Crisis on Infinite Earths #1

[history79]

"While writing Green Lantern I received a letter from a fan asking about a mixup in DC continuity. In my reply I said, “One day we (meaning the DC editorial we) will probably straighten up what is in the DC Universe ... and what is outside.” At this point in its history DC Comics had Earth-One, Earth-Two, Earth-Three, Earth-B, etc. There were super-heroes on each Earth and though old-time readers had no problem understanding DC continuity, it proved off-putting to new readers who suddenly discovered there was not one but three Supermans, Wonder Womans, Batmans, etc."

- Marv Wolfman




10.66 pages of 32

Comments

[tcampbell1000]

DC's beautiful hot mess.

Beginning with the Crime Syndicate's death was an almost cost-free and wise choice. There was no way the Syndicate could survive if the object of the game was to end up with one Earth, because their gimmick isn't JUST to be the evil JLA but to rule their world as the JLA protect theirs. Of course, the "one true universe" policy only stuck at DC for so long, but that was the endgame here. And killing them off establishes, none too subtly, that this is a threat that can white out the Actual JLA just as easily.

I'm sorry, but Superwoman's death makes me chuckle. She's the only one not on board with the gravitas of these opening pages, but her humor isn't as forced as it often is with Wolfman's joker characters. Her last words are essentially, "Oh, now YOU'RE here too? FFS."

None of these characters except the Psycho Pirate were obscure when this book came out, but a few of them are real footnotes now. At the same time, a lot of big stars were passed over. We don't get much explanation for most of the Monitor's draft picks here, but it's still refreshing today to see a crossover that doesn't go RIGHT STRAIGHT to the most popular characters at the company and let everyone else hash out their roles in spinoff books.

The business with Killer Frost falling in love with Firestorm (thanks to Psycho Pirate manipulating her, because Harbinger told him to, because the Monitor told HER to... whew) is... I think "dated" is the best word. Presumably, the Monitor needed her cold powers and needed her to put aside her psychotic hatred of Firestorm and men in general long enough to get the job done (yeah, her character got a lot less cliched in more recent incarnations). Ethically iffy, but excusable given the stakes.

But the only reason she's not manipulated to just feel love for humanity in general is so we can get some reverse Pepe Le Pew action going. Firestorm's not directly responsible for her mental state, and she IS normally trying to kill him, so it makes sense his compassion is a bit thin. Still, that "She's not THAT bad-looking. Maybe..." is... too far. Even for a hormonally confused teenager, it's just too far.

"Hey, look! That 'Monitor' guy has the same silhouette as those shadow demons that just attacked us! KILL HIM!"

[bruinsfan]

We don't get much explanation for most of the Monitor's draft picks here, but it's still refreshing today to see a crossover that doesn't go RIGHT STRAIGHT to the most popular characters at the company and let everyone else hash out their roles in spinoff books.

I really liked the initial team of a dozen heroes that the Monitor picked before the event opened up to encompass all the DC heroes. Dawnstar and Arion were favorites of mine back in the day, and the first superhero comic book I ever recall reading featured the original Golden Age Superman drawn by Wally Wood, so it was a joy to see him with a prominent role in the action.