The events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL have restored the DC Multiverse. Now, much of the pre-FLASHPOINT history of the DC Universe makes up current continuity, allowing creators to reference past stories and decide which ones have and haven’t ‘happened’ – or to leave it ambiguous enough that you, the reader can decide for yourself, to some degree. It also acknowledges Justice Incarnate from the MULTIVERSITY event as official defenders of the multiverse and introduces the Justice Society of America to Prime-Earth which is now referred to as Earth-0…
This storyline is the primary storyline from the INFINITE FRONTIER-themed DC titles.
Crossover: A part of the larger ‘Infinite Frontier’ themed DC titles, Infinite Frontier: Incarnate is arguably the primary story that spins out of Infinite Frontier #0.
Must-Reads: Issues marked with a ✔are essential to the story.
Digital to Print: The six-issue Infinite Frontier digital series was also collected in print as Infinite Frontier Secret Files #1.
Character Debuts: Despite much of pre-Flashpoint history now becoming the history of Earth-0/Earth-Prime, pre-Flashpoint characters who appear in this story despite not having been seen since before Flashpoint, as still considered to be making their debut appearance.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- FLASHPOINT – Introducing Batman, aka Thomas Wayne
- MULTIVERSITY – Introducing Justice Incarnate
- DARK NIGHTS: METAL – The return of the DC Multiverse
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- ✔ Infinite Frontier #0
- Infinite Frontier Secret Files #1-6 (digital comic)
- ✔ Infinite Frontier #1-6
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Infinite Frontier #0 The Spectre explains the birth of the new multiverse to Wonder Woman and invites her to join the Quintessence. He shows Wonder Woman the new status of her friends on Earth-0… Superman and the Flash head to Egypt where a raging ‘Fire God’ has already been defeated by Black Adam. Bane and a number of guards are killed during an attack on Arkham Asylum, apparently by the Joker. Batman heads in to investigate and finds guard Sean Mahoney near death after losing an arm and a leg while saving two nurses. Simon Saint and the Scarecrow observe the chaos and plot their next move. Hippolyta passes the Amazonian crown to Nubia and ventures out to take her daughter’s role in the world of men. Yara Flor heads back to Brazil, but she’s being followed. The original Green Lantern (Alan Scott) reveals to his children – Jade and Obsidian – that he’s gay. New young heroes head to the Titans Academy for training. Despite the Spectre believing Jon Kent should never be Superman, Jon’s compassion allows him to help a dangerous foe and end the creature’s threat. Roy Harper is inexplicably back from the dead and comes close to contacting Green Arrow. Stargirl & STRIPE defeat King Midas and get a call from the Vigilante of the Seven Soldiers of Victory. Simon Baz and John Stewart transport the Teen Lantern to Oa. Barry Allen asks Wally West to become the Flash again so that he can join Justice Incarnate and explore the multiverse. Inspired, Wonder Woman rejects the offer to join the Quintessence and opts to return to life, instead. Darkseid is reborn on Earth-Omega and murders the Quintessence… 1st appearance: Deb Donovan, Yara Flor, King Midas, Sean Mahoney, Saint Industries, Seven Soldiers of Victory, Teen Titans Academy (Alinta, Bratgirl, Gorilla Gregg, Megabat, Matt Price, Red X/Brick Pettirosso, Tooby), Earth-Omega Debut cameos: Doctor Mid-Nite/Charles McNider, Infinity Inc (Fury/Lyta Trevor. Northwind, Nuklon/Al Rothstein, Star-Spangled Kid, Silver Scarab/Hector Hall), Seven Soldiers of Victory (Crimson Avenger/Lee Travis, Wing), Swamp Thing/Levi Kamel Also see… AFTERWORLDS BLINK OF AN EYE THE COWARDLY LOT HOMECOMING INFINITE FRONTIER INVICTUS NEED FOR SPEED PRISMS THE SEVEN SOLDIERS OF SPRING BREAK |
