When it comes to a big event like this, there will be blood shed. We've seen some heroes give their lives over the course of this miniseries, like Kid Psycho and Nighthawk. But this would be the first time we saw a major superhero fall in the line of duty. So with that, let's take a look at Crisis on Infinite Earths #7!
The cover has become one of the most iconic covers of the miniseries, even though it was a giant spoiler at the time. Like many other famous covers, it has been parodied and homaged by other comics from other companies. There have been comics beforehand that depicted someone holding another person's body before, but I think it was this that made it really famous. I'm guessing it was the crowd of mourning heroes in the background.
"Beyond the Silent Night!"
Writers: Marv Wolfman, Robert Greenberger
Penciler: George Perez
Inkers: Dick Giordano, Jerry Ordway
Colorist: Tom Ziuko
Letterer: John Constanza
Editors: Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Robert Greenberger
The story begins with Lyla and Alexander Luthor...right where they were in the last issue, floating on a rock in space, watching the five Earths.
However, they would not be alone. Pariah appears, and he wants some answers. He wants to know why he's involved in this. He's witnessed so much death, and he feels he's atoned for his own sins. That will be explained, I promise you. He believes that the Monitor must have known a way for him to get some peace after all he's been through. Lyla tells him if he takes her and Alex to Earth, all will be explained.
On Earth-S, Dr. Sivana and Ibac are plotting some conquering, but Captain Marvel spots them. However, before he can do anything, the two villains vanish. In a little funny moment, Dr. Sivana taunts the Big Red Cheese by saying goodbye, even though he admittedly had no idea what is happening. He's joined by Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel Jr, Beast Boy, and Tawky Tawny, who are just as confused as he is. It's revealed they were transported to Brainiac's Skull Ship.
The heroes are joined by Kole, Mary Marvel, and Uncle Marvel. And in an another small funny moment, Beast Boy grumbles about the many different Marvels. I could only imagine him flipping a table in frustration if at that moment, Mar-Vell, Monica Rambeau, and Carol Danvers showed up, ha ha. So many Marvels...a-hem. Back to the story.
Lyla appears to the heroes and explains they must talk. She explains that the Psycho-Pirate's emotion-manipulating powers were why he seemingly went crazy and attacked Supergirl and the other heroes last issue. She needs his help, and the good Captain Marvel tells her she has the entire Marvel Family at her back. But Lyla needs one representative of each of the various surviving Earths.
On Earth-2, the new Wildcat approaches the Earth-2 Green Arrow, Atom, and Liberty Belle. She has some nerves about introducing herself, as they are legendary heroes, and she is a rookie. She hears Atom talking about Ted, and it convinces Yolanda that maybe she should show herself when she feels she is worthy.
On Earth-4, Pariah is talking to the heroes there. The Ted Kord Blue Beetle (RIP Steve Ditko) agrees to go with the mysterious interdimensional traveler. On Earth-X, Starfire recruits the Freedom Fighters to help save the remaining Earths. Lady Quark is on another Earth, watching the chronal chaos and listening to the Supermen of Earths 1 and 2 talking to Alex Luthor. We also see the Enemy Ace facing a pterodactyl. Later, Lyla, Alex, and Pariah have gathered a group of heroes from the five Earths together on a asteroid in space.
Lady Quark of Earth-6, the Supermen of Earths 1 and 2, Uncle Sam of Earth-X (Originally from Earth-2), Captain Marvel of Earth-S, and Blue Beetle of Earth-4. Considering where they're going, you'd think they'd have picked Captain Atom instead. Lady Quark is burning from some revenge on the enemy for the destruction of her world and family. Earth-2 Superman reminds her that they're fighting for what is right, not for revenge. Quark snaps that the elder Superman has no idea what it's like to be the sole survivor of a world.
Superman tells her they need to talk. Uncle Sam notices Pariah and tries to talk to him. He asks if he needs any help, but Pariah says there can be no help for him. Uncle Sam tells him that everyone's been down on occasion, but a good man will always rise up. Lyla explains that this Crisis began ten billion years ago, on a little planet known...as Oa, home of the Guardians of the Universe, the bosses of the Green Lantern Corps.
They were immortal beings who lived in what could be described as a Utopia. Their world was a paradise. They strove to improve themselves and innovate. But even the Oans were not immune to the darker nature of the soul. One in particular...was Krona. Krona was obsessed with learning the origins of the universe. There was a legend that to find the beginning of the universe would doom it because reasons. Uncaring of the warnings of his fellow Oans, Krona continued his work.
