In a bit of an unusual turn of events, Flashpoint #1 was released on the same day as Flash #12 so Flash fans can rejoice because the summer event season has officially begun. I’ll try to keep these Flashpoint Fridays to be relatively spoiler-free, but I also want to summarize and analyze the elements of the event, so if you’re even remotely WORRIED ABOUT SPOILERS, then don’t read on.
Flash #12 – Last issue revealed that the Reverse Flash has learned how to manipulate the Speed Force in ways that the Flash never could (which is really impressive given how many ridiculous ways the Flash and his family have been able to use speed – a topic I plan on exploring next week).
Hot Pursuit (the Barry Allen from another universe) is still taking care of Kid Flash because he still believes that Bart is the anomaly. Turns out that the real anomaly is (big surprise) Reverse Flash. In an incredibly short action sequence, Flash, Kid Flash, and Hot Pursuit battle Reverse Flash which ultimately ends with Hot Pursuit’s death and Professor Zoom’s escape saying, “Your mother was only the begninng. Everything else is next.”
In the end, a lightning bolt strikes and a shadowy figure we can assume is the Reverse Flash says, “it changes. It all changes. Now.”
As much as I hate for the main Flash title to end (mostly because this will be the third or fourth Flash series to have been published), these prelude issues to Flashpoint have been difficult because they have slowed the series down immensely. Things have become boring and for a series about the fastest man alive, the narrative has slowed to a crawl.
Still, Geoff Johns has firmly established Professor Zoom is one of the creepiest villains in the DCU. While the Joker may be insane and twisted, and Lex Luthor is cold, calculating and full of hate, Professor Zoom is the most obsessed and cruel villain of them all. Though he can’t harm Barry Allen because to do so would rob him of his own powers, Zoom has vowed to ruin every other aspect of the Flash’s life.
What I love about Zoom so much is that unlike the Joker, Luthor, Sinestro, or any other villain, Zoom typically succeeds in his goals.
Flashpoint #1 - And the moment we’ve all been waiting for . . . the comic I’ve been waiting for since the end of Flash: Rebirth and it doesn’t disappoint. While the issue is mostly just set up for all of the minis, one-shots, and tie-ins, Andy Kubert’s artwork is enough for the price of admission. I’ve always been a Kubert fan though, and I’ll read anything with their names on it. So, what have we learned from the universe so far?
The first hero shown in the Flashpoint Universe is Batman. I must say that I love the new costume (even if it’s probably just an excuse to make another action figure) and the idea that he is a selfish, vengeance-driven vigilante that goes where the normal Batman never would is frightening and a perfect sign that the world isn’t right. The Wayne Casinos are particularly telling and a nice touch.
The act that seems to set the tone for the universe has to be where Batman drops the Joker’s sidekick Yo-yo from a building. She is saved by Cyborg and though Cyborg knows Batman kills criminals he says, “I’m not here to judge you, Batman.” Clearly not the words of a typical hero of a typical DCU. This is a dark universe indeed. A vicious, frightening universe and I love it sooooooo much.
Cyborg creates holograms of other heroes and they discuss the war in Europe between Atlantis and the Amazons. The heroes are a motley crew that are all given enough time to get readers into their respective minis. Let’s break them down:
- Captain Thunder – The power of Shazam has been divided amongst six kids including Billy and Mary Batson, Freddy Freeman, some kid named Pedro and two unnamed characters. It probably goes without saying that I’m a Shazam fan and that this change up of the character is REALLY exciting for me and when Tawky Tawny transformed into a Battlecat-like behemoth, I nearly fainted. I’ve said for years that He-man and Shazam were really similar and I’ve been a fan of both since I was a little kid. Yeah, it’s a little like Captain Planet or may seem like Scooby-doo with powers, but I don’t care. It’s fun and different.
- Abin Sur – Not really a surprise at all, but the Green Lantern of 2814 isn’t Hal Jordan. Abin Sur is stoic and doesn’t really have much personality in this comic, and it makes one wonder if this is how Abin Sur acted in the normal DCU or if he has also been transformed in some way by the Flashpoint Universe. Regardless, he somehow didn’t die and he is GL.
-Sandman – seems exactly the same.
- Blackout – Some punk in a mask that has been hunted by the Outsider’s organization. He apparently is a power source, but he’s a bit of a jerk, so who cares about him?
- The Outsider – A businessman of some sort in a white suit and disfigured skin. He comes off as interesting because he seems like he could be evil. Also, Bleeding Cool thinks he is Grant Morrison.
- Element Girl – She’s an excited, heroic go-getter and maybe a little annoying.
- Citizen Cold – The most popular Flash villain is allegedly a hero, but he is also implicated in the death of Miss Alchemy and he froze Piper’s vocal chords and destroyed them. Also, he has had the most controversial line thus far after he suggested that Wonder Woman and the Amazons are castrating men in Europe.
He’s my second favorite character in Flashpoint after Captain Thunder.
- Secret Seven – Both Shade the Changing Man and Enchantress are part of the team, and while we don’t know any of the other members yet, when they were asked if they wanted to be involved in the war in Europe, their responses were all in different colors. While this could simply be done to differentiate between speakers, given Geoff Johns’s connection to Green Lantern, a part of me hopes they are connected to the emotional spectrum in some way. The red one does state, “I’m inclined to say ‘yes,’ Rac” because rage would be more than happy to battle it out in Europe.
Ultimately, it’s a decent start to the event, but I can’t wait until next month when things really kick off in the minis and the world of Flashpoint is explored in-depth. There are plenty of interesting characters and it has sufficiently whet my appetite for more.
Let me know what you think.
I liked it a lot. I love the fact that Aquaman and Wonder Woman are the most badass people on the planet. I also love the true identity of Batman, as it plays into an idea I had about if the alley scenario did play out that way. Another interesting thing to note was the Outsider’s existence, as it could actually be this Universe’s Alfred as well. I really want to see the Outsider make it out of this crossover in one piece.
As for the Secret Seven, I think the team is Enchantress and Shade the Changing Man only. I think Enchantress makes Seven and Shade has six personalities. It is just a thought though. As for Captain Thunder and Citizen Cold? Fuck. Yes. They rock.
Other things to note, Sandman seems to be the OG from the 1940s. I think he might be a robot now in this world. And don’t forget about Pied Piper. Very interesting stuff.
And I think Blackout MIGHT be Black Lightning, only changed by this world. Don’t quote me, however.
I was pleasantly surprised by it. Though I don’t plan to purchase all the various minis, I’m intriguied by the WW and Aquaman characters in this, so if they’ve got tie-ins, I’ll add ‘em to my pull list.
I, too, am a fan of the Kuberts.
However, this may be anathema on your site, but I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of the Flash. I read “Rebirth” and was…underwhelmed. I just can’t get into the character, so characters like Citizen Cold (lamest. villain costume. ever.) leave me…well, cold.
And, my typo on “intrigued” above will bug me for a while. Sigh. Multi-tasking at work.