Infinite Crisis

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Infinite Crisis is the title of a comic book mini-series scheduled to be published by DC Comics in late 2005. It will be a sequel, in name at least, to the successful 1985 mini-series Crisis on Infinite Earths. It is also a follow-up to the 2004 mini-series Identity Crisis.

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

Although Infinite Crisis is not scheduled for publication until near the end of 2005, DC began leading up to Infinite Crisis months earlier by publishing a major one-shot and then launching several interconnected mini-series.

The lead-up officially began with Countdown to Infinite Crisis, a one-shot issue by Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, and Judd Winick, although elements of the story have been hinted at for a long time in many major DC series and events (for example, Identity Crisis). A collection entitled Prelude to Infinite Crisis, scheduled for release in late June 2005, collects a number of these earlier story references.

The series is said to involve an enraged Batman, a new and improved Secret Society of Super-Villains and Secret Six, and a war between the planets Rann and Thanagar.

The pillars of the DC Universe are already beginning to crumble. Recently, Batman and Wonder Woman gave Superman a scolding about the mindwipe of Doctor Light (as revealed in Identity Crisis). The wizard Shazam admitted to being confused for the first time in a thousand years. The Blue Beetle has been murdered by Maxwell Lord -- the latter once considered a hero in his own right and for a time the benefactor of the Justice League. During Identity Crisis, Robin's father and Captain Boomerang were duped into killing one another, and both Robin and Boomerang's son, who has taken up his father's mantle, are dealing with the aftermath of their fathers' deaths.

The members of the Justice League of America are drifting farther apart, while a covert group of some of the deadliest enemies are becoming closer together. Hal Jordan has been resurrected as Green Lantern - leaving the Spectre without a host. Eclipso has returned once more.

The seven-issue mini-series will debut in October with popular writer Geoff Johns and veteran artist Phil Jimenez. In addition, there will be four six issue mini-series leading up to this event:

Contents
1 Plot summary of Countdown to Infinite Crisis
2 Plot summary of The OMAC Project
3 Plot summary of Rann/Thanagar War
4 Plot summary of Villains United
5 Plot summary of Day of Vengeance
6 Cover Gallery
7 Release Dates of the Countdown to Infinite Crisis one shot and mini-series
8 Release Dates of Issues Related to Countdown to Infinite Crisis and its mini-series
9 Prelude to Infinite Crisis
10 External links

Plot summary of Countdown to Infinite Crisis

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

In Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Ted Kord, the Blue Beetle, is investigating the collapse of his company with Barbara Gordon when among the paperwork he discovers something entitled OMAC. Kord seeks help from other members of the superhero community but is blown off as Kord is often seen as a man not to be taken seriously. The situation becomes serious however when Booster Gold, Kord's longtime friend, is seriously injured by an explosion of unknown origin. Kord also tries to enlist the help of Batman but is rejected. Unknown to Kord is the fact that Batman himself had built the Brother MK I as the first of a series of spy satellites designed to maintain surveillance on the superhero community. Batman had discovered that he had been in fact mindwiped by the past version of the Justice League, as revealed in Identity Crisis #6. Blue Beetle tries to get help from the wizard Shazam and the Martian Manhunter but both have their own problems to deal with (the Spectre's campaign against magical forces and the war on Rann respectively). Only Wonder Woman offers Kord a sympathetic ear. Kord discovers that he himself is being watched and follows the trail to Europe where he discovers that Maxwell Lord, the former financial backer of the JLA, is the new supreme leader of the spy organization Checkmate and is planning the elimination of the world's meta-humans (superheroes). Blue Beetle tries to escape but is captured and shot to death by Lord. Checkmate it seems is in full control of Batman's Brother satellite, now a part of the mysterious OMAC project, that empowers field agents with strength that lets them stand up to Superman.

When this comic was first published, the fate of Blue Beetle was kept secret and the cover did not reveal his death. When the comic was reissued a few months later, the cover was modified to clearly show the corpse of Blue Beetle.

