Infinite Crisis
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Infinite Crisis was a seven-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics. Premiering October 2005, it was written by Geoff Johns, with art by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis and Jerry Ordway. Each issue was released in two simultaneous editions: one with a cover by Pérez, the other with a cover by Jim Lee and Sandra Hope, but otherwise identical.
Infinite Crisis was a sequel to DC's 1985 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths. It revisited characters and concepts from that earlier series, including the existence of the DC Multiverse, with alternative versions of such iconic characters as the Golden Age Earth-Two Superman. A major theme was the nature of heroism, contrasting the often dark and conflicted modern-day heroes with memories of "lighter" and ostensibly more noble and collegial heroes of American comic books' earlier days.
The story's plot started in 2003 with the death of Donna Troy in the Teen Titans/Young Justice crossover, Graduation Day. The 2004 limited series Identity Crisis was not originally labeled as part of the story, but the Prelude to Infinite Crisis special later labeled it as a tie-in. DC officially began leading up with the one-shot issue Countdown to Infinite Crisis, followed by four six-issue limited series tied into Infinite Crisis and culminating in Infinite Crisis.
Beginning in March 2006, DC moved the narratives of most of its DC Universe series forward in time one year. A weekly series titled 52 began publication in May 2006, and depicts that missing year in "real time".
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[edit] Leadups
Infinite Crisis was announced in March 2005. The event was kicked off with the release of Countdown to Infinite Crisis (previously referred to as "DC Countdown" to keep the true title of the upcoming limited series a secret). Countdown to Infinite Crisis was followed by four six-issue limited series: The OMAC Project, Rann-Thanagar War, Day of Vengeance, and Villains United, as well as a four-part limited series DC Special featuring the return of Donna Troy. These first four limited series each had a special tie-in issue, released at monthly intervals during the Infinite Crisis event.
[edit] Tie-ins
As is the norm for a large-scale comics crossover, Infinite Crisis featured a large number of tie-ins. Before the announcement of the event, books such as Adam Strange and Identity Crisis were often described as being tied into bigger plans. After Countdown, a number of books were identified as tie-ins to the four mini-series. Thus, although Infinite Crisis itself is only seven issues long, dozens of issues dealt directly or indirectly with the plot elements.
Some of these books - such as the JLA "Crisis of Conscience" storyline which ended with the Justice League's lunar Watchtower being destroyed, leading directly into Infinite Crisis #1 - were of direct and major importance. Others, such as several issues that featured little more than a cameo from the OMACs, are more akin to what comic fans call "red skies" crossovers, referring to a gimmick in the original Crisis on Infinite Earths where an issue's sole relation to the main event was a character remarking that the sky was red.
[edit] Synopsis
The story begins in the wake of the crises of the four lead-in limited series, with Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman feuding, the JLA Watchtower destroyed, and the heroes of the world all facing a variety of menaces. Over this backdrop, Kal-L (the Earth-Two Superman), along with Earth-Two Lois Lane, Earth-Three Alexander Luthor, and Superboy-Prime escape from the pocket universe where they had been trapped at the end of Crisis on Infinite Earths.<ref>Infinite Crisis #1, 2005</ref> Kal-L seeks out his cousin, Power Girl, also a survivor of Earth-Two. Believing Lois' health will improve on her native world, he hopes to replace the current Earth with Earth-Two, which he considers perfect.<ref>Infinite Crisis #2 (2005) JSA #82 (2006)</ref>
Kal-L tries to enlist Batman's support, stating that the Post-Crisis Earth's inherent "bad" nature caused Batman's recent mistrust and hostility. Batman refuses. Afterward, he learns Superboy-Prime destroyed the JLA Watchtower.<ref>Infinite Crisis #3, 2006</ref>
Alexander reveals to Power Girl that he and Superboy-Prime had been leaving their "paradise" for some time, manipulating events to help create an inter-dimensional tuning fork. Using the Anti-Monitor's remains and captured heroes and villains specifically attuned to former universes (Power Girl among them), Alex restores Earth-Two, un-populated except for the Earth-Two heroes transported there.<ref>Infinite Crisis #4, 2006</ref>
Superboy-Prime attacks Conner Kent, this world's Superboy. Multiple super-teams intervene. Superboy-Prime kills several heroes before the Flashes and Kid Flash force him into the Speed Force, assisted by speedsters already within it. Jay Garrick, the only speedster left behind, says the Speed Force is now gone.<ref>Infinite Crisis #4, Teen Titans #31 (2006)</ref>
Seeking a perfect world, Alexander restores many alternate Earths. The Earth-Two Lois dies, and an aggrieved Kal-L and the younger Superman Kal-El fight until Wonder Woman separates them.<ref>Infinite Crisis #5, Superman (2nd series) #226 &227, Adventures of Superman #648 & #649</ref> Bart Allen (wearing Barry Allen's costume and aged to adulthood) emerges from the Speed Force, warning that he and the other speedsters were unable to hold Superboy-Prime, who returns wearing armor resembling the Anti-Monitor's that stores yellow sunlight to empower him.
