"It All Changes Here" Review of "Flashpoint" #5

Flashpoint #5-Geoff Johns & Andy Kubert

Summary
To catch you up to speed on the situation: Atlantis is fighting Themyscria. Captain Marvel has been split up between 6 kids and in #4 Billy was killed, so now they can no longer turn into "Captain Thunder" the Flashpoint-version of Captain Marvel. Cyborg, Batman (Thomas Wayne), Flash (Barry Allen), Element Woman, and Captain Thunder all went to stop the war between Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Reverse-Flash also randomly appeared at the end of #4.

The issue opens with Reverse-Flash, a.k.a. Eobard Thawne, standing over Barry. He's talking about how hellish of a world the Flashpoint-world is, while Cyborg and Element Woman keep the rest of the kids who form "Captain Thunder" safe. Thawne keeps speaking as though he is completely innocent of changing anything and then accuses Barry of being the one who changed everything.

Thawne then goes into a huge story with a lot of dialogue about how basically Barry went back in time, stopped Thawne from killing Barry's mom, and therefore changed the lives of people around him including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman.

So. Apparently Barry Allen really DIDN'T need to come back, after all. See what you do, Geoff Johns? You bring Barry Allen back and he changes reality. Wtf.

Anyway, Thawne randomly starts beating up Thomas Wayne. Then Barry stops him so Thawne beats up Barry. Then Batman walks up and shoves a sword through Thawne's heart. So. Flash's only cool villain gets killed by an old man. Good job, DC.

Then the Resistance shows up. The Resistance includes Grifter (from WildStorm), the Demon, and the Canterbury Cricket (a Flashpoint character) along with a few other characters that were seen around Flashpoint.

They come in, kick ass, and then Superman appears out of nowhere. He beats up Aquaman and Wonder Woman.

Thomas Wayne is almost dead. He pulls out a note and hands it to Barry. Then he says he's sorry about his mother. But he tells Barry to run. So that's what Barry does. He runs...to his mom.

He and his mom have a talk and Barry realizes that he needs to catch himself before he stops Thawne.

Then we get this awesome-as-fuck double page spread showing Barry running through the center of three timelines. There is also some weird lady with a hood over her head talking to him. This two page span shows many, many characters including John Constantine, Animal Man, Swamp Thing, Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), the Justice League fighting Luthor, Joker, Deathstroke, Sinestro, and Atrocitus, and then in the bottom righthand corner we see Batman, Cyborg, Grifter, Wonder Woman, and Superman in their new outfits (also one note about how at the very end of the page, Barry is wearing his new outfit, too).

Then Barry wakes up in his office at work. You then see Barry and Bruce (both in their new outfits) talking in the cave. Barry apparently has all of his memories still in place and tells them all to Batman. He also gives the note from Thomas Wayne to Bruce.

Then end shows Barry and Bruce sitting in the Batcave.

What I Thought

I think that the whole Flashpoint-side of the story sucked. Just about everything up until Thomas Wayne told Barry to run was just filler to me. I really liked that Barry this was really a story about Barry and Batman. It's definitely a shake up to the usual "Superman & Batman" thing. I am pleased with the fact that Bruce got to have some contact with his dad. And I'm glad Barry got a chance to talk with his mom.

I'll give this issue a 6/10.

Thomas Wayne's Note: "Love Always, your father--Thomas."
Bruce Wayne: "You're one hell of a messenger. Thank you, Barry."

I Will Be Reviewing "Justice League" #1 and "Flashpoint #5 on Wednesday morning before most shops open

That's right. I'm announcing that I will be able to review Justice League #1 before JT will be able to. Lol. It'll be the only time I will be reviewing a comic (for now, at least) the day it actually comes out. I will also be reviewing the Digital Edition of the Justice League issue and seeing how well the Digital sales work.

So here's to the first comic of the DCnU. A comic that I have been waiting for for several months. Here's to hoping it's amazing. And here's to hoping the DCnU will be prosperous and get many, many sales.

I'll see you guys Wednesday morning with "Reviews and Spoilers of the DCnU." Sleep tight, everybody.

Flashpoint...Setting Up For the DCnU Justice League Line-Up?

Starting in Flashpoint #3, Batman & the Flash set out to recreate the Justice League. By the end of issue #3, they had a group of Batman, Cyborg, and the Flash, with Supes having just flown off to who-knows-where. In a preview for Flashpoint #4, you see Cyborg, Batman, & Flash being attacked by a bunch of soldiers and then Element Woman attacks the guards and takes them down. The last page of the fight is seen here.

