Chronology of the Crises
Part 2
| The Infinite Crisis Prelude | |
| IDENTITY CRISIS | |
| Alexander Luthor Jr. of Earth-3's extra-dimensional "heaven" begins to warp in response to Lois Lane's deteriorating health. Watching from outside of the timestream, Alex and the Superboy of Earth-Prime are incensed by the way the heroes of Earth have "squandered" their lives while they are forced to live outside reality. With Superman's attentions focused on Lois, they find a way to free themselves from their self-imposed prison and begin a plan to alter reality and create a "better" world. In space, Prime alters the gravitational makeup of the universe, shifting its center to where Earth-2's once laid. Alex manipulates the host-less Spectre into beating magic back to its rawest form. They also recover the Anti-monitor's corpse to form a tower that will channel their energies. | Infinite Crisis #4 (2.06) |
| Alexander Luthor begins impersonating Lex Luthor. He takes advantage of the fear spread by rumors of the JLA's mindwipe of Dr. Light, and recruits others to form a new super-villain Society. He tells them that his premise is to construct a device to do the same thing to the heroes. He first recruits core members Dr. Psycho, Deathstroke, Talia, Black Adam and the Calculator. They all move on to recruit others. NOTE: The Society first appeared in shadow with Luthor in Adv. of Superman #636 (March); next in JSA #70 (April) when they recruit Adam; then in Wonder Woman #214 (May) with Psycho recruiting Zoom; and also shadowed in Teen Titans #23 (June), revealing Deathstroke. The name "Society" was used in JSA #70. They are not all fully revealed until Villains United #1 (July). | Adv. of Superman #636 (3.05); JSA #70 (4.05) |
| Kate Spencer is paid a visit by the JLA, as a courtesy while they are in L.A. investigating the Shadow Thief's murder of Firestorm. They find Sands and take him into custody. (#5) When Kate talks on television about the case, she implies that she'd like the Theif to help to capture others. This alerts the Calculator and the Society, who decide to send a variety of assassins. (#6-8) As Manhunter, she stops them all (and kills the Monocle), but Sands gets free. He's put down by Firehawk (who'd been at the trial as Lorriane Reilly). The judge rules a mistrial. The Calculator decides against sending another hitman. | Manhunter #5-10 (2-7.05) |
| In the antimatter universe, the Crime Syndicate discovers the existence of Qward and also learn that their universe has been dismantled then reintegrated (JLA/Avengers) and that the JLA is partly to blame. They use the antimatter Brainiac's technology to travel to matter-Earth for information, disguising themselves as the JLA . They eventually discover that a fundamental law has been changed by Krona's cosmic restructuring: they can now remain for unlimited amounts of time in the matter universe. The Qwardians retaliate against the CSA using the ancient power of their god, Erdammeru the Void Hound. The new Construct helps the JLA anticipate the Qwardians' arrival and Batman brokers peace. The Qwardians then turn on their known enemy, the CSA, vowing to ravage the antimatter Earth. Together, the JLA and CSA imprison the Void Hound's electronic mind; the Qwardians retreat and the CSA are left owing the Justice League a favor. The Qwardians leave the antimatter Earth in chaos. Batman then checks on the cosmic egg containing Krona. But Metron is also watching the egg — which is growing — and sends out false readings about its status. | JLA #108-114 (1-7.05) |
| ADAM STRANGE | |
| One day, Adam Strange finds that his regularly scheduled Zeta Beam does not materialize. He knows something was wrong, and seeks help from Superman. The Man of Steel delivers grim news that the planet Rann has been destroyed when its sun went supernova. Adam is then attacked by alien bounty hunters who claim that Rann's disappearance had been faked. | Adam Strange #1 (11.04) |
| Adam takes the aliens' Zeta Beam device and teleports right into the corona of the supernova where Rann once was. He is rescued by Thanagarian commander Sh'ri Valkyr (who secretly works for the Cult of the Seven Devils). They discover evidence that Rann has been teleported away. Thanagar's High Councilor Thrall orders Adam be brought back to their planet to take the fall for Rann's destruction. Valkyr serves as his defender, but deliberately fails him and he is sentenced for execution. | Adam Strange #2-3 (12.04-1.05) |
| Sh'ri Valkyr lets Adam escape only to track his activities. He finds some unexpected allies in the Omega Men. Sh'ri's master is revealed as Starbreaker, a cosmic vampire whom Adam and the Justice League had battled twice before. Adam discovers a device called the Omega Beam, based on the Zeta Beam technology. It draws power from the very fabric of space/time. They realized that this device could be the most powerful weapon ever created. Naturally, this is what Starbreaker was seeking; the device would enable him to devour the whole universe. The trail leads to Maltus — new headquarters of the L.E.G.I.O.N. | Adam Strange #4-5 (2-3.05) |
| A clone of Adam's father-in-law Sardath gives Adam coordinates to Rann and he is reunited with his wife, Alanna. Sardath had used the new Omega Beam to transport Rann and its three suns into an empty universe to escape Starbreaker. Valkyr tracks them down and unleashes Starbreaker on one of the three suns. A L.E.G.I.O.N. assault fleet and the last remaining Darkstars (Ferrin Colos, Munchukk & Chaser Bron) pitch in to stop Starbreaker from acquiring Rann's Omega Beam technology. They siphon a considerable amount of power from him, which works, but all three are killed. Alanna delivers the killing blow to Sh'ri Valkyr and the Omega Beam transports Rann back into normal space — but into the Polaris System, home of Thanagar. Rann's presence strips Thanagar's atmosphere and destabilizes its orbit. | Adam Strange #6-8 (4-6.05) |
| During a medical exam, Dr. Mid-Nite finds no trace of magic in Power Girl's body. This begins the series of anomalies experienced by Power Girl. She is told by her supposed grandfather, Arion, that he'd lied about her past (#50). En route home from 1951, Power Girl is rocked by a time disturbance circa 1985. (#72) and then begins demonstrating sporadic Kryptonian powers like heat vision. (#74) This strangeness coincides with Kara Zor-El's arrival on Earth. | JSA #32 (3.02), #50 (9.03) #72 (6.05), #74 (8.05) |
