Crisis on Infinite Earths was certainly the crisis to end all crisis in that it essentially made DC’s Multiverse so complex and prominent that it made writing any comic or character a challenge. Therefore, Marv Wolfman and George Perez tore it apart in twelve issues, seemingly ending the Multiverse for good (like that happened). However, the final issues of Crisis on Infinite Earths were to be something different from what we got. When I reviewed Crisis on Infinite Earths (seems like a lifetime ago), I was quite critical of the last two issues, specifically that the Anti-Monitor returns out of nowhere after being defeated by the Spectre. It felt like unnecessary padding that ruined the conclusion of the epic. Originally however, Wolfman intended the ending to be very different. The final two issues were to be a history of New Earth, the singular blue planet left after the destruction of the Multiverse. It would reintroduce all the characters to us with brief descriptions of their origins. But the editors didn’t go with that idea and they were probably right. After ten dramatic issues, a history lesson would seem dull. Therefore, Wolfman and Perez left it for a miniseries and in doing so, it is independent of Crisis on Infinite Earths, but certainly one of the first bi-products of the titanic story (next to Legends).
The History of the DC Universe 1-2 was published from January to February 1987, just under a year after Crisis on Infinite Earths 12. It was written by Marv Wolfman with
art by George Perez and Karl Kesel. I’ve read the miniseries in The History of the DC Universe trade paperback.
After Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC was simply left in a huge mess. Although the story intended to end the Multiverse (which it did) and simplify the DC Universe, it did the exact opposite. New Earth was the amalgamation of all Earths and because of the large number of characters, questions begun to be asked about who existed and who had been erased from time. The History of the DC Universe set out with the aim to clean everything up and to reintroduce to us the major characters who were appearing in the late 1980s of DC. Before we get into all this, this isn’t really a story. There is a narrative of sorts and it is chronological in how the story progresses, but there is no overarching plot or recurring themes. It is more of a storybook than anything else, with Perez’s art accompanied by Wolfman’s narration. Split into two, Part One is more-or-less a history lesson with DC characters appearing. But, at the very beginning, we are introduced to the narrator of the story, that being Harbinger from Crisis on Infinite Earths. It starts with the birth of the Multiverse, a story we all know and tolerate, especially me due to my lack of interest in the Green Lantern Corps. On Oa, a mad scientist named Krona researched the origin of the universe, but in doing so, he caused it to explode and split it into two, one universe made of positive matter and the other of anti-matter. Because of the dangers created by the two universes, the Oans formed the Manhunters, who quickly rebelled. As a result of that, the Green Lantern Corps were made. Meanwhile, another scientist named Pariah (also from Crisis on Infinite Earths) pretty much duplicated what Krona did and explored the anti-matter universe, unknown to him that he had given power to the deadliest foe the universe would face in the far future. These first two moments are very important in the birth of the universe as a whole, while the rest of the first part focuses on a history of Earth. We are introduced to the first humans such as Anthro and Vandal Savage, while The Kingdom of Atlantis went to war and later split into two cities under the sea. From there, the gods came to Earth in the form of Titans while across the universe, the goddess of X’Hal is created as a result of a war with the Psions, arch-foes of the Oans. The reason I mention that, and the Titans is because its important to the New Teen Titans by Wolfman and Perez. In fact, most of the detailed godly stuff here is included just to add context to titles that were either running at the time or about to commence. Just to cut a long story short (because to be honest, this part of the story is dull), the presence of the gods causes the likes of Etrigan the Demon, Gorilla City and I, Vampire to appear on Earth. During the American Revolution, heroes such as Miss Liberty and Tomahawk fight for America while during the Civil War, heroes such as Jonah Hex became known as bounty hunters, along with the likes of El Diablo and Bat Lash. Jonah Hex would then magically be transported two-hundred years into the future. During the early twentieth century when Abin Sur protected the Earth as Green Lantern, light years away on the planet Krypton, Kal-El sent his baby-son away from the dying planet to Earth. I wonder who that could be? During the 1940s and the rise of Nazism, a heroic force was needed, and it came in the form of the Justice Society of America, consisting of the Sandman, Spectre, Flash, Atom, Hawkman, Green Lantern, Hourman, Dr Fate and Starman. Together, they were hired by President Roosevelt to take part in secret missions. However, the Society had their villains in the Injustice Gang of America, whose many villains would attempt to stop the heroes from succeeding. However, the heroes expanded, and the All-Star Squadron was formed, a united team of all heroes across the globe. Even those who didn’t have (continued)
powers, such as the Blackhawks, aided by fighting in the war. After several centuries, the heroes were together fighting. That is where Part One ends and with the exception of the last half or so, I find it somewhat boring. I understand it is meant to be a history, but there isn’t anything connecting each of the early events. It just feels like a compilation of random moments which don’t have much relevance. I guess that is the best way to introduce all the characters, but it feels odd in how quickly some of them appear and just disappear. Towards the end, it gets much better, especially as we enter the mainstream of the DC Universe and its characters. The unity at the end of the first part and the All-Star Squadron would have been a great way to bring in all the heroes from the past. Although this may not have made much sense for some of the characters, it would have concluded the first part without much baggage. Part Two begins with Harbinger focusing on the domestic heroes of America, such as the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion, along with those brave soldiers who fought on the line such as Jeb Stuart (with his haunted tank), the Creature Commandos and the Boy Commandos. However, after the war during the 1950s, the Justice Society was disbanded after the authorities believed it was aiding enemy spies. Instead of revealing their identities to the world, they retired into obscurity. Meanwhile, the US