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Flashpoint somehow managed to exceed all my expectations.
Now, my expectations were always pretty mid-range for this particular event. I've never had any huge interest in Barry Allen as a character. But the way things turned out... I think even if my expectations had been high Flashpoint would have surpassed them.
The first reason is this: Flashpoint isn't just a story about the Flash. It's a story about the DC Universe and its history. Its about the things that make the DCU what it is. And everybody knows I love that kind of stuff.
Flashpoint gave me that in spades. A few "what ifs" and everything we know is altered... Mostly. Some things seem to be the same, but there are certain divergence points that have left a world a lot darker than the one we know.
Among the highlights were seeing a Barry Allen I could actually relate to. A man frustrated with the pace of life and his place in it. This isn't the life that Barry wanted... But it's the life he might have had if he'd never become the Flash.
Another cool bit was the chance to see Cyborg shine among a range of altered heroes and villains. Geoff Johns has talked Cyborg up for years. Let's see if he can really make him into a tip tier character.
The best thing about the issue for me was -- and this is a spoiler -- the identity of Batman. I called it correctly and I'm glad that I did. Because I know that this story will be richer and more interesting with Thomas Wayne as Batman. Because what wouldn't he risk to give his son a chance and life? And will Barry Allen risk that if it means the loss of his mother?
Flashpoint #1 has done exactly what a comic is supposed to do: it's made me frustrated as hell that I've got to wait a month for the next issue.
The first issue of Flashpoint hits tomorrow. As is tradition, that means it's time for me to start making predictions.
The big one has to do with the Flashpoint timeline's version of Batman. I think I've figured out who he might be. Here's the thing: in the interview with Brian Azzarello he leaves us with a vital clue about Batman, Knight of Vengeance:
He's older than the Batman we know.
Here's the thing about changes in the timeline: they can't really make people older or younger. Everyone is going to be the same age, it's just going to change the way they've lived their lives. That tells me that this Batman is not Bruce Wayne.
If he's not Bruce Wayne, then who is he? Here's my guess: somehow the Reverse Flash intervenes on that fateful night in Crime Alley. As we would expect, Joe Chill shoots Martha Wayne. Who else does he shoot? Perhaps this time it is not Thomas Wayne, but rather his son Bruce.
How would that change reality as we know it? What would the loss of his wife and son do to the doctor/philanthropist? Would he turn his back on medicine and direct his energies to a war on crime?
We know that this Batman seems willing to help the Flash "fix" the timeline. Why would he willingly offer his assistance? I think it could only be the knowledge that the correct timeline means his own death... But the survival of his son.
Wouldn't that make for a hell of a story?
Apparently Flashpoint is going to be a bigger deal than I thought.
When I first heard about Flashpoint I figured it was going to be a self-contained story in The Flash. Maybe a mini-series with repercussions for the rest of the DCU. But fifteen different mini-series? That's excessive even by Marvel standards.
I mean, we got a lot of minis along with Blackest Night. But for some reason that felt more like a big event than this feels like... At least right now. There was an extended build-up for a very long time to Blackest Night. But I don't think we've seen that with Flashpoint, and there are only a few months remaining until it kicks off.
Or maybe there has been build up. Maybe when Flashpoint hits we'll look back at things like Wonder Woman's history change and say "that was a key to Flashpoint."
But right now Flashpoint doesn't feel like anything. Like I said, Infinite Crisis and Blackest Night felt like big events. I'm not sure yet what Flashpoint is going to be...
Welcome again to... Thursday Night Thinking! Tonight we have a thought... And a kind of thought. What does it all mean?
Tonight... Thursday Night Thinking! Completely devoid of the necessary context. See if you can figure out what's going on here...
Ah, the first Monday after New Year's. That makes today the day that most people have to go back to work. Luckily I'm a graduate student and as such still have two weeks before classes start. Feel free to hate me.
Anyway: comics! I haven't done any of those crazy lists that people usually have done by this time of year. That sort of thing usually hits on the 31st or the 1st. As you know, I was M. I. A. at the time. But hey, it's only the 4th. So here are some of the things I'm looking forward to in the coming year:
1. The Post-Blackest Night Status Quo
I'm really intrigued by what could be coming up after Blackest Night. As I said in my previous post, it's going to change a long of the stuff in the DCU. I'm not sure what will happen, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to enjoy whatever it is.
