The Infinite Crisis Companion [Paperback]

Greg Rucka (Author), Bill Willingham (Author), Dave Gibbons (Author), Gail Simone (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—Prior to DC Comics's revamp of its superhero universe in Infinite Crisis, a series of prelude miniseries were released to set up the larger conflicts that the central title would address. Despite the fact that each of these series—including Greg Rucka's The OMAC Project and Gail Simone's Villains United (both 2006)—ended abruptly and had a promised follow-up "special" yet to be published, they were collected in trade paperback. Unable to be included in the already-released trades or compiled with the massive Infinite Crisis collection, they appear in their semi-orphaned state in this book. The title is actually apt, but it doesn't make the effect any less jagged: the stories are clearly continuations of distant events, and they have only the most tenuous of internal connections. To use popular comic-universe terminology, they are a tangled mass of "continuity," helping to draw lines between other books, events, and situations. The varied artwork is quite good, and the stories are not without drama and effective moments, but this volume would be lost on casual readers; the characters are plentiful and the situations convoluted, as the massive cast of practically the entire superhero world shows up to be counted. As a supplement to collections that contain the previously mentioned titles, it would be welcome and quite useful, but it would be a mystifying morass if read on its own.—Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
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Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (October 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140120922X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401209223
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice side piece to Infinite Crisis, November 13, 2006

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N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Infinite Crisis Companion (Paperback)

The Infinte Crisis Companion is just as it's title implies" a companion to the mega-event Infinite Crisis that provides some answered questions to some of the loose ends of Infinite Crisis. Collecting the various one-shots based on the mini-series leading up to the Crisis (Day of Vengeance, OMAC Project, Rann-Thannagar War, and Villains United), the Companion tells side tales taking place during the main storyline of Infinite Crisis. Bill Willingham, Greg Rucka, Dave Gibbons, and Gail Simone all return as we witness the Phantom Stranger, Zatanna, Dr. Fate, and other mystics unite to take down the renegade Spectre in the first story, which also sees a dynamic fight to the death with Dr. Fate and Spectre, and leaves the door open for the fate of Captain Marvel. In the second story, Green Lanterns' Kyle Rayner, Alan Scott, and Kilowog are in space with Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Adam Strange, Jade, Donna Troy, and others in an attempt to thwart Alexander Luthor, and reveals how Kyle Rayner transforms back into Ion. The third story finds the downed OMAC satellite not going down without a fight, and reveals the fate of Sasha Bordeaux, while the final story finds Luthor's society of villains taking on Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, and a host of other heroes in a gigantic battle to the finish. The art varies from story to story, the best being from Ivan Reis whose pencils are always a welcome sight. All in all, the Infinite Crisis Companion may help novice Infinte Crisis readers with all the mayhem going on in the story, but for those who are a bit jaded with Geoff Johns' series, this won't sway you at all.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars definitely a 'companion' piece, January 29, 2008

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[e-mail] "[e-mail]" (Beaumont, tx USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Infinite Crisis Companion (Paperback)

This book is simply a sort of addition to the main storyline. It's not that memorable, though definitely worth reading of you liked Infinite Crisis.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable (but Unnecessary) "Companion", July 19, 2007

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Andrew Shaffer "Author, Blogger" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Infinite Crisis Companion (Paperback)

If you enjoyed "Infinite Crisis," you will delight at the wall-to-wall action in this collection of specials. Fans of Bill Willingham's "Shadowpact" series shouldn't miss the Willingham-penned section here; likewise, fans of Greg Rucka's "Checkmate" series will enjoy his "OMAC Project" story here. If you're not a fan of any of the above series, though, you can probably skip this book.