But then an explosion, and something evil was unleashed, which was chronicled in Green Lantern #40 (October 1965). This event gave birth to the anti-matter universe...and the multiverse. Oa was the only planet to not have counterparts in the multiverse, but it does have a sister planet in the anti-matter universe: Qward.
The Oans punished Krona by turning him into energy, Krona vowing his revenge on Oa. Out of guilt for Krona's actions, they wanted to create a force for good to protect the universe. Their first attempt was the Manhunter robots, but that did not go so well. Their next attempt was more successful: The Green Lantern Corps.
A group of Oans felt that the Corps did not go far enough in stopping evil, feeling evil should be exterminated. Those Oans would go on to become the Controllers. Lyla reveals that Oa and Qward both have moons, and on those moons, life sprung. On Qward's moon, the cybernetic monstronsity known as the Anti-Monitor arose. On Oa, the Monitor spawned. The Anti-Monitor took control of Qward and created the Thunderers. The very elite of the Thunderers, the best of the best, were remade into his Shadow Demons. The Anti-Monitor ruled the anti-matter universe, but he wanted more.
The Monitor and Anti-Monitor became aware of each other, and they ended up battling for a million years. The battle ended in a stalemate, as they were of equal power.
The two would end up literally knocking each other out, and they stayed out for nine million years. Both of them ended up immobile, unable to move or react. The Earth-2 Superman asks a question. If the Anti-Monitor was in this state for so long...what woke him up? Pariah admits that the Anti-Monitor's waking up, and all the carnage he's caused since...is his fault. He's the reason for it. And it was all because of his pride. Before he was the Pariah, he was a scientist. A brilliant one. One that was practically a miracle worker.
Much like Krona on Earth-1, Pariah wanted to learn the origins of the universe. However, this Earth also believed in the legend that if one managed to learn the origins of the universe, it would end up destroying everything, because reasons. Not happy with that explanation? Too bad. Yes, the universe is that paranoid about people discovering what created it. Pariah's assistant Sondra thinks he's gone a bit crazy, that he's lost his humanity in the process of making his discoveries.
Pariah goes on to perform his experiments and research anyway. And one can guess what happens next.
Pariah sees the hand holding the universe in it. And true to the prophecy, a wall of white appears and starts consuming everything. Only Pariah himself survives, thanks to his being in an anti-matter chamber. With his universe destroyed, anti-matter filled the void, which allowed the Anti-Monitor to not only wake up from his slumber, but also grow stronger.
This event also woke the Monitor. Determined to protect what remained of the matter worlds, The Monitor found Pariah, who had been floating alone in his chamber for millions of years. The Monitor then fashioned his satellite, and used it to follow Pariah around wherever he went. With every matter universe destroyed, the Anti-Monitor grew stronger, while the Monitor grew weaker.
Superman wonders where Lyla fits into this. She explains her story. While the Monitor was looking for heroes to help him stop his evil counterpart, he saw her floating on a piece of a ship that had sunk. He took her in, and raised her as if she was his own daughter. She laments that after all he had done for her, she murdered him. The Earth-2 Superman comforts her by reminding her she was under the Anti-Monitor's control. He is curious about Alex's origins.
A furious Lady Quark vows to kill Pariah, but Uncle Sam tries to calm her down. As far as the Spirit of America is concerned, the man has already suffered enough. Later on, as Earths grow closer to merging, we have some character moments as a team of heroes are brought together to attack the Anti-Monitor right where he lives.
Deadman tries to recruit the Spectre and Phantom Stranger, but they can't help because their magical abilities will be useless in the anti-matter universe. Power Girl laments that she wasn't chosen to help, but Huntress assures her that if the group of heroes fail, they'll be able to fight. Firebrand, Doll Man, and the Human Bomb decide to pray for them. Peacemaker doesn't like the mission, feeling he should have been chosen in the place of Captain Atom. Nightshade reminds him he was chosen because Atom was the most powerful hero on their Earth. Beetle agrees, but wishes they could help, too. Captain Marvel Jr., Mary Marvel, Uncle Marvel, and Beast Boy worry for them.
The chosen superhero strike team are waiting in space. Lady Quark wants to know how they're going to reach the Anti-Monitor. Pariah explains that he and Alex Luthor are going to combine their powers to open a portal. In a bit of a plot hole, Pariah warns that he can transport to wherever danger or evil lurks, but cannot take people with him...despite his rescuing Lady Quark in an earlier issue. I'm going to assume that means he can't take everyone all at the same time.
