'Crisis on Infinite Earths': Is Lex Luthor solely responsible for the existence of evil in the new Multiverse?
Spoiler alert for 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' Parts 4 and 5
With the Multiverse erased, it was up to the Paragons and Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) as the Spectre to get the universe started again. It wasn't easy, and it wasn't a perfect process — the Multiverse was supposed to have been brought back by the seven Paragons of Earth's greatest virtues.
Unfortunately, there was one among them who is anything BUT virtuous — Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer). The Paragons had the power to create a multiverse of virtue, but the unexpected appearance of Luthor in their ranks may just explain why the new Multiverse still has its share of corruption and villainy.
The Paragons were picked specifically because they best embodied a particular virtue. They were picked to instill a new creation with these virtues and a new world that was designed by those virtues should be a paradise.
However, one of the Paragons was cruelly replaced by a twist of fate — or, at least, a rewriting of it. With a few scribblings on the Book of Destiny, Luthor replaced the 'Kingdom Come' Superman (Brandon Routh) as the Paragon of Truth.
Even with the Multiverse at stake, Luthor does not back down from his villainous ways. He is constantly scheming, and finding a way to mess things up.
When Kara (Melissa Benoist) explains that he is needed to bring Truth to creation, he gives her a look that belies his nature. No matter what the stakes, Luthor is going to remain true to himself, and his self is pure villain.
As seen in Part 5 of 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', Luthor was able to alter reality to suit his needs. He is no longer a criminal in the public eye, he is a world-class hero, beloved by all.
It's a convenient position for him to be in, and if he can alter his personal history to that extent, he definitely had a significant influence on the Multiverse's creation. Instead of a Multiverse that embodies truth, Luthor brought his own personal brand of darkness into the world as, essentially, a Paragon of Villainy.
There is a slightly different, darker interpretation, however. Ryan Choi (Osric Chau) was the Paragon of Humanity, not for goodness, or purity. Luthor would be the first to tell you, there is potential for evil in every heart — that's just human nature.
In any case, it is still a world where virtue overpowers evil, and at the end of the day, we return to a world that embodies superheroic ideals. There may still be evil abound, but there are more than enough virtuous beings around to fight it.
