Infinite Crisis Was a Masterpiece That Doomed DC’s Universe and Changed Comics Forever

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The renowned comic, “Infinite Crisis,” penned by Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez, George Perez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, is a legendary piece in the comics world. The narrative of “Infinite Crisis” stands out as one of the most intriguing stories in comics history, starting with the complexities of DC continuity. DC Comics revolutionized the comic landscape with their groundbreaking series, “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” completely overhauling their universe. However, a generation of readers had developed a deep affection for the latter part of the pre-“Crisis” DC Multiverse, and they eventually took control at DC in the 2000s. With the 20-year anniversary of “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” DC decided to deliver an epic story that fans had longed for since the conclusion of “Crisis.

The groundbreaking event known as “Infinite Crisis” left an indelible mark on the comic book industry, initiating a narrative that would shape DC Comics for years to come. Yet, the repercussions of “Infinite Crisis” unfortunately led to a decline in sales, which ultimately gave rise to the New 52. The period following “Infinite Crisis” is an intriguing era in comic book history. In many aspects, “Infinite Crisis” can be considered a flawless tale, both in its setup and in the story itself, breathing fresh life into the DC Universe that had been lacking for some time. This revitalized DC universe led to major events such as “Final Crisis,” “Blackest Night,” and critically acclaimed runs on titles like “Action Comics,” “Batman,” “Justice League of America,” “Justice Society of America,” “Secret Six,” and more. Despite this, sales continued to deteriorate until “Flashpoint” was employed to reset the entire narrative. The question remains: How did it all go awry?

Infinite Crisis‘s Set-Up Seemed More Well-Planned than Its Aftermath

The lead-up to the “Infinite Crisis” comic series was remarkably well-crafted, with DC Comics carefully planning it years in advance. They intertwined storylines from “Titans/Legion of Superheroes: Universe Ablaze” and “Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day”, and the conclusion of “Superman/Batman”‘s initial arc hinted at an impending crisis, with Lex Luthor making this promise. In the background, DC was subtly steering towards “Infinite Crisis”, scattering hints throughout their entire collection. Being a fan of DC Comics between 2002 and 2005 was thrilling because you might stumble upon intriguing elements whose resolution wouldn’t be revealed for years. The build-up to “Infinite Crisis” gained momentum after “Countdown to Infinite Crisis”, leading to “The OMAC Project”, “Day of Vengeance”, “Villains United”, and “The Rann-Thanagar War”. Each of these comics contained crucial hints about what “Infinite Crisis” would become.

The epic saga, Infinite Crisis, resurrected characters from the legendary crossover event, Crisis on Infinite Earths, such as Earth-Two’s Superman and Lois Lane, Alexander Luthor of Earth-Three, and Superboy-Prime. They aimed to construct a flawless DC Universe, one that mirrored their past sacrifices. However, unbeknownst to them, two individuals were not the heroes they appeared to be. Can you figure out who they are? Infinite Crisis is simply astounding; there’s no other way to describe it. This captivating storyline skillfully tied up years of plotlines, offering readers an unforgettable journey that honored the original Crisis, provided answers to decades-long questions, and was primarily focused on the restoration of hope within the DC Universe (this was Geoff Johns’ initial foray into this theme, but it wouldn’t be his last). Essentially, Infinite Crisis served as a reversal of sorts compared to Crisis on Infinite Earths; it undid many of the alterations. The foundation for the reintroduction of the Multiverse was laid, Superman’s history was restored to its pre-Crisis state, the classic Legion of Superheroes made their comeback, and DC shifted back to a more contemporary Bronze Age feel. Yet, it was at this point that things took a turn for the worse.

After the DC Universe experienced a significant transformation post-Crisis, it attracted a multitude of new readers who were unfamiliar with the Silver and Bronze Age DC Multiverse. These enthusiastic fans eagerly anticipated a reintroduction to pre-Crisis concepts, as many had not previously encountered such stories. During this period, the quality of DC’s publications was exceptional. Titles like Superman, Action Comics, Batman, Justice League of America, Wonder Woman, Justice Society of America, and numerous others were graced with top-tier creative teams. The Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps series ignited the “War of Light” stories with “The Sinestro Corps War”. DC was thriving, offering readers an engaging weekly adventure through 52, and providing a fascinating leap forward in time with “One Year Later”. It was an exceptional era to be a DC fan. However, signs of trouble were on the horizon. The first hints emerged with Countdown to Final Crisis, a series designed to prepare for Final Crisis. Unfortunately, this tightly controlled book failed to capture the free-flowing creativity that defined 52.

During this period in DC, things took a turn for the worse, particularly in terms of the quality of the comic books. Despite the initial post-“Infinite Crisis” DC Multiverse stories being excellent, they eventually became repetitive. The optimistic tone that was supposed to return to the DC Universe never truly materialized. Instead, we saw a shift towards Bronze Age pre-“Crisis” DC books with mature themes. It seemed as though DC was hesitant to fully abandon the post-“Crisis” DC era, and they struggled to keep up with Marvel. At that time, Marvel was pioneering new concepts, while DC was attempting to revisit the past. This difference was not lost on fans, who began purchasing more Marvel comics. Prior to “Infinite Crisis”, DC and Marvel were roughly equal, but Marvel pulled significantly ahead after this point. When presented with a choice between a Marvel Universe moving into the 21st century or DC producing stories reminiscent of the late ’70s/early ’80s, readers overwhelmingly chose Marvel.

DC Dropped the Ball After Infinite Crisis

In the lead-up to Infinite Crisis, I vividly recall purchasing DC comics. It was an incredibly thrilling period for DC enthusiasts as I eagerly anticipated Infinite Crisis. The comic didn’t fail to deliver, and it sparked a renewed interest in classic DC stories. During this time, there were many captivating tales such as “The Tornado’s Path”, “Camelot Falls”, “Last Son”, “Thy Kingdom Come”, “The Lightning Saga”, “Batman and Son”, “The Sinestro Corps War”, and the epic Final Crisis (from 2006 to 2009, DC Comics were filled with outstanding stories). However, my enthusiasm started to wane. Although I continued to appreciate some DC comics, I never experienced the level of satisfaction I sought from their lineup. I believe this was a common experience for many fans, as DC seemed to be under the control of individuals overly fixated on the past. Their attempts at storytelling sometimes fell short of the greatness of what had come before. There were numerous good comics, but not many exceptional ones. Meanwhile, Marvel was publishing titles that captivated readers. All in all, the 2000s were a fantastic era to be a comic fan, and we had the unique opportunity to witness the decline of DC.

It appears that DC carefully orchestrated the “Infinite Crisis,” but their post-crisis strategy was merely to continue with a Bronze Age approach, albeit bloodier. This lackluster plan led to DC losing the sales race and failing to recover. Had DC been braver in undoing the changes of “Crisis” as Marvel did with bold moves, they might have achieved a transformation akin to that seen in “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” However, DC seemed reluctant to take such risks, and this hesitation was apparent across their line. On the other hand, Marvel took chances, even if not always successful, and managed to capture readers’ attention. For instance, while “Secret Invasion” may be a simple mystery story, some prefer it over “Final Crisis,” which delves deeply into comics and creativity. Following the underwhelming aftermath of “Infinite Crisis,” DC embarked on a downward spiral that culminated in the panic reboot of the New 52, resulting in years of further decline. The post-“Infinite Crisis” missteps by DC ultimately shaped the contemporary superhero comic industry.

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2025-04-27 15:11