Pariah (character)

In the 1985 12-issue comic book limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths, Pariah (real name Kell Mossa) was one of the greatest scientists from his version of Earth (retconned as an alternate dimension rather than a parallel Earth). Pariah's unorthodox experiments to view the creation of the Universe result in the Anti-Monitor learning of his Earth's existence and destruction with waves of anti-matter. He survived through the intervention of the benevolent counterpart known as the Monitor, and acquired the ability to travel from one alternate Earth to another, forced to witness untold millions perish.

During the Crisis, Lady Quark is saved by Pariah before the anti-matter destroys Lady Quark's universe, making the woman into the lone survivor of Earth-Six.[2] Pariah blames himself for his own world's destruction, the Anti-Monitor's release, and the subsequent destruction of universe after universe, until he finally learns he was essentially blameless.

Pariah is told by the Anti-Monitor that his scientific investigation did not unleash forces great enough to destroy a universe. Pariah merely opened the antimatter portal to the dawn of time. Taking advantage of Pariah's experiment, the Anti-Monitor converted antimatter into energy, then focused it onto Pariah's universe. Those worlds' destruction allowed the gathering of more energy, which then made the Anti-Monitor strong enough to break free of the prison.[3]

After the Anti-Monitor's destruction, the reformed Earth is safe. Pariah and Lady Quark ask the Harbinger to join in exploring the new Earth. The Harbinger agrees to accompany the two on their journey. As the three disembark, the Harbinger tells the two of being hopeful of the future and what it might bring.[4]

Many years later, Pariah attempts to warn Lex Luthor that a dangerous predator is coming; "Lex" is in actuality Alexander Luthor of Earth-Three in disguise in order to create a new Secret Society of Super Villains. Pariah is subsequently murdered by Alexander in Villains United mini-series.[5] He is later resurrected by the Dark Angel.[6]

As part of the Blackest Night event, Pariah's corpse is reanimated by a black power ring and recruited to the Black Lantern Corps. He interrupts a cadre of mystical heroes gathered to investigate the strange occurrences of the event.[7] Pariah is seen again as the black rings restore the planet Xanshi.[8]

Pariah can be seen inside a cell within "the Circus" prison of A.R.G.U.S.[9]

Pariah reappears in the Infinite Frontier epilogue in the ruins of The Multiverse-2, where he traps the Flash to a pocket dimension dubbed "Earth-Flash.1". It is also revealed that he was restored back to life thanks to the Flash's actions for creating Flashpoint and fell through a crack left in the new Multiverse. Where he was held prisoner by the Empty Hand and The Gentry, who forced him to watch as they devoured the infinite Earths one by one. His captors eventually left to invade the new fifty-two Earths.[10]

Due to the cycle of destruction and rebirth. Pariah decided that he would create perfect worlds for everyone. He made a deal with the Great Darkness and became its "voice", gaining immense cosmic power, and also began building an army for the Darkness.

When Barry's teammates in Justice League Incarnate came to rescue him, he refused to leave as he did not recognise them or remember his previous life. Pariah confronted them. A rattled Doctor Multiverse teleports the team away back to Multiverse-1 after using her multivision to see what the latter was. They soon headed to Earth 0 to gather reinforcements, just as Pariah had planned. He met with the Great Darkness, which had bent a cadre of cosmic villains to its will.[11]