Crisis (DC Comics)

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A crisis in the DC Universe is an event with potentially great consequences, often involving multiple universes and sometimes even threatening their existence.

From 1963 to 1985 the term "crisis" was used to describe the annual events in which the Justice League of America of Earth-One and the Justice Society of America of Earth-Two met and worked together, usually in an incident involving one or more of the parallel worlds of the DC Multiverse. This usage culminated in 1985's year-long Crisis on Infinite Earths, in which the Multiverse was eliminated. After several years of disuse, the term "crisis" was applied to several events with either "universal" stakes or substantial character consequences, such as Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, and (scheduled for 2008) Final Crisis.

In the two decades after 1985, "Crisis" by itself came to refer specifically to Crisis on Infinite Earths, especially when used in the terms pre-Crisis and post-Crisis.

Characters in the DC Universe sometimes use the term "crisis" in the same sense, referring either to any great threat, or as "the Crisis" in reference to the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, either as they happened or as they were commonly remembered in the revised history after the fact.

With the publication of Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis, and the announcement of Final Crisis, the use of the term within the DC Universe has shifted. The Crisis on Infinite Earths is sometimes referred to as "the first Crisis". The Infinite Crisis has occasionally been referred to as simply "the crisis", and a character from the 31st century called it "the middle Crisis"^[1] DC has advertised that there will be a Final Crisis in May 2008.

Contents 1 "Crisis on Earth-One!" and "Crisis on Earth-Two!" 2 "Crisis on Earth-Three!" 3 "Crisis on Earth-A!" 4 "Crisis Between Earth-One and Earth-Two!" 5 "The Super-Crisis That Struck Earth-Two!" and "The Negative-Crisis On Earths One-Two!" 6 Undeclared crises 7 "Crisis on Earth-X!" 8 "Crisis in Eternity!", "Crisis on Earth-S!", and "Crisis in Tomorrow!" 9 "Crisis in the 30th Century!" and "Crisis in Triplicate!" 10 "Crisis from Yesterday" and "Crisis from Tomorrow" 11 "Crisis above Earth-One" 12 "Crisis on New Genesis", "Crisis Between Two Earths", and "Crisis on Apokolips" 13 "Countdown to Crisis" and "Crisis in Limbo" 14 "Crisis on Earth-Prime" 15 "Crisis in the Thunderbolt Dimension" 16 "Family Crisis" 17 Crisis on Infinite Earths, "Last Crisis on Earth-Two", and "The Final Crisis" 18 "A second Crisis" 19 Zero Hour: Crisis in Time 20 "Crisis Times Five" 21 Identity Crisis 22 Countdown to Infinite Crisis 23 Infinite Crisis 24 Final Crisis 25 References 26 See also 27 External links

[edit] "Crisis on Earth-One!" and "Crisis on Earth-Two!"

Although there may have been other DC Comics stories with "crisis" in the title before "Crisis on Earth-One!",^[2] it was this issue that started the tradition of the annual JLA/JSA crossover, which usually had the word "crisis" in the title of at least one of its issues.

"Crisis on Earth-One" and "Crisis on Earth-Two!"^[3] was the first story in which the JLA and JSA met as teams. Members of the two teams would meet once each year after this until Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985.

In this first story, the two teams team up in order to battle Chronos, Dr. Alchemy, Felix Faust, the Fiddler, the Icicle, and the Wizard.

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #21 & 22 published in 1963.

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[edit] "Crisis on Earth-Three!"

The JLA and the JSA team up to fight the Crime Syndicate of America, after three villains from each world team up.^[4][5] The second issue of the story is called "The Most Dangerous Earth of All!"

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #29 & 30 published in 1964.

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[edit] "Crisis on Earth-A!"

The JSA must fight the Earth-One version of Johnny Thunder after he steals his Earth-Two counterpart's Thunderbolt and uses it to erase the JLA from existence.^[6].^[7] The story begins in the tale "Earth Without A Justice League"

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #37 & 38 published in 1965.

