Final Crisis

:"Final Crisis" is also the title of the twelfth issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths."Infobox comic book title


imagesize=
caption=Green Lantern features in the artwork for the cover of "Final Crisis" #1.
Art by J.G. Jones
schedule=Monthly
limited =Y
publisher=DC Comics
date=May 2008 - December 2008
issues=7
Superhero=y
main_char_team=DC Universe
writers = Grant Morrison
artists = J. G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco
pencillers=
inkers=
letterers=
colorists=
TPB=Hardcover
ISBN=1401222811
subcat=DC Comics
sort=Pagename

"Final Crisis" is a seven-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics, in 2008. It is written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by J. G. Jones and, joining him from issue #4 onwards, Carlos Pacheco. [ [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080616-PachecoFC.html Carlos Pacheco Joins JG Jones on Final Crisis] , Newsarama, June 16, 2008] It directly follows "DC Universe #0" after the conclusion of the 51-issue "Countdown to Final Crisis" weekly limited series. [http://www.newsarama.com/Comic-Con_07/DC/countdownpanel.html SDCC '07: DC's 'Countdown...To The End?' PANEL] , Newsarama, July 26, 2007] Promotion about the miniseries describes its story as "the day evil won". The series deals with various superheroes investigating the murders of Orion of the New Gods and Martian Manhunter, which leads into a bigger plot.

Premise and synopsis

The mini-series revolves around "The Day Evil Won", as Darkseid and his fellow evil New Gods invade Earth in the wake of the utter destruction of the heroic New Gods. Having transcended into the forms of astral entities capable of possessing mortals, Darkseid assassinates the lone surviving New God, his son Orion, and arranges for his harbinger Libra to organize Earth's super-villain community into an army of followers using the "Religion of Crime". These events lead to the death of Martian Manhunter and the destruction of the "Daily Planet". Meanwhile many of the planet's major superheroes are quickly picked off one by one.Comic book reference|Title = Final Crisis|Issue = 1|Date = (July 8, 2008)|Publisher = DC Comics] Comic book reference|Title = Final Crisis|Issue = 2|Date = (August, 2008)|Publisher = DC Comics]

Opposing Darkseid is an army of heroes united by Golden Age Green Lantern Alan Scott as well as Shilo Norman, the new Mister Miracle, who has recruited Sonny Sumo and a group of rookie Japanese super-heroes "The Super Young Team." Though the young Japanese superheroes save Shilo and Sonny from being killed by Darkseid's Justifiers, the heroes suffer two major setbacks. Oracle and Mr. Terrific are unable to save humanity from Darkseid's unleashing of the Anti-Life Equation onto the internet. Flashes Wally West and Barry Allen — who has escaped death itself to try and save Orion from being killed by a time-traveling sniper bullet — return to the present time, albeit a month later than when they left and discover the world is in ruins; Darkseid has conquered Earth.Comic book reference|Title = Final Crisis|Issue = 2|Date = (August 8, 2008)|Publisher = DC Comics] Comic book reference|Title = Final Crisis|Issue = 3|Date = (September 8, 2008)|Publisher = DC Comics]

Background

References to "Infinite Crisis" as the "middle Crisis" ["Justice League of America" #9: "The Lightning Saga, Chapter Three", July 2007.] gave readers the impression there would be at least one additional major follow-up to the original "Crisis on Infinite Earths." A May 2008 teaser poster confirmed this speculation with the tagline: "Heroes die. Legends live forever."

According to Grant Morrison, work began on "Final Crisis" #1 in early 2006, with the intention of the series being a thematic and literal sequel to "Seven Soldiers" and "52", two projects that Morrison was heavily involved in at the time. [ [http://newsarama.com/comics/080609-MorrisonFC01.html Grant Morrison on Final Crisis #1] , Newsarama, June 9, 2008] Morrison also claims to have instructed DC to place an embargo, banning all writers from using the New Gods until "Final Crisis" was released, in order for his work with the characters in "Seven Soldiers" would be undisturbed leading into the publication.Fact|date=August 2008

DC Comics however, would not go through with Morrison's request for an embargoFact|date=August 2008 and instead featured them heavily in "Countdown to Final Crisis", a 51 issue mini-series launched immediately following the conclusion of "52". "Countdown to Final Crisis" and "Death of the New Gods" retconned Morrison's work with the New Gods in "Seven Soldiers" and presented its own version of the final battle of the New Gods, which ended with Infinity-Man (and the Source itself) eradicating all of the New Gods save for Darkseid and Orion, who ultimately tears his father's heart out and kills him.

