The World of Flashpoint: Featuring Batman Paperback – March 20, 2012

In 2011, every DC Comics fan was told of a major event happening in that a massive reboot of the entire DC Universe was going to occur and that it would all be in part to a storyline guided by the character of Barry Allen/The Flash.With the last major story having been the Blackest Night and the Brightest Day, Flashpoint would be the last actual story of the Post-Crisis DC Universe. All in part to the machinations of the Flash.Barry Allen finds the world that he had known before has changed from how had remembered. With Barry Allen having been dead for years and then resurrected his memories are muddled. But he is not the only one back from the dead but also his futuristic rival Eobard Thawne/The Reverse-Flash. Barry realizes that his power in tapping the speed force has it so that he cannot change the past, Eobard's power with the negative speed force is different in that change has happened. With Eobard having harmed Barry's own family. This, in turn, causes Barry to try his hardest to change it back. Unfortunately, he wakes up to a world far worse than he could have known.A world in which he would have saved the life of his family but his friends either fail to become heroes or become villains. As this story goes on for Barry attempting to change back the world to the way it was before it was changed, he races against time as the rest of the world goes on to its eventual destruction.Eventually, it does return or should I say reform to what we know as the New 52 DC Universe. Flashpoint becomes an epic read. With a miniseries dedicated to the horrific world that no longer exists. Readers gain an incredible insight into just how bad yet at the same time how unique this world was.Each collection of this miniseries has the change known as the Flashpoint effect occurring for each of its heroes in various ways. Like it was said in the animated movie, “Ripples of distortion radiated out through that point of impact shifting everything just a tiny bit. But enough. Enough for events to happen slightly differently."This world of Flashpoint is with Batman. But its not just Batman its others as well. But with Batman, it's truly worth the price of admission. In this world, Thomas Wayne obtained the will to act, just like in the dream-world that Bruce Wayne imagined in 'For The Man Who Has Everything.' Only as Dr. Wayne attempted to take the gun away from his would-be killer, the gunman fires two rounds but not into Thomas or Martha Wayne but the body of the young Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne dies, never to become Batman but the pain and loss of his existence are felt by his parents as Thomas attempts to move on with his life. Whereas Martha Wayne driven to insanity after the loss of the child she gave birth to realizes that the world is a cruel sick joke and becomes the Joker instead of the poor misguided 'Jack' from 'The Killing Joke.'Thomas Wayne impacted by the death of his son makes the same vow his son did; to stop criminals from ever doing the same thing that happened to his wife and son. He becomes Batman. But unlike his son, he doesn't vow against killing. As he puts to death various criminals and having them become nothing more than mere memories such as Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Hush, etc. But not all criminals are dead, some do reform to become allies. Oswald Cobblepot is not the wicked Penguin but a successful legitimate businessman who helps his boss Thomas Wayne take Wayne Enterprise into a billion-dollar franchise of entertainment and legalized gambling causing the criminal element to be drawn to Gotham as a trap for the Batman. Gotham becomes the safest city in America thanks to Batman's other ally in its Chief of Police James Gordon. One of Thomas' allies is the beautiful Selina Kyle who in this story is crippled and becomes the Oracle and not Barbara Gordon. More than likely she was a hero drawn to Thomas' Batman and driven to become a Catwoman dedicated to justice only to be victimized by Martha's Joker.With no Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle never gets to meet the love of her life. Harvey Dent doesn't become Two-Face and settles down with a wife but is still victimized by the Joker as the main premise of this story is Batman attempting to find Dent's lost children. I've read Flashpoint and somehow it's run concurrently with the events of this story. I can't help but wonder why, considering how Barry's memories of the previous timeline were being replaced by the new timeline. I feel this was done because of the week-long wait between each issue. Still, it's great to see this story of the alternate Batman being realized. I also wonder if Martha's Joker didn't happen to recruit that psychiatrist that Thomas meets, in the beginning, to become Yo-Yo as its kind of obvious she's less of Joker's girlfriend and more her partner in crime. Especially considering who her targets are. After all, a yoyo is a common toy.The second part of the story deals with another Batman character in Dick Grayson. Originally in the comic as Batman's sidekick Robin/Nightwing and eventual Batman. But in this Flashpoint world, Dick Grayson doesn't become any of these things because his mother and father were not killed by Tony Zucco, but survive to remain the Flying Graysons in the European traveling circus alongside others like Deadman, Kent Nelson, and even Count Vertigo. Unfortunately, it is a Europe affected by the war between the wicked nations of Atlantis and the Amazons. A war started because of the twisted affair between its monarchs Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Western Europe is underwater because of Atlantis and Great Britain was conquered by the Amazons and is now known as New Themiscyra. While the Flying Graysons seem safe, two characters impact the group which causes Dick's family to know the pain and anguish he was meant to feel. Even more tragic is that a woman recruited as a member of the Amazon force the Furies, an alien princess known as Koriand'r, hunts down a weapon prized by the Queen. The object is possessed by Dick Grayson and the irony is not lost in the fact that Kori hunts down a man who in the original timeline is deeply in love with.The third becomes very cool. With Western Europe underwater and legalized gambling and low crime in Gotham, Slade Wilson is not a wicked assassin but a brave and dashing pirate. Thought caught in between the war of the Amazons and Atlanteans he seeks something more valuable than pillage; his kidnapped daughter Rose. Slade is amazing in this story. Having read him in other stories as a wicked man, he's now an awesome presence. Recruiting meta-humans like Clayface and Icicle. As a pirate, he's truly amazing. I love how like any pirate he gets some 'booty' in a fiery and sexy meta-human called Jenny Blitz. Wow! It all ends awesomely. I wish his character was a part of the real universe.The final portion of the story has it where several magical beings are caught against each other with the world as they know it going to hell. From Enchantress, Shade, Zatanna, Raven, and others. Sadly we come to learn the extent of one the treacherous members from the event in Flashpoint.All things considered. I love the Batman story, the Grayson story was also very good, the third story was a little slow at first but then became very engaging. The last story wasn't very strong but still makes for an awesome tie-in. Though I have to say I wish this covered more about other characters in the Batman mythos. What happened to Alfred after Bruce's death, did he quit or did Thomas fire him? What happened with 'Jack' from The Killing Joke? Leslie Thompkins? Tim Drake? Ra's al Ghul? Riddler? Bane? Deadshot? So many characters that I like to know about in this alternate universe.

