Published from April 1985 to March 1986, Crisis on Infinite Earths is the name of a 12-issue limited series written by Marv Wolfman and penciled by George Pérez at the heart of the major event of the same name. It’s the first universe redefining crossover comic book event ever, and it came from Wolfman’s desire to simplify and unify the DC Universe in order to help new (and old) readers to get a better understanding and reading experience. There’s a before and an after Crisis, and the industry as a whole changed after that.
Here is the official synopsis: A mysterious being known as the Anti-Monitor has begun a crusade across time to bring about the end of all existence. As alternate Earths are systematically destroyed, the Monitor quickly assembles a team of superheroes from across time and space to battle his counterpart and stop the destruction. DC’s greatest heroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman, assemble to stop the menace, but as they watch both the Flash and Supergirl die in battle, they begin to wonder if even all of the heroes in the world can stop this destructive force.
What to read before Crisis on Infinite Earths?
Nothing. Everything. This is the first event of this kind. Nowadays, DC Comics would have planned a long prelude to the event with some clues here and there, maybe a full storyline with a hero or two. But this was not the case in 1985. If you read a pre-crisis series, Crisis on Infinite Earths is the end. There’s probably a lot to read in order to be familiar with everybody involved, and it’s not feasible to list it here—The Monitor made non-consequential cameos before that could be listed, but it’s just him observing the action, not really useful. What you need to know is in the series anyway. That’s how comics worked back then.
To learn more about this classic event, complement with The History and Legacy of Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Crisis on Infinite Earths Reading Order:
Crisis on Infinite Earths Reading Order: Collected Editions
- Crisis on Infinite Earths (the 2001 TPB edition)
Collects Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12.
- Crisis On Infinite Earths 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Collects Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12. - Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 1
Collects DC Comics Presents #78, All-Star Squadron #50-60, The Fury of Firestorm #41-42 and Green Lantern #194-198. - Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 2
Collects 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 (Series 2) #13-14 and a story from Detective Comics #558. - Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 3
Collects Amethyst #13, The Omega Men #31, a story from The Omega Men #33, Blue Devil #17-18, Wonder Woman #327-329, Swamp Thing #46, Legion of Super-Heroes #16 and #18, Superman #413-415, DC Comics Presents #87-88 and #94-95, Justice League of America Annual #3, and pages from Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest #1.
- Crisis on Infinite Earths Box Set
Crisis On Multiple Earths Vol. 1 HC – Collects Justice League Of America #21-22, 29-30, 37-38 and 46-47;
Crisis On Multiple Earths Vol. 2 HC – Collects Justice League Of America #55-56, 64-65, 73-74 and 82-83;
Crisis On Multiple Earths Vol. 3 HC – Collects Justice League Of America #91-92, 100-102, 107-108 and 113;
Crisis On Multiple Earths Vol. 4 HC – Collects Justice League Of America #123-124, 135-137 and 147-148;
Crisis On Multiple Earths Vol. 5 HC – Collects Justice League Of America #159-160, 171-172 and 183-185;
Crisis On Multiple Earths Vol. 6 HC – Collects Justice League Of America #195-197, 207-209 and All-Star Squadron #14-15;
Crisis On Infinite Earths HC – Collects Crisis On Infinite Earths #1-12;
Crisis On Infinite Earths: All-Star Squadron Hc – This New Title Collects All-Star Squadron #50-60;
Crisis On Infinite Earths: Green Lantern Hc – This New Title Collects Green Lantern #194-198, The Legion Of Super-Heroes #16 and 18, and The Omega Men #31 And 33;
Crisis On Infinite Earths: Justice League Hc – This New Title Collects The Fury Of Firestorm #41-42, Detective Comics #558, Wonder Woman #327-329 and The New Teen Titans #13-14;
Crisis On Infinite Earths: Legends Hc – This New Title Collects The Losers Special #1, Swamp Thing #44 And 46, Legends Of The Dc Universe: Crisis On Infinite Earths #1, Blue Devil #17-18 and Amethyst #13.
Crisis on Infinite Earths Reading Order: Issue by issue
You really don’t need to read more than the main 12-issue limited series, but you can take a look at the tie-ins, especially if you are reading the series they are connected to.
- Tales of the Teen Titans (1984) #58
- DC Comics Presents #97
- DC Comics Presents #78
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
- All-Star Squadron #50-52
- Fury of Firestorm #41
- Infinity, Inc. #18
- Detective Comics #555
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #2
- Green Lantern #194
- Batman #389
- Detective Comics #556
- Batman #390
- Detective Comics #557
- Batman #391
- Detective Comics #558
- Swamp Thing #39
- Vigilante #22
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #3
- DC Comics Presents #86
- Swamp Thing #40-42
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #4
- Swamp Thing #43-44
- Omega Men #26
- Wonder Woman #327-328
- Infinity, Inc. #19
- Justice League of America #244
- Infinity, Inc. #20
- Infinity, Inc. Annula #1
- Warlord #97
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #5
- Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
- Swamp Thing #45
- All-Star Squadron #53
- Infinity, Inc. #21-22
- Swamp Thing #46
- All-Star Squadron #54-55
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #6
- Superman #413
- Infinity, Inc. #23
- Legion of Superheroes #13-15, Annual #1
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #7
- Infinity, Inc. #24
- DC Comics Presents #95
- Legion of Superheroes #16-18
- Wonder Woman #329
- DC Comics Presents #87
- Superman #414
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #8
- Green Lantern #195
- Blue Devil #17
- Omega Men #31
- Blue Devil #18
- Justice League of America Annual #3
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #9
- Blue Devil #19
- Green Lantern #96
- New Teen Titans #13-14
- Fury of Firestorm #42
- Superman #415
- DC Comics Presents #88
- Omega Men #32
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #10
- Justice League of America #245
- Omega Men #33
- All-Star Squadron #56
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #11
- Green Lantern #197
- Amethyst #13
- Crisis on Infinite Earths #12
- Legend of Wonder Woman #1-4
- Green Lantern #198
- Infinity, Inc. #25
- The Losers Special #1
- All-Star Squadron #57-60
After Crisis on Infinite Earths
It’s not the end, but a new beginning. You might want to take a look at the History of the DC Universe, the definitive history of the DC Universe based on the consequences of that epic tale. Narrated by Harbinger, a central figure in the Crisis storyline, the reader is brought through the new history of the world and its heroes. Featuring virtually every character in the DC Universe, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman, this tale takes us from the dawn of creation to the end of recorded history and lays the foundation for adventures to come.
Unlike what you may think, all of DC’s titles were not immediately rebooted. It happened between 1986 and 1989. The first post-Crisis Batman is #401; for Detective Comics, it’s #568. Superman was relaunched with a new #1, but Action Comics continued with #584, though the first post-crisis appearance of Superman was in DC Comics Presents #89.
Crisis on Infinite Earths is the first installment in what became known as the Crisis trilogy. The second part is Infinite Crisis (published from October 2005 to June 2006, check out the reading order), and the conclusion is Final Crisis (published from May 2008 to January 2009, the reading order is here).