by Alex Jaffe
Whatever Happened to the Animated Multiverse?
Many new Discord members have asked me since Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three‘s debut about its most controversial scene—a montage during the destruction of the multiverse where the worlds of Super Friends, the 2003 animated Teen Titans, and the animated universe of Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited appeared to be wiped from existence. Was this, then, the canonical ending to all of these worlds? Did Crisis on Infinite Earths just permanently and irrevocably kill our favorite cartoons? How do we mourn our favorite incarnations of these heroes? How do they go on? How do WE go on?
I possessed no more special insight into this matter than any of you out there who watched it and came to me with questions. But you made your voices heard that you wanted answers. And that’s exactly what this column is for.
So, I took it upon myself to get in touch with Jim Krieg, the screenwriter of Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three, for his statement on the nature of that montage, and what it means for the worlds of your favorite animated series. This, unedited and unredacted, was his response:
As most comic fans know, the original “Crisis on Infinite Earths” came into existence to streamline a DC continuity that had become a bit too cumbersome to be inviting to new readers. So, the “worlds will live, worlds will die” element was kind of baked into the concept from the get go. We thought it was a great opportunity to quickly revisit some of the animated versions of those worlds. It was certainly meant lovingly, as a kind of victory lap. To be clear, no universes were harmed in the making of these motion pictures. Like every supposedly dead superhero, any or all of them are available for a miraculous return.
Or, if you prefer an in-universe answer, the Tomorrowverse is a reality unto itself, with multiple versions of universes that resemble those of the Super Friends, B:TAS, JLU, and the rest. It is those doppelganger realities that were destroyed, not the ones you love.
Maybe.
So, there you have it, dedicated Teen Titans, DCAU and Super Friends fans! All your favorite worlds persist, and they’re all okay to live happily ever after, until its heroes rise once again to save the day from another world-ending terror. Each of you has my sincerest appreciation for participating in this grand relaunch of my column over in the Discord environs. Just remember you heard it all here first, simply because you chose to Ask … the question.
Alex Jaffe is the author of our monthly “Ask the Question” column and writes about TV, movies, comics and superhero history for DC.com.