The Flash - Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three

Since the creation of The Flash the writers have foreshadowed the character's death in a Crisis set in the not-too-distant future. "Part Three" sees those events come to pass. Again, pulling from the original source material, we get the Anti-Monitor's canon and the one hero whose speed can stop it and save the Earth. Knowing that The Flash wasn't looking to kill off Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and permanently leave a hole in the show left the writers looking for an out, and they found one that might even work better than Gustin's Flash giving his life as it plays on well-developed themes of Barry seeing those he loves die and hits just the right nostalgic notes for fans of the original Flash television series. While one Flash does dramatically sacrifice his life to stop the anti-matter wave, it's actually the Flash of Earth-90 played by John Wesley Shipp reprising his role from the 90s television show (complete with a flashback and use of The Flash's opening score).

The Flash isn't the only hero to fall, as other events from the comic play out including Harbinger's (Audrey Marie Anderson) betrayal of the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) that leaves all Earths destroyed and only seven characters, six heroes and Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer), on Vanishing Point left to fight for reality. Speaking of betrayal, Luthor manages to save himself by replacing the Kingdom Come Superman (Brandon Routh) who is wiped out of existence (leaving the team short one important paragon heading into the final battle). While the conclusion to the crossover is still a month away, "Part Three" does have other aspects worth discussing including Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) choosing not to return to the land of the living and a cameo of key character in the original comic arc who until now had not been mentioned: the Spectre (Stephen Lobo). The episode also offers cameos from Dina Meyer (reprising her role from the best-forgotten Birds of Prey) and, as an unexpected surprise, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis) who helps John Constantine (Matt Ryan) and his friends on their journey.