Two of the biggest franchises in all of comics, Marvel’s The Avengers and DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, come together in a way nobody ever expected. The two stories bring different heroes and different conflicts to one central idea: the protection of their respective universes. With Crisis on Infinite Earths ending up as one of the most significant events in DC history and The Avengers’ Infinity War being one of the highest-grossing films of all time, it’s hard to argue these two stories aren’t the pinnacle of superhero storytelling.
In Crisis on Infinite Earths, readers see an epic conflict between the greatest superheroes from the various Earths of the DC Multiverse. This conflict puts every world in peril, as the villain Anti-Monitor seeks to consume all of existence. The event ends with the complete destruction of the multiverse and a new single universe being created.
The Avengers’ Infinity War is an evolving story of the Avengers’ battle against Thanos, who seeks to destroy all of existence. The Avengers franchise had been building towards this event for years, and it culminated in a climactic battle that saw the fate of the universe hanging in the balance.
For both Crisis on Infinite Earths and The Avengers, the issues at stake are much more significant than some petty squabble between superheroes. Instead, they are a battle for the existence of all creation. And for both, the story is epic, and due to its importance, the stakes never feel anything less than completely high.
However, even with similarities such as the cosmic-scale threats each story faces, the two differ in other ways. For instance, DC’s characters tend to be highly intellectual and strategic in their approach to problems, whereas Marvel’s tend to be more emotive and reactive. This characteristic difference shows up in both stories.
Crisis on Infinite Earths highlights the collective effort of many DC heroes to combat a world-spanning problem. The solution to defeating the enemy comes through collaboration, combined strength, and an understanding of their shared values. In contrast, The Avengers’ Infinity War focuses on a smaller group of heroes, built around the tension between several key characters and their differing approaches to conflict. The consequences of their failings lead directly to the hopelessness of the story’s conclusion.
If there is one lesson to be learned from both Crisis on Infinite Earths and The Avengers, it’s that teamwork and shared vision can overcome even the most extreme of problems. When universes are in danger, everyone must come together, regardless of differences or past conflicts, to prevent catastrophe.
Both Crisis on Infinite Earths and The Avengers’ Infinity War were remarkable achievements in the world of comics and cinema, respectively. They both struck that perfect blend of epic storytelling, attention to character development, and high stakes. It’s doubtful that any other event in superhero history will ever come close to these series, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep trying. These two stories are a testament to the magic that can happen when different creative minds come together and weave narratives worth remembering.