The iconic cover of Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), where DC’s heroes unite to save the multiverse from the Anti-Monitor’s destructive wrath.
Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-1986) is an innovative 12-part DC comics series that revolutionised superhero stories. Written by Marv Wolfman and pencilled by George Perez, with inker Jerry Ordway and others, in reaction to the DC multiverse that had become cumbersome by the 1980s.
The title of the series Worlds will live, worlds will die, and nothing will ever be the same condensed an infinite number of parallel worlds into a single universe and resumed the timeline, but marked the 50th anniversary of DC. This explainer, with short, bite-sized, ready-answer questions, discusses the background, the main characters, the main moments, and the impact this moment had. It continues to adapt as part of the Arrowverse crossover and the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths trilogy, set for release in 2024.
Background: The Multiverse’s Rise and Fall
Crisis was planted in the early decades of DC. These heroes as Superman (Action Comics #1, 1938), Batman (Detective Comics #27, 1939), and Wonder Woman (All Star Comics #8, 1941) existed in the same universe throughout the Golden Age (1938-1950s). Superheroes became less popular in the 1950s and were cancelled. With new histories, these heroes were revived in the Silver Age (1956-1970s) as Barry Allen (Showcase #4, 1956) became the Flash and Hal Jordan (Showcase #22, 1959) became Green Lantern. In order to harmonise Golden and Silver Age versions, DC proposed the multiverse in The Flash #123 (1961), in which Barry Allen encountered Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash of Earth-Two.
The multiverse continued to expand exponentially: Earth-One featured Silver Age heroes, Earth-Two the Golden Age, Earth-Three featured heroes with evil equivalents (e.g. Ultraman), Earth-S the Marvel Family (Captain Marvel/Shazam), Earth-X the Freedom Fighters and Earth-Four Charlton heroes like Blue Beetle. By the 1980s, the Earth’s infinity led to narrative anarchy: inaccessibility to the reader, and conflicting histories.
Having achieved success with The New Teen Titans, Marv Wolfman suggested a crossover to reduce the universe to a single Earth. He planted the Monitor, an extrasolar watchdog, in The New Teen Titans #21 (1982), making cameos in DC titles over two years. DC, with Jenette Kahn and Dick Giordano in charge, viewed Crisis as an opportunity to streamline and increase sales, linking it to every major title. The vision was realised through the art of George Perez, skilful in epic crowd scenes.
Snippet-Ready Response: Why Crisis on Infinite Earths Had To Be Made?
Since The Flash #123 (1961), DC had become too obsessed with the multiverse, and the concept of infinite Earths complicated the stories. The Crisis by Marv Wolfman was an attempt to unite these into a single universe, making continuity easier, and celebrating DC’s 50th anniversary.
Key Characters: Cosmic Forces and Mortal Heroes
There was also Crisis, which entailed an enormous cast, uniting the heroes and villains of DC, as well as cosmic creatures, in a multiversal struggle.
- The Monitor: An innocent being of the positive-matter universe, who was created along with the Anti-Monitor. He coordinates the defense of reality in his satellite and dies in order to rescue the multiverse.
- The Anti-Monitor: This is the chief villain, a wicked being of the antimatter universe, emitted by the experiment, Pariah. In order to become stronger, he destroys worlds, controlling shadow demons and a Qward fortress.
- Harbinger (Lyla Michaels): The aide to the Monitor, endowed with the ability to travel across many different worlds. Part of the Anti-Monitor briefly, she slays her mentor but redeems herself by marshalling heroes.
- Pariah (Kell Mossa): A scientist who conducted an experiment which released the Anti-Monitor to doom him with the curse of seeing the destruction of all worlds but not dying.
- Alexander Luthor Jr.: The child of the heroic Alexander Luthor of Earth-Three and Lois Lane, who was sent away to safety because his world was dying. He is a major actor because of his special matter-antimatter status that makes him age faster.
- Supergirl (Kara Zor-El): Kryptonian hero of the Earth-One, central character of the novel, who was killed during the battle against the Anti-Monitor; this is one of the main events.
- The Flash (Barry Allen): an Earth-One speedster who gave up his life to destroy the antimatter weapon, the Anti-Monitor, by running until he disintegrates.
- Superman of Earth-Two (Kal-L): The Golden Age Superman, who helped to defeat the Anti-Monitor.
- Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden): One of the villains who must serve the Anti-Monitor, who controls feelings. He recalls later on the multiverse that was lost.
- The Spectre: An embodiment of the wrath of God, the heroes and villains at the Dawn of Time have had to come together to stop the Anti-Monitor.
It starred Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lanterns, Firestorm, Blue Beetle and villains like Lex Luthor and Brainiac, and cameos by the forgotten heroes of companies Fawcett and Charlton had acquired.
