Flashpoint #1

Looking forward to DC's big digital reboot in September, I downloaded the first issue of DC's 2011 Summer Crossover. Since starting university I been forced to give up collecting comics as single issues, and resolved to pick up the choicest storylines in trade. But while Marvel are on the ball in releasing the collections quickly, DC are still stuck in the same old rut of waiting 3 months, then releasing a hard cover, then another year until they release in trade. (thus, I haven't gotten to read any of Blackest Night yet... only 3 weeks left to wait). But with DC soon to be releasing all of their comics digitally, I got the shiny new DC comics app for my I-phone and gleefully set about downloading this latest event. (For once, DC are ahead of Marvel on this front; Fear Itself, Marvels own summer event isn't currently avaliable digitally).

At first I was worried Flashpoint was going to be a difficult read. The most recent storyline I've read in DC is the 'Agent Orange' arc for Green Lantern, so I'm about a year behind in storyline. And in the past, DC's events have often been heavily relient on recent continuity; not just world changing behemoths like the flabby Final Crisis, but even smaller events such as Sinestro Corp war have all been reliant on a pretty heavy knowledge of the various Superheroes recent events.

Luckily, Flashpoint is a perfect jumping on point for new and returning readers to DC. It's whole concept is that the Flash (admittedly, a character with one of the more convoluted histories) wakes up in a completely changed world to the one he remembers. Superman is nowhere to be found. Batman is a killer who owns a change of casinos. And Wonder Woman and Aquaman are tearing Europe apart in a bloody World War. It's up to a now powerless Flash to unite the disillusioned heroes of this new Earth, and find away to set the world straight.

So with Flash exploring this new world at the same pace as the reader, new recruits to DC comics have an easy time understanding what could have been a really confusing narrative. DC diehards will also have great fun seeing some of the changes to the world: among them is a promotion for 'Cyborg' (the dude from the old Teen Titans cartoon) to be the Leader of the Heroes in the Flashpoint world, and many heroes and villains swapping roles and personalities. My personal favourite change is the new version of Captain Marvel: Reborn as Captain Thunder, he a battle scarred version of the cheesy old superhero, given a 'Ben 10' style update in that 7 kids fuse together to create him. It's a great invention of the character, and one I hope they bring over to the new DC universe after the reboot.

Writer Geoff Johns, (my personal favourite when it comes to comics writers) has created a really solid idea for this crossover; his writing moves at a really good pace; a good mix of poignant character moments and world building that made his work on titles such as 'Green Lantern' such a success. His first cliff-hanger is a real stroke of genius, and I can't wait to see where the story's going to go next. It's reinforced by some really strong artwork by Jim Lee, who gives an epic quality to the most humble of scenes. It's exciting that the pair will be in charge of the new Justice League book in a few months time.

Flashpoint is a must read for anyone that enjoys superhero comics. It's an original, brilliant reinvention of a classic universe, and the most intriguing idea for an 'event' in a long time.

Super fun Bonus review

DC have been holding back the 'Flashpoint' books from Digital release by a month (fair enough... the comic stores deserve to make a profit before the line goes Same-day-release from September). So in the long wait for Issue 2 to be released, I also picked up the first of many many tie-ins for the Event; Booster Gold #44. Booster Gold is an 80's hero who's shtick is that he's a time-traveller from the 25th century; a loser in the future, he nabs a load of future tech, travels back in time, and becomes a celebrity hero in the present day; where unfortunately, current superheroes still think he's an idiot. This issue sees Booster returning from an adventure outside the time-stream, but winds up in the Flashpoint universe; he robot companion 'Skeet’s explaining that it's now the only Universe that exists.

While it's a fun issue, it's hardly a necessary read for those buying the core Flashpoint miniseries. Unless Booster is going to turn up in a later issue to help Flash out, his hardly likely to become an important player, unless they're going to kill him off or something before the big reboot. At best, this issue mimics the story beats of Flashpoint #1, but with Booster in the Flash's place; but since no one really cares about him anyway, it's hard to find any emotional depth in it. In fact, it kind of lessens the drama of the event if someone other than Flash realises what’s going on.
 The most intriguing parts of this story are the Flashpoint universe version of S.T.A.R.s and their 'secret weapon'; who's cliff-hanger appearance is either to give clues as to where Superman is, or (much more likely) a desperate attempt to keep new readers sticking with the book. I'm not likely to continue it to be honest, unless it's the only 'Flashpoint' release of the week (as this one was when it came out), but I'm sure completists will enjoy it none the less.