Crisis on Infinite Earths #9 is an issue of the series Crisis on Infinite Earths (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1985. It was published on August 29, 1985.
Synopsis for "War Zone"
On Oa, the Guardians of the Universe make a last-ditch effort to combat the hysteria that is gripping the universe. They recruit Guy Gardner back into the Green Lantern Corps and give him a ring again.
Suddenly, a cosmic crimson flame from beyond the void washes over Oa. The Green Lantern Citadel is destroyed and all but one of the six remaining Guardians are killed. Guy Gardner swears vengeance.
Meanwhile, a cadre of Earth's most powerful super-villains gathers together aboard Brainiac's starship. Lex Luthor coordinates the meeting declaring that she shall take advantage of the Crisis by holding the multiple Earths hostage. Alexi Luthor of Earth-Two protests, citing that he should lead the cadre rather than his Earth-One counterpart. Brainiac concedes that there is no need for two Lex Luthors and destroys the Earth-Two Luthor.
Reporters have dubbed the point where the five remaining Earths intersect one another as the Warp Zone. Within this area, a strange time-distortion effect has allowed for creatures and entities from various timelines to interact with one another. Dinosaurs are seen stomping through the same New York City streets as World War I era biplanes and futuristic starships.
At the United Nations, representatives from the various parallel dimensions address the assembly. Key speakers include Pariah, Harbinger and Alexander Luthor. The nation leaders are concerned that the spreading chaos may result in an inter-Earth war. During the address, a holographic image of Lex Luthor appears before them and extends an ultimatum. Citing that he already controls three of the five Earths, he demands the unconditional surrender of the remaining two, or else he and Brainiac will unleash a destructive force that will obliterate all five.
While the other heroes struggle to pierce the barrier separating the merging Earths, Jay Garrick recruits Kid Flash to help him. They rebuild Barry Allen's cosmic treadmill and use their combined speed to pierce the barrier.
Meanwhile, Luthor's cadre of villains takes advantage of the situation. They spread themselves across the realities, sowing chaos and discord at every turn. Chemo poisons the waters surrounding Hudson Bay, killing Aquagirl. Doctor Phosphorus brutally injures Hawkman. The Joker and Poison Ivy capture Freedom Force. Eclipso incapacitates Wonder Woman and the Justice League fight the Brotherhood of Evil.
Back on Brainiac's ship, Luthor and Brainiac continue to coordinate their plans. Should the governments of the combined Earths fail to meet their demands, Luthor is more than ready to destroy all five planets. Suddenly, Psimon appears from behind the shadows. He is the only super-villain that did not join with the others planet-side. Using his powerful mental energy, Psimon blasts Brainiac, shattering him into a thousand pieces. He then brings himself to bear upon Lex Luthor.
Appearing in "War Zone"
Featured Characters:
- Ambush Bug (on a poster only)
- Atom (Ray Palmer)
- Balloon Buster
- Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance)
- Blue Beetle
- Bulldozer
- Captain Atom
- Creeper
- Firehawk
- Green Arrow (Earth-One)
- Green Arrow (Earth-Two)
- Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)
- Harlequin (Molly Mayne)
- Hawkman (Katar Hol)
- Huntress
- Jeb Stuart
- Johnny Thunder (John L. Thunder)
- Lady Quark
- Little Sure Shot
- Red Star
- Rip Hunter
- Robin (Jason Todd)
- Sargon
- Sgt. Rock
- Superman (Earth-One)
- Superman (Earth-Two)
- Thunderbolt
- Wildman
- Will Magnus
- Wonder Woman (Earth-One)
- Doom Patrol
- Freedom Fighters
- Infinity, Inc.
