3 comments on “Tape #12: Crisis on Infinite Earths”

1. Frank says:

   December 26, 2025 at 7:35 pm

   Damn it, Doug, let’s do it again, then.

   There seems to be some shifting goalposts, because I was under the impression in the Wonder Woman episode that you were stating that she didn’t have much to offer in the conflict overall. Now it seems to be qualified by the “big battles,” specifically against the Anti-Monitor. Okay, let’s explore that. Diana actually is part of the anti-matter universe incursion in #7, and she is on the lower end of the raw power scale, but is still overall a more accomplished champion than Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, Dr. Light, and The Ray. There’s arguments to be made about a Legionnaire like Wildfire (whose threats have a millennium to evolve past modern menaces) and other-dimensional heroes like Captain Atom and Lady Quark (major figures on their Earths whose adventures we’re less privy to.) She’s mostly just smashing rock monsters, but successfully dodges one and warns Mon-El, who nonetheless is caught flat—flighted? Nobody’s saying she was at the level of a Kara Zor-El, but she comes at of these battles seemingly unscathed, where the majority present are quite battered, with the notable fatality. In the galling rare instance where elite level heroes are in the greatest peril, she seems to have acquitted herself fairly well.

   It’s mostly the same heroes in the final battle in #12. Again, the Wonder Women of two Earths are not well or extensively handled, but they are battering Anti-Monitor about the head with their bare hands, which is not nothing. This episode, you mentioned that Wonder Woman could have been more effective with a New 52/Snyder-style sword, which was a groaner. Pre-Crisis Diana takes up sword and shield many times, but unless she’s trimming Anti-Monitor’s toenails, I’m not sure what that’s supposed to do. Her signature tool throughout her career is the Lasso of Truth, which she used to compel the actual gods Ares to see the error of his ways, ceasing his campaign to initiate global nuclear war. The thing is, the Lasso of Truth was less powerful Post-Crisis. Probably it’s greatest use Pre-Crisis was to actually subjugate the will of an ensnared party. She coulda/shoulda lassoed one of Anti-Monitor’s wrists and at minimum mucked his mojo with a battle of wills. Failing that, she could have partially incapacitated or moored Anti-Monitor with the unbreakable bound. Pass it off to Captain Marvel and let him and some super friends drag an arm behind his back.

   The Amazing Amazon might have done the same on her own, because she’s got enhanced flight through the invisible jet, which she commands telepathically through her tiara and on whose wings she often rides. The Robot Plane could fly at nearly 3,000 miles (4828 km) per second, and was made from nigh-indestructible Amazonium. Presumably, it possessed the energy deflection abilities of her bracelets, made from the same material. Should Diana fall off, she had the ability to glide on wind currents, so that she couldn’t fly unaided, but could float to the ground untroubled.

   Unfortunately, the Anti-Monitor’s ultimate manifested energy projection, used only when he was most imperiled, could not be deflected or otherwise save Wonder Woman or Supergirl. But again, this was a throwaway spectacle along the lines of Dick Giordano’s “kill the b—-” note approving one of those character’s deaths. Both times, it could have easily been a Superman felled by that fatal blast, so there’s no shame in being overcome by that. So again, Pre-Crisis Wonder Woman had the power levels to rate greater visibility in the Crisis.

   Maybe I missed this last time, but strategically, taking advantage of the Magic Sphere would have been hugely advantageous. This magical mirror was how Hipploytæ could view any space on Earth from afar, dating back to the very first Wonder Woman story. It could have been used anytime Anti-Monitor forces made their way to Earth, and with mystical augmentation, could have perhaps spied on him in the anti-matter universe. If Marv Wolfman were not so busy playing favorites, he would have had plenty of reason to deploy the Amazing Amazon to a greater degree. She’s not just a highly valuable trademark.

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2. Martin Gray says:

   December 27, 2025 at 3:02 pm

   DC Dave, it was a bit mean to ask Chris if he really knew who the Justice League of America were at that time, with you insisting it was actually Justice League Detroit. Nope, Vibe, Vixen, Steel, Gypsy and co were never called that officially, they were the JLA, JL Detroit came from the fans. Heck, even when the Omnibus came out a few years ago DC titled it ‘Justice League: The Detroit Era.’

   Mind, smacked hand for Chris for basically saying JLD has no fans – I kept buying and enjoying the series, I’ve picked up the various untold tales and bought that selfsame omnibus. Generalisations? Down With This Sort of Thing.

   Well done to Chris for reading so much stuff, the box set sounds figuratively and literally unwieldy. And to Dave and Doug for the fun intro, as ever. Have a great New Year.

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3. Hal says:

   January 8, 2026 at 5:55 pm

   Been a while since I listened to this episode. I was going to reply but got distracted with other things. I don’t recall everything I had planned to say, but I do remember you were discussing whether anyone killed in Crisis was still dead. According to an article in Back Issue’s 40th Anniversary issue, at least two characters are still dead. Or at least were at the publication date.
   Both the Green Lantern Tomar-Re and the Don Hall original Dove remain dead. Though one or both of them may have appeared in flashbacks.

   I also seem to recall comments about DC not having a Vampire equivalent to Blade at Marvel. They almost did. At the end of I-Vampire’s series, Deborah Dancer was resurrected as a daywalker similiar to Blade. Unfortunately, nobody ever picked that up before the Crisis hit.

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