Plot summary of The OMAC Project

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

Sasha Bordeaux is the former lover and bodyguard of Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman. After being falsely imprisoned, Sasha joined Checkmate where she eventually came under the orders of Maxwell Lord, known in Checkmate by the codename Black King. After Blue Beetle's death at the hands of Lord, an act she felt was unnecessary, Sasha is ordered to dispose of Kord's body. She does so but takes Kord's trademark Blue Beetle goggles. Wracked with guilt, Sasha sneaks away from her Checkmate colleagues long enough to mail the goggles to Batman, who is presently unaware that Lord is in control of the Brother MK I. Meanwhile, Booster Gold recovers from his injuries from Countdown and, with the aid of Wonder Woman, begins to search for the missing Ted Kord. Batman receives the package from Sasha and realizes that not only is Ted Kord dead but the whole superhero community is in danger from the Brother MK I system.

Batman calls for meeting with Superman, Wonder Woman and Booster Gold. It is here that Batman tells of the death of Blue Beetle and the stolen Brother MK I satellite system. Enraged, Booster Gold tries to attack Batman but is foiled by Superman. The group agrees that they must locate Checkmate quickly. While this meeting is occurring Black King Maxwell Lord watches the JLA with great puzzlement. He knows someone in Checkmate gave the information to Batman but is unsure of who. After returning from Paris, Sasha is called in to the first meeting of the Black and White Kings and Queens, the leaders of Checkmate, in months. During the meeting, Lord uses his secret pyschic abilities to assassinate both Queens and White King. Lord is now the Supreme Leader of Checkmate. Lord's first order as leader is Sasha's assignment of destroying the trail of Blue Beetle. Sasha leaves for Kord's warehouse in Chicago. Once there, she is confronted by Batman. The former lovers rekindle their love with a passionate kiss. But the all-seeing Lord watches the betrayal and orders an attack of OMAC drones on Sasha and Batman.

Plot summary of Rann/Thanagar War

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

During a recent adventure, space cop Adam Strange fought a rogue group of the hawk-winged people of Thanagar. During the battle, the leader of the group transported Strange's adopted homeworld of Rann into the Thanagarian system with hopes of creating a dictatorship. However, Rann's new location caused the orbit of Thanagar to change and the planet crashed into the system's sun. The planet Rann now serves as a haven for the people of the now destroyed Thanagar. But tensions are rising and Strange knows war will soon erupt. Strange goes to Earth to recruit the help of Thanagarians Hawkman and Hawkgirl to prevent a war that will plunge the whole galaxy into chaos. Meanwhile, Green Lanterns Kilowog and Kyle Rayner are also summoned to Rann. When Strange and the Hawks arrive on Rann, they are shocked to see that the war has already begun.

Plot summary of Villains United

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

For months now, ex-U.S. President Lex Luthor has been using his resources to assemble an army against the superheroes. Luthor's team now has over two hundred members with a six-member core team consisting of Luthor, Talia Al Ghul, Doctor Psycho, Deathstroke, Black Adam, and the Calculator. But not all the villains offered a chance to join this army are thrilled with this idea. Batman villain Catman has joined a team of five supported by the mysterious Mockingbird including Cheshire, Deadshot, Scandal, Ragdoll and Parademon to oppose this new Society of Supervillains.

The new version of the Secret Six are uneasy with each other especially Deadshot and Catman. The two nearly kill each other after a late night walk by Catman. The two talk over breakfast and believe that one member of the Six is Mockingbird. While they talk, Cheshire secretly watches over. Scandal appears before the Six and reports that Mockingbird has intel on a shipment of Thanagarian weapons in a cargo freighter docked in Gotham Harbor. The Secret Six plan to take the weapons before they fall into the hands of the Society. The Six's plans however are overheard by the Calculator and he soon informs the Society of the plot. Lex Luthor says that an attack on the Six requires unity on their part. The Six arrive at the tanker but discover it empty. The Six knows that this is either bad intelligence or an ambush. Their fears are soon confirmed when Weather Wizard, Shadow Thief, Cheetah, Doctor Polaris and other members of the Society attack. The Secret Six put up a fight but are soon captured. Catman soon awakens to the sight of the Crime Doctor and his vile torture machines. The Doctor is part of the Society and wants an answer from Catman: Who is Mockingbird?

