Crisis on Infinite Earths: Every DC Comics event ranked worst to best
By Scott Brown
25. Armageddon 2001
A hero snaps, leading to the murders of every other hero in the DC universe. 50 years later, in a dystopian future, Matthew Ryder goes back in time to discover Monarch’s identity.
There’s a couple good things that came out of this series, the character Waverider and, actually, that’s about it. Told across two issues with several other annual tie-ins that don’t focus on the main story, there was a lot of potential for this series. It starts with an intriguing set-up, but quickly falls flat on its face when it goes back in time. The mystery loses anything of value and the reveal of who Monarch is feels completely out of left field in the worst way possible.
Time travel stories are hard to do in the first place, but when there’s nothing compelling holding the reason for the time travel together, the story ends up failing. That’s exactly what happens with this even. Once the time travel occurs, any interest that the series had built is lost.
24. Legends (1986)
Not to confused with Legends of Tomorrow, this event follows Darkseid after he makes a bet with The Phantom Stranger that he can turn humanity on the heroes that inhabit Earth. Yeah, weird set-up, but plenty of potential.
Sadly though, this potential is squandered in the actual series. Because it ended up being more of a launching pad for The Flash, Justice League International, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and Suicide Squad, the series never felt like it had a true voice. It felt like a mandated set-up series rather than an event proper. Nothing about this event truly stands out, even with the talent involved, which is the most disappointing thing about it.