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Infinite Crisis reading order

DC's 2005–2006 event, from the Countdown one-shot through the four lead-in miniseries to the seven-issue main series and its specials. Start with Countdown; Identity Crisis is optional background.

  1. Background: Identity Crisis and Crisis of Conscience2004–2005

    12 issues · about 4 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    A murder inside the superhero community exposes old secrets about the Justice League wiping villains' minds. Everything in Infinite Crisis grows from the mistrust this causes.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Identity Crisis (2016)Covers Identity Crisis #1–7Find it
    2. Infinite Crisis Omnibus (2020)Covers JLA #115–119Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Identity Crisis (2004)#1–77 issues, optional
      1. #1August 2004
      2. #2September 2004
      3. #3October 2004
      4. #4November 2004
      5. #5December 2004
      6. #6January 2005
      7. #7February 2005

      Optional, but it explains why the heroes no longer trust one another.

    2. JLA (1997)#115–1195 issues, optional
      1. #115August 2005
      2. #116September 2005
      3. #117October 2005
      4. #118November 2005
      5. #119November 2005

      Optional follow-up to Identity Crisis that leads directly into Infinite Crisis #1.

  2. Start here

    Countdown2005

    1 issue · about 20 min1 essential issue · about 20 min

    An oversized one-shot in which Blue Beetle investigates a conspiracy against the heroes. It sets up all four lead-in miniseries at once.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Infinite Crisis Omnibus (2020)Covers DC Countdown #1Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. DC Countdown (2005)#1May 2005

      Published as DC Countdown; this is Countdown to Infinite Crisis.

  3. The OMAC Project and Sacrifice2005

    11 issues · about 3.5 hours10 essential issues · about 3.5 hours

    Batman's surveillance satellite, Brother Eye, falls into the wrong hands and an army of OMACs is unleashed. The Sacrifice crossover turns Superman and Wonder Woman against each other halfway through.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Infinite Crisis Omnibus (2020)Covers The OMAC Project #1–3; Superman #219; Action Comics #829; Adventures of Superman #642; Wonder Woman #219; The OMAC Project #4–6Find it
    2. Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia Deluxe Edition (2020)Covers Wonder Woman #220Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. The OMAC Project (2005)#1–33 issues
      1. #1June 2005
      2. #2July 2005
      3. #3August 2005
    2. Superman (1987)#219September 2005

      Sacrifice part 1.

    3. Action Comics (1938)#829September 2005

      Sacrifice part 2.

    4. Adventures of Superman (1987)#642September 2005

      Sacrifice part 3.

    5. Wonder Woman (1987)#219September 2005

      Sacrifice part 4, the issue everything after it refers to.

    6. #220October 2005, optional

      Optional aftermath of Sacrifice for Wonder Woman.

    7. The OMAC Project (2005)#4–63 issues
      1. #4September 2005
      2. #5October 2005
      3. #6November 2005

  4. Day of Vengeance2005

    6 issues · about 2 hours6 essential issues · about 2 hours

    The Spectre, manipulated into war on magic, begins destroying the mystic side of the DC Universe. A ragtag group of magic users bands together to stop him.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Infinite Crisis Omnibus (2020)Covers Day of Vengeance #1–6Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Day of Vengeance (2005)#1–66 issues
      1. #1June 2005
      2. #2July 2005
      3. #3August 2005
      4. #4September 2005
      5. #5October 2005
      6. #6November 2005

  5. Villains United2005

    6 issues · about 2 hours6 essential issues · about 2 hours

    Lex Luthor's Secret Society recruits nearly every villain going, and the six who refuse are hunted for it. Gail Simone's Secret Six make their debut.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Secret Six by Gail Simone Omnibus Vol. 1 (2024)Covers Villains United #1–6Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Villains United (2005)#1–66 issues
      1. #1July 2005
      2. #2August 2005
      3. #3September 2005
      4. #4October 2005
      5. #5November 2005
      6. #6December 2005

  6. Rann/Thanagar War2005

    6 issues · about 2 hours6 essential issues · about 2 hours

    After Thanagar is knocked out of its orbit, it ends up at war with Rann. Adam Strange, Hawkman, Hawkgirl and Green Lantern are caught in the middle of DC's cosmic corner.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Infinite Crisis Omnibus (2020)Covers Rann / Thanagar War #1–6Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Rann / Thanagar War (2005)#1–66 issues
      1. #1July 2005
      2. #2August 2005
      3. #3September 2005
      4. #4October 2005
      5. #5November 2005
      6. #6December 2005

  7. Infinite Crisis begins2005–2006

    6 issues · about 2 hours6 essential issues · about 2 hours

    With the world falling apart, survivors of the original Crisis on Infinite Earths return and decide this Earth has gone wrong. Read the first two specials as they wrap up their lead-in stories.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Infinite Crisis Omnibus (2020)Covers Infinite Crisis #1–4; Day of Vengeance: Infinite Crisis Special #1; Rann / Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special #1Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Infinite Crisis (2005)#1–44 issues
      1. #1December 2005
      2. #2January 2006
      3. #3February 2006
      4. #4March 2006
    2. Day of Vengeance: Infinite Crisis Special (2006)#1March 2006

      Closes Day of Vengeance and sets up the magic side of the finale.

    3. Rann / Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special (2006)#1April 2006

      Closes the space war and leads straight into Infinite Crisis #5.

  8. Infinite Crisis concludes2006

    8 issues · about 2.5 hours4 essential issues · about 1.5 hours

    The last three issues and the remaining specials, with the three-part Superman crossover This Is Your Life in between.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Infinite Crisis Omnibus (2020)Covers Infinite Crisis #5; The OMAC Project: Infinite Crisis Special #1; Infinite Crisis #6; Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special #1; Infinite Crisis #7Find it
    2. Superman: Infinite Crisis (2006)Covers Superman #226; Action Comics #836; Adventures of Superman #649Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Infinite Crisis (2005)#5April 2006
    2. Superman (1987)#226April 2006, optional

      This Is Your Life part 1, a tie-in about the two Supermen; read with the next two.

    3. Action Comics (1938)#836April 2006, optional

      This Is Your Life part 2; adds background but is not needed for the plot.

    4. Adventures of Superman (1987)#649April 2006, optional

      This Is Your Life part 3, as the two Supermen clash.

    5. The OMAC Project: Infinite Crisis Special (2006)#1May 2006

      Closes the OMAC Project story.

    6. Infinite Crisis (2005)#6May 2006
    7. Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special (2006)#1June 2006, optional

      Wraps up the Secret Six and is best read before the final issue.

    8. Infinite Crisis (2005)#7June 2006

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