Before LaMonica Garrett returns to play the live-action version of the character, here are the top 10 things that every Arrowverse fan and DC Comics reader should know about The Monitor. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, The Monitor, also known as Mar Novu, has infinite cosmic powers and appears to be omnipresent throughout the DC Universe. Just like in the comics, The Monitor (Garrett) will play a significant role in the upcoming crossover television event, Crisis on Infinite Earths, on the CW Network. Since his introduction in Elseworlds, the Monitor has been warning the heroes of the CW's Arrowverse, such as Supergirl and The Flash, that an approaching battle between good and evil will come about.
Before the 80's comic book crossover event, Wolfman originally conceived the cosmic character as "The Librarian," but really didn't know what to do with his otherworldly protagonist at first. As a clever setup, the Monitor appeared in various superhero titles from DC Comics, tricking audiences to believe he was a weapons dealer for super-villains, such as the delusional Maxi Zeus. In a big plot twist that surprised the fanbase, the Monitor was actually gathering the heroes and villains to warn them about the inevitable crisis that will ultimately destroy the Earths of the Multiverse.
10 The Deal
In the first part of Elseworlds, viewers were initially meant to think the Monitor was the super-villain, who wiped out the heroes of Earth-90. Though his plans were harsh and costly, the Monitor was actually seeking out champions to fight in the upcoming battle. Because Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist) and Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) were supposed to die as it was written in the Book of Destiny, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) made a last minute deal with the Monitor to save their lives. Audiences would have to wait until the seventh season finale of Arrow to discover what were terms the two made in their deal.
9 He Has A Brother
The Monitor has a sibling and their rivalry has been taking place for over a million years. Embodying evil and anti-matter, Mobius, also known as The Anti-Monitor, appears to be monstrous and barely resembles anything like his brother.
During their confrontation, Supergirl eventually ends up destroying the Anti-Monitor's armor, revealing he is actually made up of unstable radiant energy. In order to increase his power, the Anti-Monitor will consume the Earths of the Multiverse by unleashing his unstoppable wave of anti-matter. As if they are twins, Garrett will be playing the role of the Anti-Monitor in the upcoming television event.
8 The Plan
The Monitor's entire plan for saving the Multiverse depends on his chosen champions protecting the giant devices he made. These devices have been spread across several places throughout space and time so that the Anti-Matter couldn't find them. The fifth season of Legends of Tomorrow will follow the mismatched team going up against history's worst sinners, which includes serial killer John Wayne Gacy and cult leader Charles Manson. If the upcoming Crisis event were to follow the comics, The Legends might need their time-traveling spaceship, The Waverider, to find the Montior's hidden devices.
7 He Has A Sense Of Humor
It's not always doom and gloom in the DC Universe. Sometimes, there is a little ray of hope during dark times. Blink and you might have missed The Monitor appearing the fourth season finale of Legends of Tomorrow.
In all his seriousness, the Monitor looked unhappy and kept his poker face on tightly during the finale of "Hey World!" While White Canary (Caity Lotz) and the rest of the magical creatures burst into song, the Monitor started munching on popcorn and started having fun. It's a moment so out of place and against the Monitor's no-nonsense characterization, but the scene fits the irreverent tone of the CW superhero comedy/drama.
6 Luthor
A major player in the battle against the Anti-Monitor is Alexander Luthor Jr., from Earth-Three. Alexander happens to be the son of Lex Luthor and Lois Lane-Luthor. After Earth-Three is destroyed from a wave of anti-matter, Alexander makes the escape to Earth-One to warn the others about their impending doom. Alexander has an important role to play in the Monitor's team because of his intellect and dimensional powers. During the fourth season finale of Supergirl, the Monitor materialized over Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) and spread his cosmic powers onto his dead body. Does this mean Lex (Cryer) will have superpowers, just like Alexander, during the crossover event?
5 There Will Be Major Casualties
Though readers know that Supergirl and the Flash didn't make it out alive from the crisis, there is another important figure who also made a major play with their life. The Monitor had prophesied his own death at the hands of his own brother.
The Anti-Monitor sent out one of his own shadow demons, the brainwashed Harbinger, to carry out the assassination. Though he could not prevent his inevitable death, the Monitor used his cosmic powers to save Earth-One and Earth-Two from destruction. His sacrifice would help merge the two Earths and shield them from the Anti-Monitor's powerful anti-matter attack.
4 Death Is Coming
During the seventh season finale, The Monitor suddenly showed up at the secret secluded house of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards). The Green Arrow has been called upon to save the universe as the upcoming battle between good and evil brews heavily near. Oliver's daughter, Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara), will also play a significant role in the future as Blackstar. Though we don't know how the upcoming crisis will end, a special tombstone was made in honor for the fallen vigilante in "You Have Saved This City."
3 The Monitors
The Monitor and Anti-Monitor are the original members of the multiversal race known as The Monitors. In the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths, with its two core members dead, The Monitors were formed in order to protect the Multiverse. 52 different Monitors were created and assigned its own world to safeguard.
Each Monitor varies in physical appearance, but they all have cosmic awareness, genius level of intellect, and powers of reality manipulation. So far, there has been no word on what will happen after the televised event and the series finale of Arrow. The Monitors play a significant role in the next comic crossover event, Countdown to Final Crisis.
2 Lyla Michaels
The Monitor rescued a little girl from a horrible shipwreck and raised her as his own daughter. The little girl grew up to become Lyla Michaels and was granted cosmic powers by the Monitor. Lyla Michaels would then become a key figure in the fight against the Anti-Monitor as Harbinger. In Arrow, Lyla is played by Audrey Marie Anderson and serves as the director of the Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans (A.R.G.U.S.) Because her code-name during A.R.G.U.S. operations is Harbinger, does this mean Diggle's wife will gain superpowers like her comic book counterpart during Crisis?
1 He Can Regenerate
Recently in DC Comic's "Rebirth," during Dark Knights: Metal #6, the Monitor appears to be alive and well after his death. The Monitor has been hiding inside the dark tunnels of the central cave of the Dark Multiverse. His apparent resurrection has been foretold by the super celestial being known as Perpetua, from the Sixth Dimension. Because the Montior's sole purpose is watch over the Multiverse, the role still continues even if destroyed. After his death during Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Monitor regenerated in the Sixth Dimension and has been hiding ever since.