Alex, using his unique physiology, opens the portal.
Pariah leads the heroes through the portal. Once they reach the antimatter universe, there's now one question. Where is the Anti-Monitor residing? Pariah spots a glowing asteroid, sensing the evil of the Anti-Monitor there. They fly ahead to find that the Anti-Monitor's home...is a fortress.
The Anti-Monitor spots them, and demands the Psycho-Pirate use his powers to make them his slaves. Problem, though. When the Anti-Monitor amplified his powers to emotionally attack three of the surviving Earths earlier...he ended up burning them out. He needs time to recharge them, but until then, the Psycho-Pirate is powerless. Infuriated, the Anti-Monitor gives the Psycho-Pirate the back of his hand, then goes to deal with the heroes himself.
In the fortress, the heroes are separated. Supergirl notices her X-Ray vision isn't working right, which Superman think may be due to the different physical laws of the anti-matter universe. This leads Captain Atom to wonder if his powers will work. Firestorm remarks to the Ray that he's frightened, and Ray tells him they all are. Lady Quark remarks it was far too easy to get into the fortress, and Earth-2 Superman agrees. Quark's suspicion proves to be dead on as Pariah gets grabbed by a statue.
Pariah insists E-2 Supes and Lay Quark go on without him, as he is invulnerable to harm, but the heroes refuse. A rock monster punches the elder Superman, and the elder hero discovers that not only did it actually hurt him...it managed to make the Kryptonian bleed. The Anti-Monitor sends more rock monsters to fight the heroes. Captain Atom's powers are more effective in this universe, but the monsters can reassemble themselves if they are blown apart. Supergirl is able to deal with the monster by shattering it and using her super-breath to blow the pieces away from each other.
The rock monsters have all the other heroes tied up, but the Earth-1 Superman is able to barge through. He tries to catch up with Dr. Light and Pariah, who managed to go ahead. They had to hurry, because the five Earths only have hours left before they begin their fatal merging. A piece of rock falls on Pariah, much to Dr. Light's horror. This is where Superman catches up. Dr. Light tells him Pariah is dead...and she intends to avenge him. Superman tries to tell her that Pariah cannot be killed, but she charges ahead, not hearing him. The Man of Steel pursues the Japanese scientist, as he doesn't want her to face the Anti-Monitor alone. He manages to catch up to her, and she's found a machine.
The Anti-Monitor has one sweet entertainment center. But in all seriousness, Light believes this is what the Anti-Monitor is using the reduce the vibrational rates of the Earths. Superman asks if she's sure, and she's like, "Back off, Superman. I'm a scientist." Kimiyo wants to study the machine, seeing the tech is something that could help Earth. Superman insists on destroying the machine, as it's too dangerous to keep functioning. But he gets ambushed by the Anti-Monitor. Supergirl hears his scream and flies to help.
The Anti-Monitor knocks the Man of Steel aside, and Dr. Light tries to engage the evil menace. The scientist admits that she did not want to be a part of this at first, but now...things have changed. She tells the Anti-Monitor his now-deceased "brother" created her to destroy him. And she's going to make that happen. However, the Anti-Monitor is in his own domain, and here...he is supreme. He blasts Dr. Light, and hands the Metropolis Marvel the mother of all beatdowns as Supergirl rushes towards him. She nails the Anti-Monitor with a super-powerful Mighty Punch that would make any boxer anywhere shed a tear of pride.
Doctor Light is in awe of Supergirl's fearlessly charging in and laying a beating on the Anti-Monitor. The two have a brawl, and Supergirl is actually doing some damage, smashing and badly damaging the Anti-Monitor's cybernetic body. Supergirl gives Doctor Light some instructions: Get Superman, gather the other heroes, and get the heck out of the antimatter universe as fast as possible. She'll hold off the Anti-Monitor. The Girl of Steel smashes the Anti-Monitor into his vibration machine, completely wrecking it. She continues to wail on the villain, and you get the idea that she could take him down completely on her own.
Doctor Light wants to help, but Supergirl yells at her to get out. And she pays for the distraction.
He manages to hit the Maid of Might with an energy blast that mortally wounds her. But Supergirl managed to beat the Anti-Monitor so badly that he actually needs to back off and heal up for a while. His body had been destroyed, so he flees into a rock and...yeah, this is NOT intentional...rockets away, crowing that he will stand triumphant at the dawn of time. A little bit of foreshadowing there...