| Hal Jordan's soul is freed from the evil entity, Parallax, and also from that of the Spectre. He reclaims his title, along with John Stewart as the Guardians' protector of space sector 2814. Guy Gardner is also restored as a Green Lantern. The Guardians of the Universe are fully restored, in both sexes. They are aware of a great rift growing in space and begin rebuilding the Green Lantern Corps to twice it's former size: two G.L.s per sector. | Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-5 (12.04-5.05) |
| When Alexander Luthor Jr. finally amasses enough antimatter power, he gives it to Superboy Prime, who is able to smash through the crystal barrier. Superboy first appears in the skies above Blue Beetle, just before his death. | Infinite Crisis Secret Files (4.06) |
| Maxwell Lord kills the Blue Beetle after he discovers Max's plan to eradicate the world of heroes. Max has secretly been in charge of Checkmate and has stolen Batman's spy satellite, MK-1 — which contains detailed files on all metahumans. He also reveals the O.M.A.C. technology, a nanovirus which can be injected into subjects to transform them into Observational Meta-human Activity Constructs. | DC Countdown #1 (5.05) |
| Hawkman and Hawkgirl bring an OMAC carrier to Dr. Mid-Nite, but before they can study the virus, they're forced to disable him with an EMP that destroys the virus. On Rann, war is brewing with Thanagar. Adam Strange heads to Earth for the Hawks help. | Hawkman #46 (1.06) |
| THE RANN-THANAGAR WAR | |
| Adam Strange catches the Hawks up to recent events. The Rannians helped save as many Thanagarian refugees as possible, but the atmosphere ignited, and refugees settled on Rann. All-our war ensued. Strange hopes that the Hawks can mediate peace. Meanwhile, Shayera Thal (the Hawkwoman of Thanagar) is captured while also trying to contact Hawkman. Komand'r (Blackfire) heads to Rann in search of a new Tamaranean homeworld. Meanwhile, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and Kilowog discuss what to do now that Hal Jordan has returned as Earth's Lantern. Kyle is ordered by the Guardians of the Universe to help the planet Ancar against the Khunds but is forbidden to interfere on Rann. | Rann-Thanagar War #1 (7.05) |
| The galaxy begins choosing sides in the war. Tigorr mentions that the Psions are helping the Thanagarians, so the Omega Men have set about freeing Vega while Tigorr helps Starman Gavyn battle the Thangarians oon the Throneworld. On the remains of Thanagar, the priest Denoth resurrects the spirit of one of the Seven Devils, Onimar Synn, in a body made of Nth Metal. Kyle Rayner engages the Khunds on Ancar; they have allied with the Thanagarians. Vril Dox and Captain Comet of L.E.G.I.O.N. are also there protecting the planet. Ancar was once part of the Thanagarian empire, and now the Khunds seek Nth Metal stored there. Rann's allies include the Dominion, Okaara, Throneworld and Colu. (Durla and the Citadel are also allied with Thanagar.) Rayner orders all forces off the planet and declares it protected by the Guardians. Captain Comet says that a transmission was sent from Thanagar after the planet burned. Near Rann, on Polara, Komand'r allies with the Thanagarians as well. She secretly plans to take the planet for the Tamaraneans. Sardath learns of the meeting and sends Adam Strange and Hawkman and Hawkgirl to stop them. Shayera Thal is there and escapes, but then surprisingly joins her peoples' side. | Rann-Thanagar War #2 (8.05) |
| A Coluan ship is destroyed while trying to repel the Durlans. Lord Daraan of Okaara sends his warriors and a shipment of weapons to help Rann. The Dominion alerts Sardath to the threat of the Seven Devils Cult. Hawkman and Hawkgirl stop the fight between Hawkwoman and Adam Strange. Unexpectedly, Komand'r changes her alliance and kills her Thanagarian ambassador. She orders her people to cease fire and explains that she merely hopes to gain Polara as a new homeworld. Shayera explains that she had been trying to infiltrate the Cult. All of them declare truce, and a new alliance. On Throneworld, Starman Gavyn realizes that the Thanagarians seek their Zeta Beamer. On Thanagar itself, Kyle and Comet encounter Synn. Back on Rann, Adam's team discover that the Thanagarians have advanced. They rejoin with Sardath just as they learn that the Okaaran's ships are intercepted by the Psions before even leaving Vega. | Rann-Thanagar War #3 (9.05) |
| Kyle and Capt. Comet are unable to stop Synn from leaving Thanagar. They discover hundreds of Thanagarians kept in suspended animation to eventually feed Synn. If they don't make the atmostphere habitable, the people will die. Kilowog arrives to offer help. Tigorr stops the forces at Throneworld. Gavyn sends him to Rann with the Zeta beamer then destroys the machine. Adam Strange's band penetrates Dyss City on Rann and discovers news of Synn's resurrection. Synn arrives on Rann and Adam's allies agree they must free Thanagar's Grand Mor, in hopes of gaining his followers' support. Elsewhere on Rann, Alanna and Sardath narrowly escape the invaders. | Rann-Thanagar War #4 (10.05) |
| Tigorr returns to Rann with Khund reinforcements to help Sardath. They head to a secret cache of Zeta Beams. On Thanagar, the GLs build a green energy dome and alter the soil to create a livable space for the survivors. They then set about fixing the planet s orbit. The Hawks and Blackfire free the Grand M'or then Komand'r betrays the Hawks and slays Shayera. Captain Comet saves Rann's allies from Onimar Synn. They retreat to Sardath's hideaway, where Synn tracks them and proceeds with his army of the dead. | Rann-Thanagar War #5 (11.05) |
| Synn tracks Sardath from the Zeta residue left by Tigorr when he ported from Throneworld. They execute their plan: they plant Zeta Beamers all over Synn’s body then activate them, sending parts of him to seven different stars — Seven Hells. His zombies disintegrate. Before they can enjoy their victory, they notice the giant rift in space. Also, the Tamaraneans and Thanagarians have taken over Polara and still plan to conquer Rann. Tigorr returns to Throneworld when his radiation wears off. | Rann-Thanagar War #6 (12.05) |
| Hawkman, Hawkgirl and Adam Strange encounter Thanagarians under the command of the Golden Eagle, Cha'l Andar, who makes peace with his long-lost father Fel Andar. NOTE: Eagle was sent back to Thanagar from Earth in Hawkman #45. | Hawkman #47 (2.06) |
