Customer Reviews

Crisis On Multiple Earths, Vol. 1

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book forms sort of a trilogy with two other DC trade paperbacks: "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and "History of the DC Universe." All three books are worth reading, but this is the one tailor-made for silver age fans and people who love the Justice League.

Many years ago, you see, DC established that their heroes of the 1930s and 40s lived in a different universe than the heroes of the 50s they were currently publishing -- an "Earth-2." (Why was the home of the ORIGINAL characters called "Earth-2"? Who knows?) Since the Flashes of the two worlds had met on occasion, the creators of the Justice League of America comic book decided it was time for the current heroes to meet their predecessors, the first superhero team in comics, the Justice Society of America. That first story was successful and became a more-or-less annual event that lasted until the Crisis on Infinite Earths eliminated multiple universes from DC Comics.

This book collects the first several JLA/JSA pairings, each two parts and all done with style, class and a touch of that campy silver age charm that still makes the stories a lot of fun 40 years later. It's great to see DC showing this kind of respect to the classic stories in its library...

Perhaps no man in the history of superhero comics has had as many brilliant ideas as Gardner Fox. Sadly, though, his conceptual and narrative brilliance is often over-looked and/or dismissed as "kids stuff" in favor of Stan Lee's approach Marvel Universe. While I enjoy lots of the old Marvel stories (certainly much more than much of what Marvel puts out nowadays), I'm of a mind that bringing together the residents of two imaginary universes is a slightly neater trick than simply plopping your characters into the New York metro area.

As another reviewer pointed out, these stories (early 60s vintage) are from an era when comics were pure escapist fun. While the dialogue is often cringe-worthy (a trait Mr. Fox and Mr. Lee shared), there's no denying the simple joy of these stories. And if they lack some of the (ostensible) complexity of Marvel's stories of the same era, so much the better. Some times it's more fun to read about heroes working together to beat the villains than to see them pulling apart and beating on each other.

As a final note, I'm happy to say that I've heard DC has a follow-up volume in the works. With any luck, perhaps they'll cover the whole run of JLA/JSA team-ups. In the meantime, this collection is just wonderful on its own.

This review is for Crisis on multiple earth vol.1. I already have Crisis on Multiple Earth Vol 2 and just saw that amazon has Vol 3 soon to be released, I am very excited to get vol 3 as well.

Now onto the review of vol.1. This TPB reprints the 8 issues of JLA/JSA comics crossovers in 1950s and 1960s. Keep in mind that they are written almost 50 years ago.But they ain't called "Classics" for nothing. Each issue is filled with excitement, story and great art (silver age art) to go along.

Those were the times when one crossover is only 2 issues long and not like current day 8 to 10 issues crossovers with another 4 or 5 titles tie-ins. And even with that you don't even grasp the storyline except the heros pounds the villians. But these JLA/JSA issues are different. Sure, heros pounds the villians but at least with exciting storylines.

Of course, the 60s dialogue can make you puke. Dialogues like "I am a 'Hero' (Any hero's name, superman,batman,Green Lantern etc) and I am going to do this and that" and dialogues like "I am a 'villian' and I am going to do this bad thing and that" do not go well with today's comic readers but if you can get past that fact, you will really enjoy those stories.

The first story is about Earth One and Earth Two super-heros meeting. Earth One JLA and Earth Two Older JSA meet through vibration or whatever. I will give that story 4 out of 5 stars. And keep in mind that that is the first time JSA old timers are revived.

The second story is about Earth Three. If you didn't know anything about Earth Three even existed, you will be surprised. Otherwise, it is not moving but rather long tale that Earth One/Two super-heros fight with their counterparts in Earth Three. I will give 3.5 stars out of 5.

The third story is about creation of Earth A (A for Alternate). And this is my favourite earth ever with Johnny Thunder and T'Bolts. Though I don't really like the ending and it looks like DC has the agenda that at the end of this issue, everything has to go back to normal and the writer has to oblige. Anyway, I will give this one 5 stars out of 5.

The last storyline with Anti-Matter Man does not appeal much to me. Although the idea of being from anti-matter universe is fairly interesting, the story has nothing but fight sences with teamwork thrown in. And I must admit this earlier team books have more teamwork between super-heros. Most of the later 90s crossovers or team-ups do not show much of team spirit during heros' fight but just to show they are present in the comic book page.

But if you don't know Solomon Grundy (Hulk looks-alike or sounds alike) and BlockBuster, you will get a chance to meet them, together with Sandman (no..no.. not Neil Gaiman's Sandman!!) I will give this story 3 out of 5 star.

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?

