Rating:  -
One of the best comics I ever read, maybe one that will go right next to the classic Crisis. Very nice story, great art, it's a must have for any comic fan.
Rating: -
DC cleans up, again..
Too many characters and too view titles, or too many titles and too view writers and artists? Either way, the attempt to clean up the roster was somewhat of a disappointment. But, it was due time to see the same-old, same plot of Earth I, Earth II, Earth III, etc. revamped. Was this cleanup by democratic reader vote? or single author vote?
I was directed to this edition by reading a latest edition of Superman and Flash graphic novels which referenced demises and events affecting some old favorites. Having left the regular comic book reading phase, I am the infrequent collector/buyer, so it was disappointing to see some favorite characters eliminated and phased-out.
The plots and dialogue of the new image, however, are in line with today's rougher and grittier events and entertainment.
Rating:  -
In 1985-86, as a pre-teen, I was repeatedly thrilled by the original `Crisis on Infinite Earths' storyline, as it featured virtually the entire roster of DC Comic's heroes and villains involved in a cosmic battle to save the last surviving Earth from the nearly omnipotent Anti-Monitor. The end result set up DC's new continuity, which over time would develop its own set of self-inflicted problems due to various storyline inconsistencies. Nonetheless, at the time, DC Comics had created an unforgettable epic for its 50th Anniversary celebration.
In fact, every once in a while, I would ponder if there would ever be such a cataclysmic event in DC's world that would force the Golden Age Superman's return from the oblivion he willingly accepted at the end of the original `Crisis.'
Flash forward twenty years: `Infinite Crisis' is the long-awaited sequel to the original `Crisis,' as the dark storyline themes presented by DC Comics in recent years are violently confronted. Setting up the new crisis is the escape from limbo by the Golden Age Superman (with his dying wife, Lois Lane; Earth 3's Alex Luthor, and Earth-Prime's Superboy) in an effort to stem the dark actions taken by various heroes and bring back a more perfect Earth into reality.
Without divulging crucial plot details, I found `Infinite Crisis' to be the most frustrating rollercoaster ride of a comic book I've ever encountered. What I mean, specifically, is that at times I felt completely exhilarated by the nostalgic return of the parallel Earths concept previously abandoned in the original `Crisis.' Then, this buoyant feeling would alternate with being completely turned off by the gory violence and nonsensical story twists writer Geoff Johns & co. presented as a way of skipping past various gaping plot holes.
While 'Infinite Crisis' has some terrific sequences (i.e. Batman's team in their outer space assault on OMAC; the Golden Age Superman's face-to-face encounter with Batman in the Batcave, etc.), these individual scenes, unfortunately, are overwhelmed by some truly terrible ones (as mentioned below) The writers' game plan apparently was to include as many characters as possible in far too little space, and if something doesn't really make sense (which happens all too often), then try covering it up by distracting readers with more mayhem.
Case in point:
1. Weak Story Logic: The return of the parallel Earth concept is heavily hinted throughout the storyline, but the explanation behind how multiple Earths are generated (let alone the Golden Age Superman's crucial link to their creation) is never adequately explained. I realize the shortage of space and time (7 issues here vs. 12 issues for the original `Crisis') was obviously a factor, but perhaps the writers should have focused more on coherent storytelling than reveling over the carnage from the almost-constant battle sequences.
However, I will give credit to the authors who corrected a few story flaws in the hardcover edition by adding more details at various spots, such as resolving the possible death of Nightwing (although I can't say this new explanation is any more believable). Too bad they opted not to even bother addressing the far too vague disappearance of Wally "The Flash" West and his family, other saying "they're safe."
2. Expecting Too Much of the Reader: Unless you have read a half-dozen or more tie-in issues from various other DC Comics titles, the plot twists of 'Infinite Crisis' can either be confusing or frequently seem like a cheat if you have to go elsewhere (i.e. buy another book) to figure out what exactly is going on. Even then, you will likely find that Geoff Johns & his creative team have deliberately omitted far more explanations than they actually provide.
As a result, unlike the original self-contained 'Crisis,' this sequel requires readers to do their own research rather than offering any help along the way. Perhaps I am cynical, but requiring readers to buy many other comics in order to try fully comprehending this story isn't a fair trade. It just exposes DC Comics as being awfully greedy in bilking customers for every cent they possibly can on this project.
3. Laughably Bad Physics: While the original `Crisis' was written well enough for readers to gladly accept artistic license with unrealistic depictions of physics, `Infinite Crisis' simply does not meet this burden. For instance, there is a brief merging of the two Supermen and Wonder Woman with their Earth-3 counterparts, which offers absolutely nothing to the story. If the Golden Age (and now elderly) versions of Superman, Lois Lane, and Wonder Woman had instead been merged with their modern counterparts, that idea could at least have been made believable here. It also could have provided a far more satisfying and logical resolution in eliminating these Golden Age characters from continuity once again.