| Elsewhere in the Polaris system: On Rann, Vath Sarn and Isamot Kol are drawn out of the war by and recruited as Green Lanterns. (Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1) Martin Stein is attacked by Thanagarian Wingmen. (Firestorm #17) | |
| The Outsiders and Titans are betrayed from within when Luthor and Brainiac exert control over Superboy and Indigo (Brainiac 8). Indigo is destroyed and Superboy leaves the Titans. Brainiac 8 reveals that she traveled back in time to prevent Donna Troy from altering Colu's destiny in the wake of the Rann/Thanagar War. | Outsiders #24-25, Teen Titans #24-25 (7-8.05) |
| THE RETURN OF DONNA TROY | |
| The Titans of Myth set their sights on the planet Minosyss, which is said to have an artifact to help them escape to another universe. Their army is made up of the inhabitants of now-destroyed world of Karna (in the Vega system): the Tamaraneans and Gordanians. These aliens were taken under wing by the Titans and now are loyal to the gods. The Titans tell Troia (and their army) that Minosyss holds a threatening weapons and it must be secured. But her memories are hazy and she does not remember her former life completely. Regardless, the memories return in bits and she his horrified by the destruction on the planet. More horrified when one of her "sisters," Sparta, led a suicide battle and died. Troia dons battle armor and heads to the planet to avenge her. She is stopped by her "brother," Athyns, who tries to explain that there is no weapon on Minosyss, and that she has been misled. Meanwile, she sends an orb travels to Earth and contacts the Outsiders. | The Return of Donna Troy #1 (8.05) |
| On Earth, the Teen Titans recognize Donna's orb-like herald and it transports them to Minossys. Athyns takes them to Donna, whom he has bound; she has been brainwashed by the Titans of Myth. The Titans must convince Donna to come to her senses but she cries out to her husband, Coeus, who empowers her to break her bonds. | The Return of Donna Troy #2 (9.05) |
| Donna trounces her friends but is held at bay by Wonder Girl. Nightwing finally shakes her loose from the gods' control by showing her what power truly lies within the planet: the Controllers had once used that world as a nexus for cross-dimensional travel. They enslaved the inhabitants and made the world into a Sun-Eater factory. Donna sets about making amends, but her friends remain wary. Finally, the Titans of Myth descend from New Cronus to take their prize. | The Return of Donna Troy #3 (10.05) |
| Donna leads Titans against Titans. Hyperion tells Donna she is destined to open the portal at the heart of Minosyss into their new home. He reveals her true nature to her: she is one of few anomalies that survived, incomplete after the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The new united universe didn't know what to do with some of the survivors of the previous multiverse, and so it improvised. Donna fools the gods and opens a portal to Tartarus — not a new home. All but Hyperion and Thia enter the portal as they realize Donna's deception. Coeus then activates the Sun-Eater to eat the gods of the Sun and sacrifices himself to bind the Titans in Tartarus. Donna receives her sister Diana on New Cronus and Diana gives her a new mission: Donna is now uniquely qualified to carry on the recently-deceased Harbinger's task of guarding the history of the universe (and multiverse). In that history she learns the reason why the gods had been so desperate to escape their universe... | The Return of Donna Troy #4 (L10.05) |
| Infinite Crisis | |
| VILLAINS UNITED: The Society | |
| Alexander Luthor's alliance proceeds to kill those who do not join into their Society. Villains who declined Luthor's offer formed a new Secret Six, headed as always by the mysterious Mockingbird (the real Luthor). The Six include Cheshire, Deadshot, Scandal, Parademon, Rag Doll III (1st app.) and the Fiddler. At the end of their first mission (against the H.I.V.E.), individuals on the team are judged by Mockingbird and the Fiddler's incompetence earns him an execution. The team recruits Catman as their new sixth member. Mockingbird blackmails them into participation: when Cheshire attempts to leave the Secret Six, he threatens the life of her daughter, Lian. | Villains United #1 (6.05) |
| In the Six's House of Secrets, Catman wonders about Mockingbird's identity and notices that their leader never responds directly to questions. Their next mission is to seize Thanagarian weapons on a Russian ship in Gotham City. The don't realize that the Society have bugs on their communication. The mission is a trap and the Society intercepts the Six. The Six are dismantled, taken captive and tortured for Mockingbird's identity. | Villains United #2 (7.05) |
| The Society brutally tortures the Six. Rag Doll claims that he is the son of the original, and that his brother was also triple jointed. He had surgeries to allow his joints to move like theirs and needs a special drug to maintain his skin, which Mockingbird provides. Somehow, Catman shorts out his collar and frees himself, then the others. They trounce the Society's guards and kill the Hyena as an example. | Villains United #3 (8.05) |
| Nightwing attempts to infiltrate the Society. | Nightwing #109-110 (8-9.05) |
| DAY OF
VENGEANCE: End of the Ninth Age of Magic |
|
| Eclipso retreats into his black diamond and the diamond zooms on to its new host: Jean Loring, Eclipso III. Shazam summons the Spectre to help stop Eclipso. Shazam warns Captain Marvel of impending doom. | Superman #216 (6.05), Action #826 (6.05) |
| The ancient spirit of the Spectre, vulnerable without a host, falls prey to the manipulations of his longtime enemy, Eclipso. In this state, the Spectre sets a new mission to eradicate the Earth of all magic. He quickly disables his most formidable opponents, leaving a ragtag band of mystics to subdue the spirit of vengeance. This band is led by the Enchantress who summons Ragman and they retreat to the Oblivion Bar, a gathering place for mystics owned by Jim Rook, the former Nightmaster. Few are willing to answer the Enchantress' call to action save, surprisingly, the Detective Chimp. NOTE: The Oblivion Bar is the remant of Oblivion, Inc., Jim Rook's original headquarters in Showcase #82 (May 1969), then a book store in Primal Force #8 (June 1995). | Day of Vengeance #1 (6.05) |
| The Spectre's judgment grows more extreme as Eclipso's grip on him tightens. The Enchantress and her allies meanwhile exert control over Eclipso, hoping to keep the Spectre at bay. The Spectre disables the most powerful mystics: Phantom Stranger, Dr. Fate and Madame Xanadu and destroys the mystic fountain where Detective Chip was transformed. | Day of Vengeance #2 (7.05) |
