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|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #1 |
| Subtitle |
Book
One The Summoning |
| Date |
April
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Dick Giordano |
| storyline |
Pariah
thought back on creation - when a multiverse was created
instead of a universe. He watched as one Earth (possibly
Earth-5) was destroyed by anti-matter.
On Earth-3, the Crime Syndicate of America fought to
save the world they'd terrorized for so long. Pariah
witnessed it die as Alexander Luthor and his wife, Lois,
placed their infant son in a capsule and sent it away.
As Earth-3 died, Alexander Luthor, Jr. and his capsule
landed on the JLA's satellite in orbit of Earth-1. His
parents did not realize the satellite had been abandoned.
Somewhere, a being known as the Monitor told a young
woman named Lyla to "energize" as he retrieved
the last son of Earth-3. Lyla turned herself into the
Harbinger. She recruited an ape king named Solovar and
removed him from his home. Dawnstar, a member of the
Legion of Superheroes in the 30th century, was Harbinger's
next recruit. 1942 on Earth-2: Harbinger recruited Firebrand,
a member of the All Star Squadron. Blue Beetle of Earth-4
was next for her. At the present, on Earth-2, Harbinger
rescued Psycho Pirate from an asylum. Arion, lord of
Atlantis, is grabbed next (from 45,000 years ago). Firestorm
and Killer Frost were taken from Earth-1.
Harbinger brought all her recruits together on the Monitor's
satellite. Many more had amassed there. The Monitor
staged an attack on them with shadow demons, then presented
himself. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #2 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Two: Time and Time Again |
| Date |
May
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Dick Giordano |
| storyline |
Mammoths
from the dawn of man somehow appeared in the 30th century.
The Legion attempted to stop their stampede, but they
disappeared. Brainiac 5 discovered antimatter on its
way to their Earth.
Batman, while battling the Joker, saw a vision of the
Flash (Barry Allen). He appeared and spoke about the
dying world, then disintegrated.
The Monitor spoke with the 15 Harbinger had gathered.
He told them of an enemy which was destroying universes.
These gathered would have to guard weapons the Monitor
had placed throughout time against such a threat.
On Oa, the Guardians of the Universe were attacked by
an unseen force. Batman of Earth-1 met Superman and
told him about the image he'd seen of Flash. Pariah
appeared to them, then vanished.
Superman of Earth-2, Dawnstar, and Solovar saved a strange
boy named Kamandi from shadow demons at one of the Monitor's
towers. The shadows, looking a lot like the Monitor
himself, fled. Harbinger, now possessed by a shadow
demon (and all together), saw the baby Luthor - now
a toddler.
Arion, Obsidian, and Psycho Pirate tended the tower
near Atlantis. Pariah appeared; Psycho Pirate inhibited
him. Arion tried to stop him, but was also affected.
Obsidian shielded him as Psycho Pirate vanished. Monitor
and Harbinger discussed the loss of Psycho Pirate, who'd
joined their enemy. With Raven nowhere to be found,
Monitor prepared to create a second Dr. Light. Pariah
saw the antimatter approaching - the universe housing
Atlantis would soon die. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #3 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Three: Oblivion Upon Us |
| Date |
June
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Dick Giordano, Mike DeCarlo |
| storyline |
The
Monitor continued testing young Alexander Luthor, who'd
now grown to the size of an adolescent. Harbinger visited
her other master and was told to destroy the child.
Antimatter began destroying Earth-1. Superman and Batman
joined the Teen Titans and Outsiders, saving all the
civilians they could from the natural disasters and
crumbling architecture. The Flash again appeared, and
again faded away.
Brainiac sought out Luthor.
Blue Beetle, Dr. Polaris, and Geo-Force arrived at the
Monitor's tower in 1944. They joined Sgt. Rock and the
Losers, who were battling Nazis. Shadow demons appeared
and killed the losers. After seeing them fight the shadow
demons, the Monitor returned these three to their own
time.
Solovar died of wounds he received saving Kamandi.
Firebrand, Cyborg, Psimon, and Green Lantern (John Stewart)
encountered Jonah Hex, Bat Lash, Scalphunter, and Nighthawk
at the Monitor tower in the old west.
Antimatter began hitting all Earths. Harbinger planned
to attack the Monitor. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #4 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Four: And thus shall the Earth Die |
| Date |
July
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Mike DeCarlo |
| storyline |
Supergirl
met with Batgirl and discussed the end of the world.
