View source for Crisis on Infinite Earths

{{Short description|Limited DC comic crossover series}}
{{For-multi|other uses|Crisis on Infinite Earths (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox comic book title
| image = Crisis on Infinite Earths issue 1 cover.jpg
| caption = Cover of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #1 (April 1985).<br> Art by [[George Pérez]].
| alt = Several superheroes floating in space above Earths exploding and fracturing
| schedule = Monthly
| format =
| limited=y
| publisher = [[DC Comics]]
| date = April 1985 – March 1986
| issues = 12
| main_char_team = {{Plainlist}}
* [[Monitor (Mar Novu)|Monitor]]
* [[Harbinger (DC Comics)|Harbinger]]
* [[Pariah (character)|Pariah]]
* [[Superman|Superman (Kal-El)]]
* [[Superboy-Prime]]
* [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]]
* [[Barry Allen|Flash (Barry Allen)]]
* [[Psycho-Pirate]]
* [[Anti-Monitor]]
* [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]]
{{Endplainlist}}
| writers = [[Marv Wolfman]]
| artists =
| pencillers = [[George Pérez]]
| inkers = {{Plainlist}}
* [[Dick Giordano]]
* [[Jerry Ordway]]
* [[Mike DeCarlo]]
{{Endplainlist}}
| colorists = {{Plainlist}}
* Anthony Tollin
* Tom Ziuko
* Carl Gafford
{{Endplainlist}}
| letterers = [[John Costanza]]
| creative_team_month =
| creative_team_year =
| creators = {{Plainlist}}
* Marv Wolfman
* George Pérez
{{Endplainlist}}
| editors = Marv Wolfman
| subcat = DC Comics
| sort = Crisis on Infinite Earths
}}
'''''Crisis on Infinite Earths''''' is a 1985 to 1986 [[American comic book]] [[fictional crossover|crossover]] series published by [[DC Comics]]. Written by [[Marv Wolfman]] and [[penciler|pencilled]] by [[George Pérez]], it was first released as a 12-issue [[limited series (comics)|limited series]] from April 1985 to March 1986. As the main piece of a crossover event, some plot elements were featured in [[tie-in]] issues of other publications. Since its initial publication, the series has been reprinted in various formats and editions.

The idea for the series stemmed from Wolfman's desire to abandon the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|DC Multiverse]] depicted in the company's comics—which he thought was unfriendly to readers—and create a single, unified [[DC Universe]] (DCU). The foundation of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' developed through a character called the [[Monitor (Mar Novu)|Monitor]], introduced in Wolfman's ''[[Teen Titans|The New Teen Titans]]'' in July 1982 before the series itself started.

At the start of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', the [[Anti-Monitor]] (the Monitor's evil counterpart) is unleashed on the DC Multiverse and begins to destroy the various Earths that it comprises. The Monitor tries to recruit heroes from around the Multiverse but is murdered, while [[Brainiac (character)|Brainiac]] collaborates with the villains to conquer the remaining Earths. Eventually, both the heroes and villains are united by the [[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]]; the series concludes with [[Superman (Earth-Two)|Kal-L]], [[Superboy-Prime]] and [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]] defeating the Anti-Monitor and the creation of a single Earth in place of the Multiverse. ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' is noted for its high death count; hundreds of characters died, including DC icons [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Kara Zor-El]] (the original Supergirl) and [[Barry Allen]] (the [[Flash (DC Comics character)|Flash]] of the [[Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver Age]]). The story's events resulted in the entire DCU being [[Reboot (fiction)|rebooted]], dividing the fictional universe's timeline into "pre-Crisis" and "post-Crisis" eras.

The series was a bestseller for DC. The story is credited with popularizing the idea of a large-scale crossover in comics. ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' is the first installment in what became known as the ''Crisis'' trilogy. It was followed by ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' (2005–2006) and ''[[Final Crisis]]'' (2008–2009). [[Dark Crisis|''Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths'']] (2022) also served as a sequel to ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''.

==Publication history==
===Background===
[[DC Comics]] is an [[American comic book]] [[Publishing|publisher]] best known for its [[Superhero fiction|superhero stories]] featuring characters including [[Batman]], [[Superman]], and [[Wonder Woman]].<ref name="ignbestcharacters">{{cite web|last1=Schedeen|first1=Jesse|title=The Top 25 Best Heroes of DC Comics|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/the-top-25-heroes-of-dc-comics|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|access-date=18 March 2018|date=November 19, 2013}}</ref> The company debuted in February 1935 with ''[[More Fun Comics|New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine]]''.<ref name="monitoringthepast">{{cite web|last1=Friedenthal|first1=Andrew J.|title=Monitoring the Past: DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths and the Narrativization of Comic Book History|url=http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v6_2/friedenthal/|website=ImageTexT|access-date=18 March 2018|date=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315212451/http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v6_2/friedenthal/|archive-date=15 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Most of DC's comic books (as well as some published under its imprints [[Vertigo Comics|Vertigo]]<ref name="ignvertigo">{{cite web|last1=Schedeen|first1=Jesse|title=Between the Panels: DC Needs to Take Vertigo Back to its Roots|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/22/between-the-panels-dc-needs-to-take-vertigo-back-to-its-roots|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|access-date=23 March 2018|date=April 22, 2016}}</ref> and [[Young Animal (DC Comics)|Young Animal]]<ref name="cbryounganimal">{{cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Jason|title=DC's Young Animal Imprint Gets Major Revamp in March|url=https://www.cbr.com/dc-young-animal-relaunch/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=23 March 2018|date=December 14, 2017}}</ref>) take place within a [[shared universe]] called the [[DC Universe]] (DCU) allowing plot elements, characters, and settings to [[Crossover (fiction)|cross over]] with each other.<ref name="cbrrebirth">{{cite web|last1=Ching|first1=Albert|title=EXCLUSIVE: Geoff Johns Details "Rebirth" Plan, Seeks to Restore Legacy to DC Universe|url=https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-geoff-johns-details-rebirth-plan-seeks-to-restore-legacy-to-dc-universe/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=23 March 2018|date=February 18, 2016}}</ref> The concept of the DCU has provided DC's writers some challenges in maintaining [[Continuity (fiction)|continuity]], due to conflicting events within different comics that need to reflect the shared nature of the universe.<ref name="monitoringthepast"/> "[[Flash of Two Worlds]]" from ''[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]'' #123 (September 1961), which featured [[Barry Allen]] (the [[Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver Age]] [[Flash (DC Comics character)|Flash]]) teaming up with [[Flash (Jay Garrick)|Jay Garrick]] (the [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] Flash) was the first DC comic to suggest that the DCU was a part of a [[DC Multiverse|multiverse]].<ref name="denofgeekflash">{{cite web|last1=Cecchini|first1=Mike|title=The Flash, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and What it Means for DC Superhero TV and Movies|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/the-flash/239939/the-flash-crisis-on-infinite-earths-and-what-it-means-for-dc-superhero-tv-and-movies|website=[[Den of Geek]]|access-date=20 March 2018|date=December 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041815/http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/the-flash/239939/the-flash-crisis-on-infinite-earths-and-what-it-means-for-dc-superhero-tv-and-movies|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="15brutal">{{cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Jason|title=Killer Crises: The 15 Most BRUTAL Deaths In Every DC Crisis|url=https://www.cbr.com/killer-crises-the-15-most-brutal-deaths-in-every-dc-crisis/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=19 March 2018|date=June 22, 2017}}</ref>

