COMIC CONNECTIONS: The Flash - Flashpoint

Episode 49 - The Flash - Flashpoint

This week we are diverting our attention to comics from the DC universe, in preparation for The Flash.  This long delayed and scandal plagued movie promises to wrap up the current DC movie universe and set the stage for a new normal under James Gunn’s leadership. 

This Week In Comics

“Stan Lee” Documentary debuts June 16th on Disney+ 

• Trailer: https://youtu.be/rN45yyu_rCw
• Variety review: https://variety.com/2023/film/news/stan-lee-review-tribeca-festival-1235639764/

New on Marvel Unlimited this Week

• https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-06-11
• Predator #1 and books for Silver Surfer, Scarlet Witch, Fantastic Four, Black Panther, X-Men and Moon Knight among them.

Recommendation: The Endless Vessel by Charles Soule.

• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/endless-vessel-charles-soule/1142040817

This Week's Stack

• The Flash Vol 3, #8-12 
• Flashpoint #1-5 

Creator Profile: Geoff Johns

2 Minute Recap and Discussion Topics

The Flash Vol 3, #8-12

• Essentially a villain origin story that also is a Flash origin story 
• Shows the importance of family to the Flash books 
• Also shows the lack of respect that Flashes have for time and time travel. 
• Lead directly into Flashpoint books

FLASHPOINT Vol 2, #1-5

• “You traded the life of your mother for the rest of the world!” 
• Nearly all the Justice League heroes have gone bad or are depowered. 
• Brilliant twist with the reveal of how everything happened
• The last six pages are one of the greatest gifts ever given to a comic character.  
• Lead to a complete reboot of the DC universe

Key Concepts for the movie

• Barry’s mother is murdered when he is young, and his father is wrongly convicted for the crime 
• In the comics, a time-traveling speedster called Reverse-Flash kills Nora Allen as a way of hurting the Flash 
• During Flashpoint Barry goes back to save his mother, and unwittingly sets in motion temporal changes that destroy his present.  Primary among these are that Superman has been locked away in a lab since arriving on Earth and Batman is now Thomas Wayne, with Bruce dying in the alley instead.
• Because Superman isn't around to protect, a world changing event threatens everything. In the comics it was Wonder Woman and Aquaman feud. In the movie it looks like an attack by General Zod.

Final Thoughts

What's Next

• The Flash (2023) Movie. In theaters this Friday.

Signoff 

Questions or comments

We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.

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Music Intro and Outro created by Lesfm.