Infinite Crisis (Comics) | Review

Twenty years after the original Crisis reshaped everything, DC decided to ask an uncomfortable question: what if the heroes who sacrificed their world were completely wrong? Infinite Crisis brings back survivors from the 1985 event, forcing readers to watch as they, horrified by their successors, attempt to undo their greatest sacrifice.

This 2005-2006 crossover event, written by Geoff Johns (Blackest Night, Brightest Day), served as a direct sequel to Crisis on Infinite Earths. What makes this story land differently is how it weaponizes nostalgia against itself, turning beloved legacy characters into the primary threat.

The Golden Age Superman, Superboy-Prime, Alexander Luthor Jr. and Earth-Two Lois Lane emerge from their pocket dimension paradise, unhappy with what they see. The DC Universe has grown darker and morally compromised. Their solution? Burn it all down and start over.

The story begins with four survivors from the original Crisis watching from their crystalline limbo as the current DC heroes descend into what they perceive as corruption and darkness. Superman of Earth-Two (Kal-L) believes his world was absolutely perfect and with his wife Lois slowly dying, he becomes desperate to restore it.

Alexander Luthor has secretly manipulated events for years, recreating the multiverse by capturing heroes from merged Earths. Superboy-Prime, constantly reliving his ninth birthday through dimensional walls, has gone from naive farm boy to reality-warping psychopath.

The event served as explicit commentary on how much darker superhero comics had become, particularly following controversial storylines like Identity Crisis. Johns uses the stark contrast between eras to ask whether modern comics have lost something truly essential in their relentless quest for gritty realism and moral ambiguity.

When Earth-Two Superman confronts the current Superman, it's not just a physical battle but an ideological one about what heroism should truly mean. The scale keeps expanding relentlessly until almost every single DC hero gets dragged into the conflict.

OMAC robots rampage across the planet, magic itself begins dying, villains unite under a single banner through the Secret Society and an interplanetary war erupts between Rann and Thanagar. Meanwhile, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman are fractured and barely speaking after recent betrayals and moral compromises.

Alexander Luthor's plan involves using Brother Eye and the OMACs to capture specific heroes from different Earths, powering up a massive tower that can recreate not just Earth-Two but the entire original multiverse. But Superboy-Prime represents the real threat.

The manipulation extends beyond mere physical threats. Wonder Woman's controversial killing of Maxwell Lord, Batman's increasing paranoia creating Brother Eye and Superman's growing doubt about his own methods all trace back to Alexander's carefully orchestrated crisis of faith among the entire superhero community itself.

He's essentially a living deconstruction of Superman's ultimate power fantasy, an unstable god who believes he alone deserves to be the only hero and watching him systematically demolish the Justice League becomes genuinely unsettling and deeply uncomfortable.

The climax brings multiple Supermen into conflict, with Kal-L ultimately realizing his mistake when Earth-Two fails to save Lois. The event restored the multiverse to DC continuity while creating a "New Earth" through Superboy-Prime's reality-altering punch, a moment that became infamous for explaining continuity changes.

Character deaths hit hard here. Heroes actually die, relationships shatter permanently and the aftermath led directly into the ambitious year-long weekly series 52, which carefully explored what happened during the missing year immediately after the main event concluded.

The event also directly connected to major storylines like the controversial resurrection of Jason Todd as Red Hood and set up significant changes that actively defined DC continuity for the next several years until Flashpoint eventually reset everything once again.

Artist Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman: Paradise Found, Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost) handles the majority of pencils and his detailed, almost photo-realistic style works when focusing on emotional beats. The problem emerges during the massive battle sequences where literally hundreds of heroes and villains crowd every panel.

George Pérez (Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect, Teen Titans: Judas Contract) brings his signature dense and layered storytelling, while Ivan Reis (The Terrifics: Meet the Terrifics, Titans: Beast World) provides some of the more dynamic action sequences.

Geoff Johns demonstrates his deep knowledge of DC history throughout, weaving in references that reward longtime readers while providing context for newcomers. His characterization of Superboy-Prime as a toxic fan surrogate feels pointed. However, tie-ins mean the core series occasionally feels like the climax to a story you missed.

The meta-commentary about comic book darkness works when subtle but occasionally becomes too on-the-nose. When characters literally debate whether heroes should kill, it pulls you out of the narrative. The strongest moments happen when the conflict speaks for itself.

Infinite Crisis succeeds as both a nostalgia-driven sequel and critical examination of where superhero comics were heading. It became a commercial success, with the first issue reaching pre-order sales of 249,265 copies. The event shifted DC's direction, bringing back the multiverse and setting up years of storytelling possibilities.

The ambitious scope becomes the event's strength and weakness. When focusing on the core conflict between generations, it delivers resonant moments. When servicing every corner of the DC Universe, it collapses under its weight. Reading the lead-in series improves the experience.

For readers interested in DC continuity and how comics grapple with their history, Infinite Crisis remains essential. It's messy and overstuffed but takes genuine risks with beloved characters and delivers consequences that mattered and started conversations that continue today.

You can read Infinite Crisis in physical editions– trade paperback or hardcover– available from comic-book shops, major online retailers and bookstores. Digital editions are also accessible via platforms like ComiXology and Marvel Unlimited, so readers can experience this landmark DC crossover event in whichever format suits them best.