Death of the Justice League
By Nathan Payson
DC’s biggest event of the summer is here! Following the “Death of the Justice League” in Justice League #75
Previously: DC Infinite Frontier
Dark Crisis really begins with the Justice League dying in Justice League #75, but Justice League #75 really is the beginning of the third act of a 3 act saga. The first act is the launch point of the Infinite Frontier era: Infinite Frontier #0-6
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Collects: Infinite Frontier #0, Infinite Frontier: Secret Files #1, and Infinite Frontier #1-6
Following Infinite Frontier is “Act 2” which is Justice Incarnate. The story is heavily based on Grant Morrison’s Multiversity. It may make sense to read it, or else JLI might feel a little difficult to understand.
Collects: Justice League Incarnate #1-6
Finally, there’s the Death of the Justice League.
Shadow War
The other major prelude to Dark Crisis is also written by Joshua Williamson, and focuses on three different series of his coming together: Batman, Deathstroke Inc., and Robin. Of those, Robin and Deathstroke Inc. are the most important, while the Batman story is much smaller. These books take place before Death of the Justice League but around the same time as Infinite Frontier and Justice League Incarnate.
Robin Vol. 1: The Lazarus Tournament
Collects: The Prelude (“Demon or Detective”) in Batman #106 then Detective Comics #1034, and then Robin #1-6
Collects: Robin 2021 Annual, and Robin #7-11
Collects: Black Canary Story from Batman: Urban Legends #6 and Deathstroke Inc. #1-7
Read: Deathstroke Inc. #6-7 and Robin #12
Read: Shadow War: Alpha #1, Batman #122, Deathstroke Inc. #8, Robin #13, Batman #123, Shadow Warzone #1, Deathstroke Inc. #9, Robin #14, Shadow War: Omega #1
Dark Crisis Prelude
Dark Crisis has two official preludes. The FCBD book is very unimportant, but is a sort of mood piece. Aquamen essentially takes place right after the Justice League die and is both a wrap up of the 6 issue mini and also a couple stories designed to connect stories to the Death of the Justice League. While some of these stories were written well after Dark Crisis had begun, they do help clarify exactly what happened in the moments right before Justice League #75
A couple of stories focus on bridging the gap from the main continuity to Death of the Justice League. While these stories aren’t super important, it might help answer some questions you have like “why is John green?”
Green Lantern: Emerald Knight #1
Context: John Stewart’s recently gained access to the godstorm, a power that basically makes him a New God. While Jon doesn’t technically teleport in the issue, it’s implied in Justice League #75 that it happens around this time.
Superman: Kal-el Returns Special #1
Context: This is a set of short stories focused on Superman returning to Earth after a lengthy adventure in space. The final story is the “teleport” scene.
Finally, there’s the Death of the Justice League.
Dark Crisis #0 FCBD Special Edition 2022
Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1
Dark Crisis
Dark Crisis as a reading order has essentially been 4 main storylines that go through the event: the central Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths plot, the Worlds without a Justice League, The Young Justice storyline, and the Flash storyline. Each thread is generally best viewed as a simultaneous plot. As such, I best recommend reading the threats separately, generally speaking.
Read: Dark Crisis: Young Justice #1 to #6
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League
Read: Dark Crisis: World’s Without a Justice League–Superman, Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League–Green Lantern, Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League–Wonder Woman, Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League–Green Arrow, Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League–Batman
Context: These issues are a set of stories about an “idealized” version of the world for each hero. Among them includes another story with a teenage Andy Curry (Aquaman’s Daughter) that continues elements of Aquaman: Future State.
Dark Crisis: The Deadly Green #1
Dark Crisis Aftermath
Dark Crisis leads directly into Dawn of the DCU, the next era of DC Comics.
Dark Crisis Checklist
There’s an official Dark Crisis Checklist out. However, as with most event checklist, the actual reading order based on chronology is different from the checklist which is based on release dates. I’ve added the other tie-ins that weren’t on the checklist to the mix. Also check out the incredible Obituary for the Justice League by David Mann.