The DC Multiverse concept was expanded in later years with the DCU having infinite Earths; for example, the Golden Age versions of DC heroes resided on Earth-Two, while DC's Silver Age heroes were from Earth-One.<ref name="visual"/> Since "Crisis on Earth-One!" (1963), DC has used the word "Crisis" to describe important crossovers within the DC Multiverse.<ref name="downey20180118">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/tim-king-dc-crisis-theory/ |title=Tom King May Be Working on DC's First Post-Rebirth Crisis |last=Downey |first=Meg |date=January 18, 2018 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en-US |access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref> Over the years, various writers took liberties creating additional parallel Earths as plot devices and to house characters DC had acquired from other companies, making the DC Multiverse a "convoluted mess".<ref name="visual"/> DC's comic book sales were also far below those of their competitor [[Marvel Comics]].<ref name="nerd">{{cite book|last1=Weldon|first1=Glen|title=The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture|date=2016|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=978-1-4767-5669-1}}</ref> According to ''[[ComicsAlliance]]'' journalist Chris Sims, "the [DC] multiverse . . . felt old-fashioned. . . . Marvel, on the other hand, felt contemporary and when you stack them up against each other, there's one difference that sticks out above anything else: Marvel feels unified."<ref name="ca208">{{cite web|last1=Sims|first1=Chris|title=Ask Chris #208: Crisis on Infinite Earths is Basically a Mess|url=http://comicsalliance.com/ask-chris-208-crisis-infinite-earth/|website=[[ComicsAlliance]]|access-date=20 March 2018|date=August 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612232653/http://comicsalliance.com/ask-chris-208-crisis-infinite-earth/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Writer [[Marv Wolfman]] became popular among DC's readers for his work on ''[[The New Teen Titans]]''.<ref name="visual"/> [[George Pérez]], who illustrated ''The New Teen Titans'', also began to rise to prominence in this era.<ref name="STP">{{cite web |url=https://surrealtimepress.com/2015/03/27/five-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-you-read-infinity-gauntlet-part-3/ |title=Five Things To Keep In Mind While You Read Infinity Gauntlet – Part 3 |last=Mitchell |first=B |date=March 25, 2015 |website=Surreal Time Press |access-date=January 11, 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1984, Pérez entered into an exclusive contract with DC, which was later extended one year.<ref name="CI94">{{cite magazine |last=O'Neill |first=Patrick Daniel |date=1991|title=George Perez |magazine=[[Comics Interview]] #94 |location=New York City|page=4 |publisher=Fictioneer Books |author-link=David Anthony Kraft}}</ref> Although ''The New Teen Titans'' was a major success for DC,<ref name="visual"/> the company's comic book sales were still below Marvel's.<ref name="nerd"/> Wolfman began to attribute this to the DC Multiverse, feeling "The Flash of Two Worlds" had created a "nightmare":<ref name="monitoringthepast"/> it was not reader-friendly for new readers to be able to keep track of<ref name="intempol"/> and writers struggled with the continuity errors it caused.<ref name="monitoringthepast"/> In ''The New Teen Titans'' #21 (July 1982), Wolfman introduced a new character: the shadowy, potentially villainous [[Monitor (Mar Novu)|Monitor]]; this laid the foundation for ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''.<ref name="auto"/>

===Development===
In 1981, Wolfman was editing ''[[Green Lantern (comic book)|Green Lantern]]''. He got a letter from a fan asking why a character did not recognize [[Green Lantern]] in a recent issue despite the two having had worked together in an issue three years earlier.<ref name="Slugfest148"/> Soon afterward,<ref name="backissue30">{{cite journal|last1=Greeberger|first1=Robert|title=Crisis at 30: A Look Back at the Most Influential Crossover in Comics History|journal=[[Back Issue!]]|date=August 2015|issue=82}}</ref> Wolfman pitched ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' as ''The History of the DC Universe'',<ref name="Slugfest148">{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Reed |date=October 2017 |title=Slugfest |location= [[New York City]]|publisher=[[Da Capo Press]]|page=148 |isbn=978-0306825477 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hoyYDgAAQBAJ}}</ref> seeing it as a way to simplify the DCU and attract new readers.<ref name="intempol">{{cite web|last1=Figueiredo|first1=Claudio|last2=Aragao|first2=Octavio|title=Crisis on Infinite Comics: Interview with Marv Wolfman|url=http://intemblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/crisis-on-infinite-comics-interview.html|website=Intempol|access-date=18 March 2018|date=October 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041357/http://intemblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/crisis-on-infinite-comics-interview.html|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''The History of the DC Universe''{{'}}s title was changed to ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' because its premise, involving the destruction of entire worlds, sounded more like a crisis.<ref name="backissue30" />

