Crisis on Infinite Earths: Paragon Rising Deluxe Edition special featuresFrom Vu
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS: PARAGONS RISING THE DELUXE EDITION (07 Jul 2020)
DC Comics
For those interested in the Crisis on Infinite Earths: Paragon Rising Deluxe Edition (which came out today 7/7/2020) - here are all the new contents:
1 page introduction by Greg Berlanti
3-page message from Marc Guggenheim
2-page message from Marv Wolfman
the two Jerry Ordway virgin covers (no logos)
14 pages of Paragons Rising script (includes concept art)
18 pages of Crisis #2 pencils by Tom Dernick
20 pages of production art.
Posted by Vu Sleeper
Last month marked the 30th anniversary of the first issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths,
the ur-Big Event whose ripples continue to influence today’s (and
tomorrow’s) superhero books. Accordingly, I thought it was a good time
to revisit each issue on its approximate anniversary. That’s not because each issue of COIE was always a landmark unto itself, but because we tend to remember Crisis’ effects more than the ways in which the story was told.
Thus, it’s time for Issue 2,
which was published in the direct market during the first week of
January 1985. The issue was written by Marv Wolfman, penciled by George
Pérez, inked by Dick Giordano, colored by Tony Tollin and lettered by
John Costanza. Wolfman is listed as the issue’s editor, with Bob
Greenberger as his associate editor (and co-plotter, according to COIE: The Compendium) and Len Wein as consulting editor.
RETROVIEW: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS
written by Jim Johnson
published in COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1565 (14 Dec 2003)
website: www.comicsbuyersguide.com
DC editors bestowed four-color godhood
upon Marv Wolfman, when they OK'd his proposal to revamp the company's
incomprehensible 50-year history in the early 1980s. and, like an angry
deity come judgment day, Wolfman waved his hand and wiped countless
redundant universes from existence, making the DC universe a more
accessible place for new readers.
Of course, fandom would have settled for
no one other than George Pérez to illustrate such an epic, and Pérez
superceded all expectations by turning in one of the finest efforts of
his career.
Wolfman wastes no time getting started,
beginning the culling of the multiverse on the second page. With the
ironically heroic demise of Earth-3's Crime Syndicate immediately
thereafter, Wolfman also kicks off the first of many emotionally
intense and beautifully constructed death sequences.
It's a bit unfortunate that the
remainder of the issue is little more than exposition for the rest of
the series, but riding along while various heroes and villains from
different Earths and eras are brought together is, nonetheless, a
fanboy's delight.
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #2
(May 1985)
DC Comics
It's another fairly slow issue,
action-wise. But that's barely noticed amid the excitement generated
from the intermingling of such characters from different Earths and
time periods as Kamandi and Earth-2's Superman, for example.
Amazingly, among the dozen of characters
utilized (so far), Wolfman still manages to squeeze in panel time for
individual characters, like The Flash and Psycho Pirate, who eventually
play important roles. And, as if that weren't enough, he jams a few
intriguing plot developments into an already-packed issue. Astonishing.
It would be easy to criticize the fact
that all Wolfman does here is fill another issue with unlikely, ragtag
alliances plopped into random time periods.
Except it's just too doggone cool not to like, and this is what we all paid 75¢ to see, after all.
This is fun, plain and simple. But it's
obviously none are having as much fun as Wolfman and Pérez themselves,
who are making the most of the limited playtime allotted to them In
comicdom's biggest sandbox.
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #2
(May 1985)
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #2 (Canada) (May 1985)
COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1565 (14 Dec 2003)
BLACK WIDOW (Aug 2020)
