Thursday, June 2, 2011

Flashpoint #2 (of 5)

As the second issue of Flashpoint arrives, we get the news that DC will reboot its line completely after this series wraps at the end of August - which certainly gives this series a bit more gravitas than the usual tale of an alternate reality.

But considering all that impact, this issue seems to crawl its way to that shocking final page.

Along the way we get more of a glimpse of the world that the Reverse-Flash has somehow created - where Wonder Woman and the Amazons have taken control of Great Britain; where Aquaman and the Atlanteans have flooded Europe; and where Batman walks a different path.

The story's central figure is Barry Allen, who (along with Booster Gold in his own series) remembers the world as it was.

But he faces a big obstacle to fighting back - his super-speed powers are gone.

Writer Geoff Johns is crafting a compelling story here, although it is spooling out slowly - to allow the dozens of spinoff titles time to squeeze their stories in, no doubt. But there are quite a few "Easter Eggs" for longtime fans to pick up, and lots of twists along the way.

As always, the art by Andy Kubert (with inks by Sandra Hope) is outstanding - from the view of a devastated Paris to moments of tense realization, Kubert captures it all with amazing skill.

It's going to be a long summer, waiting to get to the end of this series - but so far, it looks like it's going to be well worth the wait.

(Oh, and completely off the subject - I know DC has to make money, but that Super 8 "comic in the middle of the comic" was really annoying. And this from someone who's looking forward to the movie!)

Grade: A-

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