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[edit] "Crisis Between Earth-One and Earth-Two!"

The JLA and JSA must fight the Anti-Matter Man when reality warps cause people to randomly shift between Earth-One and Earth-Two.^[8].^[9] The second story in this tale is called "The Bridge Between Earths!"

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #46 & 47 published in 1966.

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[edit] "The Super-Crisis That Struck Earth-Two!" and "The Negative-Crisis On Earths One-Two!"

The JLA and JSA fight people that have been possessed by the Black Spheres.^[10][11]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #55 & 56 published in 1967.

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[edit] Undeclared crises

From 1968-1971, the Justice League and the Justice Society continued their annual team ups, none of which were called "Crisis" (although on page 1 of JLA v1 #091, Batman states there is a "Super-Crisis"). Each of these stories crossed the boundaries between Earth-One and Earth-Two.

Justice League of America (v1) #064 [Aug, 1968] - (The Stormy Return of Red Tornado)
Justice League of America (v1) #065 [Sep, 1968] - (T.O.Morrow Kills the JL - Today!)
Justice League of America (v1) #073 [Aug, 1969] - (Star Light, Star Bright, Death Star I See Tonight)
Justice League of America (v1) #074 [Sep, 1969] - (Where Death Fears to Tread)
Justice League of America (v1) #082 [Aug, 1970] - (Peril of the Paired Planets)
Justice League of America (v1) #083 [Sep, 1970] - (Where Valor Fails, Will Magic Triumph?)
Justice League of America (v1) #091 [Aug, 1971] - (Earth - The Monster-Maker!)
Justice League of America (v1) #092 [Sep, 1971] - (Only Someone Who Is Unique to Both Earths)

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[edit] "Crisis on Earth-X!"

After a teleportation accident, the JLA and JSA must help the Freedom Fighters fight the Nazis on Earth-X, who have used a machine to take over people's minds.^[12][13]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #107 & #108 published in 1973. The story in #108 is called "Thirteen Against the Earth!"

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[edit] "Crisis in Eternity!", "Crisis on Earth-S!", and "Crisis in Tomorrow!"

The JLA, JSA, the Squadron of Justice (also called Shazam's Squadron of Justice)and the Marvel Family fight King Kull.^[14][15][16]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #135, 136 & 137 published in 1976.

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[edit] "Crisis in the 30th Century!" and "Crisis in Triplicate!"

The JLA and JSA meet the Legion of Super-Heroes.^[17][18]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #147, 148 published in 1977.

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[edit] "Crisis from Yesterday" and "Crisis from Tomorrow"

The JLA and JSA fight the Black Pirate, Enemy Ace, Jonah Hex, Miss Liberty, and the Viking Prince.^[19][20]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #159, 160 published in 1977.

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[edit] "Crisis above Earth-One"

The JLA and JSA fight the Spirit King, who possesses Jay Garrick and kills Mr. Terrific.^[21][22]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #171, 172 published in 1978. The story in issue 172 is called "I Accuse"

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[edit] "Crisis on New Genesis", "Crisis Between Two Earths", and "Crisis on Apokolips"

The JLA and JSA go to New Genesis and fight Darkseid alongside the New Gods.^[23][24][25]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #183, 184 & 185 published in 1980.

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[edit] "Countdown to Crisis" and "Crisis in Limbo"

The JLA and JSA fight the Ultra-Humanite and the Secret Society of Super-Villains.^[26][27][28]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #195, 196 & 197 published in 1981. Issue #195 leads off with a story called "Targets on Two Worlds".

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[edit] "Crisis on Earth-Prime"

The JLA, JSA, and All-Star Squadron fight Per Degaton on Earth-Two in 1942.^{[29][30][31][32][33]}

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #207, 208 & 209; and All-Star Squadron #14, 15 published in 1982.

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[edit] "Crisis in the Thunderbolt Dimension"

The JLA and JSA fight Johnny Thunder again.^[34][35]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #219 & 220 published in 1983. The issue #220 is story called "The Doppelganger Gambit".