April
May
Dark Crisis #0 FCBD Special Edition 2022
Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1
June
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
July
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #2
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Superman #1
August
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #3
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Green Lantern #1
September
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #4
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Wonder Woman #1
October
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #5
Dark Crisis: The Deadly Green #1
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Green Arrow #1
November
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #6
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Batman #1
December
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7
Next: Dawn of the DCU
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Thank you for the very helpful list. I do wonder, though, whether Dark Crisis: The Dark Army should be listed before Dark Crisis #6 instead of afterward. The battle in the beginning appears to be prior to the [redacted]’s return in Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #6. Additionally, Frankenstein is still in one piece in DC:TDA and, well, isn’t in issue #6. Bearing those notes in mind, would DC:TDA be more appropriately placed after, say, Dark Crisis: The Deadly Green?
Also, since I’m commenting anyway, I’ll be a touch finicky: Justice League Incarnate only have five issues, not six.
But again, thank you. This list has been extremely helpful in staying organized and reading stories in context. Bless you!
I do recognize, though, that the end of The Dark Army itself suggests the reader take on Dark Crisis #7 next. The Dark Army did release after issue #6 after all. But accounting for the in-universe goings-on of the story, perhaps the publication order doesn’t fully represent chronological order, which happens with DC otherwise (such as the Infinite Frontier-era of Justice League comics featuring Barry Allen on the team for the first two arcs, setting those adventures before the events of the Infinite Frontier miniseries even though the second arc that included Barry didn’t finish until after IF’s conclusion).
Just finished read Dark Crisis with your reading order! Thanks for all your guidance. I wanted to suggest a correction. Deadly Green should probably be read before Dark Crisis 5. Superman and the magic team go into the Great Dark was and find Pariah’s machine in Deadly Green. They return with it and present it to Mr. Terrific at the beginning of Dark Crisis 5.
I’m so thrilled that you used it! I always appreciate corrections. Sometimes I get stuff wrong or mis-remember stuff and it helps alot!!! Hope you enjoyed it!
Does dark crisis and death of the justice leauge happen before batman vol 1 failsafe?
That’s actually addressed in the “Before the Dawn” section of the Dawn of the DC reading order.
https://www.comicbookherald.com/reading-dc-comics/dawn-of-the-dcu-reading-order/
LB is right! Failsafe is a bizzarre situation as the answer is *both* which basically means editorial oversight. The idea was that it takes place before, but the recent comics imply it takes place after. My assumption is that we will know the answer once the solicits for Batman #801 comes out in June, but until then I’ve place it in the Dawn of the DCU order.
Flash #783-785 should come before Dark Crisis #4
Thanks for noting that! I definitely meant for that to go before Dark Crisis #4….Always appreciate when people note the small errors!
No problem. I saw the email Dave sent out a few weeks ago about you becoming the new head DC guide writer. Congrats!
Any idea where “Superman Returns” one shot fits?
Directly before justice league 75 as it end with clark being teleported to the start of that story
Owen is right, check out the Infinite Frontier Reading Order for more comics that fall outside of Dark Crisis’s timeframe.
Hello, I’m new to the rebirth reboot. I want to start it. I’m what order should I start to be up to speed with dark crisis?
Start with our Infinite Frontier Reading Order! https://www.comicbookherald.com/reading-dc-comics/dc-infinite-frontier-reading-order/
Infinite Frontier is the current (although soon ending) era of DC Comics. If you want a fast track to the event, I’d recommend following the road to Dark Crisis. I did my best to include the important beats so that you’d find it as accessible as possible.
Looks like you forgot Dark Crisis: The deadly green, somewhere between Dark Crisis #4 and #5
Also flash 786
All the issues are in now. Sorry for the delay. I tried to wait until I was certain where each of the issues should *actually go* in the order versus DC’s Checklist. Those specific issues were announced after the initial checklist, and as such weren’t included where they should have been.
Hello! Just picked up Flash #786. I was wondering about it’s placement in this event?
Sorry for the delayed response, just read it with the other flash issues.
Has there yet to be a Dark Crisis collected edition or is this still currently ongoing?
Still ongoing. They will probably collect this in a couple trades.
There are Dark Crisis Collected editions although on pre-order now (check the link above for it).