government was focusing on Task Force X, a group of soldiers especially trained to fight against new threats. Around the same time, the boy from Krypton arrives on Earth, while in Gotham City, a boy witnesses his parents being murdered in front of him. Despite the retirement of the JSA, new heroes emerged in the Phantom Stranger, Captain Comet and Martian Manhunter to name just a few. Around this time, mud and clay is given life by the Gods of Olympus. A baby is created from it. As the silver age of heroes begun, two of the world’s most impressive heroes showed themselves, those being Superman and Batman, along with his trusty sidekick Robin. Others began to appear, and as alien threats begin appearing on Earth, the heroes decide to form the Justice League of America, consisting of Batman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter and the new heroes such as The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, the Atom and Green Arrow. More teams followed, such as the Teen Titans, the Metal Men and the Doom Patrol, before long heroes begun appearing everywhere as the bronze age begun. But then, New Gods appeared, more deadly than the Old Gods. The battle between New Genesis and Apokolips was never-ending and some such as Mister Miracle escaped it by travelling to Earth. As the years passed, younger heroes grew older and newer teams such as the New Teen Titans were formed, along with the Outsiders, lead by Batman after he left the Justice League. However, as the world continued to grow darker as anti-heroes such as Manhunter, Swamp Thing and the Question appeared. However, the world grew nearer to the Crisis, one which begun when Harbinger herself killed the Monitor, who was born at the very creation of the universe, along with the Anti-Monitor. Harbinger then covers the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths and how the heroes defeated the Anti-Monitor. Hold on, I thought she (continued)
died in that story? Oh well. After the Crisis, new heroes appeared such as Booster Gold while older ones such as the Justice Society found themselves in an eternal battle in Valhalla. But then, Darkseid attacked Earth and as a result of it, the Justice League International was formed, with Wonder Woman also appearing after years of being absent for some reason. A millennium later, the Earth is protected by the Legion of Superheroes to fight against new foes. The work of heroes is never over. That is the History of the DC Universe and ultimately, it is hard to disguise the fact that it is just a history lesson. I imagine that it would be nearly impossible to please everybody with it. Even somebody like me who is aware of all of these characters (some more than others), there are numerous moments in the story where I’m either confused or just not interested by a character or group of them. This is especially the case during the first half of Part One, where aspects such as the Green Lantern Corps just doesn’t interest me, or the heroes of the Wild West. I guess that’s partly down to my lack of knowledge of the lore of characters like Bat-Lash, but it still didn’t engage me enough to purposefully go out of my way to research them further. But, when the History of the DC Universe is good, it is a solid read. Particularly during and after the Second World War, the heroes are presented at their best when they are in a team working together. It shows how the universe has progressed since it started and how in times of crisis, the heroes unite to fight evil. The change in the history such as the absence of Wonder Woman and the lack of a multiverse is certainly odd, but as Wolfman is slowly introducing us to the new world from the very beginning, you can comprehend it far easier. In terms of Wolfman’s narration, it can take some time getting used to, especially if you haven’t read illustrated books like this before. It is very different from Wolfman’s caption narration in his comics and while it makes some sense for Harbinger to be the voice of the story, it really doesn’t affect much of anything important. The narration can be a bit slow at times, but it does an excellent job in simplifying all this information about countless characters. Looking at the story as a whole, I think it was certainly the right move to publish it in its own miniseries rather than the two concluding issues to Crisis on Infinite Earths as it was originally planned. This is purely because after ten issues of tense fighting and dramatic deaths, this would completely ruin the pace of the story and grind it to a complete halt. There just would have been far too much information to take in and it would probably have ruined the story, not that the last two issues they actually went for were any better. Regardless, the History of the DC Universe works excellently on its own as an addition to Crisis on Infinite Earths rather than a continuation.
Without a doubt, the most impressive aspect of the History of the DC Universe has to be the art. George Perez went all out with this one and I cannot imagine how long the whole thing must have taken him. Each page is incredibly creative in the way that it conveys the story. That, in cohorts with his iconic display of DC’s greatest characters, makes this story a classic in terms of his artwork. The scale here is just as impressive as it was for Crisis on Infinite Earths. Perhaps time was a considered aspect when it came to DC’s decision to scrap this as the last two issues of the twelve-issue maxiseries. This was would have killed Perez and it was probably for the best that this was left months after the series ended as it gave him more time to be creative and experimental in the layouts. The inks by Kesel also mesh well with Perez’s smooth style and the different variations of colouring just make the art stand out even more. Without a doubt, the art is the most defining feature of the story.
VERDICT
Overall, the History of the DC Universe is a great guide to how the DC Universe changed after Crisis on Infinite Earths. It explores nearly every aspect of the universe and all of its characters. Some parts may be more interesting than others, but that is entirely subjective and respective of which characters are your favourites. I’m glad it was separate from Crisis on Infinite Earths as it works as a standalone piece and doesn’t need to be fully connected to a huge epic. But, while some moments may drag for the reason’s I’ve stated, the art definitively saves it and makes the History of the DC Universe into one of the most interesting comics from the late 1980s. But, if you are searching for a more recent and more character-driven history, then I highly recommend Len Wein’s DC Universe: Legacies miniseries.
Story: 8/10
Art: 10/10
Next Week: Batman: Gotham By Gaslight. Written by Brian Augustyn with art by Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell. Expected by 18/04/2021.
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