| Infinite Frontier Secret Files #1 (digital) On Earth-0, Director Bones of the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO) goes over Cameron Chase’s files. First up, President Calvin Ellis – the Superman of Earth-23 – has been working with his fellow Justice Incarnate team member Machinehead of Earth-8 to produce more time, but he’s struggling to fit all of his duties into one day. 1st appearance: The Margin Also see INFINITE FRONTIER | |
| Infinite Frontier Secret Files #2 (digital) Roy Harper – former sidekick to the Green Arrow – is taking a beating in a bar. A woman steps in to save him and he saves her in return. Director Bones moves on to the next tape… Also see INFINITE FRONTIER | |
| Infinite Frontier Secret Files #3 (digital) Obsidian and Jade discuss the recent changes in their lives. They encounter Chroma whose apocalypse song is causing people to kill themselves. Obsidian chases Chroma to the Shadowlands so they can sing without causing harm. 1st appearance: Chroma Also see INFINITE FRONTIER | |
| Infinite Frontier Secret Files #4 (digital) Director Bones listens to Chase’s tapes on the Totality – a team formed by Martian Manhunter to protect the world from omniversal threats. The team clashes with the Earth-23 version of the Totality, attracting the attention of Superman (Calvin Ellis), ultimately defeating them. Talia al Ghul, Hawgirl, Lex Luthor, Mister Terrific and Vandal Savage all reveal their reasons for joining the group (during DARK NIGHTS: METAL). Martian Manhunter reveals the mission was a test. Also see INFINITE FRONTIER | |
| Infinite Frontier Secret Files #5 (digital) Director Bones tests Captain Boomerang to see if he has the dark radiation that transformed his multiversal counterpart (during DARK NIGHTS: DEATH METAL). Bones risks an experimental protocol to return Boomerang to normal. Also see INFINITE FRONTIER | |
| Infinite Frontier Secret Files #6 (digital) A man tracks down the Psycho-Pirate in the hope of gaining his power by answering three questions. The man is frightened to death when Psycho-Pirate is unimpressed by his third answer. Psycho-Pirate is summoned to Earth Omega by Darkseid. Director Bones decides to bring Cameron Chase back to the DEO. Also see INFINITE FRONTIER |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Infinite Frontier #1 Batman (Thomas Wayne) of the Flashpoint timeline crash lands on Earth-23 in a shuttle. Justice Incarnate take him in. Alan Scott has joined the Totality and assists them in stopping Extant from using the Worlogog to disrupt time. Someone blows up the original Gotham City headquarters of the Justice Society of America (JSA). Director Bones insists Chase rejoin the DEO. The Flash (Barry Allen) of Earth-0 runs to Earth-Omega where he finds the murdered Quintessence. He’s taken down by Psycho-Pirate who warns him that a new crisis is coming. Someone called X-Tract is sent to apprehend Roy Harper. He defends himself with a Black Lantern Ring he didn’t know he had… 1st appearance: X-Tract New identity: Hank Hall as Extant, Roy Harper as Black Lantern Also see INFINITE FRONTIER |
| ✔ | Infinite Frontier #2 Cameron Chase questions Batman and Superman at the Hall of Justice, but they end the conversation to depart for a mission. At Justice Incarnate’s House of Heroes, Thomas Wayne reveals X-Tract arrested him and he escaped her shuttle in a pod. They seek a fragment of the pod on Earth-22 (Kingdom Come) where they’re faced with Magog. Alan Scott and Obsidian investigate the scene of the explosion and it looks like the JSA are targets. Roy Harper’s Black Lantern Ring lets him know his daughter, Lian Harper, is still alive. But so is Darkseid who summons Roy. Chase tries to recruit Captain Atom, but he turns out to be a multiversal alternate who’s working for Darkseid. He detonates himself in front of her… Also see INFINITE FRONTIER |