With the Anti-Monitor gone, the fortress is starting to crumble apart. The heroes find and gather around the wounded Superman, who is desperately trying to keep the dying Supergirl awake. But Supergirl has accepted her fate, happy that her beloved cousin and the Earths are safe. Her final words are telling Superman she loves him. And with that, the Maid of Might takes her final breath. Superman is heartbroken and furious. He wants to kill the Anti-Monitor, but his elder Earth-2 Superman calms him down by reminding him that Kara gave her life for a chance for the Multiverse to be saved, and that must not be wasted. The heroes flee the collapsing fortress, returning to the positive matter universe.
A memorial eulogy is held for the Maid of Might in Chicago. Continuing the thread of their conversation in issue 4, Batgirl talks about it not being superpowers that make a hero, but their courage and their desire to do some good. She also says that Kara Zor-El will not be forgotten. Yeah, when this all ends, Supergirl will be erased from continuity. And seeing Batgirl speak publicly at a funeral is interesting. I don't think modern DC writers would ever write a member of the Bat-Family doing something like this.
At the Fortress of Solitude, Superman sits with Kara's body, wrapped in what I am presuming is her cape. He reminisces about her arrival on Earth as a teenager, secretly practicing her powers every night (and having her own adventures as Supergirl before her "debut"). The Man of Steel is hurt, and he grieves, but he will live on. The story ends with Superman saying he will miss her forever, and takes Kara Zor-El's body to the sun, her epitaph being an excerpt from Robert G. Ingersoll's "Declaration of the Free".
This issue is powerful, and probably the best single issue of the miniseries. There is a massive exposition dump, but it's worth going through. The highlight is obviously, the final battle and death of Supergirl. Her death is considered the gold standard of superhero deaths for a reason. We see at her funeral that she was beloved by many, and Superman's private service for her is touching. It's even more tragic from a meta perspective when you keep something in mind: DC wanted her dead because they saw her as redundant.
At this point, it seemed that much of Krypton survived with Superman, like Supergirl, the Phantom Zone criminals, the Bottle City of Kandor, and even Beppo the Super-Monkey. Considering the job of Crisis was to essentially "houseclean" the DC canon, DC saw it as an opportunity to make Superman the sole survivor of the destruction of Krypton. Dick Giordano, executive editor of DC at the time, was the one who proposed Supergirl dying. He felt the character was poorly conceived, and despite the near-thirty years of stories about her at the time, he still felt she was unimportant. Some blame for her death was also put on the critical and box office failure of Kara's live action film debut in 1984. Personally, I don't think that film's bombing was completely the reason, but I can imagine it at the very least contributed to the idea that Kara was redundant.
I have said I had a bit of a theory regarding this in an earlier issue's review. Well, here's what I think: I think Lady Quark was meant to die here. Think about it. She made her debut in this miniseries. She had been wanting revenge against the being who destroyed her world and killed her family. As such, she had nothing to lose fighting the Anti-Monitor at this point. The only problem with the theory admittedly is that well...we don't really know much about her or her world. As a result, her death would not be given as emotional a reception as Supergirl's was.
Kara Zor-El would not stay gone forever, though. Over the next couple of decades, DC tried to introduce new Supergirls [some I did talk about in my reviews of Action Comics #644 (August 1989) and Supergirl #1 (September 1996)], but in Superman/Batman #8 (May 2004), Kara Zor-El would be reintroduced into DC canon. She's managed to stick around, despite DC half-booting their universe twice over again. The pre-Crisis Kara would appear a couple more times: In Christmas with the Super-Heroes (1989) as a ghost counseling Deadman, and the Many Happy Returns storyline during Linda Danvers' time as Supergirl.
In Convergence, the original Kara Zor-El appeared again, helping stop the Anti-Monitor and saving the multiverse. She, alongside the Pre-Crisis Barry Allen and Hal Jordan as Parallax, went off to find a place in the universe for themselves. If you are confused, I do not blame you. DC has been making canon confusing since 1985.
Despite the behind-the-scenes stuff, this is regarded as the best Supergirl story ever written by many people. And Marv Wolfman has gone on to say he misses Kara, too. He certainly had her go out on a high note.
Next time, in honor of the passing of Steve Ditko, we take a look at the debut of Spider-Man...
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