2. The Return of Superman
Superman will finally be returning to his own books later this year. I for one am glad to see it happening. I've enjoyed some of what's gone on in the New Krypton story, but I'll be very glad to see Superman back in his rightful place again.
3. The Return of Batman
Yeah, I said Batman and not Bruce Wayne. Dick Grayson may be wearing the cowl but he is not Batman. He never can be, at least not for me. I don't understand why anyone would want to see him keep the position. It just doesn't work for me. Dick Grayson just doesn't have the gravitas that Batman needs.
4. The Flash
I'm very excited about Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul's new Flash series. With the delays on Flash: Rebirth and the cancellation of Wally's title I haven't felt like I've been getting my Flash fix. That will soon change.
5. Doctor Polaris!
Laugh if you will, but I really do think that Geoff Johns is going to get around to bringing back and revamping the original Doctor Polaris. It just can't be a coincidence Johns killed off his replacement in Blackest Night.
What are you all looking forward to in the coming year?
So I hear that the Blue Beetle co-feature in Booster Gold is being dropped.
I'm not sure exactly where I read that, but I'm pretty sure I also read that the Wally back-ups in the upcoming Flash series aren't happening either. Is DC reevaluating co-features?
Black Canary isn't going to be sharing a book with Green Arrow any more. The Manhunter back-ups are reportedly being stripped from Streets of Gotham. What exactly is happening? I was a big proponent of the co-feature idea. I still am; I really like getting multiple stories in a single comic. But maybe I'm the only one. Are they not selling? Are they hurting the books?
I need to get more information as I don't really want to watch that interview of with Dan DiDio over at Newsarama. The man's voice makes my ears bleed.
Well, tomorrow we finally get to read The Flash: Rebirth #5. Once again, the Fastest Man Alive has proved to be the slowest.
Here's my question: what big surprises are there going to be? We already know that all the Flashes are getting out alive; we've seen that in Blackest Night among other things.
I just don't feel like this Rebirth is shattering the status quo like Green Lantern: Rebirth did. Don't get me wrong, though. I really have liked this story. It's a good story even if it isn't an event the way the first Rebirth was.
The problem is that a even a good story gets less good when you have to wait three to four months between chapters. It starts to lose the impact. It starts to be less fun. I'm hoping that Johns and Van Sciver can still pull out a show stopping finish -- and that the sixth issue will come out on time.
There's been a lot of speculation as to how Blackest Night is going to end. A popular theory is that -- because of the massive casualties -- there must be a mass resurrection of characters when Blackest Night comes to a close.
I think that this theory is correct. But I'm not just speculating here. I think I have proof -- or at least very strong evidence -- that Geoff Johns left in plain sight for us to see.
It was tricky to find, I'll admit. But it shouldn't have been. That little tidbit of information shows up on the second page of a very high profile Geoff Johns project. Here's the rub, though: it has nothing to to with Green Lantern. The clue (or the proof) is found in The Flash: Rebirth #4.
It hit me like a bolt of lightning one night. On the second page of the issue Professor Zoom says the following to Barry Allen:
"I have a resurrection of my own in the days ahead, Barry. Thanks to a good friend of yours."
Initially I puzzled over the meaning of that phrase. Then I put it behind me. After all, it could be anyone. Zoom hadn't necessarily meant "a good friend" literally. It could just as easily be a reference to someone who simply knows Barry well.
But I think in this case it is a literal statement. I think that Professor Zoom literally will be resurrected by one of Barry's good friend. It should be obvious by now that that friend is Hal Jordan.
One of the main concepts of the Blackest Night "mass resurrection" theory is that Hal Jordan will be the catalyst. In order to save the universe from Nekron Hal Jordan will become a White Lantern and resurrect a lot of characters in the process. Most theories say that it will be the characters that have become Black Lanterns who will be resurrected.
As we can see in the solicitation for Blackest Night: The Flash #1, the Reverse Flash will be featured as a Black Lantern. Presumably the resurrection that Professor Zoom mentioned will take place post-Blackest Night.
Summing up, here's the timeline: we know that Rebirth takes place before Blackest Night. At the end of Blackest Night Hal Jordan resurrects a large number of characters hero and villain alike (this is likely only a side effect of Nekron's defeat). Now alive again, Professor Zoom travels back in time to menace Barry Allen in the pages of Rebirth.