| ✔ | Infinite Frontier #3 The Shade points Alan Scott and Obsidian towards Command D in Blüdhaven where Cameron Chase (very much alive), Director Bones and X-Tract take them down. They’re shipped off via a DEP space cruiser. Magog allows President Superman and Flashpoint Batman to examine the crashed space cruiser and leave. Psycho-Pirate manipulates Barry Allen into using a treadmill for Darkseid. Roy Harper is picked up by a similar DEO space cruiser and taken prisoner by Agent Hector Hammond. Jade, Power Girl, Wildcat, Damage and Atom Smasher – the Justice Society of America – board the space cruiser as it enters the Bleed… Also see INFINITE FRONTIER |
| ✔ | Infinite Frontier #4 President Superman and Flashpoint Batman find the Lex Luthor of Earth-23 murdered. But they learn he designed the DEO space cruisers. It was X-Tract who saved Cameron Chase from the exploding Captain Atom. Chase shoots Director Bones and ensures they’re both aboard the space cruiser carrying Alan Scott and Obsidian away from Earth-0. In the Bleed, Jade stops the JSA’s attack on Roy Harper. X-Tract had tried to apprehend the JSA and they fought back. Now, with Hector Hammond down, Roy and the JSA fly the space cruiser to Earth-Omega where they crash into Bones’ cruiser. In the Hall of Heroes, Machinehead strikes out at Justice Incarnate and reveals himself to me a member of the multiversal Injustice Incarnate… 1st appearance: Injustice Incarnate (cameo, Jokero of Earth-32) Also see INFINITE FRONTIER |
| ✔ | Infinite Frontier #5 Director Bones emerges from the wreckage of the two crashed cruisers in his Mister Bones costume, blaming Chase and revealing his deal with Darkseid to send him multiversal anomalies in exchange for Earth’s protection. Alan Scott and Obsidian reunite with Jade and the JSA. X-Tract unmasks as Cameron Chase of Earth-Two. Darkseid is using Barry Allen to crack the universe and access the power from beyond. Injustice Incarnate have defeated Justice Incarnate. Now Psycho-Pirate sends them against the JSA. Machinehead wanted revenge for the cracks in his reality caused by the creation of the Flashpoint timeline. The ring used by Batman against the Batman Who Laughs (during DARK NIGHTS: HEAVY METAL) is the one Roy Harper now wears. He uses it to free the heroes, sacrificing himself… only to become Darkseid’s Omega Lantern. 1st appearance: Injustice Incarnate (full, Jokero of Earth-32), Meta-Nite Identity Revealed: X-Tract as Cameron Chase of Earth-Two Also see INFINITE FRONTIER |
| ✔ | Infinite Frontier #6 All past versions of Darkseid have been reborn as one and escaped his prison on Earth-Omega. Obsidian breaks Darkseid’s control over Roy. President Superman takes out Machinehead and frees Barry Allen, only for Barry to launch at speed into the multiverse. Roy is freed from the ring. Psycho-Pirate flees. Darkseid kills Machinehead and returns Justice Incarnate to the Hall of Heroes. The team begin their search for Barry Allen and the Crack in the Universe. Days later, Cameron Chase has been put in charge of the DEO. Bones is missing (having joined Checkmate). Earth-Omega can’t be found. Darkseid is using it to launch his campaign to control the Great Darkness. The Flash witnesses Multiverse-2 – the original multiverse that was destroyed by the Anti-Monitor (during CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, 1985-1986) – before Pariah transports him to his perfect reality… 1st appearance: Crack in the Multiverse, Earth-Flash.1 New identity: Original Multiverse as Multiverse-2 Also see INFINITE FRONTIER |
| Must Reads | Issue & Fallout | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Suicide Squad #1-2 (2021) The Suicide Squad are sent to quell the breakout at Arkham Asylum. | THE COWARDLY LOT INFINITE FRONTIER |
