Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #9 is an issue of the series Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 2015. It was published on March 18, 2015.
Synopsis for "Earth Engine"
This story is reprinted from Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #25 (Digital), Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #26 (Digital) and Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #27 (Digital).
On Earth-17, Wonder Woman gets ambushed by the mutated Killer Croc while walking through the Burn, and while fighting, demands to know what he's doing there. As he refuses to answer, she asks him again, and Croc states that he's keeping fleshy beings like her away. As they battle, she asks what he's protecting, but he soon destroys her chainsaw stick, forcing her to rely solely on her fists. After punching him, she again asks what he's trying to protect, but gets knocked down by his tail. She jumps out of the way when he lunges at him and states that she'll find the answers for herself if he won't tell her. Reaching a cavern, she realizes he must be guarding it, but finds he has disappeared.
Croc soon jumps at Wonder Woman from above, but gets knocked out when she punches him. As she examines the cavern, she becomes dumbfounded upon finding what's inside and realizes she'll need help. Using the orb the Monitor gave her, she calls out to her allies in the multiverse and they soon show up. Wonder Woman states that her universe may be at risk again and the Green Lantern of Earth-13 states it is good to see her again. Catwoman of Earth-19 tells them to quickly reveal what they've been called for, since she dislikes Earth-17, and Robin mocks Wonder Woman, stating she called them over Killer Croc. Batman tells him to stop and asks Wonder Woman why she summoned them, before being told that'll she show them the reason instead.
Wonder Woman tells the others that she doesn't know what they're seeing in front of them, which is why she decided to seek help. Batman states that it seems similar to the Monitor's spatial engines and is partly made of Monitor technology. The Arcane Green Lantern upon examining it, finds that it consists of less sophisticated technology as well, but the Nightmare Robin berates him for probing it as it might get triggered. Batman agrees with him that it's dormant and is sitting there to be activated in future. As the Lantern states that it must have been left there under guard deliberately, the team decides to interrogate Killer Croc.
Croc however refuses to reveal anything and Robin suggests torturing him in order to force him. Lantern rejects such a proposition and upon being told that he eats humans, says that they cannot fall to his level. Wonder Woman agrees with him, while Batman tells Robin to interrogate Croc, much to her bewilderment. Robin tells Croc he has three options, be interrogated by the Lasso of Truth which will permanently change him, get tortured or simply reveal what he knows. Croc decides to cooperate and states that a man with glasses approached him a week ago, telling him to guard the Earth Engine in the cave. Robin asks if he was paid and when he says no, wonders why he agreed to it. Croc himself struggles to understand, and Catwoman of Earth-19 states she might have seen the Earth Engine before.
In Singapore of Earth-19, Lex Luthor holds a global peace conference attended by many world leaders and tells them that their universe faces great threats from the outside. To counter these threats, they must band together, before thanking Shayera Hol, the queen of the south whose kingdom has often been at war with the rest of the world. Shayera states that she does believe the peace accords will be beneficial and they must join together to protect their world from the threats he described to them. When Lex turns his attention to King Arthur of Atlantis and states how it has been long at war with the surface world, Arthur states that it is because surface dwellers are aggressive and adds he doesn't trust Luthor. Lex however uses a device to make him agree to the accords.
Flying back to Metropolis in his airship, Luthor gets told by Mercy Graves that the peace conference went well, to which he agrees. As she states how he deserves a peace prize, Lex states he doesn't want awards, but the safety of the world, and tells her that he needs to be alone in order to get work done. As she leaves, Lex tells the person hiding in his room to come out and soon gets confronted by Batman of Earth-0, who states that they know what he's doing. As Luthor states he doesn't know what he's talking about, Batman states he does, and introduces him to Superman of Earth-0.
On Earth-44, Mecha Superman stands guard at the Daily Planet and detects an anomaly in the atmosphere. Upon investigating it further, he finds that a portal has been opened through the Bleed and goes to intercept whoever is coming out of it. He however soon finds himself face-to-face with the Green Lantern of Earth-13, due to his sudden entry into his universe. As the two muse over who'll come out on top if they were to ever fight, Hal reveals to him that Batman had sent him regarding a device called the Earth Engine which they recently came across. Wonder Woman had discovered it in her home universe of Earth-17 and K.A.L. realizes it consists of human technology, Monitor technology and magic. He however fails to find what it's meant to do.
Hal states that Batman is searching for information on Earth-19, but has also sent out to others to find if it has shown up elsewhere in the multiverse. K.A.L. initiates a scan to find if the device is on his world, and tells him to follow him. Reaching the power core, he informs the Lantern that one could hide any energy signature there, as long as no one is stringently searching for it. As the two come upon an Earth Engine, Hal realizes the situation is grave and tries informing Batman. Deathstroke however soon ambushes them and subdues Mecha Superman, before turning his attention to Hal. Analyzing his power source, he creates a yellow construct to counter him, before knocking him out.
On Earth-19, Lex Luthor tells Batman and Superman of Earth-0 that he's outraged about them doubting him. Superman questions him about the Earth Engine, and Lex responds that he doesn't know since he didn't build it. Batman states that he knows he's lying and Luthor questions if he really thinks he's trying to take down the Monitor. As Superman states they do, he criticizes them for doubting him. Batman states that he believes Luthor was always on one side - himself. Luthor replies that he's hurt and states he wants to show them something, before going into a chamber. Superman however realizes he's suiting himself in armor and Lex soon comes out in his warsuit, telling the duo to leave his airship.
Appearing in "Earth Engine"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Gaslight Catwoman
- Mecha Superman
- Nightmare Robin
- Superman (Earth-0)
Antagonists:
- Deathstroke (Earth-44)
- Gaslight Lex Luthor
- Mercy Graves (Earth-19)
- Killer Croc (Earth-17)
Other Characters:
- King Arthur (Earth-19)
- Shayera Hol (Earth-19)
- The Monitor (Mentioned only)
- Monitors (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Overvoid
- Earth-0 (Mentioned only)
- Earth-17
- Earth-19
- Pacific Ocean
- Singapore
- Atlantis (Mentioned only)
- United States of America (Mentioned only)
- Metropolis (Mentioned only)
- Star City (Mentioned only)
- Earth-44
Items:
- Earth Engine
- Lex Luthor's Warsuit
- Lasso of Truth (Mentioned only)
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse Vol. 2.
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse series
- Images from Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse Vol 1 9