Written by Gardner Fox.
Art by Mike Sekowsky; Bernard Sachs; Sid Greene; Gaspar Saladino; Joe Letterese; Milton Snapinn; & Ira Schnapp.
Original Covers by Mike Sekowsky; Murphy Anderson; Joe Giella; & Bernard Sachs.
Trade Paperback Cover Art by Alex Ross.
SUMMARY:
Released in 2002 by DC Comics, this 206-page paperback reprints comic book history: the first four JLA-JSA cross-overs from Justice League of America # 21-22, 29-30, 37-38, and 46-47, as published from 1963-1966. Each storyline is a two-parter.
- “Crisis on Earth-One / Crisis on Earth-Two:” The League (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Atom, Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, and Martian Manhunter) joins forces with Earth-Two’s newly-reactivated Justice Society (Black Canary, Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Hourman, Al Pratt’s Atom, & Alan Scott’s Green Lantern) when a half-dozen villains ingeniously scheme to loot both Earths and dispose of the two super-teams.
- “Crisis on Earth-Three / The Most Dangerous Earth of All:” Earth-Three’s sinister Crime Syndicate is introduced. Ultraman, Owlman, Power Ring, Johnny Quick, and Superwoman alleviate their boredom by seeking out both the JLA and the JSA. Owlman’s contingency planning is a major component of his Syndicate’s strategy. The League (Flash, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, & Green Lantern), as direct counterparts of the Crime Syndicate, calls upon the Justice Society’s Hawkman, Black Canary, Dr. Fate, Starman, and Dr. Mid-Nite for back-up.
- “The Earth Without a Justice League / Crisis on Earth-A:” Earth-One’s rogue Johnny Thunder usurps his dim-witted Earth-Two counterpart’s magical genie to launch an unstoppable crime spree. At his evil master’s bidding, the genie even eliminates the League from existence. It’s up to the JSA (Al Pratt’s Atom, Dr. Fate, Jay Garrick’s Flash, Alan Scott’s Green Lantern, Hawkman, & Mr. Terrific) to thwart this lookalike’s gleefully nasty bag of tricks, which includes an alternate League composed of hoodlums.
- “Crisis Between Earth One and Earth-Two / The Bridge Between Earths:” Cosmic chaos ensues, as an anti-matter giant threatens both Earths. Among various characters swapping places on Earths-One and Two are the fearsome Solomon Grundy and Blockbuster. This team-up features the League’s Batman, Atom, Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman, with the Spectre, Black Canary, Dr. Fate, Sandman, Wildcat, and Dr. Mid-Nite representing the JSA.
Notes: As of this writing, DC Comics has published Crisis on Multiple Earths Volumes 2-6, plus two additional team-up editions (i.e. individual crossovers between the Atoms, Green Lanterns, Hawkmans, Flashes, etc.). There isn’t any word yet of a Volume 7 to complete DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity. For instance, the retroactive origin of Dinah Laurel Lance replacing her mother as Black Canary would likely be part of this proposed volume.
However, DC is presently re-releasing this series as ‘books,’ where two volumes are compiled together.
REVIEW:
This compilation’s nostalgia meter surges off the charts re-discovering DC’s kid-friendly Silver Age magic. Putting the old school fun aside, it isn’t surprising that these vintage team-ups don’t age well in the 21st Century. Legendary writer Gardner Fox coherently plots the first three cross-overs, but the interchangeable dialogue amongst so many characters makes for a stilted and often clunky read.
It’s unfortunate that the rudimentary artwork can’t hide Fox’s sappy dialogue exchanges. At least, Fox’s plot twists (i.e. the evil Johnny Thunder’s spur-of-the-moment schemes) effectively prolong the challenges faced by the two super-teams. Case in point: the ‘Earth-A’ sequence of the JSA impersonating the League celebrates Fox’s propensity for conjuring up wily surprises.
Despite arguably this collection’s best artwork, the fourth team-up is possibly the worst JLA/JSA storyline that Fox ever concocted. Aside from the League’s cool face-off vs. Solomon Grundy, this ultra-contrived “Crisis” teeters between utterly wonky and utterly stupid. One awful stretch is a prolonged battle vs. an anti-matter baddie where Fox’s terrible banter makes DC’s ludicrous comic book science even more cringe-worthy.
Unfortunately, the Spectre’s Silver Age return is sabotaged by pushing some lesser elements to ridiculous extremes. Case in point: Black Canary is depicted suffering from a Rapunzel-like curse of never-ending hair, or that Wildcat, Flash, and Batman inexplicably say aloud (let alone believe) that their mortal punching will somehow help clobber an anti-matter creature. Even accepting the characters’ effortless talking and breathing in outer space, there are far too many instances to demonstrate this fourth story’s eye-rolling deprivation of basic logic.
Apart from a high-caliber Alex Ross painted cover, these excessively tame stories won’t likely entertain newcomers. Yet, with impressive production values refurbishing these old stories, Crisis on Multiple Earths, Volume 1 serves as a welcome forerunner of vintage JLA/JSA team-ups still to come in the next five volumes.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The original covers are each reprinted in a full-page format. Veteran writer Mark Waid provides an insightful, two-page “1 & 2 = Crisis” foreword. Each issue’s credits are provided. Make no mistake: the Alex Ross book cover is absolutely this paperback’s best asset.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
