'Crisis on Infinite Earths' Part 3: John Wesley Shipp is the Barry who makes the ultimate sacrifice and saves the multiverse
This article contains spoilers for 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' Part 3
The Arrowverse kept its promise — Barry Allen does die by sacrificing himself to stop the Anti-Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) and save the multiverse from being destroyed.
The Season 6 opener of 'The Flash' saw The Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) be the bearer of bad news when he tells the Scarlet Speedster about the date of his vanishing.
Originally set to occur in 2024, the events in the Season 5 finale see the 'Crisis' move the immediate future giving Barry seven weeks from the date of his realization. In the second episode, Barry comes to terms that his death is the necessary sacrifice after he glimpses the bleak future.
Except, it was not the Barry (Grant Gustin) who we thought would die, instead, it was the Flash of Earth-90 (John Wesley Shipp) who makes the supreme sacrifice, not just saving the multiverse, but also Barry.
In what comes as a beautiful tribute, the episode shows him thinking of Tina McGee (Amanda Pays), the love of his life before he vanishes. And in doing so, he destroys the anti-matter cannon and stops the anti-matter wave from decimating Earth-1.
The 'Crisis' unites multiple heroes from different Earths to take on the Anti-Monitor, a godlike cosmic entity who poses a grave threat. The story ends with the few key characters dying including Flash and Supergirl.
The epic crossover event is the most ambitious project DC has attempted in live-action, bringing together characters from all six DC Comics adaptations on The CW ('Arrow', 'The Flash', 'Supergirl', 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow', 'Batwoman', and 'Black Lightning').
Also appearing are characters and actors from 'Titans', the 1990 version of 'The Flash', 'Birds of Prey', 'Smallville', 'Superman Returns', 'Tim Burton's Batman', and the iconic '66 'Batman' series.
'Crisis on Infinite Earths' Part 4 premieres on January 14 on The CW.