Earth-One

Last updated
Earth-One
First appearance The Flash #123 September 10, 1961
Pre-Crisis version: Detective Comics #225 [1] November 10, 1955, retroactive)
Post-Crisis version: 52 #52 July 10, 2007
Created by Gardner Fox
Race(s) Humans, Amazons, Kryptonians, Atlanteans
Characters Silver Age Justice League of America
Publisher DC Comics

Earth-One (also Earth-1) is a name given to two fictional universes (the Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis versions of the same universe) that have appeared in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. The first Earth-One was given its name in Justice League of America #21 (August 1963), after The Flash #123 (September 1961) explained how Golden Age (Earth-Two) versions of characters such as the Flash (Jay Garrick) could appear in stories with their Silver Age counterparts (Barry Allen). This Earth-One continuity included the DC Silver Age heroes, including the Justice League of America.

Contents

Earth-One, along with the four other surviving Earths (Earth-Two, Earth-Four, Earth-S, and Earth-X) of the DC Multiverse, are merged into one in the 1985 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths . This Earth's versions of characters were primarily the Earth-One versions (i.e. Superman, Batman), but some characters from the four other worlds were also "folded" in. In Infinite Crisis , Earth-One was resurrected and merged with the primary Earth of the publication era to create a New Earth that brought back more aspects of Earth-One's original history. In 2007, a new version of Earth-One was created in the aftermath of events that occurred within the 52 series. [2]

Pre-Crisis version

Flash of Two Worlds

The Flash (September 1961), cover art by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson Flash v1 123.jpg
The Flash (September 1961), cover art by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson

Characters from DC Comics were originally suggestive of each existing in their own world, as superheroes never encountered each other. This was soon changed with alliances being formed between certain protagonists. Several publications, including All-Star Comics (publishing tales of the Justice Society of America), Leading Comics (publishing tales of the Seven Soldiers of Victory) and other comic books introduced a "shared-universe" among several characters during the 1940s until the present day.

Alternative reality Earths had been used in DC stories before, but were usually not referred to after that particular story. Also most of these alternative Earths were usually so vastly different that no one would confuse that Earth and its history with the so-called real Earth. That would change when the existence of another reliable Earth was established in a story titled "Flash of Two Worlds" [3] [4] in which Barry Allen, the modern Flash later referred to as Earth-One (the setting of the Silver Age stories) first travels to another Earth, accidentally vibrating at just the right speed to appear on Earth-Two, where he meets Jay Garrick, his Earth-Two counterpart.

Major events

Destruction

Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985–1986) was an effort by DC Comics to clean up their continuity, resulting in the multiple universes, including that of Earth-One, combining into one. This involved the destruction of the multiverse, including Earth-One and the first appearance of the post-Crisis Earth.

Post-52 version

At the end of Infinite Crisis , the realigned world is called "New Earth". There are now 52 universes: "New Earth" (a.k.a. Earth-0), and Earths-1 to 51. In the final issue of the 52 weekly series, it is revealed that fifty-two duplicate worlds have been created and all but New Earth have been altered from the original incarnation. [2]

Earth-1 is featured in the Superman: Earth One [29] [30] and Batman: Earth One [31] graphic novels. [32]

