Summary
In the aftermath of the previous episode, Doom has won out and the Earth is pulled into the Dark Multiverse, now part of Perpetua's rule. However, hope has not been lost as Lex Luthor rallies the heroes and villains to save Earth from Perpetua.Tropes
- Adaptational Nice Guy: The Superman from Earth -1 (Where the Devastator is from) in the comics was Evil All Along. Here, he remains a hero who has brought hope to the people. Perhaps a bit too much...
- Adaptational Backstory Change: Resulting in Batman injecting himself with the Doomsday virus not as a last resort, but to "remind people what it meant to be afraid."
- Apocalypse How: Class X-5, much like the original comic.
- The Bus Came Back: The Crime Syndicate returns after last appearing in the "Earth 3" episode.
- Composite Character: Similar to the Dark Knights before them, the Devastator and the Darkfather are combinations of Batman with Doomsday and Darkseid respectfully.
- Demoted to Dragon: The Batman Who Laughs takes a coffee break here, allowing Perpetua to be the real Big Bad this time around.
- Enemy Mine: Owlman works with Batman and Lex Luthor in stopping the Crime Syndicate. Heroes and villains are working together in general to stop Perpetua and her forces as well, including even villains like Grail.
- Final Battle: Batman Who Laughs says this verbatim when you fight him during the raid.
- Never My Fault: After defeating Superwoman, she blames her defeat on Owlman's trechery and vows revenge. Owlman is not at all worried.
- One-Winged Angel: To aid her, Perpetua transforms the Batman Who Laughs into the One Who Laughs.
- Sequel Hook: The mail you get from the Batman Who Laughs hints the possibility of seeing what's beyond the Source Wall.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Unlike the original Death Metal storyline, Perpetua isn't killed by the Batman Who Laughs, but instead shoved back into the Source Wall by Wonder Woman and Lex Luthor. Likewise, Wonder Woman doesn't Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence after the fighting is over. Batman Who Laughs is also just defeated in battle rather than thrown into the sun as in the comics and a mail you get from him after completing an Investigation heavily implies he may be back at some point.
- Sudden Sequel Death Syndrome: Johnny Quick is almost immediately killed off by Perpetua during the 'Return to Earth 3' Alert. However, with the restoration of the multiverse it is ambiguous if it brought him back too.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: The Batman Who Laughs after being transformed into the One who Laughs, considering the source material."I would certainly never allow anything to threaten your power, Perpetua!"
- Undying Loyalty: Surprisingly averted for the people of Apokolips, who are so loyal to Darkseid that his slaves willingly tended his wounds after a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown from Superman. Perpetua had Darkseid replaced with the Darkfather. The Female Furies and Parademons have no problem with this.
