2023 will mark DC Comics' latest 'Crisis' event titled Dark Crisis. While readers are looking forward to dissecting the action and spectacle of that crossover occasion, the name itself serves as a reminder of one of DC's most influential and notable 'Crisis' events in history; 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths.
It was an era-defining run that spanned across universes and characters. While this connective story might be fondly ed for genuinely changing the trajectory of the publishing company, a reread of the work might throw up a few harsh realities that those with fond memories will want to ignore.
It's Too Sprawling
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a truly massive event. Revisiting it reminds fans of just how much they would have had to have read to keep up with everything happening. It's truly dense in its narrative and had the monumental task of attempting to bring in so many characters and their conflicts.
Thus, the ambition of the project meant that it is very sprawling in the way it tells its tale. That's not a problem for those who know their DC history well and are happy to do a bit of homework surrounding the main line, but years on, occasionally it is difficult to know where someone is on their journey and how it all interweaves.
Really Kicked Off The Reboot Trend
The harsh reality of Crisis on Infinite Earths is that it kicked off DC's obsession with rebooting the universe. Continuity can become a major issue for comic book companies, as they attempt to craft new narrative threads while still staying true to what had come before.
While other 'Crisis' events had taken place, Infinite Earths truly broke the mold by beginning the continuity again. It was a novel idea that solved some of those problems writers might have been facing, but it also introduced a trend that, unfortunately, DC has never shied away from since. The franchise has now had an unbelievable array of relaunches.
No Longer Continuity-Relevant
Crisis on Infinite Earths is still an important event for fans of DC. However, within the universe itself, it isn't that continuity relevant anymore. Indeed, because of those other reboots, such as the ushering in of the New 52 for instance, Crisis isn't even a memory for these heroes.
The harsh reality of rereading Crisis on Infinite Earths is that the version of the characters that fans are getting to know better in that crossover event are essentially not the same as the variants that currently populate DC's comic runs. The significance of the moment is thus slightly lost.
The Multiverse Has Been Established More Since
Crisis on Infinite Earths was so exciting as a concept because of the inclusion of multiple universes. The Multiverse still hadn't been fully explored at that stage; not quite like it was in the event itself. Seeing so many other worlds wiped out was a harrowing beat to ponder.
It would arguably be far more effective if the story had taken place today though. The Multiverse is understood in greater detail by fans, and there are characters and storylines that they genuinely care about that take place on these alternative worlds. That might have been the case on a minute scale at the time, but these days seeing the likes of the Watchman, Injustice, or CW comic universes attacked would hit harder.
The Artwork Is Somewhat Dated
It's simply a fact of looking back, that some of the artwork that was once dazzling, doesn't quite hold up to today's standards. Of course, Crisis on Infinite Earths is still a visual masterpiece, even if some of its group scenes are a little chaotic in their portrayal.
The color is also washed out at times which certainly continues to make the work feel of its era. Regardless of that harsh reality though, there is a lot to love about how the script was adapted to the page, even if it doesn't match what fans are used to from DC.
Some Dense Scripting
Comic book crossovers are really difficult to script. Writers are having to balance graphic novel runs from multiple other creators, while also taking the vigilantes and villains and making them their own. With multiple personalities to tackle and world-ending threats to battle, the writing can become a little dense.
There is simply a lot to read in Crisis, with the event tying up every loose thread that it can before it ultimately reboots everything. Again, for those who were not caught up with the continuity at the time, it tries its best to bring readers along, but it's doing a lot at once.
End Of An Era
Crisis on Infinite Earths marked the end of an era. This period in comic book history still held on to the nostalgia of the storytelling of both the Silver and Golden ages for DC. Post-Crisis everything changes and the comic industry continues to go in other directions.
There is something quite powerful when reading about the end of it all, not just from a storyline perspective. It was a different time for DC, and that original continuity was one that so many had come to love. The arcs were seemingly simpler too back then, with the complexity of Crisis demonstrating the scale that was about to take place afterward.
Hard To Replicate The Scale
Because of that simpler period and the novelty of Crisis on Infinite Earths, rereading the event surfaces the harsh reality that nothing can truly top this historic moment. Readers were blown away by DC's risk-taking and would have felt unsure about what was to come next, especially after potentially witnessing Marvel's Secret Wars.
These days, universe-ending events are pretty expected, with comics always reverting to the status quo in the end. It's almost impossible to replicate the feeling that the run would have given fans at the time, and very few other comic narratives would have the same industry impact.
It's Loosely Linked To The CW Iteration
Fans of the comics might have tuned in to the CW's version of Crisis on Infinite Earths, which used the Arrowverse as a base and crossed over into other franchises, from Superman Returns. But it isn't linked to the original outing.
When rereading the comic, the fundamental fact that a lot of changes were made quickly becomes apparent. For better or worse, this isn't a proper adaptation of the event, which fans of the first have been clamoring for. Regardless it is still a hugely entertaining iteration.
There Are No Straight-Up Animated Or Big Screen Adaptations
Unfortunately, there is more bad news for those rediscovering the comic. It's prime for some kind of adaptation since it deserves its renewed time in the spotlight. Yet, no one has managed to take the spectacle of Crisis of Infinite Earths fully to screen.
Maybe that isn't that surprising when looking at the live-action outings of Warner Bros. Discovery and DC, but the harsh reality that fans can't even view this comic through the animated universe that the company has so beautifully crafted is somewhat shocking.
