GRAPHIC NOVEL IN FOCUS - Crisis on Infinite Earths

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If you are a fan of the DC Universe and want an iconic story that includes ALL of DC’s heavy hitters, look no further than Crisis on Infinite Earths, a story written by Marc Wolfman and brought to life through the artwork of George Peleaz (with additional illustration work completed by Mike DeCarlo, Dick Giordano, and Jerry Ordway). The story is a mult-faceted, inter-dimensional, extensive tale from the DCU that accomplishes a great deal of storytelling and organization despite dealing with countless characters, innumerable thru-lines, and a mind-expanding story. Those seeking a simple read will need look elsewhere; but for readers in search of a dense book that will not only define the DCU but help one understand it, Crisis on Infinite Earths is without equal.

The story is a bit too extensive to truly encapsulate in a single article; but needless to say, the general plot revolves around a reality-shattering threat to all beings in all universes at all times—which may sound odd but makes complete sense in the DCU. In the history of DC comics, the various different continuity arcs and interpretations for characters have been explained for years via the existence of multiple universes, an interesting concept to be sure. The best way to describe the scenario is to consider each universe to be simply an “alternate reality”, which is a common story device in comics. The plot of Crisis on Infinite Earths follows heroes from these various universes, brought together by new DC character, The Monitor to stop the ever-powerful villain, The Anti-Monitor who is using dark matter energies to destroy entire universes and destroy all life outside of the anti-universe.

Again, this brief summary is to the story as the tip is to an iceberg, with the trade paperback containing the full 12-issue main story clocking in at over 300 pages, each jam-packed with universe altering discussions and events (other tales related to Crisis are in the regular comic series of the characters in the series). Writer Marc Wolfman seems to have taken great effort in including nearly every previously seen DCU character, from obscure villains to key-note heroes and endless personalities in-between. The overall story-telling is surprisingly concrete given the extensive metaphysical material contained in the story, and one would be hard-pressed to find another comic tackle the ideas contained in Crisis with the same level of tact, consistency, and clarity.

Peleaz’ art is also something to behold as well, with his vibrant and incredibly dense work serving as an essential companion to the story to make it remotely understandable. Peleaz not only covers an enormous amount of characters but also locales and elements that require an imaginative visual interpretation. Peleaz, in essence, creates his own type of visual vernacular, wherein the reader is able to understand what “Anti-matter”, “dark energy” are in the story without explicitly being told that they should. This is an earmark of true artistry, when one’s work can translate immaterial ideas into a visual spectrum that can be digested.

Not only is the craftsmanship of the comic admirable, but the very purpose of the book is as well. Bringing all of DCU’s alternate universes into a single, focused, canonical reality puts the publisher’s endless array of characters and ideas into one, digestible work that will give those who read DC’s books following Crisis a point of understanding. Readers coming into the DCU late will appreciate the book’s ability to consolidate the endless and indiscernible existence of the DCU into a single thru line that one can follow and enjoy.

Crisis on Infinite Earths is an immense and powerful book worthy of the echelons of the media’s most important stories. It’s a celebration of an entire universe that pays great honor to its many characters while also bringing them into a manageable and understandable framework. For those looking for a comic into which they can truly invest great time and energy into a rewarding outcome, Crisis will serve as not only a fulfilling read but also an entertaining one.

[Crisis on Infinite Earths has also yielded great collectibles. DC DIRECT has released several series of figures based directly on Crisis, including classic DC icons and characters specifically involved in the series. Wizkids' recent DC HeroClix: Crisis series is inspired by this book as well.]

(Crisis Figures from DC Direct)