Crisis on Infinite Earths (Absolute Edition) [Hardcover]

Marv Wolfman (Author), George Perez (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: November 16, 2005 | Series: Absolute Edition

Written by Marv Wolfman; Art by George Perez, Dick Giordano, Jerry Ordway and Mike DeCarlo; Cover by Perez Worlds lived. Worlds died. And the DC Universe was never the same! In 1985, DC Comics dramatically altered comics' original universe with CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, a 12-issue series that rocked the comics community, tragically dooming some of DC's most beloved characters and drastically altering others. Written by Marv Wolfman and pencilled by George Perez, with inks by Dick Giordano, Jerry Ordway and Mike DeCarlo, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS finds the alternate worlds that once were a hallmark of the DC Universe under siege by a mysterious force powerful enough to wipe out the lives of billions. Now this landmark series gets the star treatment in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS: THE ABSOLUTE EDITION - an oversized slipcased set containing two hardcover books. The 368-page Book One includes the full 12-issue maxiseries (which was painstakingly restored and meticulously recolored in 1998), with an introduction by Marv Wolfman, afterword by Dick Giordano, and creator bios. George Perez provides all-new art for the dustjacket. (Please note that the Monitor Tapes section from issue #10 will be shot from the original art for this issue and represented in its original form.) The 96-page Book Two contains a compendium featuring the full behind-the-scenes story on the years-long making of the maxiseries complete with memos, notes, original plots and commentary from Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway; the Official Index to Crisis and Official Index to Crisis Crossovers being reprinted for the very first time, completely updated; a look into post-Crisis events and aftermath stories, how the Superboy/Legion conundrum was solved, and a look at the 20th anniversary of this seminal event. George Perez provides all-new art for the dustjacket.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marv Wolfman is the former Editor-In-Chief of Marvel Comics. He is a longtime comic writer who had long runs on Tomb of Dracula for Marvel, which is where Blade the Vampire Hunter made his first appearance and New Teen Titans for DC Comics. Blade was later adapted to film form with Wesley Snipes in the starring role. Wrote the landmark DC Comic series Crisis on Infinite Earths. Created the character 'Bullseye' for Daredevil comics. Created the current iteration of Robin (Robin III/Tim Drake) for DC comics. The character has remained popular for nearly twenty years and has its own self-titled long-running series

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; Absolute ed edition (November 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140120712X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401207120
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 2.3 x 12.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love The Crisis..... March 2, 2006

By EDR

...then this book is worth it. I can't say anything about this story that hasn't already been said so I'll go straight to the book itself. This is a HUGE deluxe version of The Crisis on Infinite Earth's story. George Perez's artwork shine's in this enlarged format his already beautiful work is now enhanced. The companion book list all of the tie-in and crossover's that lead up too and took place during the Crisis. There is even mention's of the supposed sequel's(crisis in heaven, zero hour etc...)that were inspired by the story. The only way this could have been better is if they would have included the history of the DC universe mini series that was the direct follow up to the Crisis. Hell they even mention Infinite Crisis(DC's current running true sequel to this story)in the appendix book. A list of ALL the alternate earth's are included. Bottom line is if you like this story enough shell out the money to buy this if you are a newbie try the softcover. hope this help's

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For Comic Fanatics May 27, 2006

By Rowdy P. Scarlett VINE™ VOICE

Getting this is like buying the 3 DVD set of some movie you love. It has it all. Notes from the initial proposal. Thoughts from the writers, artist, editor, etc.

The story was earth shattering (pun intended) and set the stage for DC's revival. If you love comics, the medium or the characters, buy it. It would also make a great present. For those just looking for the basics, I'd suggest a copy of the Trade Paperback.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely necessary for any DC fan. November 13, 2009

By Axel

Amazon Verified Purchase

When this story was finally collected by DC for the first time sometime between 98/99' they released a regular sized hardcover edition that cost about the same as this Absolute edition but without the extras. I love this series so much that although I already own that very handsome (and expensive) HC regular size edition, I still bought the Absolute anyway. The story is that cool! If you grew up in the 80s and love DC comics, Crisis is just about the most satisfying, thrilling and amazingly drawn comic series the medium has ever produced. It involves an entire superhero universe, featured the deaths of characters you actually cared about, and had a scope that has never been matched in mainstream comics, either before or since. (Nearly every DC character published at the time was featured somehow, although Hal Jordan, one of DC's main Green Lanterns before and after Crisis, never actually shows up in the pages of the series for some odd reason, and I don't think anyone has ever noticed.) Nothing as ambitious has been attempted by either DC or Marvel since Crisis finished, although similar types of events have been tried by both publishers with mixed results.

