Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Review

 “God give me strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” 

- Nora Allen, Flash’s mom, before getting shot.

Since I already reviewed the Flashpoint graphic novel, (Reviewed here: http://christopherbowsman.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-flash-flashpoint.html)  I’m just gonna go ahead and talk about what’s different in the animated feature, The Flashpoint Paradox. For starters, there is a prelude that wasn’t there in the comic. In it, nearly  Flash’s entire Rogues Gallery robs a museum. A similar robbery served as a prelude to the Doom animated feature, with the Royal Flush Gang, which then loosely followed the Tower of Babel storyline.

The main draw for me is that this is a good animated feature starring The Flash. DC has recently put all it’s eggs in the Batbasket, so it’s refreshing to a story with someone new. Kevin Conroy has a little cameo as Bruce Wayne, but this is mostly a Flash story. In this version, many people die that didn’t in the comic…but since it’s an apocalyptic alternate reality…I guess everyone dies when Flash restores time.

This version of Flashpoint is very dark (visually as well as thematically.) and highlights the death of Barry’s mother in the beginning, and his regret about it. When he meets his mother and tells her he’s The Flash, a superhero, she responds with confusion: “A superhero? You mean like Batman?” I thought that was funny. Seemingly, Batman is the only superhero DC seems to know.

As per the comic, Thomas Wayne Batman helps Flash recreate the accident that gave him his powers, since he never existed in this world, but his mom does. Shockingly, there is no hunt for Superman, and the rest of the film is dedicated to the war, and restoring reality when Flash realizes he prevented his mom’s death. Kevin Conroy returns as Batman for a final touching moment as in the comic.

The animation is good, but it is very dark. I was surprised by the violence, but it’s done in a very smooth almost anime style. Cyborg features prominently, as do Captain Atom and other heroes who are not Batman or Superman. It’s explained in this world that Superman’s shuttle was shot down rather than captured. So, they don’t have to chase him down.

Overall, it’s a very good feature, but a bit dark, and although it says Justice League, it’s mostly a Flash story, which is refreshing. Themes of war and death are covered, and it seems to be reflective of DC’s overall darker tone. I just wish it were a sign of things to come in the DCU movies! Sadly, no Flash is in sight anytime soon! I give it an A-, if only because it was so bold of DC to make Flashpoint an animated feature about a hero that gets pushed aside these days!

THE FLASH: FLASHPOINT:

The Flash: Flashpoint

I’m not sure why everyone seems divided on this one. Probably because it introduces DC’s New 52, which is still something I have yet to touch. Flash wakes up in an alternate reality where Superman and The Justice League don’t exist, and Wonder Woman and Aquaman have started World War III, and his mother, not father is still alive. Sounds cool enough for me! In an effort to understand what went wrong he zooms off to contact this alternate reality’s Batman.

However, this reality’s Batman is Thomas Wayne, and Bruce got shot in the alley. So, when Flash calls him Bruce, he is freaked out and attacks him. He stops when Flash deduces that he is Thomas. Thomas is intrigued that his son lived in another reality and agrees to help Flash get back to his world. However, when he opens his Flash ring, the suit that flies out is the Reverse Flash. Okay, I can see why this is a little annoying, since it’s just everything happening in opposite style, but there’s a cool war angle, and eventually Flash learns to stop saying “This isn’t real.” He says this isn’t his world, but it’s the only world he’s got. Flash rescues this world’s version of Superman, being held captive in a government lab, and unites the world’s heroes into a sort of Justice League.

    Themes of responsibility, physics (my favorite part of any Flash graphic novel!) and psychology are always in play. Memories of the other reality keep colliding with his old memories due to him temporarily existing in both time streams. Fortunately, Thomas Wayne invents a serum and tells Flash. “Remember my son. Don’t forget my son.” Flash and Thomas Wayne visit war-torn Europe. Western Europe is drowned by Atlantis, and the UK is occupied by Amazons! Meanwhile, Cyborg is back in the USA, which is on the verge of defeat.

   In Europe, after duking it out with the villains Aquaman and Wonder Woman with his allies, The Flash encounters The Reverse Flash! He tells him that in this reality, he’s the villain. Since, if he would’ve let The Reverse Flash kill his mom his world, this one wouldn’t exist. Now, I know, it’s a little cheesy to link mass genocide to Flash’s mommy issues, but the interplay of memories between the two realities recalls Flash’s origin in mythology: Hermes, messenger of The Gods. As well as including theoretical physics and string theory. After taking a letter from Thomas, Flash destroys himself by convincing himself not to save his mother, and returns to the normal timeline, letter in tact via Batman serum.

    At the end of the act, we have a teary-eyed Bruce Wayne reading his dad’s letter, and telling Flash “You’re one hell of a messenger.” Also, in the end, there are Flash Facts about how mirrors work by refracting light (Thanks to Mirror Master!), and how the ancient Romans believed mirrors could trap souls. Via Captain Boomerang, we receive a lesson in boomerang physics and friction! The friction pushes back on the curved ends to send it back to the thrower! But, anyway, why am I talking about Flashpoint?

      Because it will become the basis for DC’s newest animated film The Flashpoint Paradox! I’m most eager to see Kevin Conroy return and do Batman! But, perhaps most interesting for me is Carey Elwes will be voicing Aquaman! The dread pirate Aquaman leaves no survivors! While the comics may be controversial for setting up The New 52, the voice cast has me pumped enough to believe it will be well worth a watch! Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox will be available June 20th this year!
 

(The Flashpoint Paradox)

(Flash and Batman confront Reverse Flash!)

    (I can't resist: "Have fun stormin' the castle, Aquaman!")