Flashpoint #1 - Review

After what feels like months of waiting (oh wait! It was.), Flashpoint #1 is finally here and the world of Flashpoint is ready to be explored.

After a glance back at Barry Allen's life for the new readers, The Flash is thrust into the world of Flashpoint, a world much like his own. But it's as Barry goes to don his costume that he notices his ring is missing and takes a quick tumble down the stairs to land at the feet of his mother; a victim of the Reverse Flash's backwards method of revenge on Barry Allen; killed years ago but alive and well today.

From here we're given a broader view of the world we're in. Millions have died at the hands of an ongoing battle between Atlantis and Themyscria, and the "heroes" that remain are ready to put an end to it. We get to meet the agents of S.H.A.Z.A.M., the leaders of the Secret Seven, the Outsider and Cyborg, along with a bunch of other characters DC has teased over the months. Honestly my favourite is Batman so far, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

Andy Kubert's art here is crisp and clean, and I really like it. His rendtition of a brighter (but no less dark) Gotham city is really great. Kubert is a quality artist and so I'm not surprised he's done another good job here, so I'm looking forward to the different artists for the mini-series instead.

The last page reveal in this opening issue is something that really surprised me, and will make me sure to watch the rest of this series like a hawk. Honestly, as the final page of The Flash #12 revealed, I'm a little disappointed that the Reverse Flash is to blame for Flashpoint, even though I really like him. Even so, being introduced to the new versions of our favourite characters in the way we are has grabbed my interest, and I'm going to be sure to check out the mini-series starting next month. Either way, Flashpoint is a quality read that I was happy to finally hold in my hand. I went out and bought it, I suggest you do the same.

NB: It still makes me mad that I spoiled the big reveal for myself by accidentally looking straight at the text bubble on the last page, stupid brain.

The Road to Flaspoint: The Flash #12

Issue #12 of the Flash is, in all honesty, a disappointing close to a good series. Johns uses this last issue to tie up the lose ends of the murder cases, but those only exist to propel the scarlet speedster into Flashpoint. There are some interesting moments with Hot Pursuit and the Reverse Flash, and some nice character work between Barry and Bart Allen, as well as the "love-triangle" between Patty Spivot, Iris Allen and Barry, but ultimately the issue didn't really wow me.

It is disappointing to see that we couldn't get a full issue of Francis Manapul's art, but Scott Kolins fills the void admirably. It just seems strange that DC would put 5 pages of Manapul's art inbetween Kolins', but that's their decision to make.

The Flash #12 is, honestly, a disappointing way to see the series off (cancellation wise, a strange move for DC as even though it suffered from some bad delays, people were still invested in seeing it succeed). All I can say is that it'll relaunch after Flashpoint, with something drastically different about the Flash, otherwise why not give it a three month break instead of a cancellation. It just seems like the 'Road to Flashpoint' could have been it's own mini-series (a one-shot is all it really needed ala 'Batman: The Return'), and it kind of ruined 'The Flash' to have it shoved in there.

Whatever happens, I've got my eye firmly fixed on Flashpoint, and I'm interested to see what happens throughout the series and the fallout from when it's all over.

The Road to Flaspoint: The Flash #12

The final step closer to 'Flashpoint' #1 as it comes out today alongside 'The Flash' #12. Unfortunately I won't be able to pick up up until tomorrow because I have work, it's killing me. Still, the cover for 'The Flash' #12 is nice, so until I can get my comics tomorrow, this'll have to tide me over.

Flashpoint Friday (in America) #02

It's Flashpoint Friday time again over at DC's The Source blog, and today they're offering up a mix of interior and cover art. So far there's 'Deadman and the Flying Graysons', 'Canterbury Cricket" and 'Batman - Knight of Vengeance' interior art and 'Kid Flash Lost'. The piece that really caught my eye though was some Emperor Aquaman art featuring Mera (click for a full view):

Now I think we know where Wonder Woman got her helmet, and why they left Mera's head off the cover of 'Emperor Aquaman' #2...

Deadman and the Flying Graysons covers

I'd just like to take a moment and say how much I am in love with the covers for the "Flashpoint" tie-in "Deadman and the Flying Graysons". Cliff Chiang is the man responsible for these masterpieces, with Mikel Janin doing interior art.

The three issue mini-series is written by J.T. Krul, who is currently writing "Green Arrow" for DC. The tie-in focusses on Deadman (presumably still alive as Boston Brand) and Dick Grayson (with alive parents?) performing in their travelling circus and supporting the resistance against the Amazons. I'll be getting every issue of this mini for sure.


"Deadman and the Flying Graysons" #1, in stores June 15th.


"Deadman and the Flying Graysons" #2, in stores July 20th.