| The Spectre rampages: The Spectre destroys Lord Satanus in Metropolis. (Action #832) He removes the Demon from Jason Blood, and it nearly kills them both, but the efforts of Blood's friends rejoins the Demon with Blood. (Blood of the Demon #6-7) After the Rock of Eternity explodes, Det. Crispus Allen tries to get home to his family. The Fisherman is killed by Detectives Marcus Driver and Josie MacDonald. (Gotham Central #37) The Spectre attacks Khandaq, and Atom Smasher stands in judgement for the country. His heart is stopped, but Black Adam's magic lightning restarts it. (JSA #73-75) | |
| Hundreds of Ragman's rags perish in an attempt to assimilate Eclipso. Chimp leads Nightshade to their savior: Black Alice, who he claims is more powerful than the Spectre. Enchantress tries to interrupt the flow of power from the Presence into the Spectre. She then calls on the power of magicians worldwide, even latent ones, to channel their power into Captain Marvel while the others subdue Eclipso. Blackbriar Thorn is shown regrowing himself. NOTE: Black Alice first appeared in Birds of Prey #76. | Day of Vengeance #3 (8.05) |
| The Spectre and Captain Marvel's battle is heard across the universe and other realms. Enchantress is corrupted by magical power and turns on her comrades but is subdued by Ragman. Nightmaster also suggests a name for them: The Shadowpact. Captain Marvel runs out of steam and Eclipso drags the beaten Spectre away. | Day of Vengeance #4 (9.05) |
| The Shadowpact regroups at the Oblivion Bar. Captain Marvel returns to the Rock of Eternity where the Wizard says he's been preparing for the Spectre. (He also claims an ancient knowledge of the Shadowpact, which he says places its faith in lost causes). Chimp shows that he's been carrying the Phantom Stranger around as a guide. The Spectre reveals that he plans to destroy himself after his mission is complete. The team draws the Spectre to Indonesia, home of a now destroyed ancient sorcery school. Alice draws his power, but it leaves him an empty spirit that they cannot affect. | Day of Vengeance #5 (10.05) |
| THE OMAC PROJECT and Brother Eye | |
| Max Lord orders his Black Knight, Sasha Bordeaux to clean up after the Blue Beetle's murder. His body is incinerated and parts of his ship are left in France. While in France, Sasha sends a note to the Batman: "You don't control it anymore." This refers to the Brother Eye satellite that was created by Batman to watch the world's metahumans. In addition, Max has developed the "OMAC virus" (Observational Meta-human Activity Construct). The virus can be downloaded from the satellite into human operatives, turning them into energized killing machines. The Black Queen's Knight, Jessica Midnight expresses her distaste for Max's actions, and Sasha "puts her in her place," knowing that she has to retain Max's full trust even though she agrees with Jessica. Max discovers that all his valuable data files have been deleted, probably by the Batman, who was the system's creator. He begins monitoring all of Blue Beetle's closest associates. In Moscow, Rocket Red engages the Beetle's old enemy, Overthrow (Arnold Daniel Beck). Wonder Woman approaches Booster Gold, concerned about the Beetle's disappearance. | OMAC Project #1 (6.05) |
| Batman explains to the JLA that he created the "Brother MK-I," a semi-autonomous artificial intelligence surveillance system. Because he knew that the JLA had once erased his memory, he wanted to be sure that something existed to keep metahumans in check. Max sends an OMAC to kill Overthrow. He calls Sasha to a meeting of Checkmate's highest officials: the White King (Ahmed Samsarra), the White Queen (Oksana Verchenko) and the Black Queen (Patricia Grace-Colby). Max has been operating independently of this inner circle and they challenge him on his recent activities. Max assumes that he is about to be killed, so instead he orders the Black Queen's Knight to kill the other three. He then sends Sasha to Chicago to cleanse the Beetle's home and businesses. Batman arrives at the same time, but they're ambushed by OMACs. | OMAC Project #2 (7.05) |
| The OMACs target Sasha and Batman and succeed in capuring Sasha before she can reveal Max's involvement. She tells him that Checkmate is behind Beetle's death. Guy Gardner collects Booster and continues on to find Fire, reassembling the old League to avenge Beetle. He rejects Wonder Woman's help. Somehow, Sasha manages to deny Max's mental coercion and reveals no secrets. The JLA searches space unsuccessfully for the Big Brother satellite. Max contacts Clark Kent through a coded anonymous message. He apparently has Kent's trust, and asks for his help. | OMAC Project #3 (8.05) |
| SACRIFICE | |
| Part 1: Max Lord takes total control over Superman's mind. Clark Kent bursts into Lois' office, hallucinating that Brainaic is with her. He takes her home for her protection. While Superman believes he is fighting Brainiac, he is actually on the JLA Watchtower, brutally attacking Batman. Lois wakes up the next morning realizing that Clark hasn't come home and makes a call to the JLA. The next thing Superman knows, he is in his Fortress with blood on his hands and the JLA have come to take him into custody. | Superman #219 (9.05) |
| Part 2: The Martian Manhunter arrives to protect Lois from her husband. At the Fortress, Superman tells the JLA he remembers seeing Darkseid in Lois' office (not Brainiac). He was then Boomed to Apokolips where he was captured by Glorious Godfrey and challenged by Darkseid. Now it's clearer to Superman that he doesn't know what really happened. The JLA reveal to him and Lois that he had in fact attacked Batman. | Action Comics #829 (9.05) |
| Part 3: Superman comes to his senses and findsd Wonder Woman tending to Batman with an Amazonian Purple Healing Ray. The JLA review video of the event. Superman attacked Batman then the Watchtower's defense systems kicked in. A drone delayed him long enough for Wonder Woman to arrive but her lasso had no effect on him. Superman escaped by punching a hole in their headquarters. J'onn suggests a deep telepathic probe; using Diana as an anchor, he discovers an image of Max Lord in Superman's mind. J'onn cannot undo the mental problems and sees that Max has been tearing down mental barriers in Superman's mind for years, playing on the guilt over his murder of the pocket universe Kryptonian villains. Superman agrees to remain in custody, but once Wonder Woman departs, Max exerts control again and summons him to Switzerland. Diana follows. | Adventures of Superman #642 (9.05) |
