Written and illustrated by Dan Jurgens, along with Jerry Ordway and others, Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time was the major event of 1994 in the DC Universe. In fact, it was the biggest since 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths as it involved almost every DC Universe monthly series published at the time, and, in the end, some past events were changed—and some series were rebooted.

Here is the official synopsis of Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time: All of reality comes under attack when a mysterious force of entropy begins slowly erasing time itself—making its way from both the past and future toward the present! As history itself unravels around them, the heroes of the world—including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, The Justice Society, and the Titans—scramble to fix the broken timestream. But even if they stop the true source of the chaos, the world they save will never be the same!

What to read before Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time?

Being an event affecting all of the DC Universe, every character came in with baggage, but what’s really important is the motivations of Hal Jordan. Here is what is recommended before reading Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time:

• The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus
  Collects Superman: The Man Of Steel #17-26, Superman #73-83, Adventures Of Superman #496-505, Action Comics #683-692, Justice League America #69, Superman: The Legacy Of Superman #1 and Green Lantern #46.
  • If you want the bare minimum, take a look at “Reign of the Supermen!” and “The Return of Superman.”
• Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight, New Dawn
  Collects Green Lantern vol. 3 #48–55.
• Armageddon 2001
  Collects Armageddon 2001 #1-2. Introduction of the supervillain Monarch who, during Zero Hour, became known as Extant.

Read More »Zero Hour Reading Order, a Crisis in Time

Created by writer Brad Meltzer and the artistic team of penciler Rags Morales and inker Michael Bair, Identity Crisis was the event that shook the DC Comics superhero community in 2004 (published from June to December 04). It revolves around a murder mystery that exposed the dirty deeds of the heroes.

Here is the story: After the spouse of a member of the Justice League of America is brutally murdered, the entire superhero community searches for the killer, fearing their own loved ones may be the next targets. But before the mystery is fully solved, long-buried secrets of the heroes rise to the surface, threatening to tear apart and divide the heroes before they can bring the mysterious killer to justice.

What to read before Identity Crisis?

Being the first “crisis” in the DC Universe continuity after the massive event Crisis on Infinite Earth (see reading order here), Identity Crisis is, of course, a notable event, even if its reputation is quite bad.

The fact is that this event is important for what followed, meaning Infinite Crisis (see reading order here). But it’s pretty much a standalone story in the sense that no prior readings are required—except if you are not familiar with the characters (do not start exploring DC Comics with this event!).

Read More »DC Identity Crisis Reading Order