I don’t delight in the fact that 2023’s The Flash was a complete failure. As a comic book fan, I wanted it to succeed. The Flash was supposed to debut in March 2018 and was in development Hell long before that. It was rewritten and revised too many times for it to succeed. (Ezra Miller is a criminal who doesn’t deserve grace. No further comment.) The Flash was supposed to reset the Snyderverse and introduce a new era of DC films. Instead, it flopped and now we are waiting for the polarizing DCU Gunnverse to truly take off. It’s a shame because the original plot for The Flash was based on a 2011 comic book event called Flashpoint.
If you were disappointed in The Flash, I highly recommend that you read Flashpoint. Flashpoint #1 is also a good collectibles market investment .
Flashpoint (May 2011) DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Andy Kubert
Sandra Hope: Inker
Alex Sinclair: Colorist
Mick J. Napolitano: Letterer
Flashpoint Hardcover (Collects all 5 issues) Buy it now for $25.99 at Amazon.
Flashpoint: The 10th Anniversary Omnibus – It collects Flashpoint and over two-dozen other tie-in miniseries. It’s over 1,500 pages. Buy it now for $89 at Amazon.
It’s a five-issue miniseries from 2011. This event comic was also a prelude to DC Comics canceling all of their comics, revamping them, and launching an initiative called the New 52.
In Flashpoint, The Flash goes back in time to prevent his mother’s death, an event that he witnessed as a child, an event that has haunted his entire life.
Here is what you need to know about the Flashpoint comic book miniseries, why you should read it today, and why if you are a collectibles investor, you ought to invest in Flashpoint #1.
First Appearance of Flashpoint
Flashpoint #1 of 5 (May 2011)
It is important to stress that this is the first appearance of the Flashpoint storyline. The Flash is a character (several characters have used the name) that first appeared in Flash Comics #1 way back in January 1940.
Brief Bio and History: Flashpoint
You could read this five-issue story without reading anything else, but it might be a little confusing at points. Just consider it akin to a Twilight Zone or Black Mirror episode.
Before the first issue of Flashpoint, Barry Allen used the Speed Force, the dimensional energy force that gives speedsters their powers, to go back in time and save his mother from being murdered by Reverse Flash. After Allen did this, nothing changed. Unknown to Allen, his actions cause time fissures and paradoxes to occur in the timeline that would eventually destroy his reality.
At the start of this story, Allen wakes up to find that his reality has completely changed. He remembered his old reality, but he was in a new one. His mother is alive. Allen has no superpowers and is a normal human. There is no Superman and Cyborg is the world’s most famous hero. Wonder Woman and The Amazons are at war with Aquaman and Atlantis.
There is a Batman, but it is not Bruce Wayne. There is a Kryptonian in this new reality, but he is kept in a prison as a lab experiment. The world will soon end, so Barry needs to get his powersand enlist the help of superheroes who don’t trust him.
Unfortunately, Barry must sacrifice something to reset the timeline back to the way it was before he changed time.
After Allen resets the timeline, he creates a whole new reality, which ties into The New 52. After Flashpoint, all the DC Comics of the era are reenvisioned to entice new readers to join, since the old comics were bogged down by decades of canon. But that is another story.
The Review: Flashpoint
Geoff Johns made Barry Allen a relatable character and made the Flash’s powers interesting. After all, the Flash is a one-note character, all the dude does is run really fast. Johns created a vibrant supporting cast of characters that are still popular today, like the alternate Flashpoint Batman of this story.
This is one of the best Flash stories ever told.
The Positive
I loved how Johns excels at world-building; the Amazonians and Atlantians at war, Cyborg fills the Superman role, Batman is not the Batman you know, and there is a world-ending threat that becomes more omninous with each issue.
Allen learned that actions had consequences, lost his powers, and had to convince people who don’t trust him to do so.
It is also awesome how well Johns can shift the motivations of fan-favorite characters and make variant versions of well-established heroes. The character work is top notch and Johns keeps readers interested.
Andy Kubert is one of the best artists in the business. He is great at drawing dynamic action scenes and displaying emotion and mannerisms in his work, which is not easy for an artist to do.
The Not So Good
Sometimes Johns world building does take away from Allen’s story. It feels like he used remnants from other unused story ideas and pitches that did not get green-lit and put them in this story.
The politics of the Amazons and Atlanteans at war get a lot of airtime and it is sometimes too much. If you are a long-time comic book reader, it is not a problem. If you are a casual reader, then any time the focus shifts from Allen’s plight to supporting characters, you may get confused and struggle to care.
Verdict: Buy It or NOPE
Buy it right now.
Current Market Price: Flashpoint #1
A copy of this issue with a CGC grade of 9.8 is worth $144. While the price sometimes fluctuate, it has kept its collectbles market value high since 2011.
If you’re considering investing in Flashpoint #1, it’s essential to consult a reliable comic book price guide to understand its current market value and potential for appreciation.
There is a demand for this story, even after 12 years. If you are a collectibles investor, I recommend that you get it. And if Hollywood can ever make a good Flash live-action film, then this issue could increase in value in the future.
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