Corwin wrote:
I've recently acquired all 12 issues of Crisis on Infinite Earths. However since I've never read it I was wondering if there is anything else that is ESSENTIAL to binding it?
Comic-wise, no.
History wise, yes.

Here's a real brief rundown:
  1. Superman, Batman and the rest started the DCU in '38. (Golden Age)
  2. In the late 50's DC 'relaunches' the Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Atom, etc, and they are given new looks and new origin stories. (Silver Age)
  3. The SA Flash meets the GA Flash in Flash 123.  This started the multiverse (the SA was on Earth 1, and the GA was on Earth 2).
  4. The SA/GA team-ups were popular and the SA team (JLA) had annual team-ups with the GA team (JSA)
  5. These crossovers were called Crisis on Earth _#_.
  6. Over the years DC acquired other companies and characters (Charlton, Shazam, etc).
  7. Also, DC loved using imaginary stories in the SA.
  8. Each of those companies/stories were placed on their own earths (Earth-S, Earth-X, etc).
So cut to 1985, DC wants to streamline all their characters and worlds.  This also allows them to "reboot" and explain how characters that got their powers in the 60s were still going strong almost 30 years later.

Hence the Crisis on Infinite Earths.




'Reading' / 'Reading soon' stack: DC/Vertigo - ArtOps, Batgirl, Gotham Academy, Gotham by Midnight, Injustice; Marvel - Allred's Silver Surfer; Other - Abe Sapien, Descender, Fight Club 2, Goon, Mind MGMT, Southern Bastards