So far in Flashpoint we've seen Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Hal Jordan (without the ring, but Abin Sur is alive), Firestorm, Mera, Aquaman, Cyborg, Deadman, and Green Arrow (plus maybe the white haired girl that no one can identify). All we need is for Hawkman and the Atom be seen somewhere is issue #4 or #5 and there's our JLA line-up.

So does this mean we'll see all of these characters at the very end of Flashpoint #5 take on the Reverse-Flash, which will then lead into Justice League #1? What does this mean for our new JLA line-up?

I think we'll probably see either Hal Jordan or Abin Sur join in on the JLA in Flashpoint #4 or #5.
I was kinda hoping to see the Flashpoint-JLA on the cover of Flashpoint #5, but there was no such luck.

I could see #s 4 & 5 being the lead-up in which the other members of the JLA team-up against Wonder Woman & Aquaman, while the Flash & Batman go after the Reverse-Flash. And maybe something happens to make Aquaman & Wonder Woman end their war against one another. Or something like that. I've read Flashpoint #s 1-3 and I'm actually finding it kind of interesting. But maybe that's because I'm more interested in finding out how #5 basically creates the DCnU.

Flashpoint part one...the Mini's

Lead-Up to Flashpoint
Starting with Flash #9, Barry Allen & the Flash crew (Wally West, Jay Garrick, and Bart Allen) meet a new character named Hot Pursuit who is trying to stop Flashpoint from occurring.

Cancellation of the Flash Series
DC has announced recently on their blog, The Source, that the only ongoing series crossing-over with Flashpoint is Booster Gold. When someone asked what will be happening with the Flash ongoing series will be ending after issue #13. This has made me very disappointed and sad. I think that they might as well be canceling Superman or Batman because Flash is someone who deserves their own series.

Mini-Series
There have been many Flashpoint crossover mini-series announced. Credits for mini-series:


<--- Batman: Knight of Vengeance
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Eduardo Risso


Citizen Cold --->
Writing & Art: Scott Kolins





<--- Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager
Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti
Art: Joe Bennett & John Dell



Deadman & the Flying Graysons --->
Writer: JT Krul
Art: Mikel Janin



<--- Hal Jordan
Writer: Adam Schlagman
Art: Ben Oliver



World of Flashpoint --->
Writer: Rex Ogle
Art: Paulo Siqueira





<--- Emperor Aquaman
Writer: Tony Bedard
Art: Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes



Legion of Doom --->
Writer: Adam Glass
Art: Rodney Buchemi & Jose Marzan





<--- Project Superman
Plot by: Scott Snyder
Script: Lowell Francis
Art: Gene Ha


Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown --->
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Ibraim Roberson


<--- Kid Flash Lost Starring Bart Allen
Writer: Sterling Gates
Art: Oliver Nome


Wonder Woman and the Furies --->
Writer: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art: Scott Clark and David Beaty



<--- Lois Lane and the Resistance
Writer: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art: Eddie Nuñez


Abin Sur-The Green Lantern --->
Writer: Adam Schlagman
Art: Felipe Massafera



<--- The Outsider
Writer: James Robinson
Art: Javi Fernandez


Secret Seven --->
Writer Peter Milligan
Art: George Perez and Scott Koblish


>Phew< Finally done with all of that amazing art and intriguing titles? Well 1) I will have more next week. 2) I'm not done yet! So of all of those series, there are a few that I will be picking up no matter what; World of Flashpoint, Abin Sur-The Green Lantern, Project Superman, and Secret Seven.

There are several reasons for picking these series...World of Flashpoint because of the fact that it seems to be the mini that will be tied in most with the main Flashpoint series, Abin Sur-The Green Lantern because I'm very curious as to what is going to happen to Abin and why it is called "Abin Sur the Green Lantern", Project Superman because I know this series will be tying into the Flashpoint series and it looks rather interesting, and Secret Seven solely because it's George Perez on the art! How could I ever pass up George Perez art?

If I happen to have enough money, I'll buy them all because they all look great! But if I had to choose a few, it'd be them.

In a Q&A Geoff Johns had with Newsarama, he stated this is probably the most accessible event he has ever done...meaning that he is saying this series really doesn't need any prior knowledge! It's a perfect jump-on point for any new comic fans!