DC has unveiled a first look at Jim Lee's epic Dark Crisis variant cover, which pays tribute to the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline.
While the artwork is not yet final, Lee's Dark Crisis #1 variant nods to DC's iconic Crisis on Infinite Earths event. Colored by Alex Sinclair, the open-to-order variant shows a number of characters within the DC Universe -- including Superman, Stargirl, Aquaman, Batgirl, Polka-Dot Man, Cliff Steele and more -- jumping into action and saving the world from existential threats.
DC previously announced that each Dark Crisis issue will feature a variant cover paying homage to the most monumental events in DC's publication history. Dark Crisis #7, the final issue in the series, will alternatively feature an open-to-order George Pérez birthday celebration variant cover, which was created by a multitude of different artists. The George Pérez variant will also be available for purchase from the Hero Initiative, a non-profit organization helping comic creators get the financial assistance they need, to raise funds for one of Pérez's favorite charities. Artwork and additional details on the other covers will be announced at a later date.
Crisis on Infinite Earths, written by Marv Wolfman and penciled by Pérez, was published in 1985. The monumental DC crossover storyline abandoned the DC Multiverse and created a unified DC Universe after the Anti-Monitor begins destroying various Earths. The series ends with Superman of Earth-Two, Superboy-Prime and Alexander Luthor Jr. defeating the Anti-Monitor and the birth of a new, singular Earth for DC characters to inhabit.
Dark Crisis spins off the events of Justice League #75, which saw every member of the superhero team apart from one -- Black Adam -- die at the hands of Pariah and the Dark Army. Remaining DC heroes such as Jon Kent, Nightwing and more must then pick up where the Justice League left off and defend the world from a host of incoming threats, including Deathstroke/Wade Wilson. The event kicks off in May with Dark Crisis #0 FCBD Special Edition and Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1, with Dark Crisis #1 releasing in June. Along with the main Dark Crisis series, DC will also put out a number of Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League one-shots and other Dark Crisis tie-ins during the following months.
The synopsis for Dark Crisis #1 reads, "Crisis on Infinite Earths. Infinite Crisis. Final Crisis. And now...Dark Crisis! The epic event years in the making is finally here! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Justice League are dead. The remaining heroes are left to protect the world from an onslaught of violent attacks by DC’s greatest villains! Can the legacy heroes step out of the shadows of the classic heroes to form a new Justice League? And will that be enough to stop a darkness greater than anything they’ve ever faced from destroying everything? Don’t miss out on the first issue of the blockbuster event of the summer!"
Dark Crisis #1 comes from writer Joshua Wilson, artist Daniel Sampere, colorist Alejandro Sánchez and letterer Tom Napolitano. The issue releases on June 7 from DC.
Source: DC