Obviously! These are stories from the early '60s, when comics were happy. This trade paperback collects the early interdimensional team-ups between the JLA and JSA. This is some good old-fashioned reading, complete with lots of inexplicable and downright ridiculous plot devices from writer Gardner Fox. BUT, for the all the absurdity in Fox's writing, he balances it with amazing creativity and some brilliant comedy (as when Johnny Thunder's T-Bolt travels back in time to put the kibosh on Batman's crimefighting career; it's like something out of MAD Magazine). Mike Sekowsky's artwork, while simple, is very appealing, especially from a design standpoint. I'd bet my lunch money that indy favorite Dan Clowes studied his work more than once. SEE the first appearance of the Crime Syndicate (in their original costumes) in a tale that puts Grant Morrison's JLA: Earth 2 rewrite to shame! SEE the eeeevil JLA, courtesy of the just-as-eeeevil Johnny Thunder! SEE Solomon Grundy and Blockbuster whip up on everything!

This is a great companion volume to COIE, but I'd rather read this one any day. It's certainly not as convoluted, and afterwards, I don't feel as if I have to sit down and decompress. It could use a few more stories, such as the original meeting between the Earth-1 and Earth-2 Flashes. Also, some of the stories begin abruptly, and it'd be nice to have some background supplied before the tale begins, instead of having to read the panel notes.

Oh yeah, the cover by Alex Ross is great!

I was always a big Marvel fan when I was little, but recently I've been getting more and more interested in DC because of the Infinite Crisis event. I wanted to check out the old Crisis on Infinite Earths, but had heard the story involved a lot of obscure characters on a whole lot of different universes. I figured this book, as well as the other two Crisis on Multiple Earths collections, would get me up to speed. On that front, this TPB was a success. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these old stories, however. The first two introduce both the Justice League of Earth-1 and the Justice Society of Earth-2. The next two stories deal with Crime Syndicate of Earth-3. Two others deal with Earth-A (where the history of Earth-1 is changed so that villians assume all of the superpowers of the Justice League). The last story deals with the Anti-matter Man attempting to destroy both Earth-1 and Earth-2 (which seems something of a prelude to the Crisis on Infinite Earths). Well worth a check-out.

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 appearance 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". Here's a rundown of the individual stories.

Crisis on Earth One/Crisis on Earth Two
These annual crossover events always came it at least two volumes. The first time the Golden Age Justice Society teamed up with then modern Silver Age Justice League occurred in response to the Crime Champions, a team of six super villains from both Earth One and Earth Two. Your typical, campy old school comic book style loaded with the extra villains and heroes.

Crisis on Earth Three/The Most Dangerous Earth of All
This story introduced the Crime Syndicate of America, who fights both the league and the society throughout the issue looking for a good challenge. The heroes inevitably come to the conclusion that the universe that the fight occurs in determines the winners, so on Earth One the Justice League prevails, while on Earth Three the Syndicate wins. The first appearance of the evil justice league should be notable but it's easily forgettable, not that any of the issues they appeared in where much good. It should be noted that the heroic Alexander Luthor is nowhere to be seen or even mentioned in this issue.

Earth Without a Justice League/Crisis on Earth A
Johnny Thunderbolt decides to visit his Earth One counterpart, only to find out he's evil. The Earth One Johnny uses the Thunderbolt to take out the Justice League, forcing the Justice Society to step in. The Society fails but the League returns and defeats the Thunderbolt, but Johnny has the magical creature change the league around so that instead of heros their identities are changed to that of villains who work for Johnny. And ensuing battle takes place between the society and the new evil league but good wins out, of course.

Crisis Between Earths One and Two/The Bridge Between Earths
Solomon Grundy and Blockbuster get bounced between Earths to fight the Society and the League. Meanwhile a powerful being form the anti-matter universe challenges the Spectre and the two earths are on a collision course. A good story for introducing the threat of antimatter as well as illustrating the great power of the Spectre. The brawls with the villains add a good amount of action. Actually a pretty good story for the time period.

Back in the sixties, THE event of summer was the annual crossover of the Justice Society / Justice League. Every year there would be a tale of a menace too powerful for any one team to handle, so the two squads would join forces. And every saga would reveal new members of the Justice Society to readers encountering them for the first time or re-introducing them to fans who had met them over a decade earlier.

The stories reprinted here reflect the slower pacing of entertainment back then. Gardner Fox's narratives are also pretty formulaic. As far as art goes, DC Comics in the sixties had some of the best in the business: Joe Kubert, Nick Cardy, Curt Swan, Carmine Infantino, to name a few. Artist Mike Sekowsky, on the other hand, was NOBODY's favorite among comic readers as far as I can tell. (Among his peers is another story.)

Unlike some of DC's other Silver Age stories (like Curt Swan's Superman tales), these haven't aged well and require a sense of nostalgia to enjoy. If you're under the age of forty, you will probably not appreciate these tales.

Fantastic reading. A tremendous way to check how the characters developed and an opportunity to know pre-infinite earths' crisis stories.

Another collection of cool adventures from the JLA/JSA during the good old days of superheroes.