Plot summary of Day of Vengeance

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

Jean Loring, ex-wife of Ray Palmer (The Atom) and murderer of Sue Dibny in 2004's mini-series Identity Crisis, is transformed into a new version of the villainous Eclipso by mysterious forces. Loring escapes from her Arkham Asylum cell to unknown whereabouts. Meanwhile, the Spectre, the vengeful right hand of God, is now without a host since the revival of Hal Jordan. The Spectre has declared war on magic and is seeking out all the magical beings in the universe. With all their lives in danger, the Shadowpact, a group of heroic mystics including Ragman, Enchantress, Blue Devil, Nightmaster, Detective Chimp, and Nightshade plan a daring frontal assault against the Spectre. While the mystics plan this attack, the ancient wizard Shazam recruits his superhero Captain Marvel in a bid against the Spectre.

Using her powers, the Enchantress learns that Jean Loring, the new Eclipso, seduced the Spectre into his war against magic. It is also discovers that three of the most powerfuls mystics, Doctor Fate, the Phantom Stranger, and Madame Xanadu, have been neutralized. The Shadowpact decided that to stop the Spectre's rampage, they must attack Eclipso. As the group prepares for battle, the Enchantress tells Ragman that he may have to either trap or kill her as she turns evil with the magic power she contains. Ragman agrees and the group leaves for Budapest where the Spectre is already battling Captain Marvel. The Shadowpact spots Eclipso and prepares for the assualt.

Cover Gallery

Prelude to Infinite Crisis, cover by Churchill, Saiz, McGuinness and Reis.

Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1, cover by Jim Lee and Alex Ross.

Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1, Second Printing, cover by Jim Lee and Alex Ross.

The OMAC Project #1, cover by Jose Ladronn.

The OMAC Project #1, Second Printing, cover by Jose Ladronn.

The OMAC Project #1, Third Printing, cover by Jose Ladronn.

The OMAC Project #2, cover by Jose Ladronn.

Superman #217 (An OMAC Project Tie-In), cover by Ed Benes.

Birds of Prey #83 (An OMAC Project Tie-In), cover by Adriana Melo.

Day of Vengeance #1, cover by Walter Simonson.

Day of Vengeance #1, Second Printing, cover by Walter Simonson.

Day of Vengeance #2, cover by Walter Simonson.

JSA #73 (A DoV Tie-In), cover by Alex Ross.

JSA #74 (A DoV Tie-In), cover by Alex Ross.

The Rann/Thanagar War #1, cover by Ivan Reis.

Villains United #1, cover by J.G. Jones.

Villains United #2, cover by J.G. Jones.

Nightwing #109 (A Villains United Tie-In), cover by Phil Hester.

Release Dates of the Countdown to Infinite Crisis one shot and mini-series

In addition to the above, numerous other DC Comics titles, such as Birds of Prey, Teen Titans, and the Outsiders, will feature storylines tying into these mini-series.

Release Dates of Issues Related to Countdown to Infinite Crisis and its mini-series

DAY OF VENGEANCE

THE OMAC PROJECT

VILLAINS UNITED

MORE INFINITE CRISIS TIE-INS

Prelude to Infinite Crisis

DC Comics is releasing a 96 page special featuring stories leading up to the event. The special will include the crossover story from The Flash #219 and Wonder Woman #214 [in their entirety] plus the lead story from Superman Secret Files 2004. Also promised are panels from dozens of other titles.

These panels will be from the following issues:

DC has stated however that this list is incomplete and other issues will also be featured in the special.

External links

See also: Infinite Crisis, Adam Strange, Arkham Asylum, Batman, Bill Willingham, Birds of Prey, Black Adam, Blue Beetle