- That might explain how easy the cleanup apparently was.
- Confirmed by JLA's Rock of Ages arc from ten years earlier. It's stated that every time Darkseid attempts something big with the universe it causes a reboot where nothing really happened. Superman's use of the Miracle Machine and the Rock of Ages from Metron's chair at the end of FC circumvents Darkseid's resurrection. Edit: The "Rock of ages" aka the Worlogog, was not the material in Metron's chair. It was X element which is the primary component in boom tubes and used for other new god technology. Also, due to Flashpoint, it appears Darkseid has come back once again. Or his history has changed. It's too hard to tell at the moment. As for Batman? That one can't be credited to the Miracle Machine, given that Batman turned out to be Darkseid's backup plan, and this plan was confirmed to be in the works prior to the Miracle Machine being used. Darkseid told Mokkari (the Apokoliptian scientist, not the Marvel guy) to save one brain dead clone of Batman from the failed cloning experiments. He said he could use it and that it would come in handy.
- This makes a hell of a lot of sense. Poor guy.
- Given DC Rebirth and how both Mandrakk and the original Monitor were written, including in Dark Nights: Metal and Justice League (2018), with the idea that Mar Novu was always the guy we were seeing, including back in the original Crisis, I think it's say to say this is Jossed.
- Given that it is cancelled by use of Wonder Woman's Lasso of truth, that seems actually quite likely, though it, like everything else, is incredibly rushed and not explained.
- In his defence, Darkseid was dying at the time. The Anti-Life Equation was probably weakening with its user.
Mandrakk represents the growing darker themes resulting in no-one caring about DC Comics anymore. Being a vampiric Omnicidal Maniac represents the draining of optimism and the idea that the franchise is going to die out if it keeps getting darker. This trope was a major complaint in the last few years before Final Crisis. Darkseid is the initial Big Bad because he embodies despair and hopelessness, the very things that are corrupting DC. Superman has always been the poster boy for optimistic heroes, so of course the Cosmic Armor meant to stop Mandrakk is for him, as does Superman play an integral role in Mandrakk's fall. As do many forgotten and discarded characters, who have had enough to hear with the literary suffering and "edgy killings" inflicted on them. And why it's implied to be the original Monitor? DC has gotten darker to many because of the Crisis.
The Dark Multiverse may be connected, and it's possible Mandrakk as an entity originates from there. After all, the Dark Multiverse is where everything goes wrong and there seems to be no hope, and what were people complaining about? The lack of optimism, hope and fun. Just what Mandrakk represented. Barbatos is his replacement, reincarnation of the same concept or simply a less powerful entity with similar metafictional elements. As for why the Anti-Monitor wasn't used? Final Crisis isn't about rebooting, and that's ultimately what he represents. Too Bleak, Stopped Caring is just something that followed him.
- One review with such an approach downright draws the parallels between Final Crisis to Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, where Alan Moore did a deconstructive send-off to Superman.
Some people complain that it doesn't make sense that by tying Darkseid with her lasso, Wondy was able to break his control on the human race. However, during the comic we're also told there is a "Life Equation", a mathematical formula that shows that life is worth living.
- companionship + understanding + assurance + joy + altruism ÷ respect ÷ commendation ÷ sympathy × innocence × dignity × success × acceptance y=n where y=despair and n=caution, love=truth, death=rebirth, and self=light side
It's made a huge deal in Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle how Shilo was able to escape because he was able to figure out the Life Equation. Considering Diana is empowered by the Greek Pantheon, it makes sense that the same way the New Gods are able to harness the Anti-Life Equation, other Gods can access to similar powers. Note that the equation states that love=truth, and Wonder Woman is described as the Spirit of Truth, and she's literally a clay statue given life by a divine pantheon. Could it be that, the same way some humans like Sonny Sumo or the Pied Piper have fragments of the Anti-Life Equation inside them, Diana has a fragment of the Life Equation inside her too fruit of her being given life?
- Alternatively, Batman could've been hold prisioner using the Anti-Death Equation present in The Multiversity, where it is portrayed as a force that traps one in a limbo between death and life. Considering that is implied to be a representation of companies refusing to let concepts die and milking them dry, it makes sense that the Anti-Death Equation took control of the biggest cash cow of DC, Batman.