Summary
The Arrowverse and the Tomorrowverse’sCrisis On Infinite Earthscrossover events adapt the eponymousDC Comicscrossover storyline, but each of them achieves it in their own distinct way. DC Comics' originalCrisis On Infinite Earthscontinues to be one of the biggest crossover events not only in DC Comics history, but also in the history of the comic book medium as a whole. It successfully brought together characters from several parallel universes and created a cataclysmic event of unparalleled dimensions, establishing the concept of a multiverse-wide rebirth that would be copied multiple times afterward.
DC’sCrisis On Infinite Earthshas inspired recent multiversal reboots that have led to new continuities such asThe New 52and the aptly namedRebirth. Outside the comic book pages, the 1985 comic storyline has inspired the DCEU’sThe Flash,the Arrowverse’s live-action multi-episodeCrisis On Infinite Earths, and the Tomorrowverse’s three animatedJustice League: Crisis On Infinite Earthsmovies. There are several differences and similarities between the latter two, which adapt the original storyline much more faithfully than the big-screenThe Flash.
The Arrowverse Vs Tomorrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths Plots Explained (& Which Adapted The Story Better)
The Tomorrowverse And The Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite EarthsAdaptations Put A Fresh Spin On The Classic Event
The Tomorrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthskicks off with John Constantine’s attempt to get rid of Darkseid before he becomes a threat to his universe, attempting to prevent a similar catastrophe to the one that resulted in the multiverse’s previous reset point duringJustice League Dark: Apokolips War’s ending. However, killing Darkseid as a baby messes with the multiverse’s natural order, creating the universe-killing Anti-Monitors as an ultracosmic defense system. While some universes manage to survive longer than expected, the only way to prevent the absolute erasure of reality is to create a single universe once again.
Meanwhile,The CW’s live-action version ofCrisis on Infinite Earthsreveals that the Anti-Monitor began his quest to destroy the multiverse when the Monitor traveled to the Netherverseat the dawn of time. Eons later, the Anti-Monitor’s arrival is imminent, and the Arrowverse’s Earth-1, Earth-38, and Earth-3 heroes scramble to stop a wave of antimatter destroying the multiverse. The Monitor gathers a team of heroes, now christened “Paragons”, but dies before the Anti-Monitor can be stopped. In an act of ultimate heroism, Oliver Queen — now the Spectre — sacrifices himself to rewrite the multiverse, and the Anti-Monitor is shrunk and sent to the microverse.
Sara Lance
Destiny
Just like DC Comics' original event, the Tomorrowverse and the Arrowverse use the concept of the multiverse to streamline their respective continuities. While the characters and plot details of each adaptation would always be different from the source material, the sense of impending doom is always a central element. The Arrowverse’s large number of established characters and universes makes itsCrisis on Infinite Earthsadaptation more convoluted, but it also raises the stakes for die-hard Arrowverse fans. Conversely, the Tomorrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthsfollows a more straightforward story, but the collateral destruction isn’t as palpable on screen.
InJustice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Three,the destruction of popular DC animated universes like theSuper Friends,Teen Titans, and DC Animated Universe is shown superficially, which contrasts to the considerable amount of screen time that every Earth gets in the Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthsevent.
The Arrowverse Vs Tomorrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths Cast (& Which Was Better)
Unless a franchise aims to adapt DC Comics' original storyline accurately from the start, noCrisis on Infinite Earthsadaptation will share the exact same cast of characters as the 1985 comic book event. Notably, the Tomorrowverse’sCrisis On Infinite Earthsfeatures the original addition of John Constantine as a major character in the event, but also pays homage to the source material by including the minor villain Psycho Pirate, who aids the Anti-Monitor and becomes the only individual to remember the Pre-Crisis multiverse after the reboot in the original comic book storyline.
Also acknowledging the source material, Supergirl’s sacrifice makes her a martyr in the conflict, and inspires Superman to make his own ultimate sacrifice.
The Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthsis much more populated due to the seven-year and six-show journey the franchise had already covered by then. Barry Allen has an even bigger role than he did in the source material.Cameos such as Tom Welling’s Superman, Tom Ellis' Lucifer, and even Ezra Miller’s Flash make a much bigger impact than the cameos featured in the Tomorrowverse’s version of the crossover due to their longer screentime. And of course, Oliver Queen is the one who receives the privilege of restarting the whole multiverse thanks to his status as the franchise’s first-ever DC hero.
The Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthsmight have an edge over the Arrowverse’s, in great part due to the popularity of previous multi-season shows
Regarding their cast of characters, both the Tomorrowverse and the Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthsadaptations honor the main heroes of their respective universes, allowing them to shine in the last moments of their respective continuities. However,the Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthsmight have an edge over the Arrowverse’s, in great part due to the popularity of previous multi-season shows likeArrow,The Flash,Supergirl, andLegends of Tomorrow.The Tomorrowverse’s twelve animated movies, on the other hand, had little time to gather a following since its last reset point, released only four years before — 2020’sJustice League Dark: Apokolips War.
Which Crisis On Infinite Earths Adaptation Was More Accurate Between The Arrowverse & Tomorrowverse
The Tomorrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths Is Slightly More Faithful To The Source Material Than The Arrowverse’s
Similarly to its cast of characters, anyCrisis on Infinite Earthadaptation’s plot will be quite different from the original unless it’s set up to be a faithful recreation from the beginning. Both the Tomorrowverse and the Arrowverse’s adaptations pay homage to the source material with elements like Lex Luthor’s last-minute heroic turn (albeit with different plans and different versions of the character), the Anti-Monitor’s unstoppable nature, and the inevitable renovation of the multiverse. Both adaptations also lack major events from the comics, such as an all-out battle between heroes and brief visits to Atlantis and Oa.
Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Three Ending Explained & How It Finishes The Tomorrowverse
After four years and 10 films, DC’s animated Tomorrowverse comes to an incredible end with Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 3.
However,the Tomorrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthsis definitely more comic-accurate than its Arrowverse counterpart, perhaps not because of an overall resemblance to the general storyline, but certainly due to its larger number of specific moments inspired by events from the original crossover. For instance, time-displaced dinosaurs, Psycho-Pirate’s alliance with the Anti-Monitor, and Supergirl’s death are all ripped straight from the 1985 comic book storyline. The Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earths, on the other hand, took more creative liberties with its adaptation.
Which Version Of Crisis On Infinite Earths Was Better Between The Arrowverse & Tomorrowverse?
Each Crisis On Infinite Earths Adaptations Has A Distinct Target Audience
The Arrowverse’sCrisis On Infinite Earthshas an advantage over the Tomorrowverse’s version due to the popularity of its characters and their respective shows, while the Tomorrowverse’s adaptation is more accessible to general audiences and features slightly more faithful events and characters. Combined with their live-action TV and animated movie format, such differences make bothCrisisadaptations able to stand on their own in their own right. To this day, there isn’t a definitiveCrisis On Infinite Earthsadaptation that’s close to being a one-to-one recreation of the original 1985 crossover event, and that makes it possible for new franchises to keep putting their own fresh spin on the storyline.