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[edit] "Family Crisis"

The JLA, JSA and Supergirl fight the Commander and the Crime Syndicate.^[36][37]

The stories can be found in Justice League of America (v1) #231 & 232 published in 1984.

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[edit] Crisis on Infinite Earths, "Last Crisis on Earth-Two", and "The Final Crisis"

Main article: Crisis on Infinite Earths

The largest crisis thus far results in the destruction of the Multiverse and the formation of a single universe from the remaining Earths.^[38][39][40]

Crisis on Infinite Earths is sometimes referred to as the "first Crisis"^{[citation needed]} or "Great Crisis"^[41]

[edit] "A second Crisis"

From Grant Morrison's run on Animal Man. "A second crisis" is foreshadowed from Animal Man #18 (December 1989). In #23-24 (May/June 1990), the Psycho-Pirate recreates items, characters and comic books which were destroyed along with the multiverse in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Animal Man manages to avert the crisis.

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[edit] Zero Hour: Crisis in Time

Main article: Zero Hour (comics)

The JSA is disbanded after a crisis that results in the rebuilding of history.^[42]

[edit] "Crisis Times Five"

The JLA and JSA fight an invasion from the fifth dimension.

Yz (the magical Thunderbolt partner to Johnny Thunder) is accidentally passed to Jakeem Williams by Jay Garrick while signing autographs, who accidentally discovers its powers. Meanwhile, another djinn named Lkz ends up in the hands of a destitute Triumph, who gives Lkz the world to play in, in exchange for becoming Triumph again. The two djinn meet and begin to fight, warping reality around them. Captain Marvel and Kyle Rayner journey to the 5th dimension, where it is revealed that the war between Yz and Lkz were machinations set in motion by Qwsp. Kyle appeals to Gsptlsnz, saying that she can stop the "war between the colors" by getting the pink Yz and blue Lkz to mix. Gsptlsnz listens, mostly because she fears that if the 3rd dimension (where her husband Mr. Mxyzptlk likes to make mischief) is destroyed, he may never leave the house again. Captain Marvel passes the message to Yz, who mixes himself with Lkz with the word "Ylzkz". Gsptlsnz and a few other imps arrest Qwsp for his crimes. With the djinn out of the way, the combined efforts of the JLA and JSA stop Triumph, whose final justice is dealt out by a reawakened Spectre. ^{[43][44][45][46]}

[edit] Identity Crisis

Main article: Identity Crisis (comics)

Heroes throughout the DC Universe search for the killer of Sue Dibny.^[47]

[edit] Countdown to Infinite Crisis

Main article: Countdown to Infinite Crisis

Blue Beetle investigates a mystery that involves much of the DC Universe.^[48]

[edit] Infinite Crisis

Main article: Infinite Crisis

A Multiverse is a giant man, although the effects of this would not be fully realized until the series 52.^[49][50]

The events of Infinite Crisis may be what a Legion of Super-Heroes member called the "middle Crisis".^[1]

[edit] Final Crisis

Main article: Final Crisis

The weekly series Countdown to Final Crisis will be followed by Final Crisis, beginning in May 2008 and continuing through the remainder of the year.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Timeline of the DC Universe
• Major events of the DC Universe

[edit] External links

• JLA-JSA index
• JSA chronology

v • d • e DC Comics Crisis Anthology Crisis on Infinite Earths • Zero Hour • Identity Crisis • Infinite Crisis • Final Crisis Zero Hour Build-up The Death of Superman  • Emerald Twilight Zero Hour Aftermath The Final Night Infinite Crisis Build-up Countdown to Infinite Crisis  • The OMAC Project  • Rann-Thanagar War  • Day of Vengeance  • Villains United Infinite Crisis Aftermath Characters & Continuity changes  • 52  • World War III  • One Year Later Final Crisis Build-up Countdown to Final Crisis (and spin-offs)  • Death of the New Gods  • Salvation Run Related DC Multiverse  • History of the DC Universe