Flashpoint (Comics) | Review

What begins as a simple time-travel story quickly evolves into something far more ambitious and unsettling. This isn't just another alternate reality tale where familiar heroes wear different costumes— it's a complete reimagining of heroism itself.

In Flashpoint, the world Barry Allen once knew is unrecognizably warped as heroes become tyrants, wars consume nations and only he remembers how it's supposed to be. For Barry, that makes every step heavier, every moment a moral minefield.

Barry Allen wakes up to find out he's no longer the fastest man alive and the world around him has changed completely. His powers are gone, his mother is alive again and the Justice League never existed. That opening twist—from powerless cop to haunted son—sets the tone.

He finds himself in a strange world where world's greatest champions have become its greatest threats. The result is both a thrilling superhero epic and a sobering meditation on how thin the line between hero and villain truly is in desperate times.

What makes this alternate world so much compelling is that how logically it is constructed. Each change flows naturally from Barry's single act of altering the past. Superman's absence from public life, endless war between Aquaman and Wonder Woman, Batman's darker methods— none of these feel arbitrary at all.

The alternate versions of popular DC characters provide the story's emotional core. Thomas Wayne's Batman is perhaps the most successful reimagining— a broken man whose brutal methods cross lines that Bruce Wayne never would.

Wonder Woman and Aquaman's roles as warring monarchs feel less developed, serving more as plot devices than fully realized characters. Their conflict provides spectacular action sequences but lacks the psychological depth of Thomas Wayne's portrayal.

Barry himself undergoes significant character development throughout the story. Stripped of his powers and forced to confront the consequences of his actions from the past, he becomes more human and relatable than he has ever been in years.

His desperation to restore the timeline while grappling with the moral implications of erasing this world's people creates compelling internal conflict. The story doesn't judge Barry harshly for his choice but it doesn't entirely excuse him either.

Small changes like Superman's rocket landing in Metropolis instead of Smallville, Bruce Wayne getting killed in Crime Alley instead of his parents— create fundamentally different people and societies. It serves as a stark reminder about how easily our reality can fall apart.

Flashpoint five-issue main series maintains excellent pacing, balancing character development with spectacular action sequences. Each issue ends with genuine cliffhangers that propel the story forward while deepening our understanding of this alternate world.

A number of tie-in series expand the world effectively without feeling essential to main story. Readers can enjoy the core narrative without feeling lost, while long-time DC fans can have their deeper exploration of specific characters or events.

Beyond its immediate entertainment value, Flashpoint serves as an effective springboard for DC's universe-wide reboot. Rather than simply erasing continuity, it provides a justification for the changes while honoring the characters and stories that came before.

The story also succeeds as a standalone tale that can be enjoyed without extensive knowledge of a larger DC Universe. New readers can appreciate the character dynamics and thematic content without needing to understand decades of continuity.

Some subplots feel underdeveloped, particularly the broader political implications of the Amazon-Atlantean war. While the conflict provides spectacular visuals and raises the stakes, the geopolitical ramifications could have been explored more deeply.

Pencil work by artist Andy Kubert (Batman Vs. Predator, Origin) captures the darker reality of Flashpoint perfectly. His detailed, muscular style gives weight to both the intimate character moments and the large-scale destruction scenes.

Kubert's panel layouts guide readers pretty smoothly through complex action sequences and emotional beats alike. His character designs strike the right balance between familiar and fresh, making each alternate version instantly recognizable.

Writer Geoff Johns (Batman: Earth One, Flash: Rebirth) wastes no time establishing the stakes— this isn't a dream sequence or temporary inconvenience. Every page reinforces that this reality is as real and dangerous as our own, with grave consequences.

Johns uses the alternate timeline of Flashpoint to explore themes about parental love, sacrifice and unintended consequences. Barry's desire to save his mother feels entirely understandable and human, yet his well-intentioned actions had catastrophic ripple effects.

The lettering and sound effects integrate seamlessly with the artwork, never overwhelming the visual storytelling. The coloring throughout maintains a slightly muted palette that reinforces its somber tone with splashes of vibrant color reserved for moments of hope.

The story's internal logic remains consistent throughout, avoiding the plot holes that often plague time-travel narratives. Johns establishes clear rules for how timeline changes work and sticks to them, making Barry's eventual solution feel earned rather than convenient.

Flashpoint succeeds brilliantly as both a superhero epic and a character study about the weight of choices. Johns and Kubert have created a story that entertains on multiple levels— as spectacular action adventure, thoughtful science fiction and emotional family drama.

The alternate world feels lived-in and real, making the stakes genuinely meaningful. It's a story that rewards both casual readers looking for exciting superhero action and longtime fans seeking meaningful character development and universe-shaking consequences.

Flashpoint is superhero storytelling at its most ambitious, using familiar DC Comics' characters and concepts to explore deeper themes about responsibility, sacrifice and the fragility of the world we take for granted, transforming colorful heroes into complex moral actors.

The result is a modern classic that stands among DC's finest crossover events, proving that the best superhero stories aren't just about saving the world— they're about understanding what really makes it worth saving in the first place.

Pick up Flashpoint in hardcover or trade here on Amazon, or dive into the tie-in universe and main arc via ComiXology or the DC Infinite app.