Crisis on Infinite Earths
by Marv Wolfman, George Perez
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Book Summary Information
Author: George Perez, Marv WolfmanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2001-01-01
ISBN: 1563897504
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: DC Comics
Book Reviews of Crisis on Infinite Earths
Book Review: Historically Important, but Underwhelming
Summary: 3 Stars
This is historically important to the DC universe, as any comic book fan knows. And for that reason I would say it should probably considered a must read (at least for DC fans). However, recently having re-read it for the first time in about 12 years (when I was about 13) I have to say I wasn't that impressed (it certainly wasn't as good as I remembered it).
It was defiantly an achievement in that they managed to work in almost every hero that existed at that time (happily unless I missed him Plastic Man was no where to be found). However, that was also part of the problem for me there were a number of times where there were a few panels that (even sometimes a page or two) that seemed to exist just as an excuses to have a character appear. For example John Constantine is in it for about three panels in which basically all he does is say he can feel that something unusual is going on (or something to that effect). It does forward the plot what so ever and really the only purpose it serves is to have him appear in the story. This kind of thing just ends up jumbling up what is a pretty convoluted story line to begin with.
I found the dialog to often be lacking. To often being clich?, pointing out the obvious, or just well being kind of lame (some times all of the above). One example is early in the story as on universe is being destroyed a green lantern says, "But with all the power we possess certainly we can stop this madness". We don't need to be reminded how strong and powerful these heroes are we don't need to be reminded, and there are certainly better ways more original ways to convey that kind of thing. I also was annoyed by the constant notes to previous comics, particularly to past parts of Crisis on infinite Earths. They act like I can't remember something that they're referencing from two issues ago. I doubt anyone would pick this up in the middle of the story, or forgot major plot points from earlier in the story. Even more bother some were the notes referencing comics out side of the Crisis story line. Some of those times it was something that I really didn't need any more explanation of beyond what was already there. Other times it was for moments in the story that basically had nothing to do with the plot and came off as just trying to get you to buy another comic to try and figure out what was going on there when the reality is I don't care I just want the plot to move forward. The writing also failed at other times, where things were not explained. For example Harbinger falls under the spell of the Anti-Monitor for a time, but there seems to be no reason why this happens or how she regains her free will.
Also, there are some really obvious logical problems. First, it's called Crisis on Infinite Earths. They even talk about how there is a multiverse with infinite parallel universes. But it's almost like they don't know what infinity means, because if there were truly an infinite number it would be impossible for all of them to be destroyed since there would be a never ending number of them. I mean could a finite number of universes exist in a multiverse? Sure, why not you are making it up after all. But that is sort of what bothers me; you're making it up so if you want there to be a limited number of them then don't imply that there is infinity.
Another problem I have with the logic in the story is matter vs. antimatter. It seems like they knew that when antimatter and matter collide they are destroyed (at least it seemed like they knew that based on the `wall of antimatter' that destroyed the universes). So I'm not sure why this fact was pretty much ignored at various points in the story. For example when our heroes enter into the multiverse I don't care how powerful they are when their matter comes in contact with some antimatter they would be destroyed. Similarly this would seemingly make it easy to defeat their antimatter foe(s) since all they need to do is throw some matter at them. Also, antimatter does exist in our universe it's just that matter is dominant. Besides in a true multiverse of infinite universes there would be an infinite number of universes where antimatter was dominant, just as there would be an infinite number where matter was dominant.
The final logic issue I have is when the universe is remade for some reason; some things are inexplicably not changed and are clearly from a time line that no longer exists. For example even though Solovar was not involved in the final battle, after history is rewritten he still is suffering from injuries from an event that from his POV never happened. Similarly the deaths of major characters (such as Barry Allen and Supergirl) are rendered irrelevant since in the new universe either they didn't exist or they never would have been involved the incident resulting in their death (and there for should still be alive). Maybe it's just me that is bothered by these types of things. But these kinds of obvious problems with logic bother me, especially since they are problem that easily could have been corrected by tweaking the story a little bit.
This is not to say that Crisis doesn't have its good points. Just getting to see some of the alternate Earths was enjoyable. I mean who doesn't like seeing an Earth where Lex Luthor is Earth's only protector? The art work was pretty good, and at times gave the store a sense of importance that the writing didn't. Though I had problems with the writing, I liked some of the ideas. I like this all encompassing threat which got basically everyone to work together. I liked seeing some confront an alternate version of them self. And though I did have several problems with the story, I did still enjoy it most of the time but it could have been better.
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