Flashpoint. The event of mid 2011 that completely altered DC's timeline to give a very weird reality as well as set up for a new universe altogether. Reading the event itself, Flashpoint, will help give a reader an idea why this world is the way it is. But these mini series are not necessary to Flashpoint itself, they just expand and build on the event and the world itself.This collection features the four three issue mini-series "Batman: Knight of Vengeance", "Deadman and the Flying Graysons", "Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravanger", and "Secret Seven".The first story, "Batman: Knight of Vengeance" shows how a Batman would exist in this world. That fateful night in crime alley it was not Bruce Wayne who watched his parents gunned down it was Thomas and Martha Wayne who watched their son gunned down. Thomas is driven to become the Batman and a brutal crime boss/casino owner. Thomas Wayne as the Batman is also not afraid to dish out a more lethal form of justice than what we are accustom to seeing. Writer Brian Azzarello does an excellent job of setting up his character's world and delivering a gut punching nerve racking story. This one is incredible, the highlight of this collection, and might be one of the best Batman stories ever written.The next story is a logical step, as there is no Bruce Wayne Batman, it begs the question, Whatever Happened to the Boy Wonder? This piece is, "Deadman and the Flying Graysons". Dick Grayson and his parents are still alive and happily performing their hi-wire circus act. They are also touring what remains of war torn east Europe (Aquaman and Wonder Woman are at war and most of western Europe has been sunk because of it!). They also travel with a variety of freaks (some recognizable from the old DCU) and egomaniac daredevil, Deadman. The fun ends when Wonder Woman sends her Amazons to tear their circus up. This piece is ok but definitely not great or bad. The story is a simple surviors on the run deal with two characters who get underutilized. J. T. Krul does a good job of world building and showing off a variety of characters but does not focus on his leads, Dick Grayson and Deadman. They were almost flat but made changes in character too abruptly, due to lingering on plot points and tedious death scenes."Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravanger" may be the second best story of this collection. Deathstroke is the hardened captain of the Ravanger, a pirate ship full of a merciless lot out to take advantage of war torn Europe. Deathstroke risks sailing through Aquaman's waters as he leads his crew to get his daughter, Rose, back from the clutches of his nemesis and fellow pirate, Warlord. This story is just fun. Deathstroke as a pirate and written excellently by Jimmy Palmiotti. Tons of action and great moments making Deathstroke a likable mercenary.Finally, "Secret Seven" is strangely written by Peter Milligan. Shade the Changing Man is an alien sent to earth to create a team in order to stop the insane criminals of the planet. Shade is empowered by his reality messing M-vest. Shade also has problems with his masters and a witch on earth, Enchantress. This series in no way pays any kind of tribute to Gail Simone's "Secret Six" if anyone was hoping for that (I kinda was haha). I have never read any of Milligan's run on Shade but I felt it might have helped with Shade's background and Milligan's brand of weirdness. Maybe even knowing more of Ditko's original take on his creation would have helped. This one is interesting...but...felt it left too many questions than answers. And they are not answered in "Flashpoint".Overall, a great read by some good writers with very good art that helps build on the world of Flashpoint and gives fans a really unique look at a really messed up DCU.

Yeah thought it was just a Batman Flashpoint book and it wasn't the first story is a batman story and I dare say that it was by far one of the MOST MEMORABLE, WELL WRITTEN AND ONE OF THE BEST/WORST JOKERS TO EVER COME ACROSS THE PAGE OR SCREEN. Absolutely amazing was the batman story. The Deadman and dick Grayson story was also great as well as the deathstroke and other characters pirate themed story, the last story was a bit hard to follow and didn't keep me that interested, it was good just not my bag. And the endings to the 1st 2 stories are just wow, you forget it a different universe so to see the way they turn out was great een the deathstroke story. The writing was great, the art was very good and the dialogue wasn't cheesy or BS. All around I think it was very very good and if the last story was as good as the others I'd give it a 5 but maybe most or others will like the last story, this is just my opinion.

I honestly don't know much about Batman and whatnot because they're not my bag, baby. But my son-in-law was absolutely ecstatic to get this for his birthday and has read it cover to cover and will probably read it multiple times. He said it was beyond awesome. He's 30, by the way. The book itself is very shiny and very well made. I'm very satisfied with my purchase and I get the impression he likes it a little bit, too.