Flashpoint

Flashpoint #3 (of 5)

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Flashpoint 3The third issue of Flashpoint finally gives us Barry Allen as the Flash. It also gives us the Flashpoint version of Superman… which isn’t quite as impressive.

First off, I’m glad to see Barry back in costume and I like the subtle difference in the relationship between the Flash and Batman once the speedster has his powers back.

Although this issues sees the beginnings of the Justice League, and the face of the Resistance which includes Grifter (because, apparently Gen13 wasn’t available), the other big event is the appearance of Superman who it appears has been kept in captivity since birth, far away from the powerful rays of the Sun.

It’s not a bad third issue, but by the end of the #3 we should be more than halfway through Flashpoint and there seems like quite a bit yet to be decided. The appearance of Grifter also makes my original theory of Flashpoint being the catalyst the DC reboot (which Grifter and other WildStorm characters are to be a part of) look that much more likely. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $3.99]

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Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries

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flashpoint-green-arrow-industries-coverIn a world constantly at war this Oliver Queen finds a way to make a profit. Green Arrow Industries is set up to capture and weaponize super-villain technology on a massive scale. That’s good business for Oliver Queen, but not everybody is so happy with the status quo.

When Green Arrow Industries island facility is attacked by a terrorist Oliver Queen dons several of the confiscated super-villain weapons to hunt down the woman responsible. It turns out the daughter of Vixen has attacked the island only to bring attention to the evil Green Arrow Industries is causing all over the world that Queen has turned a blind eye to.

There’s quite a few problems with this issue including very inconsistent art (four different artists were used on various pages), Queen’s lack of prowess with a bow, and a level of preachiness that doesn’t come off well on the page. That said, here’s a Flashpoint character I’d like to see more of, so why is this title only a one-shot – especially when it seems to just be hitting its stride as the comic comes to a close? Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Flashpoint: Reverse-Flash

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flashpoint-reverse-flashComic readers who have absolutely no idea who the Reverse-Flash is, or need a little background into his history battling the Flash should find this one-issue primer worth a quick look. The trouble is, for the rest of us, there’s no real reason to pick it up.

Although it’s released as a Flashpoint one-shot, this single issue has absolutely nothing to do with the events inside this alternate version of the DC Universe, nor does it take any steps to explain how Professor Zoom was able to rewrite history to such a large extent.

That’s not to say it’s a bad read, but there’s little here for those of us who already know the backstory between Barry Allen and Professor Zoom including Zoom’s repeated attempts on Iris Allen‘s life, his attempts to rewrite history by stopping Allen from becoming the Flash, and his death at the hands of his hated foe. Worth a look (but only for those who need a brush-up on the character).

[DC, $2.99]

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Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost (in the Matrix) #1

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flashpoint-kid-flash-1-coverSo, Kid Flash is not only lost in the Flashpoint universe, he’s also in the 31st Century. He’s a time traveler, I guess that’ll be okay. And, like Barry Allen he’s disconnected from the Speed Force. Sounds kinda boring, but maybe the story will be good. The 31st Century is ruled by Braniac. Braniac? Sigh, okay. And he’s turned the entire world into The Matrix. Wait, what?

Sigh. We begin with a scene between Barry Allen and Bart that is makes Michael Bay’s Transfromers look subtle in comparision. Given the level of dickishness he’s showing to his grandson it’s obvious what Bart is experiencing isn’t real. I mean, who does this fake Barry think he is, Hal Jordan?

It’s too bad that story isn’t real, because once Kid Flash is pulled into the real world (and starts disappearing) things get even worse. And that’s hard to do when you’ve got an impressive super-villain base filled with killer robots. Of course it’s made infinitely easier if you just steal your plot from The Matrix. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

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Flashpoint: Grodd of War

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flashpoint-grodd-of-war-coverWhen I saw the list for the different spin-off titles for Flashpoint one that caught my eye was this one-shot centered around the character of Grodd, a devious genius with advanced telepathic abilities… who happens to be a gorilla. The idea of giving Grodd his own Flashpoint title seemed like a good one. The reality? Not so much.

Aside from the brutal beatdown and vicious murder of his own solider (alas, Congorilla we knew you well) there’s almost nothing memorable about anything that takes place in these pages. The story centers around Grodd’s vicious nature, his death wish, and total control of the African continent, but none of it leads anywhere. (Although he does still manage to pile up a body count without trying all that hard.)

This is a comic abot a telepathic talking gorilla. It should be fun. But when the only excitement you get is one gorilla ripping off another’s head for no purpose other than to showcase what a bad ass he is, you know you’re in trouble. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

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