem to be an almost annual occurance. Some have been good, such as Legends and Zero Hour, but others we could have done without (The Final Night for example).
A final note on the art. It is simply brilliant. Very few artists could have pulled this story off and I can't think ofanyone better than Perez. He is so good at drawing dozens of characters in single panels. He has an average about 10 or 11 panels on every page which makes for good storytelling, ideal for such a complex tale. In one page I counted 18 panels!!!
I bought the hardcover edition of this book... and I can tell you it was worth every cent. Its such a complex story that you can read it again every six months or a year and it still seems fresh because there is no way you can possibly remember all its intracacies. For me its best on the third reading.
There is also a brilliant cover by Alex Ross. Sometimes I like to just take out the book and pass time just by looking at the cover and trying to identify as many characters as I can.

Rating:
Summary: Great companion piece for this great graphic novel
Review: I know of a great companion piece in the form of a book entitled "The Adventures of Darkeye: Cyber Hunter" whose odd manner of having log-entries over chapters reads exactly like the script for a graphic novel, even though it is in the science fiction/high-tech and cyberpunk genre along with books like "Cryptonomicon", "Snow Crash", "Prey", and "Altered Carbon". Very fast-paced, incredibly visual, and very exciting due to its action-packed pages.

Rating:
Summary: The greatest superhero epic in comic book history
Review: It's difficult to convey to somebody who didn't grow up obsessed with the detail of comic book universes, and who didn't spend their days poring over issues of 'Who's Who in DC Comics' and 'The Encyclopaedia of the Marvel Universe', what a joyous experience reading 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' is.

The original thinking behind this 12-issue maxi-series is common knowledge. The system of multiple universes that DC Comics had used to rationalise various conflicts in continuity had become cumbersome, and the aim was to use a crisis of cosmic proportions as a pretext for amalgamating all of the different DC universes into one.

'Crisis on Infinite Earths' completely failed to achieve this aim. It failed at an emotional level - a number of comic book fans (myself included) were nostalgic for the 'pre-crisis' stories, and found it hard to adjust to characters being reintroduced from scratch. And it failed logistically - conflicts in continuity persisted, and new stories such as the sequel 'Zero Hour: Crisis in Time' (nowhere near as good as this, but still worth buying) were required to mop up the mess.

That aside, the research that writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez put into 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' is phenomenal. They made it their duty to include and do justice to 50 years of complex comic book history, trawling through the DC archives and making sure that every character and era got a look-in. Wolfman's love for these characters is evident, and Pérez's painstaking renditions - down to the different-shaped 'S's on the chests of the Supermans of Earth-1 and Earth-2 - are a real achievement.

'Crisis on Infinite Earths' concerns a conflict between two cosmic beings (the heroic Monitor and the evil anti-Monitor), that threatens the existence of every DC Comics universe and the multiple Earths residing within them. These include Earth-1 (home of Silver Age characters), Earth-2 (home of Golden Age characters), Earth-3 (where heroes are villains and the only hero is Lex Luthor), Earth-4 (Charlton Comics characters), Earth-S (Fawcett Comics characters), and Earth X (where the Second World War lasted for 40 years).

Anyone confused by all of this (and it is very confusing), who wants to understand the intricacies of the various Earths, would be well-advised to buy the two companion volumes to this: 'Crisis on Multiple Earths' (which collects some early landmark 'crossover' stories in which characters from different Earths joined forces), and 'The History of the DC Universe' (which explains how the histories of the various Earths are reconciled into the single history of the Earth seen at the end of 'Crisis on Infinite Earths').

I can understand why some people don't like 'Crisis on Infinite Earths'. The plot is hyperbolic and nonsensical, and relies too heavily upon endless pseudo-science and ever-increasing explosions. The dialogue is goofy as hell, intended more to give every character a look-in than to make the story credible. And the story's subtext - the entire crisis is precipitated by two characters who seek to understand the origins of the universe, ignoring the warnings of their peers - is offensively anti-science.

But you have to put the series in context. This is the historical pinnacle of corny, larger-than-life comic book storytelling. It is the culmination of 50 years of superhero adventures, from a time when comic book readers were expected to suspend their disbelief, when superheroes constantly explained the obvious to one another, and when superheroes never failed to address one another by their full superhero names - no matter how silly those names were.

From a broader perspective, 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' represents the end of a political era, and of the kind of superheroes that were possible in that era. American superhero comics were born in the Second World War and nurtured by the Cold War, but by 1985, the Cold War was winding down and 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' was the last time American superheroes upholding American values could claim to speak not just on behalf of humanity, but on behalf of the entire universe. (Yes, there have been attempts to revive this political spirit in comic books since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, but these are superficial and mawkish.)

