Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 is an issue of the series Crisis on Infinite Earths (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1985. It was published on February 7, 1985.
Synopsis for "Time and Time Again!"
The Dawn of Man
Anthro the Cave-Boy leads a herd of mammoths away from the village of the Bear Clan tribe. After falling from atop one of the great beasts, he peers through the underbrush where he sees an image of a great futuristic city. He shakes his head and when he looks again, the image is gone. In addition, the herd of mammoths that he had corralled is likewise missing.
30th Century Earth
Members of the Legion of Super-Heroes discover the displaced mammoths stampeding through Plaza Square in Metropolis. Colossal Boy attempts to scoop them up into his giant arms, but they suddenly disappear.
Earth-One – July, 1985
In Gotham City, the Joker murders film mogul, Harold J. Standish. Batman crashes through the window and attempts to disarm the villain, but the Joker keeps him at bay with an adhesive shooting flower. Suddenly, a distraught image of the Flash appears before them, warning about the end of the world. Batman tries to talk to the Flash, but he disintegrates before his eyes.
On board the Monitor's satellite, the Monitor warns his assemblage that a wave of antimatter energy is sweeping through the Multiverse consuming entire realities. He has established certain devices throughout the various realities designed to halt the antimatter wall. He requires the heroes to travel to each reality and activate each of the devices. Nobody truly trusts the Monitor, but they realize that they have little choice but to heed his warnings.
Superman of Earth-Two, King Solovar and Dawnstar travel to "Earth-AD", a post-apocalyptic future timeline. They find the young adventurer, Kamandi, scaling the side of an immense golden tower. The heroes realize that this is one of the devices that the Monitor spoke of. A horde of Shadow Demons arrives to sabotage the tower, but the heroes manage to drive them away.
Arion, Obsidian and the Psycho-Pirate arrive in ancient Atlantis. Suddenly, Pariah arrives, but quickly falls sway to the Psycho-Pirate's emotion manipulation. Arion turns his power against the Psycho-Pirate and frees Pariah of his influence. Psycho-Pirate suddenly disappears and rematerializes in a darkened room. A deep voice bellows forth to him, commanding him to follow his every order. The Psycho-Pirate, terrified by this mysterious individual, meekly complies.
Meanwhile back on the Monitor's satellite, the Monitor asks Harbinger to retrieve Alex Luthor from his nursery. Harbinger is shocked to discover that Alex, formerly an infant, is now the age of a young toddler. Suddenly, a dark influence takes control of her, commanding her to betray the Monitor.
Appearing in "Time and Time Again!"
Featured Characters:
- Anthro
- Arion
- Batman (Earth-One)
- Blue Beetle
- Cyborg
- Firebrand (Danette Reilly)
- Firestorm {Ronnie Raymond/Martin Stein)
- The Flash (Earth-One)
- Geo-Force
- Green Lantern (John Stewart)
- Guardians of the Universe
- Kamandi
- Lady Chian
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Obsidian
- Solovar
- Superman (Earth-One)
- Superman (Earth-Two)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Anti-Monitor (First appearance)
- Doctor Polaris
- Killer Frost
- The Joker (Earth-One)
- Psimon
- Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden)
- Shadow Demons
Other Characters:
- Ancient Atlanteans
- Bear Tribe
- Harold J. Standish (Single appearance) (Appears only as a corpse)
- Science Police
- Sid
- Freddy
- Wooly Mammoths
- Power Ring (On a TV or computer screen) (Cameo)
- Raven (On a TV or computer screen) (Cameo)
- Alexander Luthor, Sr. (Mentioned only)
- Apes (Earth-AD) (Mentioned only)
- Czar Simian (Mentioned only)
- Choloh (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Canus (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi) (Mentioned only)
- Cecil B. DeMille (Mentioned only)
- Gorillas (Mentioned only)
- Green Lantern Corps (Mentioned only)
- Infinity, Inc. (Mentioned only)
- Iris Allen (Mentioned only)
- Jack L. Warner (Mentioned only)
- The Joker's mom (Mentioned only)
- Lois Luthor (Mentioned only)
- Louis B. Mayer (Mentioned only)
- Myles Standish (Mentioned only)
- Sam Warner (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Multiverse
- Antimatter Universe
- Earth-AD
- Earth-One
- Prehistoric Era
- 1985
- Earth
- Gotham City
- Arkham Asylum (Mentioned only)
- Metropolis
- Central City (Mentioned only)
- Mediterranean Sea (Mentioned only)
- Gotham City
- Oa
- Earth
- Pre-Zero Hour 30th Century
- Metropolis
- Plaza Square
- Metropolis
- Earth-Three (On a TV or computer screen) (Cameo)
- Monitor's Satellite
Items:
- Antimatter
- Central Power Battery of Oa
- Cosmic Tuning Fork (First appearance)
- Batarang
- Joker Venom (Behind the scenes)
- Joker's Bang! Flag Gun
- Legion Flight Rings
- Medusa Mask
- Utility Belt
Concepts:
- Magic
- Time Travel
- Great Disaster (Mentioned only)
Notes
- Crisis on Infinite Earths is a twelve-issue limited series. It is the first DC series of its kind to be referred to as a maxi-series. The Crisis storyline ties into every existing DC title published at this time (See Crisis on Infinite Earths Crossover for a full listing of corresponding issues).
- This issue is reprinted in the Crisis on Infinite Earths trade paperback, as well as the hardcover edition and Absolute slipcase edition.
- Anthro, Embra, Lart and Ne-Ahn appeared last in Anthro #6
- The Flash appeared last in The Flash #350. His strange appearance in this issue is explained in detail in Crisis on Infinite Earths #8.
- Kamandi appeared last in DC Comics Presents #64.
- Power Ring appears in a cameo flashback of the destruction of Earth-Three from Crisis #1.
- In the five-part television adaptation of Crisis on Infinite Earths, this issue is largely adapted into the second part of Part One (an episode of Supergirl), where the Monitor's assembled warriors (in this case Superman, The Flash, Green Arrow and his daughter Mia Queen, Supergirl, The Atom, Sara Lance, and Batwoman) fight a legion of Shadow Monsters to defend the Monitor's tower on Earth-38, the home of Supergirl.
Trivia
- The Monitor makes reference to a new Doctor Light. This would be Kimiyo Hoshi.
- It is revealed in this issue that Pariah is from the very first Earth to be destroyed by the antimatter wave.
- Ironically, Superman of Earth-Two is the first hero to converse with Kamandi. Kamandi is in fact the descendent of Earth-AD's counterpart to Superman.
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Crisis on Infinite Earths series
- Images from Crisis on Infinite Earths Vol 1 2