Snippet-Ready Response: Who are the Primary Villains of Crisis on Infinite Earths?
Anti-Monitor is a cosmic destroyer of the antimatter universe, and the leader with shadow demons and Psycho-Pirate. Lex Luthor and Brainiac form an alliance with a secondary villain to capitalise on the chaos.
Significant Events: A Multiversal Apocalypse
The three acts of the crisis are The Collapse of the Multiverse, Desperate Counterattacks and a Cosmic Reboot.
The Gathering Storm (Issues 1-3)
During the experiment Krona performs at the Dawn of Time, the universe is divided into a multiverse and an antimatter universe, and the Monitor and the Anti-Monitor are formed. Millions of years later, the Anti-Monitor is released by an experiment conducted by Pariah on his world, releasing waves of antimatter, destroying Earth-Three.
His parents die, and Alexander Luthor Jr. runs away. The Monitor sends heroes and villains to save vibrational towers on Earths One, Two, Four, S, and X, to come together against the antimatter threat. Pariah threatens disaster, Harbinger enlists supporters. Crossovers in All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc. demonstrate towers of All-Star Squadron and towers of Infinity, Inc. battling in both the past and the future.
Sacrifices and Chaos (Issues 4-7)
Harbinger is killed by a shadow demon, which he was corrupted by and plunges the Earths One and Two into a netherverse, his failsafe. The Anti-Monitor takes Barry Allen and causes havoc with Psycho-Pirate. Superman is rescued by heroes rushing Qward; Supergirl dies, crippling the machine of the Anti-Monitor.
Earth’s Four, S and X become the netherworld, but time lines rip apart–it becomes a city of dinosaurs, and history confuses. Lex Luthor and Brainiac form a villain alliance to take control, which results in a villain war. Barry Allen makes his escape and sacrifices himself to blow up the antimatter cannon with himself, and then runs backwards through time until he disappears.
The Final Battle and Rebirth (Issues 8-12)
Consumed lives allow the Anti-Monitor to attempt to rewrite history at the Dawn of Time. Bad guys do not stand up to Krona and his test on Oa, and good guys face the Anti-Monitor in prehistory. The Spectre, with the help of the mages of the Earth, fights him, and they cause an explosion that blasts open a hole in reality. The five Earths come together to form the New Earth, which has a single history; those at the Dawn are the only ones who remember the multiverse.
His last attack is to no avail and is defeated by Kal-L, Superboy-Prime, and Alexander Luthor Jr., with the assistance of an energy beam sent by Darkseid. Survivors such as Kal-L and Lois Lane retire to a paradise dimension, and the institutionalised Psycho-Pirate has recollections of the worlds lost.
Snippet Answer: What Is the Climax of Crisis on Infinite Earths?
The heroes and the Spectre fight the Anti-Monitor to stop him from destroying the multiverse at the beginning of time. Their collision recreates reality, uniting five Earths into a single New Earth with a unified timeline.
Aftermath and Legacy: A New DC Universe
Crisis got its way: the multiverse became New Earth with a simplified history. Superman became the only Kryptonian (there was never Supergirl or Earth-Two Superman), Wonder Woman was introduced later in continuity, and Batman became darker. The deaths of Barry Allen and Supergirl were not reversible, and Wally West assumed the role of Flash. The characters, such as Power Girl, experienced an identity crisis due to their altered origins. Bad guys abandoned their plans of multiversal destruction, and cosmic balances were altered.
The reboots DC released included The Man of Steel (Superman), Batman: Year One, and a new Wonder Woman. The sales were picking up, but signs of continuity were already beginning to show themselves, e.g., the Legion of Super-Heroes fell out of Superboy. The timeline would be altered later (Zero Hour, Infinite Crisis), which somewhat restored the multiverse. Crisis was the first to do event comics that inspired Secret Wars (Marvel) and present-day crossovers. Its emotional values, the art of Perez, set standards. Cultural impact was solidified by adaptations such as the CW 2019-2020 event, the 2024 animated trilogy, and a sense of nostalgia and accessibility.
Snippet-Ready Answer: What Was The Effect of the Crisis on Infinite Earths on DC Comics?
It combined the multiverse into New Earth, rewrote the history of Superman, Wonder Woman and other characters, solidified several key deaths, and ignited reboots, rendering DC continuity more approachable to new readers.
FAQs
Why was Crisis on Infinite Earths done?
Crisis on Infinite Earths was intended to streamline the DC Comics multiverse by uniting infinite Earths into a single universe, resolving continuity problems, simplifying access to stories, and marking the 50th anniversary of DC Comics with a major story.