Wolfman said when he pitched the series to DC, he realized it was going to be a completely new beginning for the DCU.<ref name="villagewolfman">{{cite web|last1=Siegel|first1=Harry|title=Marv Wolfman on What's Got To Die For a New DC World To Live|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2011/08/31/marv-wolfman-on-whats-got-to-die-for-a-new-dc-world-to-live/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041538/https://www.villagevoice.com/2011/08/31/marv-wolfman-on-whats-got-to-die-for-a-new-dc-world-to-live/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2018|website=[[The Village Voice]]|access-date=18 March 2018|date=August 31, 2011}}</ref> "I knew up front, and they did too, how big this was going to be," he said. "But, no-one knew how well it would sell, or whether it would sell at all. It was a risk DC was willing to take, because my thoughts were that DC needed a lot of help at that time, and they did too."<ref name="comicconinter">{{cite web|last1=MacNamee|first1=Oliver|title=Interviewing Marv Wolfman On New Teen Titans And Crisis On Infinite Earths At London Film And Comic Con|url=http://www.comicon.com/2017/08/01/interviewing-marv-wolfman-on-new-teen-titans-and-crisis-on-infinite-earths-at-london-film-and-comic-con/|website=ComicCon.com|access-date=18 March 2018|date=August 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041311/http://www.comicon.com/2017/08/01/interviewing-marv-wolfman-on-new-teen-titans-and-crisis-on-infinite-earths-at-london-film-and-comic-con/|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wolfman also said he saw it as an attempt to improve DC's reputation for storytelling which many readers at the time saw as old-fashioned.<ref name="Slugfest149" />

The crossover was fleshed out and coordinated at a meeting attended by president [[Jenette Kahn]], [[Paul Levitz]], vice president and executive editor [[Dick Giordano]] and DC's editors.<ref name="Back34">{{cite journal |last=Eury |first=Michael |date=June 2009 |title=When Worlds Collided! Behind the Scenes of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' |journal=[[Back Issue!]] |issue=34 |pages=34–39 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] }}</ref> In 1982, DC hired a researcher to go through their library and read every comic the company had published, a task that took two years.<ref name="Slugfest148" /> The series was delayed to 1983 due to the time for research,<ref name="Slugfest149">{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Reed |date=October 2017 |title=Slugfest |location= [[New York City]]|publisher=[[Da Capo Press]]|page=149 |isbn=978-0306825477 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hoyYDgAAQBAJ}}</ref> and again to 1985 when it was still not ready for 1983<ref name="Slugfest149" /> and to coincide with DC's fiftieth anniversary.<ref name="visual">{{cite book |title = DC Comics Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9}}</ref> As an event like ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' had never happened before, those working on it met for around two hours a week, which was uncommon at the time.<ref name="backissue30" />

The groundwork for the series was laid the year before it was published.<ref name="auto">''Crisis on Infinite Earths: Absolute Edition''</ref> One of the greatest challenges for Wolfman and Giordano was coming up with a story. Wolfman cited making use of every DC character and creating a plot that was fun to read and as filled with surprises as difficulties, as the series needed to sell well; if it did not, it could have caused a disaster for DC. Plotting became easier once a beginning and an ending had been determined and when Pérez became involved. ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' was DC's first mainstream [[Limited series (comics)|maxiseries]], which was still a relatively new concept.<ref name="backissue30" />

Early in planning for ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', a list was made of characters that were part of the DCU;<ref name="Back34" /> characters from other universes, such as those that formerly belonged to [[Charlton Comics]], also were used.<ref name="30reasons" /> According to Wolfman, one of the purposes of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' was to showcase all the characters DC had.<ref name="comicconinter" /> The series is infamous for its high death count.<ref name="15brutal" /> Hundreds of characters died; among the most noted was Barry Allen's. Wolfman has said he did not want to kill Allen, but DC ordered him to because it perceived the character as dull. Therefore, he conceived Allen's death—in which he runs through time before vanishing—as a way to make the character seem more interesting and hopefully spare him.<ref>{{cite web|author1=B.D.S.|title=Marv Wolfman interview|url=http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/wolfman.shtml|website=The WTV Zone|access-date=20 March 2018|date=2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101650/http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/wolfman.shtml|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wolfman wanted to make the series unforgettable; he said that many writers had expressed interest in simplifying DC's continuity and he wanted to be the one to do so.<ref name="monitoringthepast" />

Pérez says he was not the intended artist for ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'',<ref name="syfyperez"/> but was excited when he learned about it, seeing it as an opportunity for "revenge" against Marvel, which he blamed for blocking the ''[[JLA/Avengers]]'' crossover he had been working on.{{efn|The crossover was not released until 2003.}}<ref name="Slugfest149"/> He enjoyed working with Wolfman again, and took a leave of absence from ''The New Teen Titans'' to draw the series.<ref>"George Pérez signs contract with DC, Takes leave of absence from ''Titans''{{-"}}, ''The Comics Journal'' #92 (August 1984), p. 16.</ref> DC initially did not know Pérez would want to work on it. According to Pérez, he was motivated by the fact that DC did not know if the series was going to be a success. He also wanted "to draw everybody I could get my hands on" and called illustrating the series some of the most fun he ever had. Pérez was excited because not only did he get to draw the Teen Titans again, but also obscure characters he was not familiar with, saying he could possibly have never gotten another chance.<ref name="syfyperez">{{cite web|last1=Avila|first1=Mike|title=Comics legend George Perez on DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths|url=http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/watch-comics-legend-george-perez-on-crisis-on-infinite-earths|website=[[SyFy]] Wire|access-date=18 March 2018|date=June 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324103118/http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/watch-comics-legend-george-perez-on-crisis-on-infinite-earths|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wolfman has said one panel in ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' shows the [[Marvel Universe]] being destroyed.<ref name="Slugfest150">{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Reed |date=October 2017 |title=Slugfest |location= [[New York City]]|publisher=[[Da Capo Press]]|page=150 |isbn=978-0306825477 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hoyYDgAAQBAJ}}</ref> When Giordano (the series' initial [[inker]]) had difficulty meeting deadlines while continuing as DC vice president and executive editor, editorial coordinator Pat Bastienne reassigned the inking to [[Jerry Ordway]] despite Giordano's objections.<ref name="Back34"/>