Because of delays with the artwork with "Final Crisis", DC Comics' desire to not delay the launch of the series, and a need to wrap up the plotlines of "Countdown" since Morrison had no intention of having them continue into "Final Crisis", as DC Comics had hoped, "Countdown" wrapped with issue #1 and its planned final issue ("#0) was revamped as a 50 cent one-shot special called "DC Universe #0". Besides hyping upcoming storylines such as "Batman RIP" and "The Blackest Night", the issue was narrated by Barry Allen and featured Libra leading a group of super-villains in prayer for the "god of evil", resulting in Darkseid's soul reforming after his death.

To help readers identify events pertinent to "Final Crisis" and other major DCU events in the coming months, a "Sightings" cover banner appears on various DC comics as "signposts, marking important storybeats and moments throughout the DC Universe." [ "DC Nation #110"] The first such headers appeared on "Justice League of America" (vol. 2) #21 and "Action Comics" #866, respectively (the Justice League of America issue which featured Libra's return and his recruiting of the Human Flame).

Format

The first issue of "Final Crisis" went on sale May 28 2008. [ [http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=9276 DC Comics' solicitation for "Final Crisis" #1] ] "Final Crisis" is planned for seven oversized issues released over eight months starting in May 2008. Although there will be other projects alongside "Final Crisis", the story will not crossover with any ongoing series.cite news|last=Phillips|first=Dan|title=Dan DiDio on DC's Future|publisher=IGN|date=2008-02-11|url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/851/851191p1.html|accessdate=2008-02-16]

Tie-ins

Several one-shots and mini-series will be released that will tie in with Final Crisis: [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=156412 Final Crisis: Secrets and Truths with Geoff Johns] , Newsarama, May 9, 2008]

*"DC Universe" #0
*"DC Universe: Last Will and Testament" (one-shot) [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16693 Meltzer Bridges Final Crisis with “Last Will and Testament”] , Comic Book Resources, June 4, 2008]
*"Final Crisis" #1 "Director's Cut Special"
*"" #1-5 [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15836 INFINITE GEOFF JOHNS II: Action Comics] , Comic Book Resources, April 2, 2008]
*"Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns" (one-shot)
*"Final Crisis: Requiem" (one-shot) [ [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080709-FCRequiem.html Remembering the Martian: Tomasi on FC: Requiem] , Newsarama, July 9, 2008]
*"" #1-3
*"Final Crisis: Resist" (One-Shot)
*"" #1-5 [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16707 Rucka Reveals Final Crisis: Revelations] , Comic Book Resources, June 5, 2008]
*"Final Crisis: Secret Files"
*"Final Crisis: Sketchbook"
*"Final Crisis: Submit" (one-shot)
*"Final Crisis: Superman Beyond" #1-2
*"Justice League of America" #21Grant Morrison has also said that a two-part story following the "Batman R.I.P." storyline will also "fit in" with Final Crisis. [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154379 NYCC '08: DC's Final FINAL CRISIS PANEL] , Newsarama, April 20, 2008] Also, in a move DiDio described as "inspirationally tied to Final Crisis", in early 2009 the villains will take over the main DC Universe titles and some will be featured in "Faces of Evil", a series of one-shots, all designed to examine the question "What happens when evil wins?". [ [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090818-FacesofEvil.html January Sees 'Faces of Evil' at DC - Dan DiDio Spills] , Newsarama, September 18, 2008]

Reception

Sales estimates for May 2008 put "Final Crisis" #1 in second place to the second issue of "Secret Invasion", with estimated sales of 159,036. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16836 Sales Estimates for May, 2008] , Comic Book Resources, June 17, 2008]

Collected editions

The series will be collected into a single volume:

*"Final Crisis" (240 pages, hardcover, June 2009, ISBN 1401222811)

Notes

References

*gcdb series|id=30865|title="Final Crisis"

External links

*comicbookdb|type=title|id=18560|title=Final Crisis
* [http://www.cincity2000.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1384 Final Crisis #3: On the Way to a Destructive Masterpiece] CC2K, August 7, 2008
* [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=146753 Grant Morrison on Final Crisis] , Newsarama, February 14, 2008
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16005 All Star Grant Morrison I; Final Crisis] , Comic Book Resources, April 15, 2008
* [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080721-MorrisonFC02.html Grant Morrison on "Final Crisis" #2] , Newsarama, July 21, 2008
* [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20198161,00.html Comics First Look: DC's 'Final Crisis'] , "Entertainment Weekly"
* [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090808-MorrisonFC3.html Grant Morrison on "Final Crisis" #3] , Newsarama, September 9, 2008