Infinite Crisis

Infinite Crisis is a 2005-2006 crossover event written by Geoff Johns with illustrations by Phil Jimenez, George Perez, Ivan Reis and Jerry Ordway. The story is told through an eponymous seven issue mini-series although tie-ins span the entire DC Universe. There were four lead-in mini-series' published as part of the Countdown to Infinite Crisis including Day of Vengeance, The OMAC Project, Rann-Thanagar War and Villains United. Its conclusion was followed by the One Year Later event skipping ahead a full year in the timeline, while the missing year was explored in the 52 event.

The story returns to concepts established at the end of Crisis on Infinite Earths when Alex Luthor, Lois Lane of Earth-Two, Superboy-Prime and Superman of Earth-Two disappeared as the last surviving heroes of the destroyed Multiverse. It's revealed that they have been monitoring the heroes of New Earth as they descend into darkness, and believe this generation unworthy of their legacy. They return to bring back the Multiverse, in an effort to restore the idealistic values of their own time.