===Publication===
The idea for ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' was first noted in the December 1981 issue of ''[[The Comics Journal]]'', which mentioned a twelve-part maxiseries scheduled for 1982.<ref name="Slugfest148"/> The series was announced in Giordano's "Meanwhile..." column DC ran in its titles [[cover date]]d June 1984. Giordano warned readers that "odd occurrences" would begin to happen throughout DC's comics. He also clarified it would commemorate DC's fiftieth anniversary and would provide the company "wonderful stepping-stones" for new characters and comics.<ref name="monitoringthepast"/> The series was marketed with the tagline "Worlds will live, worlds will die and nothing will ever be the same".<ref name="30reasons">{{cite web|last1=Rahan|first1=Kaleon|title=30 reasons 'Crisis On Infinite Earths' defined comics forever|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/books/news/2015/04/07/30-reasons-crisis-on-infinite-earths-defined-comics-forever/|website=The Star Online|access-date=20 March 2018|date=April 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041400/https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/books/news/2015/04/07/30-reasons-crisis-on-infinite-earths-defined-comics-forever/|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="timeandtime">{{cite web|last1=Sims|first1=Chris|title=Time and Time Again: The Complete History of DC's Retcons and Reboots|url=http://comicsalliance.com/dc-comics-reboot-history/|website=[[ComicsAlliance]]|access-date=21 March 2018|date=June 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101529/http://comicsalliance.com/dc-comics-reboot-history/|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The series began in January 1985 and lasted for twelve issues, ending in December 1985 (issues [[cover date]]d April 1985 through March 1986).<ref name="visual"/> The close spacing of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' and Marvel's similar crossover ''[[Secret Wars]]'' caused some fans to create conspiracy theories about [[Plagiarism|idea theft]].<ref name="Slugfest150"/> According to writer [[Steve Gerber]], the series "got virtually no promotion&nbsp;... How many handouts did you see? How many posters did you see in people's windows? How much information was really distributed to the press and how much was gotten just by individual reporters going to Marv Wolfman and [''Crisis'' artist] George Pérez?"<ref name="gerber">{{cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Dwight Jon |date=September 1986 |title=Steve Gerber (part 2) |work=[[Comics Interview]] |issue=38 |pages=6–19 |publisher=[[Fictioneer Books]] }}</ref>

===Tie-ins===
[[File:Crisis on Infinite Earths banner.png|thumb|300px|''Superman'' #415 was a tie-in issue to ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', indicated by the banner at the top of the cover. The cover art is by [[Eduardo Barreto]].]]
Elements to set up ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' were put in DC's comics years before the crossover took place;<ref name="ignabsoluterev"/> an example of this was the Monitor's appearance in ''The New Teen Titans''.<ref name="auto"/> In a January 3, 1983 memo, Giordano, Wolfman, and [[Len Wein]] instructed editors and writers to use the Monitor twice in the coming year but not to show him: "Because this series involves the entire DC Universe we do ask that each Editor and writer cooperate with the project by using a character called The Monitor in their books twice during the next year". This served to set up the series.<ref name="monitoringthepast"/><ref name="auto"/> When Wolfman and Giordano reiterated this in a 1984 meeting, some editors were not pleased; one was so miffed he did not speak for the rest of the meeting.<ref name="backissue30"/>

[[Tie-in]]s for ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' were published in DC's [[ongoing series]]. Unlike the 1991 Marvel crossover storyline ''[[The Infinity Gauntlet]]'', where Marvel only published tie-ins in titles that needed a boost in sales, the vast majority of DC's comics featured events that directly tied to the crossover.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kraft |first=David Anthony |date=January 1991 |title=War of the Gods |magazine=[[Comics Interview]] |location=New York City|page=34 |publisher=Fictioneer Books |author-link=David Anthony Kraft}}</ref> The following comic book issues were labeled as part of the crossover; their covers contained a banner that read "Special ''Crisis'' Cross-Over", along with the logo for DC's fiftieth anniversary.

{{Div col}}
* ''[[All-Star Squadron]]'' #50–56
* ''[[Amethyst, Princess of Gem World|Amethyst]]'' (vol. 2) #13
* ''[[Blue Devil (DC Comics)|Blue Devil]]'' #17–18
* ''[[DC Comics Presents]]'' #86–88
* ''[[Firestorm (character)|The Fury of Firestorm]]'' #41–42
* ''[[Green Lantern (comic book)|Green Lantern]]'' (vol. 2) #194–195; #198
* ''[[Infinity, Inc.]]'' #18–24; ''Annual'' #1
* ''[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]'' #244–245; ''Annual'' #3
* ''JLA: Incarnations'' #5 (released in 2001)
* ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes]]'' #18
* ''The [[Losers (comics)|Losers]] Special'' #1
* ''[[Teen Titans|The New Teen Titans]]'' (vol. 2) #13–14
* ''[[Omega Men|The Omega Men]]'' #31
* ''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' #414–415
* ''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)|Swamp Thing]]'' #46
* ''[[Wonder Woman (comic book)|Wonder Woman]]'' #327–329
* ''Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #1 (released in 1998)
{{div col end}}

==Collected editions==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title
!Material collected
!Published date
!ISBN
|-
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths''
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #1–12
|December 1998
|{{ISBNT|1-56389-434-3}}
|-
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths: The [[DC Comics Absolute Edition|Absolute]] Edition''
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #1–12, ''[[Official DC Index|Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Index]]'' #1, ''Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Cross-Over Index'' #1
|November 2005
|{{ISBNT|1-4012-0712-X}}
|-
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths: 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition''
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #1–12, ''[[History of the DC Universe]]'' #1-2
|October 2019
|{{ISBNT|978-1401295363}}
|-
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 1''
|''All-Star Squadron'' #50-60, ''DC Comics Presents'' #78, ''The Fury of Firestorm'' #41-42, ''Green Lantern'' #194-198
|November 2018
|{{ISBNT|978-1401274597}}
|-
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 2''
|''DC Comics Presents'' #86, ''Swamp Thing'' #44, ''Losers Special'' #1, ''Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #1, ''Infinity, Inc.'' #18-25, ''Infinity, Inc. Annual'' #1, ''Justice League of America'' #244-245, ''New Teen Titans'' (vol. 2) #13-14 and material from ''Detective Comics'' #558
|May 2019
|{{ISBNT|978-1401289218}}
|-
|''Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 3''
|''Amethyst'' #13, ''Blue Devil'' #17-18, ''Wonder Woman'' #327-329, ''Swamp Thing'' #46, ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' #16, 18, ''Superman'' #413-415, ''DC Comics Presents'' #87-88, 94–95, ''Justice League of America Annual'' #3, ''The Omega Men'' #31, and material from ''The Omega Men'' #33
|October 2019
|{{ISBNT|978-1401294489}}
|-
|''DC Finest: Events – Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One''
|''Swamp Thing'' #39, ''Batman'' #389-391, ''Detective Comics'' #555-558, ''Justice League of America'' #244, ''Green Lantern'' #194, ''Wonder Woman'' #327, ''DC Comics Presents'' #78, ''Infinity, Inc.'' #18-19, ''The Fury of Firestorm'' #41, ''All-Star Squadron'' #50-52, ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #1-4, and ''The Losers Special'' #1
|October 2025
|978-1799503040
|}

