Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part 2 Ending Explained & How It Sets Up Part 3

Summary

• Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part Two brings a suspenseful plotline with the reveal of the Anti-Monitor’s shadowy origin and immense power.
• Pariah’s transformation back into John Constantine adds an exciting element to the hero lineup and sets the stage for a dramatic ending.
• The very end of the movie sees the Anti-Monitor set to destroy the multiverse, preparing audiences for the Tomorrowverse’s final movie.

The Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part Two ending provides a series of exciting revelations and twists as it sets up for the final film in the Tomorrowverse’s 12 movie run. The Tomorrowverse timeline began in 2020, and despite setting off in a more tumultuous time period to say the least, managed to obtain a considerable fanbase due to its engaging and authentic feeling animated adaptations of some of DC’s biggest heroes and storylines.

Four years later, the franchise is winding down in style with the Crisis On Infinite Earths arc – a comic narrative that marked a milestone for DC in terms of its massive crossovers from every corner of its world, and that has already done the same for the animated DC universe with the trilogy’s first two releases. While Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part Two isn’t identical to the comics, it continues much of the core plot and tone of the original, all while setting up for a colossal conclusion to an era of DC’s animated movies.

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Crisis On Infinite Earths Part 2 Reveals What The Shadow Presence Really Is

The key villain for Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part Two is shown to be a selection of shadowy creatures who work as a kind of hivemind, and are able to be stopped by powerful light sources as a result. It’s left unclear what this shadow army is exactly for much of the movie, until the creatures gather together and change form towards the end of the movie into a kind of armor, revealing them to be manifestations of the Anti-Monitor.

This sets up the immensely powerful DC antagonist for the final act of the movie trilogy, where he will be in full force against the franchise’s hero roster. Given the villain’s unimaginable strength in the comics – and the fact that Crisis On Infinite Earths is intended to end the Tomorrowverse – it’s clear that things will get worse before they get better for the animated heroes and their multiversal roster, and that many more deaths will be along the way before the franchises closes.

Pariah Becomes John Constantine Once More

In the final 20 minutes of the movie, John Stewart confronts Pariah, unaware of who he really is, but distrusting his knowledge regarding the ending of the multiverse, as he believes Pariah may have been working with the forces they face down. When Stewart angrily states his own name, Pariah finds himself reminded of his actual name and self – that of John Constantine.

Seeing Constantine return to himself and join forces with DC’s heroes is an exciting moment, especially since the DC magician is such a beloved figure. This moment also sees John Stewart intentionally lose his Green Lantern power ring to ensure he and Constantine’s safety, establishing big changes for both heroes.

Crisis On Infinite Earths Part 2 Creates A Bat-Family Divide

Batman’s decision to replace his multiversal doppleganger after the events of the first animated Crisis On Infinite Earths movie creates some heroic divides in Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part Two, as his contempt for his alternate self and that Bruce’s decision to recruit children leads to conflict between him and some of the other Bat-Family members. This sees two factions of the Dark Knight crew emerge, as Damian naturally takes his father’s side, and Batgirl joins him, whereas Huntress, Dick Grayson, and Terry McGinnis turn against Batman.

While the group stop when Batman learns the shadow forces are seemingly retreating, it doesn’t seem like their conflict has totally ended there. Given Batman’s place as a focal figure in DC lore in general – and in Crisis On Infinite Earths thus far – it makes sense that this will be followed up on in the third and final movie. Hopefully, this will involve the group joining forces again once more, cementing their place as a team while also allowing the series to address the moral issues with recruiting children for costumed vigilantism.

Why Supergirl Kills The Monitor In The Crisis On Infinite Earths Part 2 Ending

After being psychologically played with by Psycho Pirate, Supergirl believes the Monitor to have been responsible for the destruction of Krypton, and behind certain characters like Braniac being erased from history. Psycho Pirate then manages to convince her that the universe can be reborn if the Monitor is killed, telling her that the only way forward is to turn against the entity that she bonded with for some considerable time at the start of the movie.

As such, Kara finds herself facing down her former savior, blasting him with her heat vision – only to immediately regret her actions. It is worth noting that the Monitor appears to allow himself to be finished off by Supergirl – lowering the shield that would’ve protected him from her attack – following a conversation with The Spectre wherein it’s suggested his death could atone for the mistakes in his life. While this makes his demise much sadder, it also teases that his death may be a necessary cost for a chance to save the multiverse, perhaps even from the Anti-Monitor’s final attack.

What Anti-Monitor Is Doing In The Crisis On Infinite Earths Part 2 Ending (& What It Means For Part 3)

Midway through the movie, a mysterious force speaks to Psycho Pirate, asking him why he helps the Monitor, and defining itself solely by being nothing like the Monitor himself. Psycho Pirate coins the name Anti-Monitor for the presence, and quickly forms an alliance with it based on the villain’s own internal turmoil and desire to see others suffer.

This leads to the somewhat grim ending of Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part Two, which sees the Anti-Monitor prepare to drop an anti-matter bomb and wipe out both DC’s forces and all life in its realities. Though it’s clear the Tomorrowverse’s heroes will find a way to turn things around – if only because Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part Three would be a very short movie otherwise – it’s certainly a dramatic note to leave things on for the time being, as the fate of the multiverse hangs in the balance until the next and final Tomorrowverse release.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two (2024)

The Justice League faces a universe-altering challenge as they confront the Anti-Monitor, whose destructive actions threaten every existence across the multiverse. Heroes and villains alike must unite to stop the cascade of collapsing realities.

Director

Jeff Wamester

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Animation
, DC Entertainment

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Cast

Jensen Ackles
, Jonathan Adams
, Gideon Adlon
, Troy Baker
, Darren Criss
, Meg Donnelly
, Jennifer Hale
, Aldis Hodge
, Will Friedle
, Stana Katic