Crisis on Infinite Earths Vol 1 1
Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 is an issue of the series Crisis on Infinite Earths (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 1985. It was published on January 3, 1985.
Synopsis for "The Summoning"

Death of Earth-Three
At the beginning of time, the Big Bang occurred, forming the universe. However, where there should have been one universe, there were many, each one a replication of the first, with their own separate histories. For in that instant a multiverse of worlds was born.
At the present time, a great white wall of pure anti-matter energy stretches out across the cosmos. It pervades the Multiverse, consuming entire galaxies. On an unknown parallel world, a being named Pariah arrives. He is forced to witness the death of multiple worlds in multiple dimensions. He disappears as he is transported to the parallel world known as Earth-Three. On that world, the Crime Syndicate, in a rare demonstration of heroism, strives to save their beleaguered planet. However, even their combined might cannot prevent their deaths at the anti-matter wall.
The planet's sole hero, Alexander Luthor, retreats to his home where his wife, Lois, holds their infant son, Alex, in her hands. Luthor places Alex into an experimental rocket capsule and launches him from the planet Earth. As Earth-Three dies, Alexander's capsule pierces the vibrational wall separating dimensions. It lands on the abandoned Justice League Satellite orbiting Earth-One.
On board another satellite, a being called the Monitor summons his assistant Harbinger. He instructs her to travel to various alternate Earths and bring together a select group of super-powered beings. Harbinger uses her power to create replicant versions of herself and sends them to the various Earths. The Monitor meanwhile, prepares to gather Alex Luthor's space capsule.

The first of Harbinger's replicants travels to Earth-One and gathers Solovar (New Earth)King Solovar]] from Gorilla City. Another travels to Earth of the 30th Century and summons Dawnstar of the Legion of Super-Heroes to her cause. A third replicant journeys to Earth-Two of the year 1942 to enlist the aid of Firebrand. One version gathers the Blue Beetle from Chicago on Earth-Four. Another version of Harbinger collects the Psycho-Pirate from Earth-Two's present. She brings him to Earth-One where they encounter Firestorm and Killer Frost. The Psycho-Pirate uses his Medusa Mask to make Killer Frost fall in love with Firestorm. Another replicant travels to Pre-Cataclysmic Atlantis to find Arion the Sorcerer. However, a Shadow Demon attacks her and takes possession of Harbinger. The possessed replicant finds Arion and brings him back to the Monitor's satellite.
When they arrive, they find a room full of heroes and villains from alternate realities. Before the assemblage has a chance to acclimate itself to their foreign environment, a horde of Shadow Demons attacks them. They fight them off until the Monitor arrives. He casts a brilliant burst of light, which dispels the shadows. Introducing himself, he tells the impatient gathering that he had summoned them because their universes may soon be destroyed.
Appearing in "The Summoning"
Featured Characters:
- Arion
- Blue Beetle
- Cyborg
- Dawnstar
- Doctor Polaris
- Firebrand
- Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond/Martin Stein)
- Geo-Force
- Green Lantern (John Stewart)
- Harbinger
- Killer Frost
- The Monitor
- Obsidian
- Pariah (First appearance)
- Psimon
- Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden)
- Solovar
- Superman (Earth-Two)
Supporting Characters:
- Crime Syndicate of America
- Johnny Quick (Dies)
- Owlman (Dies)
- Power Ring (Dies)
- Super-Woman (Dies)
- Ultraman (Dies)
- Alexander Luthor (Dies)
- Lois Luthor (Dies)
- Alexander Luthor, Jr. (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Shadow Demons (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Cara (A friend of Danette Reilly in 1942 on Earth-Two) (Single appearance)
- Chicago Police Department
- Detective Karp (A Chicago police detective on Earth-Four) (Single appearance)
- Gorillas of Gorilla City
- Koris (Single appearance)
- Jersey (One of a group of criminals busted by the Blue Beetle on Earth-Four) (Single appearance)
- All-Star Squadron (Mentioned only)
- Blue Beetle's mother (Mentioned only)
- The Flash (Earth-One) (Mentioned only)
- Infinity, Inc. (Mentioned only)
- Justice League of America (Mentioned only)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Mentioned only)
- Saturn Girl (Mentioned only)
- Outsiders (Mentioned only)
- Psycho-Pirate (Charley Halstead) (Mentioned only)
- Superman (Earth-One) (Mentioned only)
- Teen Titans (Mentioned only)
- Wonder Woman (Earth-One) (Mentioned only)
- Wonder Woman (Earth-Two) (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Multiverse
- Earth-One
- 45,000 BCE
- 1985
- Earth
- Near-Earth orbit
- Pre-Zero Hour 30th Century
- Earth-Two
- Earth-Three (Destroyed)
- Earth-Four
- Monitor's Satellite
- Earth-One
Items:
Vehicles:
- Blue Beetle's Bug
- RMS Titanic (Mentioned only)
Concepts:
- Crisis on Infinite Earths
- Magic
- Time Travel
- Halloween (Mentioned only)
- World War II (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 nearly 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 and hardcover Absolute collection. It is also reprinted in Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant #1.
- The first issue of this title features a wrap-around cover, illustrated by George Pérez.
- This is the first DC Comics appearance of the Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), as well as his native world, Earth-Four. Prior to the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Blue Beetle was a property of Charlton Comics.
- In the five-part television adaptation of Crisis on Infinite Earths, this issue was adapted in the first part of Part One (an episode of Supergirl), with the Monitor sending out Harbinger to bring together a different group of warriors (in this case, The Flash, Green Arrow and his daughter Mia Queen, The Atom, Sara Lance, and Batwmoan, and bringing them (instead of his satellite), Earth-38, the home of Superman and Supergirl, to join with them.
Trivia
- Many of the characters enlisted by Harbinger for the Monitor are featured in tie-in crossover issues.
- John Stewart joins in Green Lantern (Volume 2) #194.
- Firestorm and Psycho-Pirate are recruited in Fury of Firestorm #41.
- Obsidian joins in Infinity Inc. #18.
- Cyborg joins in New Teen Titans (Volume 2) #13.
- Alexander Luthor's exodus from Earth-Three is reminiscent of Superman leaving Krypton in Action Comics #1.
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Crisis on Infinite Earths series
- Images from Crisis on Infinite Earths Vol 1 1