Customer Reviews

Crisis on Multiple Earths (Volume 3)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collection of JLA-JSA team-ups is classic silver-age fun. Sure there are characters from various Earths, and even some duplicates, but these stories are not high-concept. They are fun tales of good guys versus bad guys, with worlds in the balance. Anyone who remembers how much fun comics were, or even how cheesey they could be, should enjoy these tales for what they are- fun diversions and good stories. Enjoy the world of comics from back when they were four-color fun. Hard to follow? No way!Enjoy the nostalgia of these fun tales.

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:
Earth - The Monster-Maker! (Justice League of America #91, 8/71) and Solomon Grundy - The One and Only (Justice League of America #92, 9/71): When an alien symbiotic pair are split up, with one dropped on Earth-One and the other on Earth-Two, the JLA and JSA quickly find themselves fighting opponents beyond their powers. Somebody needs to find a solution, and quick!

The Unknown Soldier of Victory! (Justice League of America #100, 8/72), The Hand That Shook The World (Justice League of America #101, 9/72) and And One of Use Must Die! (Justice League of America #102, 10/72): Earth-Two is about to be destroyed, and when the JSA calls on the JLA for assistance, they find that they are no help either. Years ago, Earth-Two faced just such a crisis, but the heroes that won that day are missing and must be found...and quick!

Crisis on Earth-X! (Justice League of America #107, 9-10/73) and Thirteen Against The Earth! (Justice League of America #108, 11-12/73): When three super-heroes from the JLA seek to trade places with three from the JSA, they find themselves whisked off to a whole other Earth - Earth-X. On this Earth, the Nazis won WW2, and these new heroes are just what the local super-heroes (including Uncle Sam!) need to turn the tide!

The Creature in the Velvet Cage (Justice League of America #113, 8-9/74): When a strange creature escapes from The Sandman's lair, a secret comes out. Who was this creature, and why did The Sandman have him imprisoned?

Ignore the John Q. Idiot review. I read the JLA #100 crossover when I was 10 years old, and I had no problem sorting out the multiverse concept and which version of a character came from which earth.

Len Wein did a great run on JLA. Included are the JLA #100 crossover, where the JLA and JSA travel through time to rescue the members of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the crossover introduced the Freedom Fighters of Earth X, where the Axis won World War Two, the story revealing the tragic fate of Sandman's sidekick Sandy, and more. No, there are no borderline psychotic "heroes" or "kewl" graphic violence in these stories. They are from a "simpler" time, but are much better plotted than most of what one sees in comics today.

I've been ambivalent regarding DC's various Crisis collections. While these are very historically significant stories featuring the heroes and villains of DC's multiple Earths, the story quality varies widely. In fact, for every well-written story, you are likely to be saddled with reading 3 others that just aren't worth the time. Thankfully, CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS VOLUME 3 features a big improvement in terms of writing, and what's more, 3 of these 4 stories are very significant in terms of series that DC is publishing today.

Unfortunately, it seems that there has to be at least one stinker in the bunch, and that would be the first 2-part story from Justice League of America #91 - 92. Written by Mike Friedrich, it features a symbiotic alien pair that is accidentally split up, with one appearing on Earth-1 and the other on Earth-2. The separation has destructive effects, not only for the aliens, but for the inhabitants of both worlds, and the JLA and JSA rush to find a solution. This story is downright pathetic. It's pure filler - there's no other explanation for it. It's hard for me to believe that DC was actually still publishing flimsy stories like this up into the early `70s, especially when Marvel's complex storytelling style had already been influencing the comics industry for a full decade. This tale can definitely be skipped.

The remaining three stories are written by Len Wein, who does a much better job. JLA # 100 - 102 feature the return of the Seven Soldiers of Victory (Vigilante, Crimson Avenger, Green Arrow & Speedy, Star-Spangled Kid & Stripesy, and the Shining Knight), lost for many years after their battle with the Nebula Man. This story is directly related to Grant Morrison's current 7 SOLDIERS series.

Justice League of America #107 - 108 features the "Crisis on Earth-X", where 6 members of the combined JLA/JSA are accidentally transported to an Earth where the Nazis won World War Two! They join that Earth's only heroes, the Freedom Fighters (Uncle Sam, Phantom Lady, the Human Bomb, the Ray, Black Condor, and Doll Man), to stand up to the "Ratzis" and strike a blow for liberty. Currently, DC is featuring a somewhat modified version of the Freedom Fighters in their own series.

JLA #113 tells the story of "The Creature in the Velvet Cage", where we learn just how Sandy the Golden Boy, partner of the Golden Age Sandman, became Sand, charter member of the all-new JSA. This very story has been referenced numerous times in the current JSA series, including some recent issues.

Pencils are ably handled by Dick Dillin, with some design assist from Neal Adams in the form of the adult Robin's costume in JLA #91 - 92. Why DC never went full speed ahead with this particular costume in the Batman books is beyond me. It's certainly better than the Earth-2 Robin's horrific regular threads, which just may be the #1 ugliest costume ever. Alex Ross provides another excellent cover featuring almost all the heroes to appear in the stories, once again reminding us exactly how cool comics are.

These were among the first comics I read when I was around 6 years old and I found them as fun to read all these years later (they can't be to difficult to follow can they?). They draw together a smorgasbord of characters from the golden and silver age together in some classic Len Wein plotting. I would highly recommend this collection to anyone who has an interest in the background of the DC universe or to anyone who just enjoys well written classic comic book adventures.

The cover of this collection summarizes the content fairly well. This is the set that starts to introduce the other earths of the multiverse. If you're looking to make sense of that massive hodge-podge of capes and tights from the Crisis on Infinite Earths, this is a good place to start. Otherwise the art is dated and the dialog campy, and as usual there's no story arc connecting the various issues, except those within the same year as they were mutli-part stories.

Earth-The Monster Maker/Solomon Grundy - The One and Only
A strange alien and his puppy team up with Solomon Grundy to take on the League and the Society. This issue is somewhat interesting in that both teams have the same members, so you get to see both Flashes, both Lantersn, both Supermen, both Atoms, and both Robins meet for the first time. That coupled with the fact that there's plenty of action and a half-decent story, this is a good one to read on it's own.

The Unknown Soldier of Victory/The Hand That Shook the World/And One of Us Must Die
This issue introduces the Seven Soldiers of Victory, a group that (Canonically) predates the Justice Society. In this special tenth annual team up between the Society and the League, the heroes have to travel through various time periods to recover the lost soldiers and bring them together again to save the Earth. The story concludes with a noble sacrifice, not a bad story and crammed chock full of heroes.

Crisis On Earth-X/Thirteen Against The Earth
Welcome to Earth X, where the Nazi's won World War II and a team of super-heroes called The Freedom Fighters battle valiantly to topple their tyrannical rule. Every Superhero has at some point or another fought Nazi's, so this story basically falls in line with the others. Again it's good for clearing up confusion about The Crisis on Infinite Earths as it defines this new dimension and the heroes in it rather well. Otherwise it's a typical story.

The Creature in the Velvet Cage
The Sandman of Earth 2 got his own Crossover issue? You bet, and it's actually pretty good. It focuses more on character development then action, and it's actually a decent story. Don't want to spoil it.

This is more fantastic Silver Age teamup fun between the Justice League, Justice Society, the Seven Soldiers of Victory, and others. The most notable story is probably the Unknown Soldier of Victory, a quest to find who exactly should be in that grave.

Definitely recommended for some nostalgic, simpler fun with a whole barrel of heroes.

I can't believe somebody would give this book one star! It is very good.