Summary
OneFlashvillain was done pretty dirty in theCrisis on Infinite Earthsminiseries, and I kinda hate it. While as a contemporary reader, I can safely say thatmuch of the classic story holds up,the use of Killer Frost in the iconic series sticks out as the story’s weakest element by far.
Crisis on Infinite Earths#1 by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Dic Giordano, Killer Frost is introduced as one of the metahumans handpicked by the Monitor to enact his plan to protect Earths 1 and 2 from an impending antimatter force destroying the multiverse.
However, when she’s awakened by her nemesis Firestorm, Harbinger tells Psycho Pirate to manipulate her emotions to stop her from killing him. This results in the latter making her feel love as she becomes amorous toward Firestorm, in a narrative decision I do not agree with.
How The Flash Died In The Crisis On Infinite Earths Comic
The Flash TV series has foreshadowed that Barry Allen would die in Crisis on Infinite Earths since its pilot episode, just like he did in the comics.
I Don’t Appreciate The Way “Crisis On Infinite Earths” Reduced Killer Frost To Comedic Relief
Crisis on Infinite Earths#1 – Written By Marv Wolfman; Art By George Perez & Dick Giordano; Color By Anthony Tollin; Lettering By John Costanza
The decision to turn Killer Frost into a comedic character that’s obsessed over Firestorm rubbed me the wrong way as a new reader.
WithDC re-releasing the entireCrisisseries in a facsimile reprint, I’ve been using this opportunity to read through the iconic comics for the first time. For the most part, I can see why this has become known asone of DC’s greatest comicsas it restructures decades of multiversal stories into a terrifying narrative. Yet the series' depiction of Killer Frost feels incongruous with the rest of the story, which makes a major change to the character, one that is clearly made to keep her in check.
Honestly, the decision to turn Killer Frost into a comedic character that’s obsessed over Firestorm rubbed me the wrong way as a new reader. The rivalry between Killer Frost and Firestorm has been a key connection between the two since she debuted in the 1970s. While she has become known forher role in the CW’sFlashseries, the interactions between her and Firestorm in the comics as polar opposites made them an outstanding hero/villain duo. With this in mind,keeping them opposing forces would have made their interactions inCrisisso much more interesting.
Killer Frost’s"Crisis"Role Is A Product Of Its Time
But That Doesn’t Free It From Criticism
Decades after its original publication, the story still remains an absolutely thrilling narrative that has earned its place in comic book history. However, it can’t be overlooked how Killer Frost was handled.
The idea that the two would need to work past their history for the betterment of the multiverse opens the doors to a fascinating arc. The argument could be made that Harbinger intentionally wanted Psycho Pirate to alter her emotional state due to her secret alliance with the Anti-Monitor, the villain behind the Crisis event. Alternatively, their opposition towards each other could have worked to her benefit as well. Choosing instead tomake Frost into a one-dimensional annoyance for Firestorm ultimately robs a lot of potential from a truce between the two.
It’s not lost on me, of course, that Killer Frost’s portrayal inCrisis on Infinite Earthsis a product of its time. The story was originally released in 1985, and things were different in those days regarding the portrayal of female characters. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the work is free from criticism. The term “fridging,“one of the worst tropes in comics, came into the spotlight during the 1990s after the release ofGreen Lantern #54, leading to countless discussions about how women have been portrayed in the media. The same can be said for Killer Frost inCrisisas it plays into a negative trope that women who feel love for a man drop all hostility, on top of some women being included only as one-dimensional comic relief.
These problems certainly don’t detract fromCrisis on Infinite Earthsbeing a great story. Decades after its original publication, the story still remains an absolutely thrilling narrative that has earned its place in comic book history. However, it can’t be overlooked how Killer Frost was handled. She’s a character that has since gone on to be a beloved villain inThe Flash, but her early days inCrisis on Infinite Earthsneed to be learned from to improve her character in the future.
Crisis On Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths dates back to 1985 when DC Comics published the first 12-issue arc. The original crossover event features Anti-Monitor and Brainiac trying to conquer the remaining Earths. Ultimately their plan fails, which creates a single Earth in the Multiverse. Crisis on Infinite Earths has also been used as the basis for several story arcs in The CW’s Arrowverse shows like The Flash and Arrow.