==Synopsis==
The conflicting stories of the DCU are explained as a Multiverse, containing many parallel universes and alternate versions of the characters, with the primary DC continuity referred to as Earth-One. They were created after renegade scientist [[Krona (comics)|Krona]] built a machine and used it to look back into the beginning of time. A cosmic being from the beginning known as the Monitor catalogues these realities, but he has an evil counterpart, the [[Anti-Monitor]], who comes from an [[antimatter]] universe. After [[Pariah (character)|Pariah]] causes an accident with antimatter in his universe, the Anti-Monitor is released and begins destroying many of the realities with a wave of antimatter, planning on becoming sole ruler of all realities. On [[Earth-Three]], Alexander Luthor and Lois Lane teleport their son [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]] to another reality as Earth-Three is consumed by the antimatter wave. To combat this, the Monitor recruits heroes and villains from across time and space to set up five towers, to help merge the multiverse back into one to make it stronger.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #1. DC Comics.</ref>

The Monitor dispatches a team of heroes across time and space to defend mysterious machines that could be the key to saving the remaining universes. Meanwhile, it is revealed that the Flash was transported to the future, and Pariah, constantly witnessing the destruction of worlds, arrives on the doomed Earth-1.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #2. DC Comics.</ref>

[[Barry Allen]] of Earth-One encounters the antimatter wave before being captured by the Anti-Monitor. On Earth 1, various heroes attempt to save people from the approaching antimatter wave. During WWII, the Monitor's towers appear during a battle in which [[Sgt. Rock]], [[Haunted Tank]], and the [[Losers (comics)|Losers]] are fighting together against Nazis.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #3. DC Comics.</ref>

The Monitor gives powers to [[Kimiyo Hoshi]], turning her into Doctor Light. He is murdered by [[Harbinger (DC Comics)|Harbinger]], who is possessed by one of the Anti-Monitor's shadow demons.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #4. DC Comics.</ref> However, the Monitor knew this would happen and his death releases enough energy to project two of the last five parallel Earths into a protective limbo that nullifies the wave.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #5. DC Comics.</ref> The Anti-Monitor recruits [[Psycho-Pirate]] to his cause, infusing him with part of his power to manipulate the heroes of Earth-4, Earth-S and Earth-X against the rest; this fails when all five Earths enter the limbo universe.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #6. DC Comics.</ref>

Harbinger then recruits heroes from the remaining Earths to lead an assault on the Anti-Monitor in the antimatter universe, using the powers of [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]], the last survivor of [[Earth-Three]], to open a portal between the limbo and antimatter universes. Pariah tracks down the Anti-Monitor at his fortress, and the heroes destroy a converter, powered by stellar energy, used to destroy the last five Earths; the injured Anti-Monitor retreats and [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]] dies from his attacks after a distraction from Hoshi.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #7. DC Comics.</ref> The Anti-Monitor creates a new body for himself and tries to use an antimatter cannon to penetrate the limbo universe and destroy the five partially merged Earths. The Flash dies stopping this attempt by using his speed to channel energy.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #8. DC Comics.</ref>

During a lull in the war, the villains unite under [[Brainiac (character)|Brainiac]]. He kills Earth-Two's Alexei Luthor while recruiting the Earth-One Lex Luthor to conquer the remaining Earths.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #9. DC Comics.</ref> A furious Anti-Monitor absorbs the energy of millions of worlds and vows to travel back through time to prevent the creation of the multiverse. The [[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]] unites the heroes and villains by warning them about the Anti-Monitor's plan; the heroes travel back in time to stop the Anti-Monitor, while the villains travel back in time to the planet Oa to prevent Krona from creating the technology necessary for the Anti-Monitor's plan to succeed.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #10. DC Comics.</ref>

The villains fail, and Krona continues his experiment. The Anti-Monitor waits for Alexander Luthor Jr. to reopen the portal between the positive and antimatter universes, capturing the heroes, but a magically empowered Spectre creates an energy overload which shatters space and time. The five Earths merge into a single shared universe, and the superheroes return to the present; only those present at the dawn of time remember the original realities.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #11. DC Comics.</ref>

A cosmically empowered Anti-Monitor attacks again, transporting the new Earth to the antimatter universe and summoning a horde of shadow demons who kill [[Hawk and Dove|Dove]], [[Lori Lemaris]], Green Arrow of Earth-Two, Prince Ra-Man, [[Clayface#Matt Hagen|Clayface]], [[Bug-Eyed Bandit]], [[Kole]], [[Huntress (Helena Wayne)|Huntress]], [[Robin (Earth-Two)|Robin]], Sunburst, and [[Ten-Eyed Man]]. He falls in a carefully-planned counterattack, culminating in a battle with [[Superboy-Prime|Superboy]] of Earth-Prime, [[Superman (Earth-Two)|Kal-L]], and Alexander Luthor Jr., with help from [[Darkseid]]. In this final battle, the Anti-Monitor, reduced to a flaming head, crashes into a star and is killed by Kal-L. Before the star explodes, Alex sends Kal-L, Earth-Two [[Lois Lane]], [[Earth-Prime]] Superboy and himself to a pocket "paradise" dimension while Wonder Woman of Earth-Two is taken to Mount Olympus by [[Zeus (DC Comics)|Zeus]]. This leaves the heroes of the remaining Earth, none of whom remember the original past, to sort out the aftermath of this crisis. Only Psycho-Pirate, who is locked up in [[Arkham Asylum]], remembers the multiverse.<ref>''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' #12. DC Comics.</ref>

==Alternate versions==
===Tales from the Dark Multiverse===
After the Anti-Monitor's defeat, it was the Justice League who were forever trapped fighting in Ragnarok. The Justice Society/All-Star Squadron came in to rescue the team but were outmatched by Surtur. Alan Scott then sacrificed himself by becoming the pawn of Surtur known as the Dread Lantern, leading Surtur to other worlds in exchange for his promise that he will always spare Earth.