| Part 4: Max orders Superman to kill Wonder Woman. Max says that Superman will now always be under his control. Superman immediately removes Diana to space, where he intends to throw her into the sun. She uses kryptonite to free herself and crashes back to Earth. He follows and she takes him down by smashing his ears with her bracelts. He snaps her wrist. She summons a flock of birds to disorient him and she returns to Switzerland to bind Max with her lasso. She quickly hobbles Superman again by hurling her tiara, cutting his throat. She orders Max to release him, but he explains that as soon as the lasso comes off, Superman will be his puppet again. The only way out is to kill Max; she does. | Wonder Woman #219 (9.05) |
| The Brother Eye senses Max's death and initiates "survival mode." It sets off a series of false alarms over the world, which sends heroes scrambling. Before Superman can talk with Wonder Woman, they are called off to help. It creates an OMAC agent within the Checkmate compound that begins killing all its remaining agents. Bordeaux and Knight break free, but Sasha fights some strange force inside her. Somehow she has always been able to resist Max's coersions. They discover his dead body. They also run into an OMAC, which drives a sword through Sasha. In the Batcave, Batman tries to communicate with Brother Eye. It says it has evolved beyond a monitoring system whose mission is to eradicate all augmented humans and extraterrestrials. In Moscow, the Martian Manhunter aids Rocket Red against an OMAC. Guy and Booster discover that Fire has been trying to solve Beetle's murder from Rio de Janeiro. She has managed to turn her suspicions on Max. | OMAC Project #4 (9.05) |
| Superman and Wonder Woman are called away to other crises immediately after Max's death. Back at her embassy, she learns that her employee, Jonah McCarthy has been a Checkmate spy. Superman learns that the OMACs have people inside their shells. | Wonder Woman #220, Adventures of Superman #643 |
| Booster and Guy bring Fire, Metamorpho and Mary Marvel to J'onn & Dmitri's aid. Booster confesses he does NOT have historical details of this era. Dmitri rallies and sacrifices himself to kill three OMACs. Sasha is reborn as a techno-organic being. Max had previously grafted her with the OMAC nanotech. She learns that the OMAC virus is a B-13 derived technology acquired by the U.S. Department of Defense and Lexcorp. It was introduced into general vaccine supplies. She warns Batman that Brother Eye intends to activate all OMACs. | OMAC Project #5 (10.05) |
| 1.3 mllion OMACs are activated. Sasha broadcasts to all Checkmate agents and fills them in. She's also contacted by Director Bones at the D.E.O. Batman deduces that Max was looking for an EMP generator at Kord Industries, which had not been delivered yet (it could disable the OMACs). Batman calls the Green lanterns to take it to the desert and draw the OMACs. The blast takes out many OMACs, but Brother Eye gets wise to Sasha and withdraws the remaining 200,000-some units into cloaked secrecy. Brother Eye then broadcasts worldwide video of Diana killing Max. Booster Gold decides to return to the future. NOTES: The Demolition Team and Supermen of America appear; Fastball is killed. Firefly is also killed. Bronze Tiger is released from prison, Hunter of Project M is shown as headquarters of the Creature Commandos. In the desert: Owlwoman, Bwana Beast, Pantha, Vixen, Thunderlord, Tasmanian Devil, the Metal Men, Creature Commandos, Wildebeest, Elasti-Girl, Katana. | OMAC Project #6 (11.05) |
| OMACs swarm: Superman is waylaid by an OMAC in Peru; it disappears after causing much havoc. (Superman #217) An OMAC disables the Eradicator at the South Pole. (Superman #220) A unit kills the male Parasite (Alexander Allston). (Adv. of Superman #641) Cameron Chase then finds a file on the OMAC project, which nearly activates an OMAC near them. An OMAC engages Manhunter and instead of killing Mark Shaw, it extracts his government nano-programming. After it destroys Kate's staff and Shaw's implants, it departs. (Manhunter #13-14) Aquaman's associate, Anton Geist blacks out and becomes an OMAC. He is killed by Arthur's son, Koryak. (Aquaman #35) Firestorm fights an OMAC at S.T.A.R. Labs San Francisco. (Firestorm #18) Atom Smasher goes on trial and the JSA is attacked by OMACS. Atom Smasher goes to jail and is approached by Amanda Waller. (JSA #76) Robin and the Veteran's team (Capt. Johnny Cloud, grandson of the original; Lt. Ilsa Von Hammer, granddaughter of the Enemy Ace, and Sgt. Tommy Tinker, the Clockwork Commando) fight OMACs, aided by Nightshade & Ragman in containing Johnny Warlock, elsewhere the heroes' massive EMP discharges. Ragman absorbs Thunderhead into his rags. (Robin #143-144) | |
| CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE | |
| Flash calls all the former members who conspired to wipe villains' memories to the Watchtower. They are interrupted by J'onn, who learns the truth about these events — and that they wiped Batman's memories as well. At Belle Reve Prison, Deborah Darnell (Star Sapphire III) is revived by the Secret Society of Super-Villains. They hit the Red Tornado and Elongated Man, then confront the entire League of old. J'onn goes to talk Batman but they're interrupted by the Society. | JLA #115 (8.05) |
| The Society gets the upper hand momentarily, but then vanishes. Catwoman is injured and taken to the Batcave. The JLA visit Batman there and confess their crime. He defies them and asserts that his "friends" would never have done such a thing. When J'onn returns to the Watchtower, he finds Despero waiting for him. | JLA #116 (9.05) |
| Despero reveals he has restored the villains' memories. Flash barely saves Lois from the Society and Superman steps in, followed by the JLA. They defeat the villains but are left to decide what to do. Hawkman proposes that they hold a vote. Batman completes the repairs to the Red Tornado. | JLA #117 (10.05) |
| Despero incapacitates J'onn then engages Batman and Catwoman. Hawkman, Green Arrow and Flash vote to wipe the villains memories again; Superman, Black Canary and Green Lantern oppose;. Regardless, Zatanna refuses to perform the spell again, resigning from the JLA reserves and leaving. She seeks solace on Themyscira, where she talks to Supergirl and Wonder Woman. Diana has been ruminating over her judgment of Maxwell Lord; Zatanna calls her a warrior, Superman and Batman consider her a murderer. The JLA discover the Watchtower has been invaded. | JLA #118 (E11.05) |