Batman's strike force destroys the Brother Eye satellite. Alexander selects and merges alternate Earths, trying to create a "perfect" world, until Firestorm blocks his efforts. Conner, Nightwing, and Wonder Girl release the Tower's prisoners.<ref>Teen Titans (3rd series) #32, Infinite Crisis #6 (2006)</ref> Fighting each other, Conner and Superboy-Prime collide with the tower, destroying it. The multiple Earths recombine into a "New Earth" as Conner dies in Wonder Girl's arms.
When a horde of supervillains attack Metropolis<ref>Infinite Crisis Special: Villains United, 2006</ref>, heroes fly off to the rescue. Superboy-Prime takes off to destroy Oa, planning to collapse the Universe. Superboy-Prime kills many Green Lanterns trying to stop him before Kal-L and Kal-El carry him toward Krypton's remains, now essentially a huge cloud of kryptonite. Flying through Krypton's red sun, Rao, destroys Superboy-Prime's armor and causes all three Kryptonians' powers to dissipate. Landing on the sentient planet (and GLC member) Mogo, they fight. After Kal-El finally knocks Superboy-Prime out, Kal-L dies in the arms of his cousin, Power Girl.
Back on Earth, Batman contemplates shooting Alex, but is discouraged by Wonder Woman. Alex escapes, only to be tortured and killed by the Joker, who is angry at being left out of the Society, while a gloating Lex Luthor looks on.
Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman later meet up in Gotham. Wonder Woman plans to find out who she is. Batman plans a similar journey of self-discovery, revisiting the training of his youth, this time with Dick Grayson and Tim Drake joining him. Superman retires from superheroics until his powers return.<ref>"Up, Up, and Away"</ref>
The Green Lantern Corps imprison Superboy-Prime inside a red Sun-Eater. The series ends with him carving an S into his chest with his bare hands and declaring that he has been in worse places than his current prison and has always escaped...<ref>Infinite Crisis #7, 2006</ref>
[edit] Hard cover revisions
The hardcover collecting all seven issues of Infinite Crisis includes several changes in dialogue, most of which relate to the nature of Earth-Two. [1]
Also changed is the two-page spread near the end of the book, where a new George Perez image is substituted.[2] Four additional pages of art by Phil Jiminez have also been added. An interview section included as an afterword explains the reasoning behind some of these alterations.
[edit] Novelization adaption
Ace Books, under the imprint of The Berkley Publishing Group and published by The Penguin Group, released a novelization adaption written by Greg Cox with an introduction by Mark Waid. (October 2006). Cover Art by Daniel Acuna. Cover design by Georg Brewer. Text design by Tiffany Esteicher. ISBN 0-441-01444-5
The novel was primarily adapted from the seven-issues mini-series published by DC Comics (December 2005 to June 2006). Additional materials on the book was adapted from:
- Aquaman #37 (February (2006)
- Day of Vengeance: Infinite Crisis Special #1 (March 2006)
- Gotham Central # 38 (February 2006)
- JLA #119 (November 2005)
- JSA Classified #4 (December 2005)
- Rann/Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special #1 (April 2006)
- Teen Titans #32 (March 2006)
- Wonder Woman (second series) #223-224 (January 2006 and February 2006)
[edit] Consequences
[edit] Aftermath
- 52: Weekly comic book presenting events that occur during the year between Infinite Crisis #7 and the "One Year Later" stories.