However, the worst examples of poor physics by far are the sequences in which countless other earths are shown cluttering up the Earth's atmosphere and the scenes in which Alex Luthor is shown literally juggling parallel earths while shopping for his perfect `Earth.' These visuals are intended to be awe-inspiring, but instead they look simply ridiculous, even by the extremely loose comic book standards of physical science.
4. The Excessive Violence: While violence seems necessary at times for dramatic storytelling in comic book fantasies, I was still appalled by the R-rated graphic violence depicted in the massacre of the Freedom Fighters, Superboy-Prime's battle with the Teen Titans / JSA /Doom Patrol, and the final battle between the two Supermen and Superboy-Prime. Did any of the writers even contemplate the appropriateness of the blood and gore they are selling, when a large segment of potential readers are likely to be pre-teenagers?
5. The Awful Finale: Suffice to say, the Golden Age Superman and Lois Lane's graceful exit in the original `Crisis' (almost as if they were flying off together into the sunset) far, far surpassed this story's disappointing and bloody finale. Considering the lengthy and heavily hyped build-up, how 'Infinite Crisis' resolves itself is a major letdown for those readers who have exhibited 'infinite' patience waiting for DC Comics to come up with an appropriate resolution truly worth remembering.
In summary, `Infinite Crisis' is a stereotypically inferior sequel in so many respects, such as how it deliberately recreates various scenes which harken back to its predecessor, but these new sequences are not nearly as inspired or as poignant. In other words, it leaves the reader wondering: was this story really even necessary? Or was it simply designed as a mindlessly hollow profit-maker, much like a bloated summer blockbuster sequel from Hollywood?
The first `Crisis' seemed an absolute necessity for DC Comics in terms of an internal housecleaning of its mind-boggling storyline continuity. In contrast, the muddled 'Infinite Crisis' and the numerous related storylines which loop in and out of it instead create controversy simply for the sake of controversy, which means the bottom line for DC Comics is stoking its stagnant sales and pumping endless hype into its current revamping by using bait & switch tactics.
As much as I enjoyed `Infinite Crisis' at times, it really could have been far better with a more inspired and self-contained storyline.
Storyline Rating: 2 ** (After he penned the fantastic 'Crisis'-related storylines of 'Green Lantern: Rebirth,' and 'JLA: Crisis of Conscience,' I expected far more from writer Geoff Johns than this convoluted mess).
Art Rating: 4 **** (This is easily the story's best asset, especially the much-improved double-page montage in the hardcover edition of all the surviving DC heroes at the story's end.)
Overall Rating: a weak 3 *** (There is just far much wasted potential here.)
Rating:  -
Let me preface this review by saying that Infinite Crisis along with Marvel's "Civil War" are the two series that succeeded in completely destroying my love of comics. It begins with the big three of the DC Universe (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman)having given up. Understandable since the writers of all these series have heaped so much misery on 'em that anyone would wash their hands of any "neverending battle." Enter the "Original" Superman who, manipulated by the now-corrupt Alex Luthor and Superboy Prime, embarks on a "misguided" mission to restore the original DC Universe. Of course, Luthor has his own agenda and etc. etc, resulting in a convoluted story that destroys any hope of long-time fans making any sense of DC continuity from this point on. OH! And lest we forget, DC tries to sever all ties with that outdated "Truth, Justice and (it's not a dirty phrase, folks) THE AMERICAN WAY" stuff by killing off the original Superman and Lois. Great. I'm sorry, but was I the only one who wanted Alex Luthor to succeed in creating a more perfect world, or at least in his defeat, the return of the original DCU? Call me a radical here, but what's so wrong about super-heroes INSPIRING people rather than all being dark avengers or constantly in a state of despair because they made a villain's nose bleed or something, and therefore spend the entire issue whining to their wife (CURRENT Superman, the Hamlet of comicdom). But no, we're going to get more of the same. Oh, you don't like it? Well here's more of it until you do! This, along with Marvel's atrocious Civil War was one of the two titles that forever made me wash my hands of the comics medium. They made the "passe" ideals that made comics worthwhile irrelevant (Y'know, stuff like aspiring to be more than what you are). And worst of all, they took all the fun out of comics. I'm sorry if I seem a little venomous here, but I'm disillusioned with some childhood friends right now and I need to vent.
Rating:  -
Do you have a degree in the DC universe? If not, don't bother with this. I'm a fan of Batman, know a little about Superman, and have read all of Birds of Prey, the latest volume of Teen Titans, and a lot of the JLA from Morrison onwards, and I had a hard time following Crisis. That it's overflowing with minor DC characters who I didn't recognise and references to events that occurred decades ago are only two of the problems. From a storytelling perspective, it's a complete mess. There are so many different threads that not one has any real depth to it and all move slowly. And it's all a bit anti-climatic at the end. This was going to supposedly change the whole face of the DCU, but it hasn't really.
To illustrate how incomprehensible Crisis will be if you're not an avid DCU fan, take a look for those internet sites that trace all the comics that are related to Infinte Crisis. There's a huge number of titles that you need to read just to understand what's happening in the first issue of Infinte Crisis. All in all, not one for the casual fan.
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