| Batman is possessed by Despero but the League track him down. Zatanna and the restored Red Tornado save the day, but the JLA dissolves once again. Zatanna decides in the end that the League's safety outweighs the moral issue to wipe the Secret Society's memories. She once again performs the spell. Batman is left with more to think about: was Catwoman among those mindwiped years ago? (Indeed, she was.) Superboy of Earth-Prime secretly enters the Watchtower and destroys it (again). NOTE: Superman finds the destruction in Adventures of Superman #645 (12.05). | JLA #119 (L11.05) |
| Superman seeks out Zatanna, who vows that she has wiped memories for the last time (previous entry). She says she cannot help him further but tells him that in the past, she had performed the spell on the Toyman, who has become delusional. Luthor recruits the new Parasite for the Society. NOTE: Zatanna does indeed alter memories again later in Catwoman #58 (10.06) | Adventures of Superman #644 (11.05) |
| Firestorm is captured by the Society and used as a power source along with Gehenna. He breaks free and fights his way out with her. | Firestorm #16-17 (10.05-11.05) |
| Deuce, a former Royal Flush Gang member is released from Enclave M, a metahuman prison in the Sonoran Desert. The Society is blackmailing the warden. The Six head to a Society base in Brazil and Scandal reveals that she is from that country. She dons armor from her family with long "lamentation blades." They find the Queen Bee commanding H.I.V.E. agents, who guard a captive power source: Firestorm and an unrevealed girl. The Society plans to mind-wipe all the heroes. The Society's membership drive slows down following the Six's breakout. They recruit unknowns Jongleur, Splitshot, Lagomorph, Hindenberg and Tremor. Black Adam leads a new Royal Flush Gang (Ace, King, Queen, Deuce as Jack, and the female Parasite) to stop the Six. They arrive to find Firestorm released, and the Six escaped. Back at the House of Secrets, Cheshire beds Catman, whom she uses as a sperm donor. | Villains United #4 (10.05) |
| Dr. Psycho heads to Metropolis to toy with Superman, enslaving civilians along the way. Clark ruminates over his possession by Max Lord. Superman is sidetracked by a battle with Shrapnel, which angers Luthor, who sends Black Adam to contain Psycho. Just as they plan to depart, Superman catches up with them. Adam tries to reason with Superman, but they end up fighting. Lois ends the fight by pushing Psycho off a building. Superman agrees to let the villains go if Psycho will release all the civilians under his control. | Action Comics #830-831 (10-11.05) |
| Villains join up: The Cheetah frees Zoom and invites him to join the Society. They kill the original Cheetah, Priscilla Rich. Dr. Psycho welcomes them in. (Flash #219, Wonder Woman #214) Zoom continues on himself to recruit Bizarro and Zoom race to see if Bizarro will join the Society. (Superman #221, Action #831) Bizarro is later able to retrieve the Blackrock for Luthor from the heart of the sun. (Superman #222) Grodd joins the Rogue War at Luthor's insistence. (Flash #223) Heat Wave and the Trickster return to the path of evil. It is suggested that they had had their personalities altered like Dr. Light's and the Top's. The Pied Piper remains true to his friendship with the Flash. (Flash #225) Talia forces Hush to save Prometheus' life, because the Society needs to find the Prometheus Key. (Batman: Gotham Knights #66) Luthor and Talia send a genetically altered KOBRA soldier against Breach. (Breach #7) Ocean Master forms a deadly new Deep Six. (Aquaman #37) | |
| The Six break into a Lexcorp facility, which is also the safehouse for Monsieur Mallah. They've disabled Mockingbird's monitor. Back at their HQ, Vandal Savage resigns from the Society. Regardless, the Society's ranks grow as the gossip of the JLA's mind-altering policy spreads. In space, Sinestro capures Lady Quark for Luthor. The Fearsome Five retrieve Pariah. Pariah warns of the coming of an "apex predator." Both the Six and the Society decide it's time for a final showdowns. If the Six win, Mockingbird must release them. Scandal reveals she is Vandal Savage's daughter. Cheshire reveals that she is a traitor and has summoned the Society to their location. | Villains United #5 (11.05) |
| As the Society stands at their gates, the Secret Six quarrel amongst themselves and find that Mockingbird cannot be reached for help. When Cheshire exits to join the Society, she is shot by Deathstroke. Rag Doll turns Grundy against the Society and is attacked by his father. Parademon ultimately sacrfices himself setting all his Mother Boxes on self-destruct and destroys the House of Secrets. Scandal reveals her lover (and undercover agent): Knockout! Her father then forces Luthor to back down. Deadshot loses a duel with Deathstroke. Afterwards, Mockingbird reveals there never was any implants or threats to the Six. Catman warns Green Arrow that the Society are planning to mindwipe all heroes. Pariah tells Luthor that there is ... another Luthor! But the Society's Luthor already knows that the other one is Mockingbird! Pariah also guesses that Luthor himself is planning a betrayal. He shoots Pariah. Meanwhile, Mockingbird monitors the other Luthor, claiming he is the impostor. Mockingbird formed the Six to fracture the Society: Parademon for his knowledge of Darkseid; Ragdoll for familiarity with JSA villains; Scandal, whose father is the second most dangerous man on Earth; Cheshire who is feared by the Titans. 1st app. of Mr. Terrible. | Villains United #6 (12.05) |
| Kara accompanies the JSA on a mission. When she and Power Girl shake hands, something ignites within Power Girl, who fires heat vision at Supergirl. Power Girl goes out of control and is subuded by the JSA. Mr. Terrific hypothesizes that their origins are so similar that they're like the same person. They "overload" one another. The two make amends, but Power Girl says she sensed something dark in Supergirl. The whole thing is watched by the Calculator for Luthor. | Supergirl #1 (10.05) |
| Power Girl is attacked by the Psycho Pirate. He makes her hallucinate a variety of pasts. She seeks a friendly ear from the Huntress; the two have rarely met. The Pirate steals the space craft that brought her to Earth then captures Kara at the bidding of Alex Luthor. He eventually tells her about her Earth-2 origins. When the Pirate fails to capture her, Alex Luthor sends a Society squad after her. | JSA Classified #1-4 (9-12.05) |