John Constantine and Steve Dayton enjoyed a drink as
the antimatter approached.
On Earth-6, Pariah was able to save one life - Lady
Quark. Her husband, Lord Volt, and daughter, Princess
Fern, along with their world, were killed.
The Monitor blasted a star, sending light toward and
observatory in Japan on Earth-1. A scientist was hit
- she would become Dr. Light (2). Alex Luthor watched
as Harbinger readied to kill the Monitor. The enemy
captured Red Tornado.
Vandal Savage watched as Firestorm and Killer Frost
arrived at the Monitor's tower during the age of King
Arthur. They met up with Shining Knight. The shadow
demons attacked, then came together - all over time
and creation - a huge shadow stood. The new Dr. Light
appeared and kept Starfire and Halo from attacking the
Monitor tower on Earth-1.
The Monitor summoned Pariah and clued him in. He commanded
the man not to harm Harbinger. Harbinger arrived and
killed the Monitor. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #5 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Five: Worlds in Limbo |
| Date |
August
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Jerry Ordway |
| storyline |
The
enemy wondered why his powers had not increased - both
Earth-1 and Earth-2, along with the Monitor were now
dead. In the Monitor's satellite, Lyla and Pariah witnessed
a recording the Monitor had made - when he died, his
energy placed Earth-1 and 2 in a netherworld so they
could possibly be saved. Their vibrations were slowly
getting closer - they could merge. Alex Luthor - now
a teenager - approached them. The Monitor had discovered
he was made of both positive and negative matter.
The Flash appeared in the enemy's lair. Psycho Pirate
began playing with his emotions.
Harbinger, Alex Luthor, and Pariah gathered all the
remaining heroes and villains of Earth-1 and Earth-2
on the Monitor's satellite. They tried to convince everyone
to work together, but some had doubts and wanted to
return to their homes. All planets in the universe were
experiencing time problems - past, present, and future
were merging together.
The enemy unleashed Red Tornado's power. Earths 1 and
2 began to merge. Their inhabitants could now see ghostly
images of their counterparts. All the heroes agreed
to join the fight.
The enemy finally showed himself to Psycho Pirate and
Flash. He called himself the Monitor. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #6 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Six: 3 Earths, 3 Deaths |
| Date |
September
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Jerry Ordway |
| storyline |
The
Anti-Monitor increased Psycho Pirate's powers and sent
him to conquer three of the remaining worlds. As the
Monitor's satellite began to crumble, Pariah disappeared.
Harbinger attacked Alex Luthor.
With the Wildcat (Ted Grant) out of commission (his
legs were broken in the whirlwind when Red Tornado reappeared),
his friend, Yolanda Montez, took over his costume and
name. Brainiac captured Lex Luthor (in his green armor).
The heroes were thrust on to the three doomed Earths
outside the neverworld (X, 4, S). Psycho Pirate was
controlling everyone into believing they were causing
the antimatter
Harbinger was able to transport the three remaining
Earths to the netherverse which housed Earths 1 and
2. They were saved, but now five were merging together.
|
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #7 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Seven: Beyond the Silent Night |
| Date |
October
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Jerry Ordway, Dick Giordano |
| storyline |
Lyla
(no longer Harbinger) asked Pariah to take them to Earth.
Brainiac captured Sivana and Ibbac of Earth-S. The grabbed
representatives from each of the Earths and held a meeting.
Harbinger told them about the creation of the Multiverse:
on Oa, where the immortal Guardians of the Universe
lived, a man named Krona attempted to view the dawn
of time. Something went wrong and an antimatter universe
(Qward) was created - along with infinite other universes.
A civil war broke out on how he should be punished.
The controllers and Green Lantern Corps were created.
The Monitor and Anti-Monitor were created. After discovering
each other, they fought a million-year war. It ended
in stalemate with both unconscious for 9 billion years.
Pariah awakened the Anti-Monitor: on his Earth, he was
the smartest man - he built devices to control the weather
and cured all diseases. He discovered the Multiverse,
but, in doing so, destroyed his own Earth. This awakened
both the Anti-Monitor and the Monitor.
