This Major Crisis on Infinite Earths Death Is Surprisingly Still Canon (But How?)

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This new book titled “The New History of the DC Universe” is just what fans of the DC universe have been craving for. With the growing popularity of Superman, it’s expected to bring a flood of people to comic stores. For those who’ve long complained about the complex continuity issues within DC, this series offers an ideal entry point for new readers eager to learn about the publisher’s multiverse. Even seasoned fans who’ve followed DC for decades will find appeal, as the book promises to clarify the intricate web of events that define the DC universe. One of the most exciting aspects of being a DC fan is trying to decipher what really happened and what didn’t, given the constant shifts in the DC timeline with each continuity-changing event series. With “The New History of the DC Universe“, readers will finally have their theories validated and the history of the first superhero universe laid out clearly.

Title #1 of “The New History of the DC Universe” was fantastic, delving into the formative years of Prime Earth, the Golden Age, and setting the stage for the Silver Age. Issue #1 of this series also introduced numerous lesser-known DC characters, and issue #2 continues along the same lines.

Issue #2 of “The New History of the DC Universe” takes readers up to the epic event known as “Crisis on Infinite Earths“, and it unveils something rather unexpected — Supergirl’s battlefield demise at the hands of the Anti-Monitor is now considered canonical. Interestingly, based on the artwork depicting “Crisis“, the entire story appears to be canonical, marking a significant shift in DC history compared to the way things were previously portrayed.

The Canonicity of Supergirl’s Death Is a Huge Change to the Way DC has Used Crisis in the Past

The storyline “Crisis on Infinite Earths” marked the end of DC Comics’ Silver and Bronze Age in several ways, with the deaths of Supergirl and Barry Allen being significant. These two characters symbolized the era they were introduced in, serving as a boundary between what had been and what was to come. Essentially, their demise represented the death of the Silver Age spirit.

Interestingly, the events of “Crisis” have become quite canonical in DC Comics. In the post-“Crisis” universe, although the Great Crisis occurred, it didn’t involve heroes from five Earths, and Supergirl was not a part of this universe until her first appearance in “Superman/Batman” #8. Consequently, she wasn’t among those who perished in the battle because she hadn’t yet joined the superhero community. It wasn’t until “Infinite Crisis” that we learned the Great Crisis unfolded as it did in the comics, but in the new universe created by “Crisis,” events transpired differently due to universal changes. However, this information was not widely known among most of the heroes; only Power Girl had a glimpse into how the Great Crisis unfolded in both realities.

The new account of the DC Universe’s history, penned by Barry Allen, alters the narrative significantly because it is his perspective we are following. Allen’s demise was an integral part of the Great Crisis, whether it be the one that unfolded in the post-“Crisis” DC Universe or the one depicted in “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” Despite this, Allen never gained unique insights into the original events of the Great Crisis due to his untimely death. There are several possibilities as to how he became privy to this information – he might have consulted Power Girl, or perhaps over time, everyone in the DC Universe began recalling the events as they appeared in the comic books. Mark Waid does not clarify how Allen gained his knowledge, but this shift in the DC Universe’s functioning is substantial.

Recent insights lead me to believe that everything in the DC Universe is considered canonical. This notion was first sparked by the Free Comic Book Day “Dark Crisis” issue, which displayed a collage of the New 52 League alongside images from different versions of the DC Universe. The new history of the DC Universe further solidifies this idea. However, an enigma remains: how did Supergirl resurrect or did she at all?

Supergirl Had Schrodinger’s Death

Here’s a more straightforward way of explaining it:

In essence, Supergirl passed away during the “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” but surprisingly, she also didn’t. This means that the events of the comic book storyline, “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” unfolded exactly as they did in the original story. However, there is no concrete evidence to confirm that our current Supergirl perished and was later resurrected. A possible explanation for this conundrum is that Supergirl died in one universe but managed to survive in another. Consequently, the superhero community has become aware of both incidents.

In essence, Supergirl appears to have perished in one reality of the DC Multiverse, yet remains alive in another. This dual existence is the core of my theory. The third issue of “The New History of the DC Universe” might delve into this enigma, offering an alternative explanation. For instance, it could validate the events of “The Supergirl from Krypton,” where instead of Kara Zor-El crashing in the present, she was preserved in a Kryptonian resurrection matrix or was revived due to her absorption of yellow sun energy since Superman took her body into space. I’m eagerly anticipating a scenario akin to Schrödinger’s Cat, where her status as alive or dead remains uncertain until observed.

The New History of the DC Universe #2 is on sale now.

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2025-07-27 15:11