While comic book film and TV adaptations can often be somewhat problematic and have their drawbacks, there is always a balance when it comes to what was done well between the original printed material and the adaptation. The CW’s 2019 major crossover event, Crisis on Infinite Earths, based on the 1985-1986 DC Comics limited series, brought together all of the network’s major DC characters to face its most dire threat: the destruction of all the multiple earths.

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Both the comic and the CW shows captured the right potent emotion from our favorite characters, as well as successfully explaining their respective backstories. However, there are differences of which medium did better with certain aspects, and here’s how each hit all the right marks. WARNING: major spoilers ahead.

10 THE COMIC: MORE CHARACTERS

Since the comic had 12 issues to fill its pages with many DC characters, it’s no surprise we got a lot more major and minor characters, whereas the five TV shows understandably didn’t have as much time to show the full array of DC characters. But it’s not just the inclusion of the characters the comic does better, but also the time allotted to them. Even minor characters got to play a major part in the story, which helped with the its epic scale.

9 THE CW: CREATION OF THE JUSTICE LEAGUE

The comic had a great end for its story, but seeing the live-action convergence of all the many CW characters’ worlds become one ⁠— while still honoring DC Universe TV series such as Titans, Doom Patrol, Swamp Thing, and the upcoming Stargirl – was great, now that they're all on the same earth. This leads to the ultimate squeal moment from fanboys and girls everywhere: the birth of the Justice League, the reveal of the Hall of Justice (as first shown in the animated series Super Friends), and the nod to Gleek and the Wonder Twins.

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8 THE COMIC: PARIAH

8 Comic Pariah

While Tom Cavanagh did a great job at portraying the cursed human who would become Pariah, the comic version is much better. There’s more time to flesh out his character in the comic whereas the CW version only has one stand-out moment. While the comic starts off with Pariah being merely somewhat of a spectator ⁠— like in the CW series ⁠— it ends up giving the character more to do and being more pivotal to the overall story. It’s understandable the series had to divvy its valuable time to the main characters, but the comic still treated the character better.

7 THE CW: THE MONITOR’S ORIGIN

The Monitor in Arrowvere Crisis on Infinite Earths

The comic may have better detailed the Anti-Monitor’s origin, but the CW gave us a much-anticipated taste of the Monitor’s prior life and how he became who he did. Showing he had a wife and was a scientist with good intentions makes his inevitable destiny all the more tragic. His scientist persona is a close reflection to those of the council on Krypton: his ego brings about the doom of those he loves...and many universes. The story and portrayal is a nice glimpse of a life we don’t get in the comic.

6 THE COMIC: THE OANS’ INVOLVEMENT

The Monitor’s origin in the CW was great but the Anti-Monitor’s origin in the comic is far much better. The Anti-Monitor was inadvertently created by the Oans, who are also responsible for the creation of the Green Lanterns, as an Oan named Krona created the Antimatter Universe. Through the Oans’ long, tumultuous history, the powerful villain was eventually born, leading to the creation of the Thunderers, who were cursed to become the Shadow Demons. It’s another cautionary tale involving good people with good intentions, whose actions go horribly wrong.

5 THE CW: DESTRUCTION OF ARGO CITY

Argo City on Supergirl

The beginning of the CW’s series event starts with a bang as Argo City, home to Supergirl’s mom as well as Superman and Lois Lane, is destroyed. Melissa Benoist’s face aptly captures the pain and sadness of losing the last of her people. The best part of the scene is when Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) use the one escape pod for their infant son, Jon. The scene is a heartfelt homage to the original 1977 Superman film starring Christopher Reeve, as the dialogue Supes and Lois say to Jon is the exact same as what Jor-El (Marlon Brando) says to a baby Kal-El.

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4 THE COMIC: INCLUSION OF PSYCHO-PIRATE

The CW was on the right path by introducing an imprisoned Roger Hayden, also known as Psycho-Pirate, at the inclusion of its “Elseworlds” crossover. He even spouted the line before the Crisis teaser title, saying “Worlds will live, worlds will die and the universe will never be the same.” Since Pirate is such a big part of the comic event, it would have been a great opportunity to have him reappear in the series event. Unfortunately, for some inexplicable reason, that didn’t happen. It’s a shame, since the villain is one of the most powerful and twisted in the DC universe.

3 THE CW: SUPERGIRL/BATWOMAN

The comic has a great scene between Supergirl and Batgirl, and since Batwoman was just coming into her own series, the CW grabbed the opportunity to see these two seemingly opposite characters open up to each other. Seeing Supergirl give a pep talk to Kate about her courage showcases why Supergirl is so well respected in the Arrowverse, and having Kate return the Kryptonite to Supergirl shows how much she is unlike Batman. It’s the beginning of a wonderful friendship, and we hope the producers have these two team up for many more episodes.

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2 COMIC: SUPERMAN

Superman is the main go-to character when it comes to any crisis, so his inclusion in the comic and the CW event were essential. It was great seeing two Supermen ⁠— Hoechlin and the Kingdom Come Superman (Brandon Routh from Superman Returns) ⁠— grace the screen, but they were both ousted as being a major player by Lex Luthor. Jon Cryer’s portrayal of Luthor is the most accurate to date, but he shouldn’t have been a paragon, and it doesn’t quite make sense to have him there other than to just try to throw a wrench in the works ⁠— and set up for his new idol status in Supergirl. It should’ve stayed Superman. The comic’s use of the Men of Steel was not just appropriate, it was necessary.

1 THE CW: GREEN ARROW

The comic’s Green Arrow made a brief appearance in one or two panels before being taken out. However, the one who started it all on the CW would ⁠— and should ⁠— be the focal point of the crisis. And the writers didn’t disappoint. Stephen Amell’s performance should win multiple awards. From his death to his acceptance of becoming the Spectre to his final battle, every scene he’s in will do any fan of any CW Arrowverse show proud. It’s also a fitting send-off to the hero and series that kickstarted this beloved universe.

NEXT: 10 Crossovers The Arrowverse Should Adapt After Crisis On Infinite Earths