Discover DC’s Hidden Gem: The Underrated Event That Shaped Its Future

by

Recently, DC Comics has experienced something of a resurgence. Though it hasn’t dethroned Marvel from the top spot in sales yet, the popularity of the Absolute series has reminded many fans of their deep affection for DC and its heroes. The “All-In” publishing program offers fantastic superhero comics, but readers have been enjoying engaging stories from DC for quite some time now, with the “Dawn of DC” initiative kick-starting this positive trend. Following “Dawn of DC” was “Infinite Frontier”, a publishing project that isn’t particularly well-regarded and ended with a story – Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, written by Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere – which has been overlooked by fans.

The narrative of “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths” leans heavily on familiar themes from DC events that some fans find repetitive – cross-dimensional escapades and a continuation of tales stemming from the original “Crisis on Infinite Earths“. Despite not being as cherished as its predecessor, this story is more appreciated than commonly perceived. In fact, it has been instrumental in propelling DC’s recent successes.

Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths Is Everything that DC Does Well in One Story

The foundation for the “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths” began in “Infinite Frontier”, a series following DC Comics’ post-“Dark Knights: Death Metal” publishing strategy. Unfortunately, “Infinite Frontier” didn’t receive much acclaim, and for valid reasons – DC had to adjust their publication schedule due to low sales, filling the gap with numerous Batman miniseries and standalone issues.

However, “Infinite Frontier” started hinting at events happening beyond our universe, even dragging Darkseid into the mix. This led to “Justice League Incarnate”, where heroes from various universes united to face a new, enigmatic threat – the Great Darkness, an entity of annihilation birthed by Alan Moore during his groundbreaking run on “Swamp Thing”.

This series of events culminated in the “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths,” initially known simply as “Dark Crisis.” However, many fans showed little enthusiasm for this new narrative. For one, DC revisiting an idea by Alan Moore was a concern. They were seen as repurposing and expanding upon the concept for a major event. The Great Darkness’ return was questionable, given most fans felt it wasn’t necessary and didn’t fit well as a villain since it represents entropy rather than being a sentient being. Secondly, the use of the term “Crisis” raised eyebrows. Stories with “Crisis” in their title had become synonymous with multiverse tales, a genre that many readers thought was already exhausted following the return of the infinite multiverse as the Omniverse in “Death Metal.” To make matters worse, it was disclosed that Pariah, a character from the original “Crisis,” would serve as the secondary antagonist in this story, further dampening expectations.

As a movie reviewer, I’d put it this way: “In Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, I found myself in a tale brimming with interwoven plots. The shocking demise of the Justice League set the stage for a world without their guiding forces, just as Deathstroke launched his assault against the remaining heroes, backed by an army of secondary villains. This aggression was orchestrated by Deathstroke and Pariah, both driven by personal pain to bring about the destruction of all existence. They sought to summon the Great Darkness to hasten the end.

The narrative is straightforward yet captivating, with the heroes initially struggling against Deathstroke’s onslaught, only to be later joined by the Legion of Doom in their desperate fight. The story unfolds with a sense of inevitability as these formidable forces gradually fall before Deathstroke. Pariah, meanwhile, manipulates events from beyond the multiverse to expedite the cataclysmic event.

The climax of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths sees the return of the Justice League, who then pass their mantle to the Titans. Deathstroke and Pariah are defeated, and the infinite multiverse is reborn – a surprise for readers who thought they had just witnessed its final moments.

I won’t shy away from saying that the plot of “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths” might not be top-notch, but it delivers what one would typically expect from a DC event. The story, while revisiting familiar ground in many aspects, becomes quite engaging if you dive into the tie-ins, miniseries, and special issues. It’s more enjoyable than people give it credit for, boasting excellent artwork, memorable moments, and some skillful character development. Although “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths” may not be the most intellectually stimulating event story, and it leans heavily on tropes, that doesn’t make it any less of a captivating read. The seven-issue series serves as a shining example of DC’s strengths and paved the way for some of the biggest DC stories in recent years.

Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths Laid the Groundwork for DC’s Current Success

The storyline “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths” seemed like an unnecessary multiverse reset after “Death Metal,” but examining what followed reveals its significance to contemporary DC. By reintroducing the infinite multiverse within a “Crisis” narrative, one that emphasized legacy—a concept DC excels at—led to the successful implementation of the “Dawn of DC’s” back-to-basics approach. This reset allowed characters to return to their classic status quo, catering to readers who had stopped reading due to DC’s numerous continuity reboots over the last two decades. The storyline “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths” was crucial for this transformation.

In superhero comics, moving backward isn’t usually the best choice. The success of DC’s Absolute line and Marvel’s latest Ultimate series demonstrates that readers are eager for fresh tales from these comic books. However, in the years preceding Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC had created a very puzzling situation within their superhero universe. They desperately required a reset, which would erase all of that confusion. Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths provided that reset, and it did so effectively by reminding readers of what they once loved about these comics. I encourage you to reread Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, knowing where the publisher stands now, and you’ll discover a story that is far more appreciated than it is given credit for.

Read More

2025-04-05 21:41