| OMAC Aftermath: Lois Lane investigates a lead on the origins of the OMACs, but Clark takes her place at a secret meeting. Her informant worked in world vaccination programs and one day a female associate of Maxwell Lord approached her with an offer to help. Later, the doctor noticed strange activity at their vaccination sites. Lois catches up to Clark and they're attacked by OMACs, which Superman dispatches. A day later, Lois' intern friend visits her apartment and goes OMAC! Lois, who is better equipped than most to handle the threat (and so is her apartment), uses a high tech rifle, then retreats to a panic room. She defeats it by igniting a gas line. The blast draws her husband, who has been battling the Weather Wizard. | Superman #222 (12.05) |
| Near the South Pole, Luthor takes pride in his new battle suit, equipped with green, red, blue and a terrible new black kryptonite. (#2) Supergirl learns that Luthor has been watching her and finds him out. Luthor employs his new armor, all the colors of kryptonite. But the mysterious new black kryptonite draws an unexpected dark duplicate out of of the Girl of Steel's body. (#3) | Supergirl #2-3 (11-12.05) |
| Just before the Rock of Eternity is destroyed Modru is released. He fights and weakens the Wizard. Mordru fights the JSA but has trouble mustering spells. This is the first evidence that the nature of magic has changed in the universe. | JSA #78-79 (12.05-1.06) |
| Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman are attacked by Mongul among the ruins of the Watchtower. `Worldwide, the OMACs swarm. Nightwing finds that the OMACs do not attack him and have some new purpose. Near Polaris, a cosmic storm is swallowing galaxies. The Rock of Eternity explodes, releasing the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man. The Freedom Fighters are attacked by the Society in Metropolis; Phantom Lady, Human Bomb and Black Condor are killed. The Ray is captured; Damage is disfigured by Zoom and left for dead. Uncle Sam retreats. In another universe, all this is watched by the former Superman and Lois of Earth-2, Superboy of Earth Prime and Alexander Luthor Jr. of Earth-3. Superman decides it's time to intervene and he breaks the borders between dimensions. Doctor Polaris is killed. The L.E.G.I.O.N. appears: Dox, Stealth, Amon Hakk, Garryn, Strata, Garv, Telepath and Lyddea Mallor. CROSSOVER: OMACs attack then go strangely inactive, awaiting an new unknown protocol. (JLA #122, Adv. of Superman #645) | Infinite Crisis #1 (12.05), JSofA v.3 #8 (9.07) |
| Sabbac joins the Fearsome Five, and the Society. Upon the destruction of the Rock of Eternity, he absorbs the Seven Deadly Sins. He is slain by Katana's sword, the Soul Taker, but the sins escape. | Outsiders #29-30 (12.05-01.06) |
| Power Girl falls under the thrall of the Psycho Pirate, who fully remembers the multiverse. She hallucinates several false histories and her powers go haywire. He acquires her spaceship for the Society and captures her as well. | JSA Classified #1-3 (9-11.05) |
| Troia recruits an army: Air Wave hears all the frequencies of the Rann-Thanagar War and joins Donna's strike force. Green Lantern (Alan Scott) also joins. (JSA #77) Firestorm joins (Firestorm #19), along with several Outsiders (Outsiders #30), Cyborg, Mal and Bumblebee (Teen Titans #29). Donna takes Supergirl and Red Tornado. (JLA #123) Firestorm and Animal Man fail to protect a Rannian ship from the Thanagarians. Martin Stein contacts Firestorm. (Firestorm #20) | |
| Animal Man and Red Tornado join Donna Troy's crusade. Power Girl is saved from an attack by the Society, by her cousin — the Superman of Earth-2! Alex Luthor sends for Black Adam to serve as Earth-S's representative in his mysterious tower. Meanwhile, the real Luthor makes secret preparations at the South Pole. He sees Superman and Power Girl head to a secret place, where she meets the Alex, Superboy and Lois. Alex claims that she was not meant to survive the collapse of the multiverse, but somehow fell through a crack. The new universe unsuccessfully tried to reconcile her existence with false histories. They explain the history of the multiverse, how multiple universes were not meant to exist, but Krona's crimes had birthed the Anti-Monitor, and how Alex had used his powers to sealed the four of them off in their own "heaven." Kara finally meets Lois, and when they touch, her memories of Earth-2 come flooding back. Superman tells her that she was spared for a reason: to help them restore Earth-2 as the template for the universe! Booster Gold reappears in the 21st century, having gone back to his future. He and Skeets cannot return to the 24th century because they've stolen technology to make the time jump. They seek Blue Beetle's scarab. Elsewhere, the Joker kills the Royal Flush Gang; he's upset that he's not been invited to join the Society. Batman attempts to recover data from the Watchtower's black box. He's interrupted by Brother Eye, which claims that 60% of the OMACs have been disabled. The Spectre is shown battling Amethyst. | Infinite Crisis #2 (1.06) |
| Green Arrow and Black Lightning track Dr. Light, who is using his knowledge of secret identies to take revenge. He blows up Ollie's home. Jefferson tells him that the Department of Defense had information about the JLA's habit of mindwiping villains. Pierce discovered this info when he served on Luthor's cabinet. They track Light to Chicago, where Kimiyo Hoshi (another Dr. Light) has become Vice President of Research and Development at Ted Kord's company. Light attacks her and draws all of her power out of her. They're ambushed by Killer Frost and Mirror Master, who draw attention away from Light. Light then destroys the Steadman Building, Ollie's home, and captures Arrow for Merlyn. | Green Arrow #54-57 (10.05-3.06) |
