#The Day of Vengeance

[roy-dcm2]

Countdown to Infinite Crisis (Reading Order)

I love DC Comics, and despite being an unpopular opinion, I love the build up and aftermath of Infinite Crisis, because that was the era when I started reading. Frankly, I can't believe we're reaching the 20th anniversary of the event, soon.

While single character / author runs are what are usually lauded in most comics circles, I believe the sprawling epic events (when done well) are a unique charm of Superhero comics that a reader should experience.

What I hope to accomplish is by giving you my recommended reading order, it'll add more texture to the event as a whole.

Part 01 - Count Down to Infinite Crisis

So it all starts with the special issue "Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1" where the Blue Beetle - Ted Kord is investigating who has been stealing money from Kord Industries. In the end, the Blue Beetle is assassinated and his death is a catalyst for nearly everything that follows.

Part 02 - The OMAC Project

(This is the weirdest reading order in my entire collection)

The OMAC Project #1-6 directly follows up the death of Blue Beetle as Batman investigates the death of Ted Kord, but also searches for who has gained control of the Spy Satellite he build Brother Eye. Turns out it was taken over by a government agency called Checkmate, and is controlled by a former JLA ally, Maxwell Lord. At the climax, Max uses mind control powers to set Superman against his two friends, and it ends with Wonder Woman killing Maxwell Lord.

In the middle of the OMAC Project, (between issues 3/4) you should stop and read the Superman : Sacrifice storyline. This gives us the point of view of Superman. We get to see that Max had been giving him visions of Lois dying. This story can be found in Superman #219, Action Comics #829, Adventures of Superman #642, and Wonder Woman #219) Sacrifice illustrates just how important Lois is to Superman, and I believe it can make you more sympathetic for Kal-L during Infinite Crisis.

Finally, after The OMAC Project #6, you should read the aftermath of both events in Wonder Woman: Missions End. Diana tries to deal with the repercussions of her actions. Now, suddenly, the whole world is turning against her over the death of Maxwell Lord. This story is found in Wonder Woman #220 - #221.

(You should also read Adventures of Superman #643 for a nicer cap to the story)

When you read it like this, it really inflates The OMAC Project as the event that really did tear the Trinity apart.

Part 03 The Day of Vengeance

The Day of Vengeance #1-6 are pretty straight forward. The Spectre goes on a rampage to destroy all Magic in the DCU, and so a new magical team The Shadow Pact band together to TRY stop him. These events carry over into Infinite Crisis itself.

Part 04 The Rann-Thanagar War

The Rann-Thanagar War is mostly about a Cult on Thanagar that is trying to destroy the universe, meanwhile there is tension between the forces of Rann and Thanagar that don't fully explode into open war until the end of the mini series. You can find the main story in The Rann-Thanagar War #1-6.

After the mini-series, my recommend reading is The Outsiders : Crisis Intervention. This plot is a bit of a tie-in for all other events. At first, the Outsiders are dealing with the aftermath of The Spectre, then part of the team goes into space to help Donna Troy, and finally the other half of the team clashes with the Secret Society of Supervillains. You can read it in The Outsiders #29-33.

I like it as a spotlight on Roy Harper, Arsenal. He's dealing with what kind of hero he wants to be. Grace his teammate says he's not a dark vigilante like Nightwing, like Batman. Roy is a swashbuckling Hero, like Green Arrow. This is great when you know Roy ends up joining the Justice League after Infinite Crisis.

(BTW, the Return of Donna Troy is also a tie-in, but it is terribly boring. Just read this Crisis Intervention to get the lowdown on Donna Troy's part in all this.)

Part 05 Green Lantern Corps - Recharge

This is also taking place in the aftermath of The Rann-Thanagar War, but it is removed enough that I count it as separate. Since the war in space is steadily expanding in the background, the Green Lantern Corps is looking for new members. It's a great look at the other Green Lanterns that had been pushed aside by the return of Hal Jordan. You can read this in the mini-series Green Lantern Corps : Recharge #1-6.

Part 06 Villains United

This is following up on the aftermath of Identity Crisis. The villains created a secret society to take revenge on the heroes for altering people's minds. However, there's a secret group of villains that are united against the Secret Society. You can read the main story in Villains United #1-6

And you can see some follow up in Birds of Prey : Perfect Pitch, where the Calculator has set his mind to capturing Oracle, and it ends with a rematch between Black Canary and Deathstroke. It's a great spotlight for the team (And Gail Simone's writing.) You can read the story in Birds of Prey #86-90

Part 07 JSA Classified : Power Trip

Also known as "Power Girl : Power Trip"

This is a storyline from the JSA Classified books that serves to highlight Power Girl's confusing origin as she is plagued by illusions of people claiming to know the truth. And it ends leading directly into Infinite Crisis #2. You can read this storyline in JSA Classified #1-4.

