Overview:
DC’s 2011 event, Flashpoint, penned by Geoff Johns with art by Andy Kubert, unfolds in a parallel universe where the world stands on the brink of collapse. With a tense atmosphere and gritty visuals, the storyline explores the repercussions of altered timelines.
Flashpoint drew mixed reactions. While some praised its fresh take on familiar characters, others found the alternate reality confusing. The critical and fan reception reflected this divide, with both acclaim and criticism for the ambitious narrative.
Major players like Flash, Batman, and Wonder Woman find themselves in unfamiliar roles, amplifying the intrigue. Notable villains, including an especially ruthless Aquaman and Wonder Woman, add depth to the conflict. The narrative weaves through various teams, each contributing to the broader tapestry of this fractured world.
Flashpoint’s significance extends beyond its individual storyline. The event served as a precursor to the New 52 initiative, which reshaped the DC Universe and introduced a wave of new titles and character designs.
Background Reading:
- The Flash Rebirth
- Time Masters Vanishing Point
Related Guides
- Flash (Barry Allen)
- Booster Gold
Best Way To Read:
Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus
Collects: Booster Gold (vol. 2) #44-47, Flash (vol. 3) #9-12, Flashpoint #1-5, Flashpoint: Reverse-Flash #1, Flashpoint: Abin Sur the Green Lantern #1-3, Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1-3, Flashpoint: Batman Knight of Vengeance #1-3, Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1-3, Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint #1-3, Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1-3, Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #1-3, Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #1-3, Flashpoint: The Outsider #1-3, Flashpoint: Secret Seven #1-3, Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket #1, Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #1-3, Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #1-3, Flashpoint: Project Superman #1-3, Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1-3, Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1, Flashpoint: Grodd of War #1, Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1-3, Flashpoint: The Legion of Doom #1-3
Alternative Collections
Preludes
- The Flash Vol. 2: The Road to Flashpoint
- Collects: The Flash (vol. 3) #8–12
Main Story
- Flashpoint
- Collects: Flashpoint #1–5
- Absolute Flashpoint
- Collects: Flashpoint #1–5, The Flash (vol. 4) #1
Tie-Ins
- Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash
- Collects: Grodd of War #1, Kid Flash Lost #1–3, Legion of Doom #1–3, Reverse Flash #1, Citizen Cold #1–3
- Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman
- Collects: Emperor Aquaman #1–3, Outsider #1–3, Lois Lane and the Resistance #1–3, Wonder Woman and the Furies #1–3
- Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman
- Collects: World of Flashpoint #1–3, Booster Gold #44–47, The Canterbury Cricket #1, Project Superman #1–3
- Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman
- Collects: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #1–3, Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1–3, Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #1–3, Secret Seven #1–3
- Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern
- Collects: Hal Jordan #1–3, Abin Sur – The Green Lantern #1–3, Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1–3, Green Arrow Industries #1
For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.
For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.
Reading Order:
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| The Flash vol.3 #8 | The Road to Flashpoint Important | The Flash Vol. 2: The Raod to Flashpoint |
| The Flash vol.3 #9 | The Road to Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus The Flash Vol. 2: The Raod to Flashpoint |
| The Flash vol.3 #10 | The Road to Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus The Flash Vol. 2: The Raod to Flashpoint |
| The Flash vol.3 #11 | The Road to Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus The Flash Vol. 2: The Raod to Flashpoint |
| The Flash vol.3 #12 | The Road to Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus The Flash Vol. 2: The Raod to Flashpoint |
| Flashpoint: Reverse Flash #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Project Superman #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Flashpoint: Project Superman #2 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #2 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #2 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #3 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Grodd of War #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #2 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #3 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint: Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #2 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #2 | Intro to Flashpoint Universe Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint #1 | Main Story Essential | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint Absolute Flashpoint |
| Flashpoint: The Outsider #1 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Secret Seven #1 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Secret Seven #2 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Secret Seven #3 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #2 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #3 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #1 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint #2 | Main Story Essential | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint Absolute Flashpoint |
| Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #2 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: The Outsider #2 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #1 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #2 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #3 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #3 | Flashpoint Begins Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman |
| Flashpoint #3 | Main Story Essential | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint Absolute Flashpoint |
| Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #2 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Booster Gold vol. 2 #44 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Booster Gold vol.2 #45 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Booster Gold vol. 2 #46 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #3 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint: The Outsider #3 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| The World of Flashpoint #1 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| The World of Flashpoint #2 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #3 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #2 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #3 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #3 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #3 | The World of Flashpoint Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern |
| Flashpoint #4 | Main Story Essential | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint Absolute Flashpoint |
| Booster Gold vol. 2 #47 | Pandora and the new 52 Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| The World of Flashpoint #3 | Pandora and the new 52 Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #3 | Pandora and the new 52 Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman |
| Flashpoint: Project Superman #3 | Pandora and the new 52 Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman |
| Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #1 | Pandora and the new 52 Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #2 | Pandora and the new 52 Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #3 | Pandora and the new 52 Important | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash |
| Flashpoint #5 | Main Story Essential | Flashpoint 10th Anniversary Omnibus Flashpoint Absolute Flashpoint |
Publications Impact
After Flashpoint, DC rebooted the entire DC Universe under the “New 52” banner.
References:
Feature Image Flashpoint #1 Cover Art by Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, & Alex Sinclair
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