Crisis on Infinite Earths # 1 1985 NM-

Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (April 1985), titled "The Summoning!", is the historic opening chapter of DC Comics' groundbreaking 12-issue maxiseries. Masterminded by writer Marv Wolfman and legendary artist George Pérez, it is arguably the most important event comic in history, launched to completely streamline DC's complex 50-year-old multiverse into a single, unified continuity.

Core Plot & Synopsis

The issue sets the cosmic stakes for the entire event, introducing the absolute destruction of reality:

• The Death of Earth-Three: The issue opens with a terrifying, unstoppable wave of white antimatter tearing through the universe. It completely obliterates Earth-Three—the reality ruled by the villainous Crime Syndicate. In a direct homage to Superman's origin, the heroic Alexander Luthor and his wife Lois manage to save their infant son, Alexander Luthor Jr., by launching him in a small capsule into the dimensional void just before their world explodes.
• The Cosmic Witness: The tragic explorer Pariah (making his first appearance) materializes on Earth-Three, cursed to helplessly watch yet another universe die.
• The Summoning: Observing the encroaching annihilation from his massive satellite, the godlike Monitor prepares a final line of defense. He infuses his assistant, Lyla, with immense power, transforming her into Harbinger.
• The First Strike Team: Harbinger splits into multiple clones to travel across time, space, and alternate dimensions to recruit a bizarrely diverse group of 15 heroes and villains. Her roster includes Superman (Earth-Two), Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), Firebrand, Arion, Killer Frost, Cyborg, Dawnstar, and Green Lantern (John Stewart).
• The Cliffhanger: Harbinger brings the group to the Monitor's satellite. Before they can fully process what is happening, they are violently ambushed by a swarm of shadowy, murderous Shadow Demons sent by the mysterious Anti-Monitor.

Milestone Significance & Trivia

• First Full Appearances: This issue marks the very first full appearances of The Monitor and Pariah, and introduces Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) into the official DC Universe after DC acquired the character from Charlton Comics.
• Printing Troubles: Fans and collectors often note that the original first printing suffered from low production value. DC experimented with cheap printing plates that caused the ink line work to drop or fade. George Pérez reportedly threatened to quit the book unless DC immediately reverted to traditional plates for issue #2.

Backing Creator Credits

• Writer & Editor: Marv Wolfman
• Penciler & Co-Plotter: George Pérez
• Inkers: Dick Giordano and Mike DeCarlo
• Colorist: Anthony Tollin