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Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths was the connecting tissue that DC’s Tomorrowverse needed. As I said in my Crisis Part One Review, the best part of this adaptation is how it fills in the gaps in major characters’ story arcs, while also creating a good adaptation of an awesome comic story.
Just as part one explores The Flash’s romance with Iris, Crisis of Infinite Earths part two delves into Supergirl’s story in the Tomorrowverse. Crisis Part Two shows how Kara survives Krypton’s Fall and establishes her conflicted relationship with her semi-father figure, The Monitor, who watches everything in the DC Tomorrow universe, but rarely intervenes.
All this happens before the events of the Legion of Super-Heroes when Kara joins the Legion in the future. But when the end of the universe kicks off during War World, The Monitor summons Supergirl and she helps him recruit the heroes around the multiverse as The Harbinger in Crisis Part One.
Crisis Part Two also ties up Psycho-Pirate’s story (Charles Halstead), from Justice Society World War II (2021). We follow his messed-up origins as a young psycho in boarding school, all the way to him taking advantage of Earth 2’s Aquaman and usurping control over Atlantis, as we saw in JSA World War II. To be honest, I didn’t know this character from JSA World War II was actually Psycho-Pirate (mostly because he wasn’t wearing his costume then), and I was unhappy that he survived that story without consequences for all the troubles he caused. However, what really pissed me off was how he immediately sells out the heroes in crisis part two and amplifies the hatred between them during critical battles.
But as the good Doctor Fate explained, everyone has a part to play. And when Physco-Pirate’s role comes long, his punishment certainly fits his many crimes.
Aside from filling up gaps, JL: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part two and Three also explains how the end of New 52 DC Animated Movie Universe leads to the creation of the DC Tomorrow Universe.
Die-hard DC animation fans would have immediately figured out the real identity of the old man proclaiming the end of the multiverse back in Crisis Part One. However, seeing the OG Hell blazer casting spells again was still awesome.
As we all suspected, the current crisis directly results from Constantine and Flash’s actions at the end of Darkseid War. Crisis Part Three reveals how Constantine used the Flash to kill Darkseid in the past and prevent his devastating attack on Earth on Apokolips war. But as we learnt in the flashpoint paradox, killing or saving a single person can have a devastating butterfly effect on the DC timeline. However, when it’s an important character like Darkseid, the consequences are much worse.
I loved the idea of Darkseid being a necessary evil needed to keep life in the DC universe in check. It sort of gives the very evil reign of the Lord of Apokolips a higher purpose. But when John used Barry to go back in time and kill Darkseid, it led to an explosion of new realities that strained the newly formed DC Universe and put it in a death spiral. In response, the DC universe created the Anti-Monitor to purge the excess Earths and restore balance.
This revelation explains why The Spectre went out of his way to punish Barry in Infinite Crisis Part One and Constantine in House of Mystery.
Another aspect of JL: Crisis Infinite Earths I enjoyed was seeing DC heroes and Characters from the Tomorrowverse interacting with their counterparts, friends and supporting characters from different realities across the DCAU. Earth 2 Diana was able to fight alongside her mother, Hippolyta and her Amazonian sisters. And it was really nice seeing the entire Bat Family come together to aid the tomorrow-verse version of Batman. It was nice to see this version of Bruce (who never adopted Robin or had any other sidekicks) feel the adoration of his children from another timeline.
The Crisis event also forced our heroes to work together with the villains to survive the Anti-Monitor. Though his methods were ruthless, I particularly enjoyed seeing the heroes begrudgingly agree with Lex Luthor’s plan to study the ant monitor’s weakness and escape The Bleed dimension.
Enter Supergirl
Kara’s Sacrifice to Kill the Anti-Monitor in Crisis part three, was both a touching and brilliant way to complete her story of becoming a real hero. The shot of Earth One Superman screaming while carrying Kara’s body was ripped out straight from The Crisis on Infinite Earth’s Comic and was really moving.
But unfortunately, Supergirl’s sacrifice was not the final one.
Earth-2 Wonder Woman’s sacrifice was a surprise. But I guess to wipe the slate clean and start a new DC Animated movie continuity (again), a heavy, painful equal trade is necessary. Another interesting detail is that both the Question and Constantine refuse to go to the new DCAMU and stay behind in the dying DC Tomorrow Universe. (I hope we come back to these characters someday).
In a wonderful and hopeful ending, The Crisis trilogy ends with a young Diana playing on Themyscira in the new DCAU continuity. Highlighting the endless possibilities of this new timeline.
Verdict
Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts Two and Three
Movie title: Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths
Review
Crisis parts One, Two and Three did Justice to the DC’s Tomorrowverse. It completed stories, added context to past animated films and gave many characters the development they deserved. Yes, it deviated from the original Crisis on Infinite Earth story, but this adaptation also found ways of incorporating aspects of the original story flawlessly into the Tomorrowverse storyline. The animated movie also did a brilliant job of connecting the New 52 DCAMU to the Tomorrowverse while also setting up a new single DC Animated Movie Universe.
The Crisis on Infinite Earth trilogy was a good adaptation and a must-watch for anyone who has consistently followed The DC animated movie universe.
Overall
4.3User Review
( votes)Pros
- Good Adaptation
- Great Characters
- Adds Context to Tomorrowverse Animated Movies
Cons
- Requires that You Watch All Tomorrowverse Animated Movies to Fully Understand
