The logo resembles that of COIE, but "Crisis on Earth-X" was the title of JLA 107, the first part of the 1973 story that established Earth-X. Crisis on Infinite Earths itself was following a naming tradition that had been used for most of the annual JLA/JSA crossover stories for over 20 years prior to that series.
Yeah, starting with that original "Crisis" in 1963, a big two-part "Crisis" crossover was something of a summer tradition in DC Comics for years and years, culminating in 1983's "Crisis on Infinite Earths," twenty years later. And more recently we've had "Identity Crisis," "Infinite Crisis," and "Final Crisis."
Mixer, Greg, et al., of course I know the original "crisis" stories (I have the comics), but the most famous, important and branded version of any DC "crisis" was and remains the 1985-86 maxi-series. That was an industry game changer on the idea of "event" comics, and any modern day references to a "crisis" undoubtedly has its inspiration from COIE, hence this crossover's use of the typeface created for that comic series, among other things.
Oh, and I referred to the 1973 origin of Earth-X in my previous post.
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"Crisis on Earth X" (parts 3 & 4).
Kara/SG: I don't think i'm better than everyone else." Well, this SG has never been shy about making distinctions between her super-powered self and everyone else, either in dialogue, or by implied threat.
Der Overacting Leader: Yes, that was a horrendous performance. At this point, he should have twirled a moustache after tying everyone to railroad tracks.
Barry/Iris: Iris being proactive was a nice turn, as I know some fans wish to paint her as useless--particularly in this situation. She has a mind, and uses it....at least until the steam pipe moment. Anyone would have had enough time to pull the trigger on her. Their marriage is just another example of how their relationship is the far and away best of the DC-TV series.
Oliver/Felicity: Its about time Felicity
gets Oliver's heartfelt desire to be married.
Negan Flash: Send all paychecks to Jeffrey Dean Morgan's agent.
Alex: Sooo...the fate of an entire world is not as important as saving Kara. Got it. Priorities be damned!
Earth-X Winn: So, this Winn has a backbone, and does not stammer / cower his way through life like the "real" Winn. That was refreshing to see.
Jax/Professor's death: Rushed, and no emotional impact when the edits have the scene jump around so much, there's not one strong moment of grief. Even the funeral, and its reiteration of Jefferson's status was hollow.
NOTES:
As noted yesterday, fantasy Nazi stories rarely work, and the way real history (and the known heart of the Nazis to anyone who actually lived through, or studied it) was misused (even within the speculative framework) was ham-fisted, childish, and possibly offensive to the central target / victims of the party.
James: Even in an alternate world story, he was less than a footnote--a character no one--except the Earth-X Arrow knew. Well, that's Berlanti consistency where James is concerned, including the telegraphing.
Too easy for the heroes to avoid any real injury and escape captors...well, except for the oldest among them (surprise, surprise). No sense of danger in that.
Again, no excuse for such amateurish FX--especially with Red Tornado fight , the poor flying composites during part four's final fight. Serioulsy, some of the Tornado work looked like pre-visualization instead of finished work.
Iris and Felicity was a nice paring of the untrained and their reactions to satiations they were not equipped to face head-on.
During the final battle, there was a nod to
Captain America: Civil War's airport fight.....
"General, would you care to step outside?" from
Superman II. Okay, that was a fun nod.
Overall, this "crisis" suffered from being a story with little purpose other than to get characters to occupy the same space. As a result, most were there just to pop in--in Berlanti fashion--and blurt out some line designed to play on whatever the showrunners believe would be a character "moment," but it was an overstuffed affair, with most being there just to be there.
GRADE: C-
