The Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) met an untimely end in the Arrowverse crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths, but how did his death compare to what happened to the character in the comic book version of the story? The Monitor was a key player in Crisis on Infinite Earths, who not only helped to kickstart the story but also played an important role in the conflict itself.
In the third chapter of the five-part Arrowverse event, which aired as an episode of The Flash, Earth-90’s Flash (John Wesley Shipp) took Barry’s place by sacrificing himself to destroy the antimatter cannon. However, his efforts weren’t enough to save the multiverse. Harbinger (Audrey Marie Anderson), who was being controlled by the Anti-Monitor, attacked the Waverider and easily defeated the surrounding heroes. Only the Monitor was able to oppose the Anti-Monitor’s power. After a heated battle, the Monitor is killed and his energy is absorbed. Afterward, Earth-1 is destroyed, but fortunately, Pariah (Tom Cavanagh) is able to teleport the seven paragons to safety.
The Monitor also died in the Crisis on Infinite Earths comic series, and though there are some differences, the circumstances surrounding their fates are quite similar. After recruiting the heroes and villains necessary for dealing with the Crisis, the Harbinger was corrupted by one of the Anti-Monitor’s shadow demons. She subsequently attacked the Monitor, but the all-knowing cosmic entity had foreseen the betrayal. Monitor died at the hands of Harbinger, but his death was all part of his plan.
When the Monitor died, the energy released from his body flowed into a machine powerful enough to pull both Earth-1 and Earth-2 into a netherverse where they were safe from the antimatter waves. This allowed the heroes to survive and formulate a plan to take down the Anti-Monitor once and for all. Prior to his death, he left a message for the Harbinger, so that she would understand his plan and use this knowledge to make sure the Anti-Monitor was stopped.
The Monitor’s death was necessary for the heroes’ victory in the comics. How impactful his death will be in the Arrowverse remains to be seen. It could be that his biggest contribution was holding off the Anti-Monitor, and that giving the heroes a fighting chance is actually credited to Pariah instead. However, there is a possibility that the Monitor, much like his comic book counterpart, has a secret plan in place that will factor heavily into the final two installments of the crossover.
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