In fact, in a strange way 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' is a companion piece to Alan Moore's 'Watchmen' - another 12-issue DC maxi-series, which was published shortly after 'Crisis'. 'Watchmen' confronts the political realities that undermine American superheroism by adopting a mature, unsentimental tone - its three key characters are Dr Manhattan (who represents American atomic weapons), Ozymandias (who represents the ruthlessly healthy, intelligent and dominating American businessman), and the Comedian (who represents American thuggery, misogyny, and Vietnam massacre). 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', on the other hand, evades the political realities that undermine American superheroism by adopting an exuberant, childish manner - its three key characters are Superman of Earth-2 (who represents the American confidence of the Second World War), Superman of Earth-1 (who represents the American confidence of the Cold War), and Uncle Sam of the Freedom Fighters (who represents timeless apple-pie values and wisdom).

And yet while 'Watchmen' is bleak, it is informed by the same love for superhero lore that is evident on every page of 'Crisis on Infinite Earths'. And while 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' is larger-than-life, it is informed by the same melancholy recognition that an age of comics has come to a close that is evident on every page of 'Watchmen'.

This melancholy is particularly evident in the final two issues of 'Crisis', as character inconsistencies on the single recombined Earth are ironed out. You can even put your finger on the precise moment when the original raison d'être of American comic books died. It's in the final issue of 'Crisis', when the Superman of Earth-2, stranded in the abyss with Superboy after defeating the Anti-Monitor one last time, sees a vision of Lois Lane in the afterlife, asking him to join her - and steps off the pages of comic books forever.

Rating:
Summary: Great Scott, What a Critical Disappointment!
Review: Why DC has decided to re-release Crisis on Infinite Earths 16 years after its original release is a mystery. Perhaps because they want a bite out of the wallets of gullible folks like myself. By 1985 I had "grown out" of comics, but I did hear about the Crisis storyline and I was intrigued--certainly not enough to follow a series through a year of comic books (I was getting a doctorate and had no inclination for such frivolity!), but enough to remember it. When I saw Crisis at the bookstore recently I thought I'd indulge in a little nostalgia and see how the universe of DC changed. In particular I was interested in how the single dimensional characters so poorly drawn in such flat colors became the more complex, better drawn and imagined characters I occasionally glimpse today. For instance, when I was young, Aquaman was a clean shaven Bruce Jenner-type in a silly orange top and green trunks, but now he's Poseidon with a flowing beard, Cap'n Hook hand and bad attitude. I imagined this transformation started, at least, with the Crisis.

If you've read it, you are no doubt snickering at my naivete. For, sure enough, for all the hype, very little changed forever with Crisis. Certainly it was not the stage for which DC's heroes became more complex and more visually interesting. The most significant things it contains are the death of the Flash (but he gets replaced with another Flash in the same costume) and Supergirl. Sure, other superheroes and supervillains die, but most of them are characters we hadn't seen or cared about in decades anyway. And therein lies the first of the two enormous problems with Crisis--in an attempt to incorporate literally every DC hero to date, the plot is convoluted and the characters watered down so that we simply don't care about any of their fates. Bat Lash? The Human Bomb? Why? And oddly, The Blue Beetle gets what appears to be a major role for the first several episodes, then gets dropped like a hot potato bug. Imagine a movie about the end of the universe in which every major actor in Hollywood in the last 50 years gets a cameo and only a cameo, and you'll have some sense of the scope of the problem. Writer Marv Wolfman isn't up to the challenge, but in fairness I'm not sure anyone would be.

The second problem is that, in spite of the affection many reviewers here obviously have for artist George Perez, he's not really that good. Look carefully at the pictures--sure, there are an awful lot of superheroes crammed into every panel, but the perspective and anatomy are often flawed. Especially where an object comes in front of another figure, often the line of the background figure does not come out where it ought. And although one reviewer recommends judging this book by its cover, I disagree. The quality of work on the cover, with its shading, is far superior to anything contained within, and not at all reflective of the book itself. Likewise, the detail of the pictures and the quality of the color I find lacking. For example, horrible shadow creatures plague the various Earths repeatedly, but they look so silly they can't be taken seriously. Perhaps I'm asking too much from a comic, but I think that Crisis set itself up to be taken seriously. And certainly the artwork and storylines of Marvel comics even 10 or more years earlier was of much higher quality. Remember the short lived New Gods, done at DC but by Jack Kirby, longtime Marvel artist? In fact, those characters return here--in particular Darkseid has an important role--and they are some of the most visually interesting in the lot.

In short, Crisis on Infinite Earths is only worth purchasing (and look at the price--it ain't cheap!) if you've already read the story and simply can't live without it. If you missed it first time around, do yourself a favor and avoid this Crisis altogether.