Alexander opened a portal for the heroes to travel to
the Anti-Monitor's location. They made it to his fortress,
but realized their powers behaved differently in the
antimatter universe. Superman (of Earth-1) and Dr. Light
(the female) found the device Anti-Monitor was using
to vibrate the universes. Supergirl realized her cousin
was being harmed and went to save him. She was able
to breach the Anti-Monitor's containment suit, but she
was killed. The Anti-Monitor's machinery was destroyed,
saving the five universes for the time being. The A-M
retreated. Back on her home Earth, Batgirl spoke at
the hero's funeral. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #8 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Eight: A Flash of the Lightning |
| Date |
November
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Jerry Ordway |
| storyline |
When
the universes halted, the Guardians were freed. The
Green Lantern Corps power was restored. Vixen called
Firestorm - she'd found Red Tornado's designer, T.O.
Morrow. On the JLA satellite, Cyborg, Martian Manhunter,
and the Atom were joined by Morrow, Firestorm, Firehawk,
and Vixen. Green Lantern (Stewart) and Blue Devil soon
arrived. As they did, the Tornado's body exploded. Blue
Devil went through the vortex created and ended up in
the Vegan System. The others evacuated the satellite.
On Qward, Flash escaped and hostily convinced Psycho
Pirate to join forces with him. Flash moved the Pirate
in front of the Monitor's minions at such a speed they
did not see him - but Pirate was able to instill in
them a sense of hate for the Monitor. As they attacked
him, Flash entered the antimatter cannon looking to
destroy it. He moved so quickly through it that the
device was destroyed and he passed through time. His
costume and ring remained at the scene, but Barry Allen
was dead.
The Monitor, frustrated, absorbed his entire antimatter
universe. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #9 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Nine: War Zone |
| Date |
December
1985 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Jerry Ordway |
| storyline |
On
Oa, the Guardians granted a ring of power to Earth's
Guy Gardner. No sooner than it was bestowed upon him,
an explosion occurred. Five of the six immortal Guardians
were killed. Gardner swore to avenge their deaths.
Brainiac finally spoke to the villains he'd been gathering
since the Crisis began. With the "enemy" now
gone, the Crisis appeared over. The five somewhat merged
Earths would be theirs for the picking. He appointed
Luthor of Earth-1 the field commander, and Luthor of
Earth-2 spoke out against it. Brainiac killed him on
the spot.
Starfire, Nightwing, and Jericho met with some Tamarianians.
Starfire was going home. As reporters and scientists
clamored over the time anomalies, a bright blast was
seen over the earths. At a UN press conference on the
situation, Pariah disappeared. An image of Brainiac
materialized claiming that he and his associates had
gained control of Earths X, S, and 4. Luthor appeared
to them asking for surrender. He gave them 15 minutes.
Clark Kent excused himself from the conference and changed
clothes. The villains had somehow blocked their Earths
away from the other two - no one could pass into them.
Jay Garrick (Flash of E2) and Lyla went to Wally West
and asked for his help. He came out of retirement -
Kid Flash and Flash (Jay) built a new cosmic treadmill.
They were able to break through, as Brainiac had predicted.
Wars raged between good and evil on all Earths. Psimon
killed Brainiac and approached Luthor. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #10 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Ten: Death at the Dawn of Time |
| Date |
January
1986 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Jerry Ordway |
| storyline |
Brainiac
reemerged and blasted Psimon's dome. The living computer
had loaded itself into another robotic body - only a
shell was destroyed. As the battles raged, the Spectre
made his presence known. He announced the Anti-Monitor
still lived, and had traveled to the dawn of time. Everyone
would have to work together, or all histories would
be rewritten. As all with the power of time travel met
and planned to attack the Anti-Monitor at the dawn of
time, a new "Super" appeared, claiming to
be Superboy of Earth-Prime. Superman of Earth-1 knew
him and vouched for his powers.
They made it to the dawn of time and began to battle
the Anti-Monitor. Luthor's group arrived on Oa before
Krona could meddle and attacked. As the Anti-Monitor
fed on the power of the heroes, he reached for the universe.
The Spectre attacked, feeding from the powers of the
magicians. They began to see Krona's view screen, and
a great explosion occurred. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #11 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Eleven: Aftershock |
| Date |
February
1986 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Jerry Ordway |
| storyline |
With
the multiverse destroyed, a single universe existed.
Clark Kent (of Earth-2) awakened and went to work. When
he arrived, he realized he was on Earth-1. He and his
counterpart went to New York - the place where their
two Earths were joined. They found nothing, and no one
knew what they were talking about. They traveled to
the home of the Flash, where Jay Garrick knew who they
both were, but his wife did not. The three joined up
with Wally. No one knew where Barry was, but they used
his treadmill in attempt to get the Earth-2 Flash and
Superman home. In space, they realized there was no
multiverse; they returned - the treadmill was destroyed.