Characters

Earth-One
(1961–1985)		Notes New Earth / Prime Earth
counterpart
Kal-El/Clark Kent Since Superman was one of several DC characters continuously published throughout the 1950s, there is not a clear dividing line between the Earth-One and Earth-Two versions of Superman. Several stories published before the mid-1950s took place on Earth-One. Also, any Superman stories published before the mid-1950s that featured or mentioned Superboy also took place exclusively on Earth-One, as the Earth-Two Superman, per the earliest Superman comics, never had a Superboy career. His first appearance in comics was in More Fun Comics #101 (January 1945). This version of Superman remained in publication until 1986, as the miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985–86), he was written out of continuity with John Byrne's miniseries The Man of Steel. Superman
Bruce Wayne Batman is not significantly changed by the late 1950s for the new continuity. Batman is not significantly updated in the manner of other characters until Detective Comics #327 (May 1964), in which Batman reverts to his detective roots, with most science-fiction elements jettisoned from the series. Details of Batman's history were altered or expanded upon through the decades. Additions include his upbringing by his uncle Philip Wayne after his parents' death. In 1969, Bruce moves from his mansion, Wayne Manor into a penthouse apartment atop the Wayne Foundation building in downtown Gotham City, to be closer to Gotham City's crime. Batman spends the 1970s and early 1980s mainly working solo, with occasional team-ups with Robin or Batgirl. Batman's adventures also become somewhat darker and more grim during this period, depicting increasingly violent crime. This version of Batman remained in publication until 1986, as the miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985–86), he was written out of continuity. Batman
Alexis "Lex" Luthor Luthor grew up in the suburbs of Smallville with his parents and sister. As a teenager, Luthor learned about the existence of Smallville's own hometown hero, Superboy. After a fire in his lab, which resulted in losing both his hair and all of his experiments. Superboy saved him from the fire but Luthor accused the hero of destroying his experiments on purpose out of jealousy. From that moment onward, Lex Luthor became the sworn enemy of Superboy. Fearing that their son would never reform his ways, Lex's parents decided to move away from Smallville and changed their name to "Thorul" in hopes to raise their daughter in a relatively peaceful life away from the evil Lex. During one of his outer space explorations, Luthor discovered and moved to a planet dubbed Lexor before it is destroyed in his battle with Superman. Lex Luthor
Dru-Zod Zod is a megalomaniacal Kryptonian, in charge of the military forces on Krypton. He knew Jor-El, when he was an aspiring scientist. When the space program was abolished after the destruction of the inhabited moon Wegthor, he attempted to take over Krypton. He was sentenced to exile in the Phantom Zone for 40 years for his crimes. Zod was eventually released by Superboy when his term of imprisonment was up. However, he attempted to conquer Earth with his superpowers acquired under the yellow sun. With his threat now obvious, Superboy was forced to oppose him and ultimately returned him to the Zone. General Zod