Rating:
Summary: Middle age man comics' crisis!
Review: I missed this when it originally came out in 1985. I did not have the patience to look for copies of this long winded series as specialty comics store were not yet in vogue then. Only now did I have the opportunity to read this tale that changed the DC Universe. After reading a third of the book, I lost interest as it does not have the pizazz that I expected it to have. Perhaps now, the tale appears mundane as visual elements excellently drawn by George Perez, are now so common in the cinemas. What the artists visialized then could now be easily translated to the screen with more verb. Hence, the profligacy of comic based movies. That aside, the attempt to consolidate the universe into one resulted in an aftermath that heroes and villains familiar to us then, now appear (to those who lived the golden and silver age of comics) unfamiliar. This is why I no longer have the addictive tendency to open a Superman or a Batman comics now. The tension, the expectancy, and the longing for the next issue to come out, a feeling I relished then, has long since dissipated; the consequence of COIE. Marvel is no better. But at least their movies, based on the original premise of their silver age characters, are definitley a visual and storytelling pleasure to experience. I hope DC does the same with their rejuvinated BATMAN Begins. Anyone for COIE in cinema?

Rating:
Summary: Necessary for understanding the current DC universe
Review: Before the so-called Crisis (as the events in Crisis on Infinite Earths are now called), the DC universe was incredibly confusing for a new reader. There were a plethora of Earths, with the most famous characters of DC on different ones. For example, Earth-I had the Silver Age heroes such as Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) and the Flash (Barry Allen), while Earth-II had the Golden Age heroes such as Green Lantern (Alan Scott) and the Flash (Jay Garrick). To clear up this confusion, Marv Wolfman set out to write a story that would combine all the DC characters into one Earth.

The Crisis on Infinite Earths is, if nothing else, an incredibly grandiose story. The Anti-Monitor, which gobbles up universes, fights the Monitor and a massive array of DC superheroes. Wolfman uses literally hundreds of characters throughout the story, unfortunately focusing on far too few of them. He also sometimes performs the common trangressions of comic book writers (heroes calling other heroes by their full alias even if it's incredibly unwieldy, characters able to understand each other even though one's an alien, and so on). However, CoIE is at times a heartwrenching story and a terrific ride in the old-school, black-and-white hero/villain vein.

There are several important character deaths which tie up loose ends in DC chronology. Also, through the course of the story, quite a few things are permanently changed to allow for easier future DC storytelling. CoIE is essential to comprehension of the current DC universe.

The art is fantastic; this version is recolored, and the original work by Perez is still excellent. He draws hundreds of characters, an awesome feat.

Overall, though Crisis on Infinite Earths has a few downsides, the art remains excellent, the story is a great ride, and it's a DC necessity. If you want to understand the DC universe, pick it up.

Rating:
Summary: Depends, A LOT, on what you are looking for....
Review: First things first - if you are looking for comics with real literary merit, you can find them but not here. This is not "The Dark Knight Returns", or "Watchmen". In fact, it's sort of the ulitmate expression of the way comics were before those works - full of overly earnest guys and gals with stupid titles and silly costumes, doing their level best to save the universe.

And if you are a comic reader of today without much interest in how the books got to where they are now, move along - this is a complicated story, and not really that great on its own, self-contained merits.

But, if you have a real love of the DC Universe, both where it was in the past and where it is today, this book is pretty much essential, since it chages so much about the fundamentals of that universe. Not necessarily for the better - it seems to me that DC traded a multiverse concept that looked complicated, but was logical if you understood it, for a single universe that seemed simpler, but only got more confusing the closer you looked. Those issues, though, are somewhat beyond the scope of the book.

At its heart, this book is something of an ode to the rich history of the DC Universe, full of characters with decades of history, many of them long forgotten. Sure, a lot of them get destroyed in the processs, but I think it's done with an appreciation for all that was.

In the long run, this story is a bit of a mess, but it's an important mess, and quite a good looking one. There are better books you can get in the genre, and you should get those first. But if you are interested in comics history, you really ought to read this one eventually.

Rating:
Summary: Lot's the drawings and no story....
Review: So why did DC do this story? According to Marv Wolfman, it was an effort to make the books easier for readers to follow. Destroy all the various DC universes and just create one where all the characters live. Great idea right? Nope. From day one, this series was plauged with trying to cramp too many stories into one book and wrap up as many unfinished stories as they could. It gave me a headage just trying to keep up with the 12 different sub-plots going on each book. There were several characters like Supergirl who died in action....and many of the surviving characters had their names, origins, and powers either altered, changed, or compltedly revamped. In the end, only about five of the DC heroes emereged with their origins and their characters more or less intact; Superman,Batman,Wonder-Woman, Green Lantern, and the Flash. I guess you could say they were the only real survivors, the rest of the DC heroes were all new characters from the inside/out and they really were and still are bad ideas that make for poor reading.

Rating:
Summary: Great companion piece for this great graphic novel
Review: I know of a great companion piece in the form of a book entitled "The Adventures of Darkeye: Cyber Hunter" whose odd manner of having log-entries over chapters reads exactly like the script for a graphic novel, even though it is in the science fiction/high-tech and cyberpunk genre along with books like "Cryptonomicon", "Snow Crash", "Prey", and "Altered Carbon". Very fast-paced, incredibly visual, and very exciting due to its action-packed pages.