Thread by @ThatWeissGuy

Re-reading Crisis on Infinite Earths and the conventional wisdom about it being a plotless collection of scenes is bullshit.

The arguments about the multiverse only being an "occasionally reference complication" are also kinda BS, considering there were two popular ongoing series set on Earth-2 when it launched.

And it's overlooks what *didn't* happen instead of what did.

For example, not really being able to do anything with the Marvel Family or having Infinity Inc. team-up with the outsiders without having to contrive some nonsense about dimensional travel and the multiverse.

Before a creative team could get to the red meat, they'd have to shoehorn in a recap and explanation (unless Bob Haney was writing it).

These day you can have Spider-Gwen and Miles Morales running parallel to the main continuity, and readers just roll with it.

But in the time of COIE, continuity was a much bigger factor in shared universe superhero stuff.

Forget to mention that Lois Lane once rode a Rigellian megapede in a later story where she shouts "What is that monster!" and a hundred angry letters would pour in.

And continuity was a major part of the post-1961 business plan where Marvel was able to shift loyalty from individual titles onto the entire line, with sales to match,

Expect an essay on this within the next week or so.