The multiverse is not pure science fiction. Its existence is of course unproven, but it has a theoretical basis in real quantum physics. A wave function (the mathematical expression of a quantum system that can give the probability of where a particle is found) “collapses” after a final measurement is made. The “many worlds interpretation” developed by physicist Hugh Everett instead assumes that when measuring a quantum system all Possible measurements take place in many universes.
Compare them Schrödinger’s cat thought experimentitself derived from the idea of
Experts have pointed this out how looking at the world in this way raises some startling philosophical implications; As individuals and as a whole of humanity, we value our uniqueness. If every permutation of “we” exists on one plane of existence, this uniqueness is eliminated. This is the root of Owlman’s nihilism, although he defines reality as a ramification based on people’s choices, not on the behavior of particles (this Is a character-based narrative).
“Every decision we make is meaningless because somewhere on a parallel Earth we have already made the opposite choice. We are nothing. Less than nothing,” Owlman explains. His analysis is not wrong per se; From certain points of view it is completely rational. But you would have to be extremely amoral to conclude that this would make people’s lives “meaningless” – which Owlman is, so he wants to destroy the original “Earth-Prime” because he thinks it will destroy all other realities would collapse. “The only action you could take that would have a purpose,” he calls it, because destroying all of reality is the only choice that cannot be reversed on another world.
Woods gives a chilling performance as Owlman; quiet and eerie, the opposite of his most famous dubbing role as the chatty Hades in “Hercules.” On the other hand, it would have been beneficial for Crisis On Two Earths to recast Kevin Conroy as Batman instead of Billy Baldwin as an understudy, as it would add an extra kick to the already fantastic fight between Batman and Owlman.
I can just imagine Conroy Owlman delivering Batman’s lines, especially his farewell: “There’s a difference between you and me. We both looked into the abyss, but when he looked back… you blinked.” Both men were desperate, but only one gave in.
Owlman’s character Is an evil Batman, yes, but there’s more to it than just the novelty of having the Dark Knight as a villain; He is a counterpart to Batman’s ethos of will and determination that one person can make a difference. Owlman would rather destroy everything than live with the “illusion of free will”, while Batman sees the world for all it is, darkness and light, and strives to make it better with the beliefs that others, even his enemies, can Be better. If there’s anything Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths teaches us, it’s that we are all the sum of our own different choices.
