Flashpoint Paperback – March 13, 2012

In 2011, every DC Comics fan was told of a major event happening in that a massive reboot of the entire DC Universe was going to occur and that it would all be in part to the a storyline guided by the character of Barry Allen/The Flash.With the last major story having been the Blackest Night and the Brightest Day, Flashpoint would be the last actual story of the Post-Crisis DC Universe. All in part to the machinations of the Flash.Barry Allen finds the world that he had known before has changed from how had remembered. With Barry Allen having been dead for years and then resurrected his memories become muddled. For he is not just risen but also his futuristic rival Eobard Thawne/The Reverse Flash. Barry realizes that his power in tapping the speed force has it so that he cannot change the past, Eobard's power with the negative speed force is different in that change has happened. With Eobard having harmed Barry's own family. This in turn causes Barry to try his hardest to change it back. Unfortunately he wakes up to a world far worse than he could have known.A world in which he would have saved the life of his family but his friends either fail to become heroes or become villains. As this story goes on for Barry attempting to change back the world to the way it was before it was changed, he races against time as the rest of the world goes on to its eventual destruction.Barry wakes up to a world in which he never became the Flash and the Justice League doesn't exist. The change in the timeline caused Superman's spaceship to veer off course and destroy Metropolis. While Abin Sur wasn't overcome by fear and had survived, while Hal Jordan continued to remain an ordinary pilot. Aquaman and Wonder Woman had become the respective monarchs of their kingdom only to have a torrid affair that would make the Trojan War look like a seedy talk-show special as the world plunges into war that will lead to its annihilation. Basically only three heroes dominate in this world. Shazam's power is not in the hands of a sole participant but in five children who become the mighty Captain Thunder, basically its Captain Marvel only as a hive mind, with Billy Batson, Mary Batson, Freddy Freeman, etc. Victor Stone/Cyborg who is more noble and courageous than he ever was as a Teen Titan. And Batman, only not Bruce Wayne but Thomas Wayne, because this is a world in which Joe Chill's bullets hit Bruce Wayne and not Thomas and Martha.Barry knows the world is in danger and no matter how great it is to have his family whole he knows that whatever must be done to restore the timeline is what matter. So he finds Thomas Wayne/Batman as they unite to turn Barry into the Flash and attempt to save the world.I must say this truly was a great story and I have to admit its great, but the problem with it is that its too good. So much of this alternate timeline is a great read that I want to know more about it. Thankfully DC knows how popular this story was an created a 'World of Flashpoint' miniseries. I also have to say that I'm almost ashamed of Barry's actions leading up to Flashpoint. But I am glad he sees the error of his ways. Without a doubt one of the best things is Thomas Wayne as Batman. I would love it so much if he were depicted like this one day.Plus for better or worse, this story gives birth to a fresh new direction into DC Comics... The New 52 Universe. Thank You Mr. Geoff Johns. A

I have always been a fan of the DC Universe since I was little kid. They had a huge playground of characters and universes for you to choose from. At times it was downright confusing but it was fun nonetheless. Over the last twenty of so years (Hard to Believe it has been that long). DC has been trying to cleanse the confusion caused by their massive continuity begining with the awesome and critically accalimed Crisis On Infinite Earths then the mediocre Zero Hour: Crisis in Time and then the very cool Infinite Crisis Despite all of that it really did not do much to deal with the confusion. Fans would debate what story was in continuity and did this happen or that happen. First Batman was a part of the Justice League then he wasn't and then he was. First he discovered who killed Thomas and Martha Wayne then it was a mystery. First he was known somewhat by the public then he became an Urban Legened. You get my point. First Wonder Woman was not a founder of the JLA then later on she was. Many of Supermans John Byrne adventures were wiped out. It got ridiculous. Not to mention Hawkman. (Check out the The Hawkman Omnibus Vol. 1 to help clear up that confusion. Unless you have been reading consistently for 20 years you may have missed out on those confusing and convoluted moments.The point is (no pun intended) Flashpoint is designed to restart that and in some ways I think pay homage to everything that came before it. I loved this book. I loved the Kubert art and the crazy plot. I highly recommend it. It's interesting how Barry Allen died in the original Crisis which changed the old universe and he is now the catalyst for the changes that result in this new universe which by the way is very very cool. Please check out the DC Comics: The New 52 Many of the titles are awesome. Check out your local comics shop for more information. The highlights of this story include Batman and the radical changes to Aquaman, Wonderwoman, and Superman. Many fans were angry about the changes but I was not. This book I think honors that old quirky multiuniverse aspect of the old DCU and helps to bring in something new and different. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh start in comics.