Flashpoint #1

What would happen if the Flash's mother never died? If Batman's parents never died, but instead it was Batman who died in that fateful night? If Superman's ship crash-landed in Metropolis not Smallville? Well, Flashpoint answers those questions in a unique way and gives readers new and interesting takes on iconic characters. Flashpoint is by far the best Flash story I've read and that's thanks in large part to its a compelling story, the cast of character, and artwork.

Story

In Flashpoint the Flash accidentally creates an alternate reality in an attempt to save his mom from being killed. In this reality, Thomas Wayne is Batman and is more of a Bat-punisher than a Batman but that's awesome. Superman is a Government Project to save the world from Aquaman and Wonder Woman's war from destroying the Earth. In a peace agreement, Mera Aquaman's wife is killed after discovering his affair with Wonder Woman starting a war between 2 greek myths the Daughter of Zeus and the Son of Poseidon. The story begins with Barry Allen waking up in the Central City Police Department to find his mother alive. Flash not knowing whats going on turns to Batman to figure out what's happening only to find out this Batman isn't the Batman he knew. That's when the Flash suspects this was the doing of his arch-nemesis Professor Zoom. Flash believe that Zoom is behind this after his suit was found in the Flash's ring. He first works with Batman to recreate the accident that created the Flash so he can be the Flash again. Then Batman and Flash work with Cyborg to find Superman in Area 51. After they find Superman, the heroes form a team of superheroes to stop Aquaman and Wonder Woman's war from destroying the planet. The Flash also wants to und what he thinks Professor Zoom did, only to find out he changed history not Zoom. Flashpoint does bear a lot of similarities to Marvel's House of M. Both start with their protagonists waking up in an alternate reality and trying to find out what went wrong. The difference is that Flashpoint's timeline is more dystopic than House of M's. Also, House of M was Scarlet Witch completely reshaping reality not changing an event in history which caused other events to be altered. That being said they are both magnificent stories in their own respected right. I personally liked Flashpoint better because it adds a new layer of depth to Barry Allen's character and it is about him trying to reverse what he himself did. Flashpoint also delves into how easily reality can be reshaped if one event in time is changed which is a very interesting idea. I liked how it was something small that set of this chain reaction, only making the story all the more interesting.

Characters

Flashpoint has a very interesting cast of characters and that's thanks in large part to how Geoff Johns' ability to create unique renditions of iconic characters. The narrative centers around the Flash, as he tries to figure out what happened to the world he once knew and loved. He knows enough about the world to know where to find Batman and then instantly learns that Batman's origin story was also altered. As were the origin stories of Superman and Green Lantern and learns who will and won't be useful to his plan instantly. Flashpoint also showcases how much Flash's mom meant to him. So much so that he'd reverse time just to save her life and risk potentially fracture the timeline of the DC Universe. More than likely thinking this is small enough that is wouldn't severely fracture history. The rendition of Batman in this story is the character most people remember from Flashpoint, and that's large because this original take was so interesting. This Batman is not Bruce Wayne, but instead, he's Thomas Wayne and he became Batman to get justice for his son. This Batman does kill people and in fact, when we first see him he throws Yo-Yo (who is basically Harley Quinn) off a building. Cyborg saves her, only for Batman to say he should have let her fall to her death. Implying that this Batman has killed people in the past and not cared. Also, he's married to the Joker. Yes in Flashpoint, Thomas Wayne becomes Batman after Bruce Wayne's death, and Martha Wayne becomes the Joker. This is odd and interesting to me at the same time because I would've figured that Thomas became Batman wouldn't Martha have become Batwoman. However, this take is more interesting because it showcases how the two handled grief differently and how the death of their son changed them permanently. Also, Batman's love extends to the point where he cares more about Bruce living a good life more than himself. His goal in Flashpoint is to ensure that the reality where Bruce Wayne is alive is restored even if that means Thomas Wayne is dead. It shows that Bruce meant as much to Thomas as Thomas and Martha meant to Bruce. He even gives Flash a letter to give to Bruce once everything is restored. Cyborg is that much different. The main difference is that the answers to President Barack Obama and tasked with assembling a team of superheroes to stop Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Even though he answers to the government, they still kept the existence of Superman a secret from him. Speaking of Superman, the Flashpoint Superman is also an interesting rendition of the character. Though we hardly see him he does play a significant role in the story. One of the things that Flash notices about this reality is that there is no Superman and wonders why that is. When he learns that Superman's ship crashed in Metropolis not Smallville, he wonders where Superman is kept. Superman himself is rather shy and is actually afraid of his powers at first. He's also skinny, but that doesn't stop him from being the strongest character in the narrative because he still ends up stopping Aquaman and Wonder Woman single handily at the last minute before Flash creates the New 52. Wonder Woman and Aquaman actually tried to negotiate peace and were even romantically involved. Until Wonder Woman killed Aquaman's wife Mera and then the two went to war. Both characters are depicted as being brutal and remorseless. Aquaman kills Deathstroke in his introduction and Wonder Woman kills Steve Trevor when readers are introduced to her. Captain Marvel is named Captain Thunder in this and he is the entire Shazam Family in one body. When Billy Batson is the leader of the kids and it's his call to say "Shazam" to have them turn into Captain Thunder. I personally think DC should have stuck with the name Captain Thunder if they couldn't call him Captain Marvel anymore, calling him Shazam is just weird to me. Professor Zoom much like Superman has a small physical appearance but his off-panel appearance is felt through and through. Throughout the book, readers assume that it was Zoom not Flash that altered reality and made the world what it is, only for him to actually show up and reveal otherwise. When he does make an actual appearance he most taunts and torments Flash for destroying the world he loved so much. Very much like the Professor Zoom fans love. Everyone else had ver small appearances, but they still left an impact. Abin Sur doesn't die, and Hal Jordan is still an airforce pilot. Deathstroke is the captain of a pirate ship before the Atlanteans kill him and his crew. Steve Trevor comes to save Lois Lane from Wonder Woman before the Amazons capture and kill him. The point being Flashpoint has a great set of characters.

Artwork

Nothing completes a good graphic novel like good artwork. Andy Kubert's are only made Flashpoint more fun to read. Flash and Zoom looked wonderful and they looked like you expect them to look. Batman looks incredible his costume looks like the typical Batsuit, but his utility belt is red and the circle on his emblem is red too. He also has red eyes, and the bat on his chest goes outside of the red circle on his chest. Superman is the same way he has a yellow circle on his chest with a red "S" the expands outside of the yellow circle, and he has a red 1 on his chest. Superman's outfit is all black. Wonder Woman has a knight-like armor wither red chest piece with a winged "W" at the center of it. She also wears Mera's Atlantean helmet as a trophy. Aquaman has the standard Aquaman costume, but instead, the areas of his costume that are orange are now read and the green areas of his costume are black. He also has a scar on his nose. Captain Thunder has the typical Captain Marvel costume, but there's a black circle at the top of his lightning bolt. Cyborg looks like a military project, his body is entirely metal with the exception of his face, and his right hand is a cannon that doesn't change back into a hand. The original designs helped make the story a fun read.

With that being said, I must say Flashpoint is definitely the best Flash story I have read. That's thanks in large part to Geoff Johns'masterful writing and character building coupled with Andy Kubert's artwork. This is a must-read for Flash fans.