Seems plausible to me...
The next issue of The Flash: Rebirth isn't coming out until the middle of November.
I'm usually pretty laid back when it comes to delays. A week here, a week there. These things happen. The problem here is that I really want to read that book. And so out of pure self-centeredness I'm more than a little steamed that it keeps getting put off.
Here's my question: what else do these artists (and I assume it's an artist issue and not a writer issue) have to do? Isn't drawing comic books their job? Isn't that one of the first things they should be putting their energy toward?
My job is being a graduate student. I get everything done on time and -- if I can be a little self-congratulatory -- I do it well. I also have time to write this blog, play board games once a week, and occasionally see a movie.
Maybe I'm being unreasonable towards Mr. Van Sciver. There could very well be a good reason why The Flash: Rebirth is taking so long to finish. Or, again, it could have nothing to do with it all.
But whoever is at fault, hurry up! We can't get the new Flash series until Rebirth finishes. And I really want to see Wally's new costume...
It's been a long week. And it's still not quite over. I'm so tired I can barely move... But I can still think! This is Thursday Night Thinking!
Idiot.
This is Thursday Night Thinking. And there's something you should really know about Barry Allen:
This... Is Thursday Night Thinking!
No time for anything but three quick thoughts from Barry Allen --- A. K. A. The Flash!
So, we had ourselves a comic-con last weekend, did we? Obviously I didn't go, but I did try to follow the news on the Internet. It's got to be good for something, right? Here's what I took away from the con (so to speak):
The Good: Geoff Johns on a new Flash ongoing! It's not a suprise; I think everybody expected this. But it's still a very good thing. Johns has turned Green Lantern into a top book. If he can work his magic on the Flash (a character I've always preferred to Green Lantern) I'll be a happy camper.
The Bad: JSA All-Stars! I know, that sounds like a strange thing to be "bad." Especially since I do like Matt Sturges' work. But I'm not made of money, people! Now if I want to read about guys I like -- the Flash, Wildcat, Stargirl, etc. -- I've got to buy two different books! And I'm still stuck with Magog...
The Good: T. H. U. N. D. E. R. Agents in the DCU! I've never actually read a book about them but I remember reading about the aborted DC series from a few years ago. I remember putting it on my pull list and being very excited about it. And I remember being disappointed when it never materialized. Now I'll get another chance.
The Bad: Yaaah! That T. H. U. N. D. E. R. Agents book is going to cost me money! And aren't those guys kind of redundant now that Checkmate works out of the United Nations?
The Good: James Robinson's Justice League of America! Now that we've got a tease of the team I'm even more excited than I was before. Mon-El's new costume is snazzy, and I'm curious to hear what his new "super" name is...
The Bad: Donna Troy is on that team.
Who is Barry Allen?
A lot of time and effort has been spent over this past week trying to find the answer to that question. It's a question that has haunted us. We've found some answers, it's true. But we've found just as many questions.
Still, sometimes when a question seems complicated and difficult to answer that's because you're trying too hard. You're working so hard to find an answer that "feels" right that you miss the obvious right in front of you.
Who is Barry Allen?
It's a simple question, really. Barry Allen is The Flash. He's The Fastest Man Alive.
What more do you need to know?
Who is Barry Allen?
Over the course of this week I believe we have come close to an answer. We have learned many things about this mysterious man in red. But we still don't have a complete answer to the question:
Who is Barry Allen?
Who is Barry Allen?
It is a question we have struggled with these past few days. A question that follows us into the depths of Thursday Night Thinking!
Who is Barry Allen?
A man can only truly be known when we gaze into his mind and examine his deepest thoughts. So I ask again:
Who is Barry Allen?
Who is Barry Allen?
It is a question that these days permeates us all. Who is this man who has so suddenly and unexpectedly roared into the present from the distant past? We know some things about him, but we still haven't answered the question:
Who is Barry Allen?
Oh, and as an aside... Guess what turns up in Secret Six #8?Hell yeah. A Wild Dog costume at the club. Everybody loves Wild Dog.
Thanks Gail!
Who is Barry Allen?
That is the question on everyone's minds. We have found a partial answer... But the full answer to that question is not so simple. It will take many days and much reflection to arrive at the totality of the truth. So we ask again:
Who is Barry Allen?