All across the Earth, heroes were confused - they remembered
battling the Anti-Monitor at the dawn of time, but nothing
else. It appeared as though time had realigned. They
heroes met at Titans Tower, where Harbinger and Pariah
appeared. The heroes from other Earths who'd been at
the dawn of time still existed - as anomalies. There
were two Dick Graysons - one 19 (of this Earth), and
one much older. Helena Wayne, daughter of Earth-2's
Batman existed, but didn't. Earth-2's Superman flipped
out realizing his wife never existed.
The sorcerers also met. The Spectre's power had yet
to return to him. Shadow demons began appearing around
the globe.
Batman, Robin, and Alex Luthor arrived - they'd met
with Lex Luthor, who had no memories of defeating the
Anti-Monitor. The villains were not at the dawn of time,
but on Oa - they had no memories of the multiverse.
An electrical storm broke out over the entire planet.
Earth was transported to the antimatter universe. |
|
 |
| Issue |
Crisis
on Infinite Earths #12 |
| Subtitle |
Book
Twelve: Final Crisis |
| Date |
March
1986 |
| Writer(s) |
Marv
Wolfman |
| Artist(s) |
George
Perez, Jerry Ordway |
| storyline |
The
Anti-Monitor told the Earth's heroes their deaths were
imminent and real - just like those of Supergirl and
Flash. Everything went dark. Harbinger spread her self
out and gathered heroes for yet another attack. The
darkness was realized to be shadow demons coming down
to attack. Heroes fought them all over the planet.
In orbit, Brainiac's ship took six heroes to Apokolips
to meet Darkseid.
Harbinger, Pariah, and Alex Luthor got the heroes to
Qward. There, they saw a vision of the Flash. Kid Flash
followed it and found Psycho Pirate pulling on Barry's
suit. Pirate had gone insane. Back on Earth, Robin and
Huntress (of Earth-2) were destroyed by shadow demons.
Heroes fell to the Anti-Monitor's power all over the
planet. At once, the shadow demons flew away - the sorcerers
had defeated them. The heroes attacked the Anti-Monitor.
Dr. Light and Alex Luthor drained his power sources
and blasted him. The Anti-Monitor was dead. Alex opened
a portal and moved the Earth back into the positive
universe.
The shadow demons converged and recreated the Anti-Monitor.
He blasted out at the heroes, killing Wonder Woman.
Superman of Earth-2 flung the heroes through the portal
created by Luthor. He took on the Anti-Monitor alone.
The shadow demons, transformed by the sorcerers, began
breaking the Anti-Monitor down from the inside. Superboy
of Earth-Prime, also without a world to return to, stayed
to help Kal-L.
Superman threw a moon into the Anti-Monitor as Darkseid
watched. The AM continued to get up after every blow.
Somehow, Darkseid - linked with Alex Luthor - blasted
him. His final attack was thwarted by Superman, who
punched him into a star. The star exploded. Alex Luthor
showed Superman that he'd saved his wife. He invited
the three to step through one final portal he opened
where they could all be safe from the exploding star.
With the single Earth now in the positive universe,
things began to change slightly. Wonder Woman, though
dead from the Monitor's blast, devolved back into her
original state - clay. The Wonder Woman of Earth-2,
along with her husband, were transplanted to Mt. Olympus
by Zeus. The survivors mourned their fallen comrades.
Jay Garrick found no trace of disease in the body of
Wally West - he was cured. Kid Flash was no more - Wally
would now carry on as the Flash.
Lyla, Pariah, and Lady Quark began exploring the new
world. Psycho Pirate, the only person who had any memories
of the multiverse, was locked away in Arkham Asylum. |
|
| trade
paperback edition |
novelization |
 |
 |
| Notes,
references to time, and chronology: |
|
The
tag-line of this event - Worlds will live. Worlds will die.
And the universe will never be the same. - seems to sum
it up rather well. Many of the alternate Earths were destroyed.
A great battle was fought at the dawn of time, negating the
multiverse, creating a single universe. After the event, only
Psycho Pirate remembered exactly what had happened. |
|
Note:
all DCU titles / stories published before this may be out of
continuity. Batman was not "rebooted" - the events
of his history pretty much stayed - after the Crisis, Dick had
still been Robin (and was Nightwing), and Jason Todd (with a
new origin) was Robin. |
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