The best events and crossovers in comic book history are, at the top,Crisis on Infinite Earths(1985),The Infinity Gauntlet(1991),Secret Wars(1984) andCivil War(2006). This tier list classifies the major crossovers of universes according to their scale, their influence and their quality. Facts (authors, dates) verified, no invented odds.
The event is a perilous exercise: bringing together dozens of heroes in a plot that really matters. The best redefine their world; the less good ones are just a commercial pretext. This tier list distinguishes those who havelastingly marked the medium, by their narrative audacity and their posterity.
Editorial Ranks, Factsverified. Each event refers to a key number when it exists.
Tier S: the founding events
Crisis on Infinite Earths(1985) overhauled the entire DC multiverse — the most influential event in history.The Infinity Gauntlet(1991) is the cosmic blockbuster that inspired the Avengers films.Secret Wars(1984) invented the modern concept of the crossover event (and introduced Spider-Man's black suit). AndCivil War(2006) divided Marvel heroes on a political issue that has remained cult.
Tier A: the great sagas
Blackest Nighttransformed the Green Lantern universe into an undead epic.The Dark Phoenix Saga(1980) remains the dramatic peak of the X-Men.House of X / Powers of X(2019) redefined mutants for a decade, andAnnihilationrelaunched the cosmic Marvel.
Tier B: notable events
Sinestro Corps Warprepared Blackest Night.Secret WarsHickman version (2015) merged all the Marvel universes.Age of Apocalypsedared a total alternate reality for the X-Men, andFlashpointserved as a pivot to the New 52.
Tier C: debate events
Infinite Crisis,Avengers vs. X-MenetFinal Crisisdivide readers: ambitious but sometimes confused. They remain important milestones, a step below the consensus events.
To remember
- Geoff Johns and Jonathan Hickmanare the great architects of modern events.
- A founding event redefines its universe(Crisis, Secret Wars) rather than extending it.
- The #1 event numbersare often sought after collection keys.
- Each event refers to a key number of the site when it exists.
Frequently asked questions
Crisis on Infinite Earths(DC, 1985) is the most influential,The Infinity Gauntlet(Marvel, 1991) the most emblematic cosmic side. The choice depends on the preferred universe.
Not for the best: Infinity Gauntlet, Civil War or Dark Phoenix Saga can be read as the main series, without the countless tie-ins. The collections bring together the essentials.
Major event #1s and important first-appearance numbers can be. But many recent events are drawn in large quantities: rarity is not guaranteed.
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