CRISIS MANAGEMENT

As I spend my days awaiting the fate of my comic project, DIONYSUS WEPT. I have decided to delve into the epic DC COMICS universe-shattering tale CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. Internet source for all things factual, WIKIPEDIA, describes CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS as:

"a 12-issue American comic book limited series (identified as a "12-part maxi-series") and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then-50-year-old continuity. The series was written by Marv Wolfman, and illustrated by George Pérez (pencils/layouts), with Mike DeCarlo, Dick Giordano, and Jerry Ordway (who shared inking/embellishing chores). The series removed the concept of the Multiverse in the fictional DC Universe, and depicted the deaths of such long-standing superheroes as Supergirl and the Barry Allen incarnation of the Flash."

But if you know anything about me, and you probably don't, a 12-issue maxi-series just isn't gonna cut it. This uber-comic-event at DC COMICS was truly innovative and comprehensive, including almost all of DC's titles and characters. My research led me to what appears to be a definitive CRISIS reading order posted on comic news site COMIC BOOK RESOURCES. Here is the list:

001 DC Comics Presents 78
002 All-Star Squadron 050
003 Crisis on Infinite Earths 01
004 Detective Comics #555
005 Detective Comics #556
006 Detective Comics 557
007 All-Star Squadron 051
008 All-Star Squadron 052
009 All-Star Squadron 053
010 Swamp Thing v2 #039
011 Firestorm - Fury of Firestorm #041
012 Infinity, Inc 18
013 Atari Force 018 [1984]
014 New Teen Titans 013
015 Green Lantern v2 194
016 Detective Comics 558
017 Crisis on Infinite Earths 02
018 Batman 389
019 Batman 390
020 Swamp Thing v2 #040
021 Crisis on Infinite Earths 03
022 Batman 391
023 Swamp Thing v2 #041
024 Green Lantern V2 195
025 Saga of the Swamp Thing #42
026 Crisis on Infinite Earths 04
027 Swamp Thing v2 #043
028 Warlord 097
029 Vigilante 22
030 DC Comics Presents 086 [ Superman & Supergirl ]
031 Omega Men 26
032 DC Comics Presents 087 [ Superman & Superboy of Earth Prime ]
033 DC Comics Presents 088 Creeper
034 Saga of the Swamp Thing #44
035 Wonder Woman v1 327
036 Wonder Woman v1 328
037 DC Comics Presents 094 [ Superman & Harbinger & Lady Quark & Pariah ]
038 Infinity, Inc 19
039 Justice League of America v1 #244
040 Infinity, Inc 20
041 Infinity, Inc Annual 1
042 Legends of DC Universe 80-Page Giant #1
043 Crisis on Infinite Earths 05
044 Saga of the Swamp Thing #45
045 Infinity, Inc 21
046 Swamp Thing v2 - 046
047 Infinity, Inc 22
048 All-Star Squadron 054
049 All-Star Squadron 055
050 All-Star Squadron 056
051 Superman v1 413
052 Crisis on Infinite Earths 06
053 Infinity, Inc 23
054 Infinity, Inc 24
055 Legion of Super-Heroes v3 013
056 Legion of Super-Heroes v3 014
057 Legion of Super-Hereos v3 015
058 Legion of Super-Heroes v3 Annual 01
059 Crisis on Infinite Earths 07
060 DC Comics Presents 095 Hawkman
061 Legion of Super-Hereos v3 016
062 Legion of Super-Hereos v3 017
063 Legion of Super-Hereos v3 018
064 Wonder Woman v1 329(Troia - HQ Scans)
065 Crisis on Infinite Earths 08
066 JLA - Incarnations #05
067 Deadman - Dead Again 01
068 Flash v2 #149
069 Flash v2 #150
070 Superman v1 414
071 Blue Devil 017
072 Omega Men #31 - Crisis Issue
073 Omega Men 32
074 Omega Men #33
075 New Teen Titans 014
076 Crisis on Infinite Earths 09
077 Green Lantern v2 196
078 Justice League of America v1 Annual 3
079 Blue Devil 018
080 Blue Devil 019
081 Firestorm - Fury of Firestorm #042
082 Superman v1 415
083 Crisis on Infinite Earths 10
084 Justice League of America v1 #245
085 Crisis on Infinite Earths 11
086 Green Lantern #197
087 Amethyst - Princess of Gemworld v2 #13
088 Crisis on Infinite Earths 12
089 All-Star Squadron 57 - Kaleidoscope
090 All-Star Squadron 058
091 All-Star Squadron 059
092 Legend of Wonder Woman (1986) #01 (of 4)
093 Legend of Wonder Woman (1986) #02 (of 4)
094 Legend of Wonder Woman (1986) #03 (of 4)
095 Legend of Wonder Woman (1986) #04 (of 4)
096 Oz Wonderland War #3
097 Green Lantern v2 198
098 Infinity, Inc 25
099 The Losers Special #1
100 All-Star Squadron 060
101 DC Comics Presents 096 [ Superman & Blue Devil ]
102 Animal Man #10
103 Animal Man #18
104 Animal Man #22
105 Animal Man #23
106 Animal Man #24

Thankfully, the illusion of collectibility of these comics is gone. They were produced in such large quantities and preserved so lovingly by their owners, that they haven't gone up considerably in value. I purchased the entire 12-issue series in an ebay auction for less than $20 with...shipping included! While they've gone up from their original $.75 cover price, they are still considerably cheaper than their contemporary counterparts. More often than not, I will be using MyComicShop.com as my primary marketplace for the issues from the above list. They offer reasonable prices with a reputation for accurate quality-grading of their product. Check out the SECRET IDENTITY PODCAST, as they have been my inspiration and will be covering CRISIS as their annual Summer Reading Project.

As always, this blog will serve as my tether to reality as I immerse myself in this infinite realm of vibrating universes.