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WOLFMAN'S ABSOLUTE CRISIS
by Jennifer Contino (Pulse)
Twenty years later, people are still talking about DC's original earths-shattering event, The Crisis on Infinite Earths, one of the comic book shots heard 'round the world. He even rewrote the entire history of the DCU. In November, DC Comics released a special Absolute Crisis hardcover edition. The collection included all twelve issues in one volume and a second volume presenting special behind-the-scenes features from both Marv Wolfman and George Perez.
Wolfman, whose recent Crisis novelization sold out in under a month, is happy the original work is still winning new readers and being talked about by current comic fans. "I didn't think they'd be talking about it 20 years after George and I did it. But if they are, it's proof that if you do a good book it will be remembered."
"It's great to have your stuff liked," Wolfman said. "I knew the original Crisis was going to be big - I was certainly aware that something on that scale had never been done before - but I never assumed it would still be talked about - almost as current - 20 years later. That's wonderful. As a bit of ego-boost on my side, which I don't do often, actually, it shows that it was obvious worthwhile spending years writing and re-writing the ideas that eventually became the book. The preparation time on Crisis was about four years and it's reflected in today's continued interest in it."
"The Crisis was well crafted and beautifully, beautifully drawn, too," continued Wolfman. "I also think it is still highly regarded - even if you still hate us for killing Barry or Kara - because this book, unlike all the other crossovers done at all the companies, was done for a real reason, a necessary reason, and it was done by someone who really wanted to do this particular story. You can't just produce epics on schedule and demand. It takes time, perseverance and the willingness to keep working on it until it's right."
Although there are some behind-the-scenes extras included in the second volume, Wolfman said most of his extras in that edition were "small writings here and there." He told THE PULSE, "But there were still existing - God knows who kept all this stuff because I didn't - all my preliminary notes, rough plots, changes, letters, etc. on the Crisis that took place over time. I think people will read it and see all the internal struggle that was never talked about to produce the first major company wide crossover, as well as much of the dissension in the ranks while it was being produced. I had no memory of some of the letters and notes and early plots that I had done. Unless something actually comes out I tend not to think about it, but the process of producing this epic begins to be clear."
Wolfman said he thinks the word "Crisis" is used a lot because it's come to mean something on a grand scale. However, it wasn't his idea to call the saga "Crisis on Infinite Earths. He said, "George - who suggested the title - based it on the original DC crossovers in the Justice League of America: Crisis on Earth One. Crisis on Earth Two, etc. If it's still being used it's because they, and we, made such an impact that the word itself now is synonymous with epic and grandeur. If our book helped foster that usage, I can be very proud that our work inspired both readers and the endless parade of creators that followed us. A crisis doesn't have to be a major event as George and I did. It can be a Crisis of the soul, to use an used name for a Crisis spinoff. It should be a real, emotional story about characters making major decisions that affects others."
Wolfman told THE PULSE he isn't keeping up too much with the current "Crisis" about to strike the DCU. So he's not sure if the DCU is going to be a darker place after the Infinite Crisis, but hoped it wouldn't become too dark. He explained, "Superhero comics, at least to me, are about the ultimate belief that things can be made right and good. You may have to crawl through squalor to get there but ultimately there will be a light at the end of that dark tunnel. Things will be better because super heroes exist to make them better, no matter how hard and painful and sacrificing the process is of doing so. I sincerely hope that sense of wonder isn't lost."
Although his recent Crisis On Infinite Earths novel has sold out and there are plans in place for a second printing of the volume, Wolfman said there's nothing in place to do any other volumes in the series. That doesn't mean he wouldn't be interested in looking at the Crisis through the eyes of some of the other people affected by the saga. "I would probably love to do a series of what it was like on Earth (any of the Earths) for the normal people facing the red skies, the weather turmoils, the white wall of anti-matter, etc. I think setting a story during the apocalypse would be fascinating to do."
"The comments have all be excellent," he said of the feedback received on the work. "The only negatives is when someone asks why I didn't include his favorite scene or her favorite character from the original, and the answer is always the same: this is a story about the Flash and his involvement with the Crisis. Anything that didn't intersect with him isn't included. If you want to read about The Villain War or Superboy or anything else that was i the original, check out the comic. We're not novelizing the original - there's no reason to do that we did it right the first time, I'm writing a brand new story that takes place during the Crisis and gives new meaning and explanations for it. But, I'd say 99% of the mail has been excellent and even those who wanted to see something I left out said they enjoyed the book but wanted even more. So I'm really happy."
The Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths is in stores now. Wolfman is working on a few other projects including educational comics, a Teen Titans story, a part of the Infinite Crisis Secret Files, video games, graphic albums, and more. But comics are still one of his first loves. "I would absolutely love to do more comics, but that's more up to the companies than to me."
You can learn more about Wolfman and see what he's been up to at his official website:
http://www.marvwolfman.com
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