As part of their announcements at Comic-Con International in San Diego, DC Comics has revealed that their Dark Crisis event is actually called something else — Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths.
The announcement came during today’s Dark Crisis panel at the convention, which featured Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere, Jeremy Adams, Meghan Fitzmartin, Tom King and Ram V.
“We’ve kept the real name a secret from the start because we didn’t want to give away what was happening in the middle of the story, with the return of the Infinite Earths,” Williamson said.
The event series by Williamson and Sampere was also revealed to be a sequel to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman and the late George Pérez — although I kind of thought that was obvious by the name Dark Crisis, the inclusion of Pariah and the whole “Great Darkness” thing … but Williamson and Sampere have more to say about the connection between the two series:
“It means so much to me to be able to be involved in creating a sequel to Crisis on Infinite Earths. It really is an honor and a dream come true for any comic book fan,” Sampere said. “Over the next few issues, fans can expect a big action explosion, with lots of epic, huge battles and a lot of emotion and surprises.”
DC also revealed covers and the solicitation text for Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #5:
DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #5
WAR AT THE HALL OF JUSTICE! After the shocking events of the last issue, Pariah has won. And now his Dark Army is poised for the invasion of our world. It’s up to the Titans to rally the remaining heroes to defeat Deathstroke’s ever-growing forces and avert total destruction! An epic war starts on the steps of the Hall of Justice, and only a miracle could help the heroes now. But all hope is not lost, as the worlds without a Justice League have begun to loosen their grip…but can the heroes return to Earth if it means one member of the Justice League could be lost forever?
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by DANIEL SAMPERE and ALEJANDRO SÁNCHEZ
Variant cover by IVAN REIS and DANNY MIKI
1:25 variant cover by ARIEL COLON
1:50 variant cover by MIKEL JANÍN
1:100 foil variant cover by DANIEL SAMPERE and ALEJANDRO SÁNCHEZ
Identity Crisis homage variant cover by MATEUS MANHANINI
$4.99 | 32 pages | 5 of 7 | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/4/22
Also revealed at the panel — or maybe I’m just now hearing about it — was the fact that the villain of Dark Crisis: Young Justice is Mickey Mxyzptlk, the son of Mr. Mxyzptlk. Here’s a look at some covers and the solicitation text for issue #5:
DARK CRISIS: YOUNG JUSTICE #5
HERE’S MICKEY! Mickey Mxyzptlk, son of Mr. Mxyzptlk, built the “perfect world” where he and the boys of Young Justice could rule without being criticized, without having to change, without ever having to grow up. Mickey has an ugly soul and too much power. The boys of Young Justice will have to overcome their shortcomings and defeat him to get back to the DCU they know and need!
Written by MEGHAN FITZMARTIN
Art by LAURA BRAGA
Cover by MAX DUNBAR
Variant cover by BELÉN ORTEGA
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 5 of 6 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/18/22
DC also revealed the creative teams for a couple of tie-in specials that were previously announced. Dark Crisis: The Deadly Green will be written by four people: Ram V, Joshua Williamson, Dan Waters and Alex Paknadel, with Daniel Bayliss on art.
“I’ve had a lot of fun playing with the magical side of DC’s incredible cast of characters from Arion to Zatanna,” said Ram V. “I’m thrilled to be working with Joshua, Dan Watters, and Alex Paknadel as co-writers to bring a little bit of ‘magic’ to Dark Crisis with characters like Alan Scott, the Swamp Thing, Jon Kent and John Constantine delving into the Deadly Green.”
DARK CRISIS: THE DEADLY GREEN #1
Superman and Swamp Thing uncover the secrets of the Great Darkness! During the original Crisis on Infinite Earths, Swamp Thing encountered and formed a truce with the Great Darkness, but this ancient force has been awakened by Pariah and now its influence is felt across the Multiverse. Now the Avatar of the Green must work together with new allies to investigate how far the Great Darkness has spread and why it would work with Pariah. If they want to stop the Great Darkness from swallowing the Green, they need some extra help…ENTER: SUPER SWAMP THING.
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, DAN WATTERS, RAM V, and ALEX PAKNADEL
Art by DANIEL BAYLISS
Cover by GOÑI MONTES
Variant cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA
1:25 foil variant cover by STEVE BEACH
$5.99 | 48 pages | One-shot
ON SALE 10/11/22
Mark Waid, Dennis Culver and Delilah S. Dawson, meanwhile, are the creators for Dark Crisis: The Dark Army, which features Robin, Dr. Light and more. It arrives Nov. 22 and stars Damian Wayne, Red Canary, Dr. Light and a ragtag team of heroes, who “cross enemy lines to steal control of the Dark Army from Pariah. But in the process, they uncover a secret about Dr. Light’s place in Crisis on Infinite Earths that rocks the future of the DCU!” The main cover is by Gleb Melnikov, with variant covers by Werther Dell’Edera and Taj Tenfold
Finally, Dark Crisis: War Zone #1 is “an on-the-ground look at the madness and chaos of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths,” as seen through the eyes of Linda Park and Iris West. It’s by writers Jeremy Adams and Stephanie Williams, with the rest of the creative team to be announced later. Dark Crisis: War Zone #1 will be available on Dec. 6 with a main cover by Mario “Fox” Foccillo & Prasad Rao and variant cover by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund:
“The first few issues of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths have been a mix of action and character moments and we’re turning it up to 11 with the last few issues,” Williamson said. “It’s going to be a roller coaster with some intense moments for DC fans, including team-ups that you won’t see coming and a fight scene that is probably one of the more emotional moments I’ve ever written for DC.”
John Constantine might be a B-Lister, but it would suck not to include Hellblazer in Dark Crisis
Constantine’s presence in Dark Crisis is the reason I read this saga