Since The CW’s Arrowverse came to life back in 2012 with Arrow, this ever-expanding TV realm has become a must-watch part of many a genre fan’s viewing habits. And now, one of the very best parts of the Arrowverse’s last year is heading to DVD. Yes, the fourth annual crossover – Crisis on Earth-X – is now available on home release.
As alluded to, this is the fourth straight-up crossover spectacle between these shared universe shows, and the big question going in to Crisis on Earth-X was how could you possibly top the alien invasion angle of last year’s crossover event. For that, the minds behind Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow decided to take the action to a literal other world. A parallel world, to be precise. Or an alternate Earth, if you will. Laying the foundations for all of these heroes and villains coming together, Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris West (Candice Patton) decide to finally tie the knot – and everyone’s invited! Of course, a spanner is soon thrown into the works when the group’s evil doppelgangers from Earth-X arrive to crash the wedding.
Not only are these doppelgangers from an alternate Earth, but they also happen to be Nazis. Led by Stephen Amell’s Dark Archer and his wife, Melissa Benoist’s Overgirl, the mission objective of this group is essentially to steal the heart of Benoist’s Supergirl and give it to her nefarious alt-world doppelganger. Before you know it, our established heroes of the Arrowverse find themselves on Earth-X, locked up in a concentration camp – because in this world, the Nazis were the victors of World War II – and a whole host of skewed versions of familiar heroes and villains are on display as our core group look to fight the good fight and make it back to their own Earth. Old favourites return, new faces are showcased, and plentiful fists meet plentiful faces as the four-episode Crisis on Earth-X arc shuttles through a true roller coaster of a ride.
For those familiar with the Arrowverse to date, Crisis on Earth-X delivers everything you’d expect. There’s stunning spectacle, there’s fist-pumping adrenaline, there’s grin-inducing humour, and there’s a story that runs through every possible emotion you can think of. Make no mistake about it, there are stakes here – extremely high stakes – and this is a tale that is never afraid to deliver a gut punch mere moments after having you championing our heroes as they look to overcome the odds. And let’s face it, for as long as we can all remember, readers and viewers have always loved to see distorted, alternative versions of their favourite heroes; DC Comics and the use of their multiverse being a major favourite of many. And here, we gloriously get to explore that concept in live-action television.
In terms of bonus content, Crisis on Earth-X only includes one piece of extra material – but it’s a humdinger! Bringing together executive producers Marc Guggenheim (Arrow), Todd Helbing (The Flash), Robert Rovner (Supergirl), and Phil Klemmer (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), we’re treated to a 40-minute roundtable of sorts that explores how this crossover came together. The featurette flies by at a pace that would impress even Barry Allen, as four of the Arrowverse’s key players give an energetic insight at creating such an all-encompassing televisual spectacle.
Crisis on Earth-X is never anything less than fun, being a perfect example of how to bring the energy, action, and emotional heart of a comic book-style story to life on the small screen. The only problem now is, how could this December’s crossover possibly manage to top this brilliant adventure? Well, introducing Batwoman and Gotham City into the fold is a more than solid start…
Special Features: Crisis on Earth-X: Inside the Crossover featurette
CRISIS ON EARTH-X / CERT: 12 / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: VARIOUS / STARRING: STEPHEN AMELL, GRANT GUSTIN, MELISSA BENOIST, CAITY LOTZ, WENTWORTH MILLER, EMILY BETT RICKARDS / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 3RD