- Crisis Aftermath: The Battle For Blüdhaven.
- Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre.
- One Year Later: After the publication of Infinite Crisis #5, storylines in most DC Universe series jumped forward one year, occurring after the events chronicled in 52.
[edit] Series canceled during the "Infinite Crisis" event
A number of series were cancelled with the one year later jump. Some ended outright, like Batgirl, Gotham Central, and Batman: Gotham Knights, while others were suspended and restarted later like JLA, Flash, and Wonder Woman. Additionally, Adventures of Superman returned to its original title of Superman, while the book that had previously been coming out as Superman since 1987 was cancelled, thus making the Superman line's two books, Superman and Action Comics, match the Batman line's Batman and Detective Comics.
[edit] Editorial planning
DC Comics executive editor Dan DiDio stated that Infinite Crisis was being hinted at in various stories for two years prior to its launch, starting with the "death" of Donna Troy.<ref># ↑ Counting Down in the DCU with Dan Didio. Retrieved on February 10, 2006.</ref> The leadup was mostly understated until the release of the Adam Strange limited series in 2004, at which point industry press began to report that DC was planning a very large event, mentioning the titles Teen Titans, The Flash, and JSA, all written by Geoff Johns. [citation needed]
With Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Infinite Crisis began to visibly affect DC's editorial policy. Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison moved into editorial positions in addition to their writing duties, respectively to coordinate coherence of the DC Universe and to handle reimaginings of several characters. Mark Waid signed exclusively with DC, receiving a similar editorial role. DC replaced its official decades-old logo (the "DC bullet") with a new one (the "DC spin") that debuted on the first issue of DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy.
Aside from marking a major editorial shift within DC Comics, Infinite Crisis was a return to large company-wide crossovers of a sort that had been uncommon since the downturn of the comics industry in the 1990s.
[edit] Homages to DCU history
- Kal-L crying after the death of Lois Lane-2 is reminiscent of the death of Supergirl.<ref>Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, 1985</ref>
- Jim Lee's cover of issue #6 has Superboy's shirt draped in the background like Superman's cape when he died. <ref>Superman vol. 2 #75, 1992</ref>.
- Mongul's appearance in Infinite Crisis #1 has the same panel framing from Alan Moore's "For the Man Who Has Everything", sans Jason Todd.<ref>Superman Annual #11, 1985</ref>
- The S-Shield that Superboy-Prime carves into his chest is reminiscent of the promo art for "The Death of Superman".
- The first splash page of Kal-L fighting Kal-El with one throwing a green, 1930-vintage vehicle at the other is based on the iconic cover art of Action Comics #1.
- The panels from issue #7 depicting a conversation between Jay Garrick and Bart Allen mirrors the conversation Garrick had with Wally West in the original Crisis. <ref>Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, 1985.</ref>
- The skies turn red, as they are throughout the original Crisis.
- The original Superboy, Kal-El, had a similar battle with Conner Kent in a Zero Hour story. He even says the same line, "You're not Superboy!" before his first strike.<ref>Superboy #8, 1994</ref>
- The creation of "New Earth" resembles the collapse of the Multiverse.<ref>Crisis on Infinite Earths #10-11, 1985</ref>
- The cover of issue #5, with Kal-L fighting Kal-El, resembles the panel in which Kal-L knocks Kal-El out so that he can fight the final battle with the Anti-Monitor.<ref>Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, 1985</ref>
- When recounting her history, the Earth-2 Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) is surrounded by images re-drawn from early issues of Sensation and Wonder Woman comics, originally drawn by H. G. Peter. [citation needed]
- When Black Condor is run through by an energy blast by Sinestro, it mirrors a similar panel in the original Crisis between Supergirl and the Anti-Monitor, respectively. [citation needed]
[edit] References
<references />
[edit] External links
- Official home for Infinite Crisis
- Dan DiDio: Crisis Counseling Session 3 (newsarama.com)
- Your Guide to Infinite Crisis (over 140K words)
- Infinite Crises list of trades spanning Crisis on Infinite Earths to Infinite Crisises:Crisis Infinita
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