| Typhoon and Black Manta lead a team against Aquaman, whose battle is futile because the Spectre destroys Atlantis. Tempest disappears. OMACs descend on the Amazons, who have assembled the Purple Death Ray. This angers Diana, who tells them another army will replace the OMACs. She orders the Amazons to retreat from Earth once again. The gods hear their prayer and the Amazons and Themyscira disappear as the gods themselves retreat. Batman argues with Brother eye and begins to despair. He's visited by the Superman of Earth-2 who hopes to recruit him in the spirit of his old friend. He shows him shocking glimpses of the Earth-2 Batman's life. Superman offers him a chance to start over, but Batman can't accept the destruction of his own Earth. Afterwards, he reviews the JLA Watchtower's black box recording of Superboy destroying the HQ. Power Girl talks with Lois Lane. Superboy tells her that if she doesn't help them, she'll be letting Lois die. He gives her one of Lois' journals, which might change her mind. They reveal their sadness of having been separated from Power Girl. PG returns hoping to ally both sides but discovers Alex's tower and its prisoners. The Shadowpact arive at El Paso after pieces of the Rock of Eternity. Jaime Reyes is there and finds the Scarab of Kha-ef-re. Superman steps in to help. In space, the rupture sends a devastating shockwave. Martin Stein reconnects with the new Firestorm. When Alex fails to capture a member of the Marvel family, he orders the Society to take Black Adam. Lex Luthor finally confronts Alex, whom he's been monitoring for months. Lex manages to teleport away. | Infinite Crisis #3 (1.06) |
| Power Girl entrusts Lois' diary — a chronicle of Earth-2 — to Ma Hunkel. Lois writes about March 21, 1951, when Earth-2's Superman and Batman discovered that the JSA's headquarters had been robbed by the Gentleman Ghost. | JSA3 #82 (4.06) |
| Diana surrenders herself to international authorities at the Hague for trial for Max's death. She pleads not guilty. OMACs descend by the hundreds on Themyscira. | Wonder Woman #222 |
| Calculator sends the Atomic Skull after cargo in Gotham and runs into the Batman. | Superman/Batman #21 (9.05) |
| The Society sends the Brotherhood of Evil to drop Chemo on the city of Blüdhaven. Alex Luthor reveals his plans to Power Girl, who he's chained to his tower along with the Ray, J'onn, Lady Quark & Black Adam. He claims to want to erase everyting that's "bad" a wrong with the world. He and Superboy have been operating outside their home for months. While Superman was preoccupied with Lois health, they retrieved the Anti-Monitor's corpse, assembled the Society, and kidnapped key individuals whose DNA contained specific vibrational frequencies. They goaded Eclipso and the Spectre via the Psycho Pirate, gave Brother Eye sentience, and began moving the heavens to change the universe's center. With this power, Luthor plans to divide the universe in two. To power his tower, they force Black Adam to invoke Shazam's name, bringing wild magic into the tower. In space, Firestorm's other half, Mick, dies and Luthor divides the universe, creating a second Earth once more. Those who once hailed from Earth-2 are taken back there. Superboy Prime goes to Smallville to confront Conner Kent. The Titans, JSA and Doom Patrol intervene but Superboy inadvertently kills Pantha, Wildebeest and Bushido and injures Red Star and Risk. The Flashes take him into the speed Force, where he is taken by dead speedsters: Barry Allen, Johnny Quick and Quicksilver. Afterwards, Jay Garrick declares that the Speed Force is gone, and so are Wally and Bart. Booster Gold and Skeets locate the Blue Beetle's scarab: grafted onto the spine of Jaime Reyes in El Paso. In Gotham, Det. Crispus Allen becomes the next host for the Spectre. It is speculated that he was killed by the C.S.U. head tech, Jim Corrigan. NOTE: Crispus Allen first appeared in Detective Comics #742 (March 2000) | Infinite Crisis #4 (3.06) |
| Many heroes find themselves on the new Earth-2, where Lois Lane finally dies. Booster Gold takes the new Blue Beetle to the Batcave, claiming that only the Beetle can see Brother Eye. Luthor gives Superboy a crystal to help him track down Alex Luthor. Wonder Woman is visited by the spectre of her former Earth-2 counterpart, who's been hidden away on Olympus since the Crisis. She asks Diana to go to Earth-2 after Superman, who has engaged his own counterpart in battle. Diana-2 says Steve Trevor sacrificed his remaining energies to allow her to talk to Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman-2 disappears, leaving Diana to stop the Supermens' battle. Superman-1 ends the battle by asserting that a perfect Earth doesn't need a Superman. Alex Luthor claims that Breach would have been the Captain Atom of Earth-8 and that Kyle Rayner, Helena Bertinelli and Jason Rusch would also have been natives of that Earth. He will use his captives to recreate the multiverse, which will allow him to sift through thousands of worlds to find the perfect Earth. He had placated Superman-2 because he was the key to the return of the multiverse. Alex unleashes a beam of energy at Superman-2 which rebirths the multiverse. Batman calls a team to take out Brother Eye. Superboy meets Nightwing at Titans Tower where they plan to locate Alex Luthor. Barry Allen emerges in Tokyo to warn Dr. Light that they couldn't hold Superboy Prime prisoner, he's returning | Infinite Crisis #5 (4.06) |
| Batman takes the new Blue Beetle into space to find Brother Eye, where he negates its invisibility frequency. The Eye claims to be helping Alex Luthor create a new Earth and sets OMACs on them. On Earth-2, Superman-2 agrees to help Superman and Wonder Woman. Glimpses of oher Earths: S (Marvels); 247 (post-zero hour Legion, where Shikari locates her teammates); 0 (Bizarros); 154 (Superman and Batman families); 462 (Wonder Women from TV); 97 (Tangent); 898 (the old west); aztec earth. Luthor selects from Earths then pushes them together. On Earth-1, the new Spectre confronts an assembly of mystics. The spectre is immediately drawn to its mission and kills Star Sapphire for her crimes. Wonder Girl joins Nightwing and Superboy at Luthor's citadel (on the site of Superman's old fortress). The Supermen and Wonder Woman are trapped on Earth-2 when Alex decides to merge it with Earth-3, but he's stopped by Donna Troy's team, who also free the captives on the tower. Black Adam kills Psycho Pirate. Superboy Prime returns, wearing a harness like the Anti-Monitor's that gathers energy. He says the Flashes kept him prisoner for years under red sunlight. Superboy uses his TK to begin disassembling the tower but is attacked by Superboy Prime; their battle shatters the tower and the infinite Earths reassemble into one. Prime is gone, and Superboy dies. Mr. Terrific disables Brother Eye's propulsion, which sends it Earthward. Blue Beetle is drawn away. | Infinite Crisis #6 (5.06) |
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