World Famous Comics: Crisis On Multiple Earths, Vol. 1
Crisis On Multiple Earths, Vol. 1
By: Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 208 Publication Date: August 01, 2002 Release Date: August 01, 2002
Product Description: As background for its multi-part epic Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC Comics released Crisis on Multiple Earths to introduce (or refresh) the reader to the concept of multiple Earths coexisting in the same physical space by vibrating in different dimensions. This volume collects four different story lines (each encompassing two issues) involving the Earth-One Justice League of America (the most familiar DC stars such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) and the Earth-Two Justice Society of America (older heroes, some with Earth-One counterparts such as the Flash and Green Lantern, but some unique heroes such as Doctor Fate and Hourman), all from the mid-'60s and written by Gardner Fox with pencils by Mike Sekowsky. The best story introduces Earth-Three, where only criminals have the super powers. Bored with committing easy crimes, the Crime Syndicate of America--a band of supervillains with knockoff costumes and dumb names ("Power Ring," "Johnny Quick")--challenges the JLA and JSA to battle. The other stories involve the Crime Champions of Earth-One and -Two, Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt, and Solomon Grundy and Blockbuster. For more crossover action, Crisis on Multiple Earths was followed by a volume 2. Alex Ross did the cover paintings for all three Crisis... books.--David Horiuchi
Amazon.com: As background for its multi-part epic Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC Comics released Crisis on Multiple Earths to introduce (or refresh) the reader to the concept of multiple Earths coexisting in the same physical space by vibrating in different dimensions. This volume collects four different story lines (each encompassing two issues) involving the Earth-One Justice League of America (the most familiar DC stars such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) and the Earth-Two Justice Society of America (older heroes, some with Earth-One counterparts such as the Flash and Green Lantern, but some unique heroes such as Doctor Fate and Hourman), all from the mid-'60s and written by Gardner Fox with pencils by Mike Sekowsky. The best story introduces Earth-Three, where only criminals have the super powers. Bored with committing easy crimes, the Crime Syndicate of America--a band of supervillains with knockoff costumes and dumb names ("Power Ring," "Johnny Quick")--challenges the JLA and JSA to battle. The other stories involve the Crime Champions of Earth-One and -Two, Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt, and Solomon Grundy and Blockbuster. For more crossover action, Crisis on Multiple Earths was followed by a volume 2. Alex Ross did the cover paintings for all three Crisis... books. --David Horiuchi
The Real Deal This is some great collected work from when comics were fun, and it set the stage for DC continuity for the next twenty years.
Gardner Fox, who also wrote many of the Golden Age characters, wanted to re-establish them in the Silver Age. However, when the Silver Age characters came into prominence, they existed in their own continuity, which would be incompatible with the Golden Age characters returning. His solution was to create an alternate Earth (Earth 2), and explain that the Golden Age characters existed there. The Silver Age characters (i.e.: the JLA) existed on Earth 1.
One of the great things about this is that it also established what became an annual tradition--and one of my absolute favorite things about DC--the annual team-up between the JLA and the JSA.
These are great stories, and are highly recommended for fans of Silver Age comics.
Yeah, old stuff... I bought this volume, along with the others, hoping it would shed more like on the very confusing DC universe as it appeared during "Crisis on Infinite Earths". While the idea of combining superheros from two different time periods sounds very cool (and I'm sure back in 1960 it was), but there's not a whole lot of difference between the Silver and Golden ages (at least not to younger fans like me, not even born till the 80s).
While the collection did help introduce me to many of the DC heroes that ran rampant in the first Chaotic Crisis, the dated material is rough to swallow. There's a lot of it here. Campy dialog with random adventures that have no general coherent story. There's some hints here and there to other Justice League adventures or solo issues, but nothing really comprehensive. None of these volumes will show you how the Earth 2 (or Golden Age) Batman died. Powergirl makes an appearnace in the last couple issues, and Supergirl is nowhere to be found. The appearance made by the Crime Syndicate doesn't do them nearly the justice their concept deserves. It's just not nearly as good as it could be. Granted, for it's age I'm sure it was all the rave back in the sixties and seventies. But compared to modern series', this stuff is hard to digest. The only part of it that really comes in handy is for helping you get to know the heroes of the era. A good buy if you really want to know about many of those characters flooding the pages of "Crisis on Infinite Earths".
not so good This was horrible. It just, like another reviewer said, it just doesn't stand up to the test of time. You can definitely tell this is not modern day comics, when I feel they really reached their peak.
Graphic SF Reader A fun bunch of nostalgia, of the good old days when the Justice League of America used the old vibrational trick to journey to Earth-2, or the Justice Society did the same thing to travel to Earth-1.
Of course, the villains see that as an opportunity to take out a bunch of heroes at once.
A Must-Get! In the 1930s and 40s, superheroes were in their "Golden Age," back when Superman had more human proportions and the Justice Society of America had its birth. In the 1950s, the Silver Age of comic book heroes dawned, and a new batch of heroes was born, along with the Justice League of America. In 1961, in FLASH #123, the Silver Age Flash (Barry Allen) met the Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick), and everyone learned that there were two Earths: Earth-One containing the Justice League of America, and Earth-Two containing the Justice Society of America. But, there was no way that the paths of these two bands of heroes would not cross - again and again!
This book contains four different story arcs, in which the heroes of the two Earths mix. Overall, I found this to be a great book, with some really interesting storylines. If you are a fan of super-heroes, then this is a book that you simply MUST get! I give this book my highest recommendations!
Here are the story arcs: Crisis on Earth-One! (Justice League of America #21, 8/63) and Crisis on Earth-Two! (Justice League of America #22, 9/63): When three villains of Earth-One get together with three villains of Earth-Two, they make a plan that will benefit all of them, but leave neither world any safer!
Crisis on Earth-Three! (Justice League of America #29, 8/64) and The Most Dangerous Earth of All! (Justice League of America #30, 9/64): Unbeknownst to the heroes of Earth-One and Earth-Two, there is an Earth-Three, and its super-heroes are super-villains looking for worthy opponents. Will the heroes of the JLA AND JSA triumph? Will they even survive?
Earth Without A Justice League! (Justice League of America #37, 8/65) and Crisis on Earth-A! (Justice League of America #38, 9/65): When Johnny Thunder of Earth-Two meets his counterpart on Earth-One, he loses control of the mighty, magical Thunderbolt. And when the JLA is suddenly wiped out of existence, its up to the JSA to put things right...if they can!
Crisis between Earth-One and Earth-Two! (Justice League of America #46, 8/66) and The Bridge Between Earths! (Justice League of America #47, 9/66): When people begin mysteriously moving between the two Earths, it becomes apparent that something strange is going on. In the void between worlds, the Spectre learns that a creature from an anti-matter universe is heading towards Earth, and if he sets foot on it, both Earths will explode. Can the heroes of both worlds hold thing together long enough to save both worlds?
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