In other media

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Mougin, Lou; Waid, Mark (1986). The Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Crossover Index. DC Comics. p. 1.
  2. 1 2 Johns, Geoff ; Morrison, Grant ; Rucka, Greg ; Waid, Mark  ( w ), Giffen, Keith ; Barrows, Eddy ; Batista, Chris ; Justiniano ; McKone, Mike ; Olliffe, Patrick ; Robertson, Darick  ( p ), Geraci, Drew ; Lanning, Andy ; Ramos, Rodney ; Robertson, Darick; Wong, Walden  ( i )."A Year in the Life" 52 ,no. 52(July 2007).
  3. 1 2 McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1960s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 103. ISBN   978-0-7566-6742-9. This classic Silver Age story resurrected the Golden Age Flash and provided a foundation for the Multiverse from which he and the Silver Age Flash would hail.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Fox, Gardner  ( w ), Infantino, Carmine  ( p ), Giella, Joe  ( i )."Flash of Two Worlds!" The Flash ,no. 123(September 1961).
  5. ↑ Siegel, Jerry  ( w ), Shuster, Joe  ( p ),Shuster, Joe ( i )."The Origin of Superboy" More Fun Comics ,no. 101(January–February 1945).
  6. ↑ Hamilton, Edmond  ( w ), Swan, Curt  ( p ), Fischetti, John ; Kaye, Stan  ( i )."The Mightiest Team in the World!" Superman ,no. 76(May–June 1952).
  7. ↑ Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 73: "Jimmy Olsen got his own adventures in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1. A comic remarkable for its inventiveness and longevity, it ran for 163 issues."
  8. ↑ Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 77: "The Martian called J'onn J'onzz debuted as a regular feature in Detective Comics #225. 'The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel', by writer Joe Samachson and artist Joe Certa, gave the origin for the lonely Martian Manhunter."
  9. ↑ Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 80: "The arrival of the second incarnation of the Flash in [Showcase] issue #4 is considered to be the official start of the Silver Age of comics."
  10. ↑ Herron, France  ( w ), Papp, George  ( p ),Papp, George ( i )."The Rainbow Archer"Adventure Comics,no. 246(March 1958).
  11. ↑ Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 90: "Wonder Woman's origin story and character was given a Silver Age revamp, courtesy of writer Robert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru."
  12. ↑ Fradon, Ramona  ( p )Fradon, Ramona ( i )"How Aquaman Got His Powers" Adventure Comics ,no. 260(May 1959).
  13. ↑ Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 95: "DC had decided to revamp a number of characters to inject new life into the genre. Writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane ensured that Green Lantern got his turn in October [1959]'s Showcase #22."
  14. ↑ Fox, Gardner ( w ), Kubert, Joe  ( p ),Kubert, Joe ( i )."Creature of a Thousand Shapes!" The Brave and the Bold ,no. 34(February–March 1961).
  15. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 103: "The Atom was the next Golden Age hero to receive a Silver Age makeover from writer Gardner Fox and artist Gil Kane."
  16. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 109: "The two-part 'Crisis on Earth-One!' and 'Crisis on Earth-Two!' saga represented the first use of the term 'Crisis' in crossovers, as well as the designations 'Earth-1' and 'Earth-2'. In it, editor Julius Schwartz, [writer Gardner] Fox, and artist Mike Sekowsky devised a menace worthy of the World's Greatest Heroes."
  17. ↑ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 146 "It was taboo to depict drugs in comics, even in ways that openly condemned their use. However, writer Denny O'Neil and artist Neal Adams collaborated on an unforgettable two-part arc that brought the issue directly into Green Arrow's home, and demonstrated the power comics had to affect change and perception.
  18. ↑ Wein, Len  ( w ), Dillin, Dick  ( p ),Giella, Joe ( i )."The Unknown Soldier of Victory!"Justice League of America,no. 100(August 1972).
  19. ↑ Wein, Len ( w ),Dillin, Dick ( p ),Giella, Joe ( i )."The Hand That Shook the World"Justice League of America,no. 101(September 1972).
  20. ↑ Wein, Len ( w ),Dillin, Dick ( p ),Giella, Joe; Giordano, Dick  ( i )."..And One of Us Must Die!"Justice League of America,no. 102(October 1972).
  21. ↑ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 153: "Following his debut in House of Secrets #92 in 1971, the Swamp Thing grew into his own series, albeit with a reimagining of his origins by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson."
  22. ↑ Thomas, Roy ; Thomas, Dann  ( w ), McFarlane, Todd  ( p ), Montano, Steve  ( i )."Last Crisis on Earth-Two" Infinity, Inc. ,no. 19(October 1985).
  23. ↑ Conway, Gerry  ( w ), Staton, Joe  ( p ), Machlan, Mike  ( i )."The Final Crisis"Justice League of America,no. 244(November 1985).
  24. ↑ Wolfman, Marv  ( w ), Pérez, George  ( p ), Ordway, Jerry  ( i )."Death at the Dawn of Time" Crisis on Infinite Earths ,no. 10(January 1986).
  25. ↑ Gerber, Steve  ( w ), Veitch, Rick  ( p ), Smith, Bob  ( i )."Phantom Zone: The Final Chapter" DC Comics Presents ,no. 97(September 1986).
  26. ↑ Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 220: "In 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?', a two-part story written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Curt Swan, the adventures of the Silver Age Superman came to a dramatic close."
  27. ↑ Moore, Alan  ( w ),Swan, Curt ( p ),Pérez, George ( i )."Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?"Superman,no. 423(September 1986).
  28. ↑ Moore, Alan ( w ),Swan, Curt ( p ), Schaffenberger, Kurt  ( i )."Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" Action Comics ,no. 583(September 1986).
  29. ↑ Straczynski, J. Michael; Davis, Shane (October 2010). Superman: Earth One . DC Comics. p. 144. ISBN   978-1401224684.
  30. ↑ Straczynski, J. Michael; Davis, Shane (November 2012). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2. DC Comics. p. 136. ISBN   978-1401231965.
  31. ↑ Johns, Geoff; Frank, Gary (July 2012). Batman: Earth One . DC Comics. pp.  144. ISBN   978-1401232085.
  32. ↑ "DCU in 2010: Welcome to Earth One". DC Comics. December 7, 2009. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  33. ↑ Jackson, Leah (August 1, 2011). "New Batman Arkham City Bonus Costumes Revealed – Earth One, The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, And More". G4. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
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