- Justice League of America / Justice League Detroit
- Justice Society of America
- Metal Men
- Outsiders
- Teen Titans (both active and inactive members)
Supporting Characters:
- Alexander Luthor
- Bethany Snow
- Dale Gunn
- Firestorm
- Guardians of the Universe
- Harbinger
- Jenet Klyburn
- Karras
- Lana Lang
- Lois Lane
- Morgan Edge
- Pariah
- Tawny Young
Antagonists:
- Ace of Spades
- Alexei Luthor (Final appearance; dies)
- Anti-Monitor (Behind the scenes)
- Black Adam
- Black Manta
- Black Mass
- Black Spider (Eric Needham)
- Blackstarr
- Blockbuster (Mark Desmond)
- Bolt
- Bulldozer
- Brainiac
- Bug-Eyed Bandit
- Captain Cold
- Captain Nazi
- Catman
- Cheetah (Deborah Domaine)
- Cheetah (Priscilla Rich)
- Chemo
- Cheshire
- Chronos
- Circe
- Clock King
- Cluemaster
- Copperhead
- Cosmic King
- Count Vertigo
- Crime Doctor
- Deathstroke
- Doctor Double X
- Doctor Phosphorus
- Doctor Polaris
- Doctor Psycho
- Doctor Regulus
- Doctor Sivana
- Doctor Spectro
- Dragon King
- Eclipso
- Evil Star
- Fastball
- Felix Faust
- Fiddler
- Floronic Man
- Gambler (Steven Sharpe)
- Ghost
- Golden Glider
- Gorilla Grodd
- Houngan
- Huntress (Paula Brooks Crock)
- Hyena
- Ibac
- Icicle (Joar Mahkent)
- Image
- Jewelee (Final appearance)
- Joker
- Kanjar Ro
- Killer Frost (Louise Lincoln)
- Killer Moth
- Kobra
- Kung
- Lady Lunar
- Lex Luthor
- Lightning Lord
- Lord of Time
- Matter Master
- Mirror Master (Sam Scudder)
- Mist
- Mister Mind
- Nighthshade
- Ocean Master
- Overmaster
- Penguin
- Per Degaton
- Pied Piper
- Poison Ivy
- Punch (Final appearance)
- Quakemaster
- Queen Bee
- Riddler
- Scarecrow
- Shadow Thief
- Shaggy Man
- Shark
- Silver Ghost
- Silver Swan
- Sinestro
- Solomon Grundy
- Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris)
- Starro
- Syonide
- T.O. Morrow
- Trickster
- Vandal Savage
- Weather Wizard
- Brotherhood of Evil
- Fatal Five
- Fearsome Five
- Masters of Disaster
Other Characters:
- Bernie the Brain
- Darwin Jones
- Karmazov
- Megan O'Dell
- Spike (In picture only)
- Sugar (In picture only)
- Taryia
- United Nations
Locations:
Items:
- Cosmic Treadmill
- Fiddler's Fiddle
- Green Lantern Ring
- Soultaker Sword (Cameo)
- Weather Wand
- Star-Band
- Trickster's Anti-Gravity Boots
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in the Crisis on Infinite Earths trade paperback, as well as the hardcover edition and Absolute slipcase edition.
- Post-Crisis recordings about the "War of the Villains" (this issue and next) are confusing. The event would take place in New Earth, not multiple Earths. By instinct, Brainiac only begun his criminal career after Crisis and the version of Brainiac seen here was deleted from existence; Luthor is a mega-entrepreneur in the Post-Crisis, not a public criminal, and according to Crisis #11 he has no memories about having participated. Since Earth-Two Luthor never existed in Post-Crisis, he was not killed here. The existence of Silver Ghost as a villain of the Freedom Fighters at this point in time is debatable. The presence of Black Adam would not be available either; he would be mute and jailed [1] (or trapped in another dimension.[2])
- Karmazov is seemingly an Earth-One representative of Russia (then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ) to the United Nations. In 1986, Real World, this position was held by Alexander Belonogov and Yuri Dubinin.
Trivia
- Harlequin (Molly Mayne) can be seen with both the villains and the heroes. She is seen on Brainiac's ship on page four, and again with the heroes on page 16.
- Doctor Light (Arthur Light) is the only member of the Fearsome Five not featured in this issue.
- Some months after, the Gambler would take his own life after losing all his money in a casino.
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Crisis on Infinite Earths series
- Images from Crisis on Infinite Earths Vol 1 9