Both Versions Of Justice League's Crisis On Infinite Earths Compared: Which Is Better?

The Arrowverse and the Tomorrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover events adapt the eponymous DC Comics crossover storyline, but each of them achieves it in their own distinct way. DC Comics’ original Crisis On Infinite Earths continues to be one of the biggest crossover events not only in DC Comics history, but also in the history of the comic book medium as a whole. It successfully brought together characters from several parallel universes and created a cataclysmic event of unparalleled dimensions, establishing the concept of a multiverse-wide rebirth that would be copied multiple times afterward.

DC’s Crisis On Infinite Earths has inspired more recent multiversal reboots such as The New 52 and the aptly named Rebirth. Outside the comic book pages, the 1985 storyline has inspired the DCEU’s The Flash, the Arrowverse’s live-action multi-episode Crisis On Infinite Earths, and the Tomorrowverse’s three animated Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths movies. There are several differences and similarities between the latter two, which adapt the original storyline much more faithfully than the big-screen The Flash.

The Arrowverse Vs Tomorrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths Plots Explained (& Which Adapted The Story Better)

The Tomorrowverse And The Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths Adaptations Put An Fresh Spin On The Classic Event

The Tomorrowverse’s version kicks off with John Constantine’s attempt to get rid of Darkseid before he becomes a threat to his universe, attempting to prevent a similar catastrophe to the one that resulted in the multiverse’s previous reset point during Justice League Dark: Apokolips War‘s ending. However, killing Darkseid as a baby messed with the multiverse’s natural order, creating the universe-killing Anti-Monitors as an ultracosmic defense system. While some universes manage to survive longer than expected, the only way to prevent the absolute erasure of reality is to create a single universe once again.

Meanwhile, The CW’s live-action version of Crisis on Infinite Earths reveals that the Anti-Monitor begins his quest to destroy the multiverse when the Monitor travels to the Netherverse at the dawn of time. Eons later, the Anti-Monitor’s arrival is imminent, and the Arrowverse’s Earth-1, Earth-38, and Earth-3 heroes scramble to stop a wave of antimatter destroying the multiverse. The Monitor gathers a team of heroes, now christened “Paragons”, but dies before the Anti-Monitor can be stopped. In an act of ultimate heroism, Oliver Queen — now the Spectre — sacrifices himself to rewrite the multiverse, and the Anti-Monitor is shrunk and sent to the microverse.

Just like DC Comics’ original event, the Tomorrowverse and the Arrowverse used the concept of the multiverse to streamline their respective continuities. While the characters and plot details of each adaptation would always be different from the source material, the sense of impending doom is always central. The Arrowverse’s large number of established characters and universes made its Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptation more convoluted, but it also raised the stakes for die-hard fans of the Arrowverse. Conversely, the Tomorrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths follows a more straightforward story, but the collateral destruction of countless universes isn’t as palpable on screen as it is in the Arrowverse.

The Arrowverse Vs Tomorrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths Cast (& Which Was Better)

The Arrowverse’s Cast Always Had The Upper Hand On The Tomorrowverse

Unless a franchise aims to adapt DC Comics’ original storyline accurately from the start, no Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptation will share the exact same cast of characters as the 1985 comic book event. Notably, the Tomorrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths features the original addition of John Constantine as a major character in the event, but also pays homage to the source material by including the minor villain Psycho Pirate, who aids the Anti-Monitor and becomes the only individual to remember the Pre-Crisis multiverse after the reboot in the original comic book storyline.

The Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths is much more populated due to the seven-year and six-show journey the franchise had already covered by then. Barry Allen had an even bigger role than he did in the source material. Cameos such as Tom Welling’s Superman, Tom Ellis’ Lucifer, and even Ezra Miller’s Flash made a much bigger impact than the cameos featured in the Arrowverse’s version of the crossover event due to their longer screentime. And of course, Oliver Queen was the one who received the privilege of restarting the whole multiverse due to his status as the franchise’s first-ever DC hero.

Regarding their cast of characters, both the Tomorrowverse and the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptations honor the main heroes of their respective universes, allowing them to shine in the last moments of their respective continuities. However, the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths might have an edge over the Arrowverse’s, in great part due to the popularity of previous multi-season shows like Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. The Tomorrowverse, on the other hand, had little time to gather a following since its last reset point, released only four years before — 2020’s Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.

Which Crisis On Infinite Earths Adaptation Was More Accurate Between The Arrowverse & Tomorrowverse

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Similarly to its cast of characters, any Crisis on Infinite Earth adaptation’s plot will be quite different from the original unless it’s set up to be a faithful recreation from the beginning. Both the Tomorrowverse and the Arrowverse’s adaptations pay homage to the source material with elements like Lex Luthor’s last-minute heroic turn (albeit with different plans and different versions of the character), the Anti-Monitor’s unstoppable nature, and the inevitable renovation of the multiverse. Both adaptations also lacked major events from the comics such as all-out battle between heroes and brief visits to Atlantis and Oa.

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Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Three Ending Explained & How It Finishes The Tomorrowverse

After four years and 10 films, DC’s animated Tomorrowverse comes to an incredible end with Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 3.

However, the Tomorrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths is definitely more comic-accurate than its Arrowverse counterpart, perhaps not because of an overall resemblance to the general storyline, but certainly due to its larger number of specific moments inspired by events from the original crossover. For instance, time-displaced dinosaurs, Psycho-Pirate’s alliance with the Anti-Monitor, and Supergirl’s death are all ripped straight from the 1985 comic book storyline. The Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, on the other hand, took more creative liberties with its adaptation.

Which Version Of Crisis On Infinite Earths Was Better Between The Arrowverse & Tomorrowverse?

Each Crisis On Infinite Earths Adaptations Has A Distinct Target Audience

The Arrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths has an advantage over the Tomorrowverse’s version due to the popularity of its characters and their respective shows, while the Tomorrowverse’s adaptation is more accessible to general audiences and features slightly more faithful events and characters. Combined with their live-action TV and animated movie format, such differences make both Crisis adaptations able to stand on their own in their own right. To this day, there isn’t a definitive Crisis On Infinite Earths adaptation that’s close to being a one-to-one recreation of the original 1985 crossover event, and that makes it possible for new franchises to keep putting their own fresh spin on the storyline.

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  Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three
  

  Director

  Jeff Wamester

  Release Date

  
  July 16, 2024
  

  Writers

  James Krieg

  Cast

  Corey Stoll
  , Brian Bloom
  , Elysia Rotaru
  , Armen Taylor
  , Cynthia Kaye McWilliams
  , Dean Winters
  , jason spisak
  , Ashly Burch

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  Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One

  Director

  Jeff Wamester

  Release Date

  
  January 9, 2024
  

  Cast

  Alexandra Daddario
  , Matt Bomer
  , Jensen Ackles
  , Stana Katic
  , Jimmi Simpson
  , Harry Shum Jr.
  , Zachary Quinto
  , Aldis Hodge
  , Meg Donnelly
  , Nolan North
  , Liam McIntyre
  , Lou Diamond Phillips