==Reception==
Despite relatively limited marketing<ref name="gerber"/> and DC being unsure if the series would be successful, ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' was a bestseller.<ref name="monitoringthepast"/>

[[IGN]]{{'}}s Hilary Goldstein summarized the series as "a crucial turning point for DC Comics" and credited it with saving the company. Goldstein called Wolfman's idea to simplify the DCU bold and unprecedented, noting the story's exceptional size and saying the story was "unbelievable", if somewhat aged. He also praised Pérez's detailed artwork, saying no other artist could have possibly illustrated it as well as he did and gave the book a "must have" rating.<ref name="ignabsoluterev">{{cite web|last1=Goldstein|first1=Hilary|title=Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Absolute Edition Review|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/01/07/crisis-on-infinite-earths-the-absolute-edition-review|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|access-date=20 March 2018|date=January 6, 2006}}</ref> Fellow ''IGN'' writer Jesse Schedeen named ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' one of the best DC crossovers, agreeing it was unprecedented and dramatic.<ref name="ignbestcrossovers">{{cite web|last1=Schedeen|first1=Jesse|title=Ranking DC's 15 Event Comics|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/28/ranking-dcs-15-event-comics-from-best-to-worst|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|access-date=20 March 2018|date=January 28, 2015}}</ref>

Marc Buxton of ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' named "Crisis on Infinite Earths" the greatest comic book crossover ever, saying that no crossover has been bigger or as ambitious: "where some events seem hesitant to actually leave a mark on their respective universes, ''Crisis'' did it with aplomb". He praised the series for exploring the entire DCU and felt it was a fitting event for DC's fiftieth anniversary.<ref name="cbrgreatest">{{cite web|last1=Buxton|first1=Marc|title=The Greatest Crossover Events in Marvel & DC Comics History|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-greatest-crossover-events-in-marvel-dc-comics-history/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=21 March 2018|date=June 11, 2016}}</ref> ''[[Nerdist News]]'' noted that many of the series' central events—such as the deaths of Supergirl and Barry Allen—have become iconic moments in DC's history.<ref name="dccucrisis">{{cite web|last1=Casey|first1=Dan|title=Is the DC Cinematic Universe Heading Towards Crisis on Infinite Earths|url=https://nerdist.com/the-dan-cave-batman-v-superman-crisis-on-infinite-earths-dc-comics/|website=[[Nerdist News|Nerdist]]|access-date=22 March 2018|date=March 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101828/https://nerdist.com/the-dan-cave-batman-v-superman-crisis-on-infinite-earths-dc-comics/|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Not all reviewers have been as positive. Chris Sims wrote the series was messy and built awkwardly, describing it as "a textbook definition of style over substance". Sims said it was far from the best work of Wolfman and Pérez; however, he still thought it was groundbreaking, saying, "It's the first time in comics history that EVERYTHING was in danger".<ref name="ca208"/>

==Merchandise==
A novelization of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' was written by Wolfman and published by [[Byron Preiss|iBooks]] in 2005, with cover art by Pérez and [[Alex Ross]]. The book follows the events of the original series; most of the story is presented from Barry Allen's [[Point of view (fiction)|point of view]], while parts where he is not present are told from a third-person perspective. It also added some details, including internal monologue and updates to make the story more modern, such as characters having cell phones.<ref name="denofgeeknovel">{{cite web|last1=LaMonica|first1=Bridget|title=Crisis on Infinite Earths Novelization (1985), Book Review|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/crisis-on-infinite-earths-novelization-1985-book-review/38148/crisis-on-infinite-earths-novelization-1985-book-review|website=[[Den of Geek]]|access-date=22 March 2018|date=December 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041008/http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/crisis-on-infinite-earths-novelization-1985-book-review/38148/crisis-on-infinite-earths-novelization-1985-book-review|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2008, [[WizKids]] issued a toy pack centered around the Anti-Monitor as a part of its DC [[HeroClix]] toy line. The pack came with a large Anti-Monitor figure with LED-lit eyes, several smaller figures, and a map. An exclusive variant, based on the [[Sinestro Corps]], was available at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] and [[Gen Con]] Indy conventions that year.<ref name="io9antimonitor">{{cite web|last1=Grabianowski|first1=Dan|title=Anti-Monitor Exclusive Is a Crisis at Infinite Cons|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/391073/anti-monitor-exclusive-is-a-crisis-at-infinite-cons|website=[[iO9]]|publisher=[[Gizmodo Media Group]]|access-date=22 March 2018|date=May 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041124/https://io9.gizmodo.com/391073/anti-monitor-exclusive-is-a-crisis-at-infinite-cons|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[DC Collectibles]] (then called DC Direct) released three series of action figures between 2005 and 2006. Based on the [[George Pérez]] artwork, the figures had a base with the logo of the series and certain figures included an accessory. The first series included Earth 2 Robin, Harbinger, Monitor, Psycho-Pirate, and Supergirl.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/Series/17415-CRISIS-ON-INFINITE-EARTHS-SER-1-SUPERGIRL-AF|title=Series - CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 SUPERGIRL ...|date=July 6, 2005|website=Previewsworld.com|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127153102/https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/Series/17415-CRISIS-ON-INFINITE-EARTHS-SER-1-SUPERGIRL-AF|archive-date=January 27, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later series included the Anti-Monitor, Earth 2 Superman, Flash, Battle Armor Lex Luthor, Brainiac, <!-- Series 2--> Earth 1 Batman, Doctor Light, Earth Prime Superboy, Earth 2 Huntress, and one of the [[Weaponers of Qward]]<!-- Series 3 -->.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