What makes this series so enjoyable for me is that at the time, the stories mattered, it featured all the characters I loved, and then there's the art. George Perez does amazing work in these volumes, and one of the major reasons I bought the Absolute, other than the 'extra features,' is that the larger size showcases the beautiful art. When Jerry Ordway finally joins Perez midway through the series, the two gel in a way that inker and penciller rarely ever do these days, and they make magic. Perez himself deserves to be commended for having actually drawn not 12 but 14 issues, as two issues of the series were double-sized.... How he managed to finish that entire series and not take a break is a story I would love to know one day.

If you love DC comics, get this! Definitely get this. Some people may complain its indecipherable. It's not. Prior to this event, there were parallel worlds in the DC universe. After this series, there weren't. At least until DC comics "52" event. That's about all you really need to know.

One final note on the edition though. The slipcase features the wraparound cover art produced for the first collected edition and trade paperback. But the inside cover to the main volume features a new gorgeous cover by Perez. It's a beautiful image that captures the spirit of the series eloquently. My only major complaint about this volume though is that, DC being the lazy people they are, they just reprint the same foreword and afterword used in the volume from the first collection, which is a shame. While the second volume is jam packed with brilliant information that's worth having for any fan, a new introduction by Wolfman or Perez would have freshened up the collection and given it a sense of having been produced specially for the time, rather than merely reprinted for a buck. The second volume could also have benefitted from some interviews with Wolfman and Perez about that time and their recollections of the series. A glaringly obvious choice to have made and very sadly omitted. For those two things combined, I removed one star, but that's more to do with format than the contents, which rate 5 stars in my mind. Otherwise, well worth the money and I highly recommend it. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Worth The Money! May 23, 2009

By Dylan Luciano

Amazon Verified Purchase

This not only gets you the 12 Issue Series, but a separate book talking about what the writers did, the process, the art and the ideas behind Crisis on Infinite Earth. Well worth the money and a great read!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Start at the Begining May 4, 2008

By Alexander P.

Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm new into the comic books scene. If you're going to start somewhere, the Absolute Crisis is a great place. This book is a magnum opus of DC. Although face time with character is limited due to the vast nature of the crisis, what you get is a very quick but essential overview of the entire cast.

This book is the complete re-vamp of the DC universe, so its a perfect place to start reading from. The books before the crisis are great, too, but there's only so much time in the day.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very first Absolute I ever bought !!! November 7, 2007

By M. Uribe

Amazon Verified Purchase

This was the very first absolute edition, I ever bought. I have to say for anyone who likes DC comics, this is a must buy! All the twist and turns and confusing crap you could want, that may not make sense but still is so freaking cool.

Most of all the lists I seen of, "must have comic books", this is one of them! Now i know why it is too, it was a great read, and a great start to getting started with my collection of comic books.

There's a reason why DC/Marvel are releasing these Absolute and Omnibus editions (other than making more money), because they are great stories that deserve to be made in these formats. Also its great not to have to search for individual issues and what not. I've only gotten a few absolutes/omnibus, and not one yet has been a disappointment.

So if your just starting with comic books, i'd say this is one you best put on your list, as well as any omnibus/absolute you can.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential purchase November 8, 2010

By Jeffrey Wade

I am embarrased to admit that I had never seen the entirety of this work until after I met George Perez in person. And now I cannot wait for a repeat of the opportunity to be able to shake his hand again.

This creative work - available in a single tome - is an essential addition to any comic book library. The accompanying interpretive and behind-the-scenes narrative index makes it worthy of anyone's general reference books. Encompassing the 1985 linchpin comicbook events that swept away the multiverse effluvia from DC continuity, this is a Must-Read for every comics enthusiast... not to mention an indispensible resource for superhero costumers/cosplayers.