| Catwoman #25 (2021) Catwoman befriends a group of young thieves, unaware that ‘Shoes’ is actually Roy Harper’s daughter, Lian Harper. | THE JOKER WAR | |
| ✔ | Green Lantern #1-4 (2021) The Teen Lantern arrives on Oa. | INFINITE FRONTIER INVICTUS |
| ✔ | Batman #106-111 (2021) Batman investigates the Scarecrow’s return; Sean Mahoney’s true fate is revealed. | THE COWARDLY LOT INFINITE FRONTIER |
| ✔ | Wonder Girl #1 (2021) Yara Flor returns to Brazil. | HOMECOMING INFINITE FRONTIER |
| ✔ | Teen Titans Academy #1 (2021) Teen Titans Academy opens with Red X as a member. | INFINITE FRONTIER NEED FOR SPEED |
| ✔ | Justice League #59-63 (2021) Black Adam, Hippolyta, Green Arrow & Black Canary join the Justice League. | INFINITE FRONTIER PRISMS |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #770 (2021) Wonder Woman continues to fight her way back to the realm of the living. | AFTERWORLDS INFINITE FRONTIER |
| ✔ | Action Comics #1042 (2021) John Kent officially takes over the mantle of Superman when his father heads into space to battle Mongul. | THE WARWORLD SAGA |
| ✔ | Stargirl Spring Break Special #1 (2021) Stargirl and Alan Scott follow up on the Seven Soldiers’ request for help. | THE SEVEN SOLDIERS OF SPRING BREAK |
| Deathstroke Inc #1 (2021) Having reconsidered his role in the world, Deathstroke tries to become a hero. | THE LAZARUS TOURNAMENT | |
| Justice League #66-67 (2021) The real Captain Atom returns, assisting the Justice League against Synmar Utopica. | ||
| ✔ | Nubia and the Amazons #1 (2021) Nubia continues her new role as Queen of the Amazons. Trial of the Amazons #2 (2022) Yara Flor officially becomes the new Wonder Girl. | TRIAL OF THE AMAZONS |
| ✔ | Teen Titans Academy #8 (2022) Roy Harper returns to Titans Tower, only to find it transformed into a school for young heroes; the Titans promise to help him reunite with his daughter. | |
| Aquaman: The Becoming #1-6 (2021-2022) Aquaman’s family continues to expand. | THE BECOMING | |
| Detective Comics #1051-1058 (2022) Psycho-Pirate resurfaces, manipulating events in the new Arkham Tower. | SHADOWS OF THE BAT | |
| ✔ | Justice League Incarnate #1-5 (2022) Justice Incarnate become Justice League Incarnate and continue their search for Barry Allen and the Crack in the Universe, coming into conflict with Darkseid; Pariah turns Darkseid to his cause. Justice League #75 (2022) The Quintessence are revealed to be alive, but under Pariah’s control; Pariah uses the Great Darkness to take down the Justice League. | ROAD TO DARK CRISIS |
| ✔ | Teen Titans Academy #13 (2022) Captain Boomerang escapes the DEO by agreeing to join Rick Flag’s new Suicide Squad on their mission to liberate Earth-3 from Amanda Waller’s control. | THE WAR FOR EARTH-3 |
| ✔ | Dark Crisis #1 (2022) Another crisis does come when Pariah’s connection to the Great Darkness allows him to further manipulate the multiverse. The Flash #784 (2022) Barry Allen is finally freed from Earth-Flash.1. Dark Crisis #2-3 (2022) Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #4-7 (2022-2023) Pariah’s true connection to the Great Darkness is revealed; Deathstroke’s exposure to the Great Darkness threatens all reality; the fate of the Justice League is revealed. | DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS |
| ✔ | The New Golden Age #1 (2023) The Justice Society return in force. | THE NEW GOLDEN AGE |
| ✔ | Green Arrow #2 (2023) Roy Harper is reunited with Lian Harper. | DAWN OF DC |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Infinite Frontier | Infinite Frontier #0, 1-6 Infinite Frontier Secret Files #1-6 [digital comic] |
Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2024
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