SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 2," the second installment of this year's Arrowverse crossover.
Last week, "Crisis on Infinite Earths" made waves on the Internet with a new photo that showed Brandon Routh's Kingdom Come Superman choking Tyler Hoechlin's Man of Steel. As revealed in "Part 2," that has everything to do with Lex Luthor.
In the latest installment of this year's Arrowverse crossover, Lex stole the Book of Destiny right from underneath the Monitor's nose. He used it to jump from world to world, killing the Superman of every Earth along the way. Tyler Hoechlin's Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Iris West-Allen took off in hot pursuit to stop him. This led them to Kingdom Come Superman, who is the Paragon of Truth they were seeking.
They found him first, so -- when Lex arrived at the Daily Planet -- he came up with a devious plan: "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm tired of killing Supermen. So much more fun making Superman kill Superman."
Using the Book of Destiny, Lex changed Kingdom Come Superman's heart. Immediately, the Man of Steel's face became a mask of rage, with a glare directed at Hoechlin's Superman. Kingdome Come Superman launched himself at his doppelganger and they tussled, as Hoechlin's Big Blue Boy Scout tried to talk sense into him.
"You don't belong here," Kingdom Come Superman spat.
"We're here because we need your help," Hoechlin's Superman pleaded.
"Help? I couldn't even save my wife, my friends," Kingdom Come Superman retorted. "I don't care about your universe!"
When Lois insisted he was the Paragon of Truth, Kingdom Come Superman replied, "There's only one truth: I serve Lex Luthor." With that, he tossed Hoechlin's Superman out the window, and a mid-air fight ensued.
"You have to get Luthor out of your head, Kal," Hoechlin's Superman insisted. "The multiverse needs you!"
"And what about what I need?" Kingdom Come Superman demanded as they clashed, shattering the windows of the nearby skyscrapers. Then he turned, heading straight back for the Daily Planet. "Let me show you how it feels to lose the ones you love."
As Lex gleefully looked on, Lois snuck up behind him and hit him over the head. Together with Iris, she crouched over the Book of Destiny. "Picture the Clark we met," Lois told Iris. "Focus on what the universe knows he's meant to be."
Kingdom Come Superman threw Hoechlin's Man of Steel back into the Daily Plane, then grabbed him by the throat. "It's like Lex turned all of his love into hate," Iris said.
"Love!" Lois gasped, then turned to face her husband's doppelganger. "Clark, this isn't you! Not the real Clark, the one that Perry White respected and Jimmy Olsen looked up to and Lois loved!"
"You know nothing about me, or them!" Kingdom Come Superman shot back. He turned his heat vision on the two reporters, but Hoechlin's Superman leapt in front of it, shielding them with his body.
"They would want your memories of them to lift you up, not drive you to darkness," Lois pleaded. "That's the truth, Clark, and the truth means everything to you. Remember who you are!"
Finally, Kingdom Come Superman stopped his assault and shook his head. When Hoechlin's Superman asked if he was okay, he couldn't help but smile and joked, "Actually, this is the second time I've gone nuts and fought myself." With that, he offered his doppelganger a hand and helped him back to his feet.
"I can see why you married her," he concluded.
With that, he agreed to return with them to Earth-74, where the Monitor waited. Mar Novu also revealed Lex's purpose was to lead them to the Paragon of Truth during his quest to kill every Superman in the multiverse. Here, Kingdom Come Superman also ran into Earth-1's Ray Palmer, who looks just like him. He will fight alongside heroes like Batwoman, Supergirl, Flash and White Canary for the fate of the multiverse.
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" continues in The Flash on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. After the winter hiatus, the crossover will conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 14 in Arrow at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in DC's Legends of Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET/PT.