The ‘Crisis’ is finally here

WHEN DC’s “The Flash” premiered six years ago, we were warned of an impending crisis.

Dubbed the biggest crossover in television history, the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” is a culmination of over six years of storytelling. It includes “Supergirl”, “Batwoman”, “The Flash”, “Arrow”, “Legends of Tomorrow” and “Black Lightning”.

“Supergirl”, “Batwoman” and “The Flash” will get the ball rolling tonight and the big crossover will wrap up in January 2020 with “Arrow” and “Legends of Tomorrow” for the five episodic television extravaganza.

Granted, the shows are yet to pick up steam here in Zimbabwe, which narrows the audience of this review to the geeks and comic book aficionados amongst us.

But given the huge response on display at the Marvel and DC Comic book movies over the last couple of years, we are actually a huge lot.

Not much is known about the specifics of the television adaptation, its suffice to say a huge god-like being has been waiting on the wings, planning the total destruction of the multiverse.

The multiverse is basically the existence of numerous earths, which vibrate at different frequencies. Now that the yet to be named protagonist of this tale is ready to strike, all that stands between him and his goal are the several superheroes spread across the multiverse.

It goes without saying that I am very much Team Marvel. Over the years, I have passed very few compliments for Marvel’s competitor DC Comics, but when it comes to television, the reverse is true.

With regards to television, DC currently has a leg up on its competitor. Led by the duo of Stephen Amell (Arrow) and Grant Gustin (The Flash), the “Arrowverse” has been the highlight of my television viewing.

DC has done wonders, taking the Marvel blueprint to build up to this big crossover as the danger of death weighs heavily on the two aforementioned characters. The build up has been gradual since the first big hints were dropped during last year’s crossover event.

The crossover event, now in its third year, has demonstrated top-notch chemistry amongst the characters involved. Therefore, expectations are very high this time around. But unlike the previous crossovers, there are a few things that make this year’s edition extra special.

Firstly, death plays a big role, with Amell and more specifically Oliver Queen’s Green Arrow expected to be given that all-important Tony Stark farewell moment.

Much like Robert Downey Jnr, Amell has been the godfather of DC’s television department. lt is now official that this is the show’s final series. Reduced to 16 episodes, much of the story evolves around Amell’s Oliver Queen making that all-important sacrifice to save his friends, family and the entire multiverse.

Amell has reportedly shot his final scenes both on the show and the crossover. Only time will tell how that will unfold with the final three episodes of the show airing after the crossover.

However, the biggest news from the crossover is the star-studded ensemble that will feature CW’s past and present stars.

Already, Tom Welling and Erica Durance have signed up, with the latter featuring in the trailer. These are from the CW show “Smallville” which ran between 2001 and 2011 and chronicled Clark Kent during his teenage years, way before he became Superman.

The two reprise their roles as Kent and Louis Lane. Another Superman incarnation from the past will be Brandon Routh who played the titular character in the 2006 “Superman Returns”.

John Wesley Shipp (90s The Flash), Ashley McCall Scott (Birds of Prey), Kevin Conroy (Batman animated series), Jon Cryer (Lex Luther) and Brec Bassinger have all signed up and will feature heavily in the crossover.