==Legacy==
Though it was not the first large-scale comic book crossover,{{efn|Marvel's ''[[Secret Wars]]'' (1984) preceded ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' by one year.<ref name="cbrgreatest"/>}} ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' is generally credited with popularizing the idea.<ref name="visual"/><ref name="syfytheflashcrisis">{{cite web|last1=Siegel|first1=Lucas|title=Grant Gustin Says The Flash Hopes to Reach Crisis on Infinite Earths|url=http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/grant-gustin-says-the-flash-hopes-to-reach-crisis-on-infinite-earths|website=[[Syfy]] Wire|access-date=22 March 2018|date=July 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324042647/http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/grant-gustin-says-the-flash-hopes-to-reach-crisis-on-infinite-earths|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Comics historian Matthew K. Manning wrote that ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' paved way for all future crossovers of similar scale,<ref name="visual"/> and Andrew J. Friedenthal said "''Crisis'' showed the two major superhero comic book publishers (DC Comics and Marvel Comics) how they could utilize the continuity established by decades' worth of stories to weave together a cohesive, metatextual tapestry that both appealed to long-time readers and brought in massive amounts of money".<ref name="monitoringthepast"/> The series' success inspired DC to begin a tradition of "summer crossovers"; some of these include ''[[Invasion! (DC Comics)|Invasion!]]'' (1988–1989), ''[[Armageddon 2001]]'' (1991), ''[[Zero Hour: Crisis in Time]]!'' (1994), and ''[[Identity Crisis (DC Comics)|Identity Crisis]]'' (2004), and some mention the events of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''.<ref name="visual"/><ref name="briefhistory">{{cite web|last1=Bondurant|first1=Tom|title=A Brief History Of Time: Unpacking DC's Reboots, Relaunches & Retcons|url=https://www.cbr.com/a-brief-history-of-time-unpacking-dcs-reboots-relaunches-retcons/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=22 March 2018|date=June 7, 2016}}</ref> The second part of one of DC's later crossovers, ''[[Convergence (comics)|Convergence]]'' (2015), heavily references the series and sees DC's superheroes travel back to its era. The writers of ''Convergence'' all had fun writing stories set during ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', calling the series an exciting time for DC.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schedeen|first1=Jesse|title=DC's Convergence Writers and Artists on Returning to Crisis on Infinite Earths|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/18/dcs-convergence-writers-and-artists-on-returning-to-crisis-on-infinite-earths|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|access-date=22 March 2018|date=February 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Gearino |first=Dan |date=2017|title=Comic Shop |location= [[Athens, Ohio]]|publisher=[[Swallow Press]]|page=68 |isbn=9780804040839 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSg6DwAAQBAJ&q=Crisis+on+Infinite+Earths }}</ref>

The series had an immediate effect on DC, dividing the company's history into two eras: "Pre-Crisis" and "Post-Crisis".<ref name="syfyperez"/> Wolfman and Pérez teamed again to produce the ''[[History of the DC Universe]]'' limited series to summarize the DCU's new history.<ref name="visual"/> In the post-Crisis history, during the "Crisis" many heroes fought the Anti-Monitor's army. He attempted to collapse the positive universe's past and future into a single point in time to destroy it, leaving only the antimatter universe.<ref name="jlaincarnations5">{{Cite comic |Artist=Val Semeiks |Writer=John Ostrander |Coinkers=Kevin Conrad, Prentis Rollins |Colorist=John Kalisz, Heroic Age |Letterer=Ken Lopez |Editor=Dan Raspler; Stephanie Wacker |Story=Crisis |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/69065/ |Title=JLA: Incarnations |Volume=1 |Issue=5 |Date=November 2001 |Publisher=DC Comics |language=en |access-date=2023-01-07}}</ref>

Many of DC's characters had their histories [[Reboot (fiction)|rebooted]]. Wonder Woman's comic was relaunched entirely by Pérez, Wein, and [[Greg Potter]].<ref>{{cite journal |author= Mangels, Andy |author-link= Andy Mangels |date= January 1, 1989|title= Triple Threat The George Pérez Interview|journal= Amazing Heroes|issue= 156|page= 30|publisher= [[Fantagraphics Books]]|quote = ''Wonder Woman's'' sales are some of the best the Amazing Amazon has ever experienced, and the book is a critical and popular success with its weaving of Greek mythology into a feminist and humanistic atmosphere.}}</ref> Superman was first re-envisioned in the limited series ''[[The Man of Steel (comics)|The Man of Steel]]'' by [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]]; his comic was retitled ''[[The Adventures of Superman (comic book)|The Adventures of Superman]]'' to make way for a [[Superman vol. 2|new ''Superman'' series]].<ref name="visual"/> Batman was minimally affected by the reboot, and his comic was not relaunched. However, he was still given [[Batman: Year One|an updated origin]], courtesy of [[Frank Miller]].<ref name="nerd"/> In addition, [[Wally West]] replaced Barry Allen as the Flash, the Justice League's roster was changed, and characters DC acquired from other companies, such as [[Fawcett Publications]] and Charlton Comics, were integrated into the DCU.<ref name="30reasons"/><ref name="ca12">{{cite web|last1=Cereno|first1=Benito|title=12 Facts You May Not Have Known About Crisis on Infinite Earths|url=http://comicsalliance.com/crisis-on-infinite-earths-dc-comics-facts/|website=[[ComicsAlliance]]|access-date=23 March 2018|date=June 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101716/http://comicsalliance.com/crisis-on-infinite-earths-dc-comics-facts/|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The practice of re-envisioning characters in the new DCU lasted well into 1989, with properties such as [[Green Lantern]], [[Hawkman]], [[Black Orchid (character)|Black Orchid]], and the [[Suicide Squad]] all being rebooted.<ref name="visual"/><ref name="briefhistory"/> The revamp raised sales 22% in the first year, and DC beat Marvel in [[direct market]] sales for the first time in August and September 1987.<ref name="Slugfest157">{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Reed |date=October 2017 |title=Slugfest |location= [[New York City]]|publisher=[[Da Capo Press]]|page=157 |isbn=978-0306825477 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hoyYDgAAQBAJ}}</ref> ''The Man of Steel'' #1 was the bestselling comic book issue of 1986.<ref name="Slugfest155">{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Reed |date=October 2017 |title=Slugfest |location= [[New York City]]|publisher=[[Da Capo Press]]|page=155 |isbn=978-0306825477 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hoyYDgAAQBAJ}}</ref>

''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' has been referenced several times in the various television series that comprise the [[Arrowverse]], starting with the first episode of ''[[The Flash (2014 TV series)|The Flash]]'' which aired in October 2014. It features a newspaper from 2024 that reads "Flash Missing, Vanishes in Crisis". [[Grant Gustin]], who plays the Flash on the show, has said he thinks the goal of the series is to reach "Crisis on Infinite Earths": "Obviously we'd have to go, I think 10 years to reach that, so there's a possibility for sure. It'll be fun to get there." The concept of a multiverse has been explored several times throughout the history of the franchise.<ref name="syfytheflashcrisis"/> Talking in 2014, [[Geoff Johns]], when discussing the difference between the [[DC Extended Universe]] and the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]], said "We look at it as the multiverse. We have our TV universe and our film universe, but they all co-exist. For us, creatively, it's about allowing everyone to make the best possible product, to tell the best story, to do the best world. Everyone has a vision and you really want to let the visions shine through ... It's just a different approach."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/the-man-at-the-center-of-dcs-tv-multiverse|title=The Man At The Center Of DC's TV Multiverse|last=Wieselman|first=Jarett|work=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=October 23, 2014|access-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref> The storyline inspired the 2019 Arrowverse crossover, also titled "[[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis on Infinite Earths]]",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2018/12/11/arrowverse-crossover-title-2019-crisis-on-infinite-earths/|title=Arrowverse Crossover Title for Fall 2019 (!) Is Revealed — And It Is a Doozy|last=Mitovich|first=Matt Webb|work=[[TVLine]]|date=December 11, 2018|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212024818/https://tvline.com/2018/12/11/arrowverse-crossover-title-2019-crisis-on-infinite-earths/|archive-date=December 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> with the original date seen in the pilot episode of ''The Flash'' having been moved up by five years as a side effect of time travel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/flash-finale-crisis-change-date/|title=The Flash Officially Moves Crisis To Next Season, Five Years Earlier|last=Dyce|first=Andrew|work=[[Screen Rant]]|date=May 14, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2019}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
The comic book series was adapted as a novel by the original writer, Marv Wolfman.<ref>ISBN 0743498399</ref> This novelization was then performed as an audio drama marketed as a "Movie in Your Mind" by publisher [[GraphicAudio]].<ref>ISBN 1599505975</ref>