Part 08 JLA Crisis of Confidence

Finally, the dark secret of the JLA comes back to destroy the team. Long ago, the inner circle of the JLA used magic to alter villains memories. Those villains are back for revenge, and while the heroes do ultimately come out victorious, the JLA disbands in disgrace. But it also ends with the destruction of the JLA moon base, which leads directly into the first issue of Infinite Crisis. This story is found in JLA #115 - 119

When you take it all in, you understand how monumental the event was. The villains are united just as the JLA community could not be more broken. Then the main event of Infinite Crisis is pretty epic, too.

I love this era, and I wish more people would learn to embrace it.

[scyllas-dogs]

well anniflamma may have too much dignity to draw poseidon getting backshots but I sure dont. here we go

more under the cut. dont judge me its been a long day

[fulltacs]

it’s coming back with a vengeance

[handcrushedbyamalletremix]

mae martin: sap (2023)

[hollytree33]

Okay okay now that I’m done with these I wanted to post them all together so you can see how the bottom two sort of mirror the top two! I’ve been so excited to finish these so I could show y’all the full picture.

If you’re seeing these for the first time they are The Hanged Man, The Chariot, The High Priestess, and Judgement!

For anyone interested, the original sketches are under the cut!

The sketch for the first one is not included because I did that before I started planning anything.

As you can see they changed quite a bit as I worked on them! The high priestess was originally the two of swords and judgement had a bunch of people that I ended up abandoning.

Bonus: my unfinished procrastination drawing of Shiv with her hart and the golden halla

[larkoneironaut]

Even though I’ve drawn something very similar in May, I had to draw the hot V&V scene with my improved Solas 💜

[o3o-lapd-o3o]

spoilers? i don't even know what is or isn't a spoiler anymore.

i like to imagine this is what had to be happening at ithaca during the events between little wolf/we'll be fine and get in the water

[current-comix]

Clayton Crain

[sunkissedhyaciinth]

Soldier , Poet , King .

[snarkspawn]

sketching sketching sketchinggg

...is it thursday yet

[lavander-galaxy]

some ghostknife sketches cause they make me feel sick in the head 👍

[trappedinafantasy37]

"Minthara is so abusive to the player" *INCORRECT BUZZER NOISE*

Minthara would literally go to fucking hell for the opportunity to personally beat the absolute shit out of the person who actually did abuse you. She will throw hands with gods and devils just to avenge you.

And you will not be able to convince her not to.

[justdavina]

Such a crazy HOT transgender girl!

[r0tting-rat]

"Ohh Eurylochus shouldn't have done that" "Odysseus should have known better" "It's [Character] fault if..." WRONG! WRONG WRONG AND WRONG!! If any of you had taken the time to read one (1) greek myth you would have known already that, if we really want to trace back the problem to the source, the only ones at fault would be the gods!

It's always the gods' fault—or Fate's—you can't argue with this. The whole point of greek tragedies is that you cannot escape what's already been chosen for you, so no matter how smart you are you will ALWAYS end up where you were meant to be.

[epicthemusicalstuff]

Countdown to the Vengeance Saga: 4 Days

FUN FACT TIME:

In the Odyssey, after being released from Calypsos island, he made his way to the Phaeacians. They take him in, give him food and clothes, and they also compete in some games (which Odysseus smokes them in cause someone makes fun of him). He also cries a couple times when they start singing songs of the Trojan war. He then tells them his name and story (Most of Odysseus’ journey is told through this as a flashback of sorts). Later they give him a boat to sail home!

This is one of the major ways Epic and the Odyssey are different, because to my knowledge Jorge has no plans to include the Phaeacians.

[velen-is-full-of-mud]

Personally I like most of Jorge's visions, but I like my own interpretation of Six Hundred Strike.

Basically I imagened that after Oddy gets drowned a bit the ghosts wake him up and give him their strength instead of pulling him down/embracing him in death.

Oddy then opens the bag, the winds blowing back the ocean so they're fighting on the ocean floor, Oddy losing to Poseidon (duh) until the six hundred men start "attacking" him and he gets distracted enough that Odysseus manages to get a couple of good strikes.

Then Poseidon gets stabbed to Hades and back.

Also he's a gigantic water horse because that's neat