Following the almost overly ambitious crossover between all four Arrowverse shows for “Crisis on Earth-X“, CW has scaled back the size — but not the scope — of this year’s Elseworlds excursion. Casting the mysterious Mar Novu, also known as “The Monitor”, as the villain for this reality-rewriting crossover means nothing can be taken for granted. With red skies flickering around the planet and storylines being changed by an unknown force, the stakes have never been higher for our heroes. And now that Elseworlds is in full swing, we have a few questions — and concerns.
What’s the Deal With the Monitor’s Tome?
We first saw the Monitor’s mysterious book in the previews at the end of the latest episodes of Supergirl, Arrow, and The Flash. It’s in the ruins of Earth Ninety amidst the strewn bodies of fallen heroes. A familiar iteration of the 1970’s Flash tries to secure the book only for the Monitor to reclaim it before unleashing a blaze of light from the pages and escaping to a new Earth.
Having left the ruins of Earth Ninety behind, the Monitor fixed his gaze on Earth One. Here, he gives his mysterious tome to Dr John Deegan. Referred to in press releases as “a doctor at Arkham Asylum who might just be crazier than the inmates he treats”, Deegan wants to gene splice superpowers into regular people to even the playing field.
Our few interactions with the book so far have been varied. The Monitor claimed that the people of Earth Ninety caused their own destruction. However, trailers have shown that whoever holds the book has the ability to rewrite reality. Could it be Mar Novu is testing one world after another? Is his purpose to see how far each has grown and to “Monitor” their progress after he’s given them absolute power? It would explain why he would snatch it from the ruins of one Earth only to casually give it away again so quickly.
The Effects of the Superhero Switchover
Our first big change in Elseworlds is a confusing one — Oliver Queen is the fastest man alive and Barry Allen is Star City‘s Emerald Archer. Each has awakened to find themselves in the other’s life with nobody else believing they have somehow swapped legacies. But they have a much deeper change to accept.
Civilian outfits undergo a slow change throughout the episode as Barry and Oliver realise they have to embrace their new roles to use their powers, Barry wears darker jackets and Oliver adopts lighter shades than his norm. The new stubbled speedster eventually learns how to crack jokes and smile, and the alternate archer displays a darker side, complete with scowled threats to send robots to hell. It’s the subtle touches they use which really underline their new reality, but at what cost?
Iris has already pointed out that Barry might not be able to go fully dark and come out the other side unscathed. With at least another episode in the green suit, Barry could become overwhelmed by all the darkness has to bring. Only time will tell how the reversed roles will impact the two heroes in the long run, but the effects could last beyond Elseworlds.
Red Skies at Morning, Speedsters Take Warning
Every fan of the Arrowverse knows of the gruesome prediction that has haunted Barry The Flash‘s first episode — the headline “Flash Vanishes, Missing in Crisis.” Brought back in time by Eobard Thawne to use as a dowsing rod for any alterations to his future, the newspaper has a second headline in the lower corner: “Red Skies Vanish”. Readers of DC Comics will recognise the subtle nod to Crisis on Infinite Earths when the skies turned bloody and Barry Allen died to save the multiverse.
Easter eggs are not so uncommon in the Arrowverse but are generally more subtle. Cisco even makes a point of saying he cannot contact A.R.G.U.S. due to interference from the global levels of red light. With a deeply invested Nora travelling back in time to try and save her father from a crisis amidst red skies, the stakes may have never been higher. We’ve already seen how simply coming back to the past has drastically altered the course of events. Is it possible that she has somehow moved the crisis much closer down the timeline?
Where Is Nora Allen?
Wally missed the fight against the Earth-X Nazis to protect Joe and Cecile, but there is a new speedster absent from the team. Nora West-Allen — back from the future to save her father from his fate — was noticeably missing from the first wave of Elseworlds weirdness. With claims to a method of writing that survives alterations to history, it’s strange that she had no warning of Barry’s body swap.
Having last been seen conversing with Eobard Thawne, Nora has made it clear that she will ally herself with even the most wicked of villains. So where could she have been when her father — as Green Arrow or the Flash — needed her help the most? Thawne has intimate knowledge of multiple versions of Barry’s history and Nora should know a few herself. There must be a reason she is keeping away from the spotlight so far.
Batwoman Rising
We end on a particularly thrilling note — the long overdue appearance of the best of the Bat Family. Although only a tiny fragment was shown at the end of the first Elseworlds entry, viewers have been treated to the first glimpse of Kate Kane in her grim attire. Viewed by some as the military alternative to Batman’s jack-of-all-trades training, Batwoman is both Bruce Wayne’s cousin and his (at least) equal.
With little currently known about undoubtedly one of the greatest heroes around, Barry and Oliver are set to meet what they think is an urban legend. It is unclear if there is a Batwoman on Supergirl’s home Earth. We’ll have to wait to find out the answer to that and if there is any truth to rumours that she may soon have her own show.