The story serves as inspiration for "[[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis on Infinite Earths]]", an [[Arrowverse]] crossover event consisting of an episode each of ''[[Arrow (TV series)|Arrow]]'', ''[[The Flash (2014 TV series)|The Flash]]'', ''[[Supergirl (TV series)|Supergirl]]'', ''[[Legends of Tomorrow]]'' and ''[[Batwoman (TV series)|Batwoman]]''.

An animated film adaptation, ''[[Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths (film)|Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'', was released in three parts during 2024, beginning with ''Part One'' on January 9.<ref>[https://www.cbr.com/dc-animated-crisis-infinite-earths-three-parts/ "DC's Animated Crisis on Infinite Earth's Movie Is Reportedly Split Into Three Parts"] by Brad Lang, Sep 6, 2023</ref>

In ''[[Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too!]]'' while being chased by [[Solomon Grundy (character)|Solomon Grundy]], [[Scooby-Doo (character)|Scooby-Doo]] and [[Shaggy Rogers|Shaggy]] climb on [[Barry Allen|Flash]]'s Cosmic Treadmill which briefly travels them, along with Solomon Grundy, through many alternate timelines, with one of those being inspired by the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" storyline.

==Sequels==
{{main|Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!|Identity Crisis (DC Comics)|Infinite Crisis|Final Crisis|Dark Crisis}}

''[[Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!]]'' is a follow-up to ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', and ''[[Identity Crisis (DC Comics)|Identity Crisis]]'' also adheres to the continuity changes of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' and ''Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!''.

''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' is the first installment in what became known as the ''Crisis'' trilogy.<ref name="visual"/> The second part of the trilogy, the seven-part ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'', was written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by [[Phil Jimenez]], Pérez, [[Ivan Reis]], and [[Jerry Ordway]]. It was published from October 2005 to June 2006, with a number of tie-in issues.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infinite Crisis Comic Series Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/infinite-crisis|publisher=[[Comic Book Roundup]]|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041502/https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/infinite-crisis|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the series, Kal-L, Alexander Luthor, and Superboy-Prime escape from the pocket dimension they were left in at the end of the original series; Luthor, having gone insane, attempts to recreate the multiverse using the Anti-Monitor's remains as a generator. Meanwhile, Superboy-Prime, having become disillusioned with the surviving Earth, engages in a destructive rampage after confronting the modern Superboy, Connor Kent. The battle culminates in the two Superboys colliding with Luthor's multiverse generator, restoring the Earth (with slight alterations to continuity) and recreating the lost multiverse.

The conclusion to the trilogy, ''[[Final Crisis]]'',<ref name="visual"/> began in May 2008 and ended in January 2009.<ref name="finalroundup">{{cite web|title=Final Crisis Comics Series Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/final-crisis|publisher=[[Comic Book Roundup]]|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101535/https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/final-crisis|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The series was written by [[Grant Morrison]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brady|first1=Matt|title=Grant Morrison: Final Crisis Exit Interview, Part 1|url=https://www.newsarama.com/2053-grant-morrison-final-crisis-exit-interview-part-1.html|website=[[Newsarama]]|access-date=23 March 2018|date=January 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041348/https://www.newsarama.com/2053-grant-morrison-final-crisis-exit-interview-part-1.html|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> with art by [[J. G. Jones]], [[Carlos Pacheco]], Marco Rudy, and [[Doug Mahnke]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Renaud|first1=Jeffrey|title=J.G. Jones Apologizes For Unfinished Final Crisis Work|url=https://www.cbr.com/j-g-jones-apologizes-for-unfinished-final-crisis-work/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=23 March 2018|date=October 21, 2008}}</ref> In ''Final Crisis'', Darkseid arrives on Earth and begins a conquest to overthrow reality, as part of a plan by [[Libra (DC Comics)|Libra]] to conquer the Multiverse. The Justice League and [[Green Lantern Corps]] join forces in a desperate attempt to stop the upcoming onslaught.

In 2022, a new DC Comics Crisis event occurred, named ''[[Dark Crisis|Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=Liam |date=2022-07-21 |title=DC Rebrands Dark Crisis With a New Title, Making It a Crisis on Infinite Earths Sequel |url=https://www.cbr.com/dark-crisis-on-infinite-earths-sequel-title-dc-comics/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref> which began in June 2022 and ended in December 2022. This series was written by Joshua Williamson and art by Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sanchez.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=2022-02-09 |title=Dark Crisis: After the Justice League Dies, The DC Universe Faces Its Greatest Threat |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dark-crisis-dc-crossover-death-justice-league-pariah |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> Following the death of the Justice League in issue #75 Pariah has tasked Deathstroke and the Secret Society of Supervillains to start a Crisis Event, and using the crisis energy which would form, restart and bring back the infinite earths lost in the original Crisis. Nightwing and the Titans work to protect the world from the Secret Society, while Hal Jordan investigates the deaths of the Justice League.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://archive.today/20240527210357/https://www.webcitation.org/6hzYNsTZT?url=http://toonopedia.com/earth1-2.htm Earth-One, Earth-Two, ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240527210357/https://www.webcitation.org/6hzYNsTZT?url=http://toonopedia.com/earth1-2.htm Archived] from the original on June 3, 2016.
* {{Comicbookdb|type=title|id=47|title=''Crisis on Infinite Earths''}}

{{DC Crisis Anthology}}
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