Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, Today I'm going to do a comparison on the Flashpoint Paradox animated movie and The Flashpoint comic book story arch. The animated movie follow the story told in the comics and graphic novels almost to a T with a few differences. A review on the animated movie was done by Justin, so I decided to give a more detailed look from a comic fans perspective. I will be giving a brief background of the story from the Graphic Novels, The differences in the movie and comics, and the order to read the graphic novels in should you choose to pick them up. As always here is a brief synopsis of the story.
"Flashpoint" is a comic book crossover story arc published by DC Comics. Consisting of an eponymous core limited series and a number of tie-in titles, the storyline premiered in May 2011. The core miniseries series was written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Andy Kubert. In its conclusion, the series radically changes the status quo for DC Universe leading into the publisher's 2011 relaunch, The New 52.
Barry Allen wakes up to discover he is in an altered timeline in which Citizen Cold is Central City's
greatest hero; his mother Nora (deceased in his own timeline) is alive;
his father, Henry, died of a heart attack three years ago (instead of
in prison); and that the Flash, the Justice League, and Superman do not exist. In Gotham City, Cyborg and Batman have a conference with a group of superheroes to discuss how the battle between Aquaman's Atlanteans and Wonder Woman's Amazons has caused massive death and destruction in Western Europe (sunk by the Atlanteans, except for the British Isles,
which were conquered by the Amazons), with America similarly
endangered. The heroes cannot cooperate to find a solution, and the
meeting is disbanded. Barry Allen drives to the Batcave where Batman, who is revealed to be Thomas Wayne, attacks him — his son, Bruce, has died in his and his wife's place in this timeline.
Flashpoint Graphic Novels
First I'm going to talk about the Flashpoint Graphic Novels. Let's start with
Flashpoint Batman ( everyone favorite DC Hero ) This by far was one of the best stories in the Flashpoint series. The changes that occur in this story are, Bruce dies instead of Thomas and Martha Wayne. This causes Thomas to become Batman ( Which they Never really explain ) and **** SPOILER ALERT**** Martha becomes the Joker.( This they do explain ) This was a great twist in the story that must have had most readers like " Holy mind F@%k Batman". This book talks about Thomas Wayne's fight against Gotham city's criminals and the struggle to keep his marriage and life together after Bruce's Death.
Next is
Flashpoint Wonder Women In this novel, a young Diana and a young Arthur
meet after Diana is caught by a baby Kraken. Diana and Arthur battle for her freedom and though
successful, Diana needs medical attention which Arthur provides by
taking her to Atlantis. Becoming friends fast ( and we all know what this leads to ) the two young heroes decide a royal wedding to unite their powerful kingdoms is the best for everyone involved. Their nuptials are thwarted by both Amazons and
Atlanteans that oppose the marriage both secretly and not so secretly.
In that opposition, Diana’s mother, Hippolyta, is killed.
Flashpoint Superman, imagine if the ship carrying superman as a baby landed where the government found him instead of Ma and Pa Kent? Well this Flashpoint story answers that. When Neil Sinclair volunteers to become " Subject Zero" ( yeah this is always a good idea ) and serves as the military lab rat as the conduct experiments on him, he knew he would become a powerful fighting machine. After the formula was perfected Neil becomes obsessed with his new found strength and was banished to solitary confinement. When Superman's ship crashed on earth the military found their ideal candidate to turn into the weapon they always wanted.
Finally
Flashpoint Flash this novel focuses on the Reverse Flash Eobard Thawne aka
Professor Zoom, Captain Cold, and how they are all tied together. In a flashback from Eobard Thawne, The Flash (Barry Allen), stands over
him, he has been defeated, again. He remembers when he was going to be
the Flash of the 25th century. He thought that everyone would love him,
just like they loved Barry Allen, but no, they were frightened of him. He idolized Barry, wanted to be just like him. But for what he did, he
could never forgive him, he is going to destroy his future. He traveled
back to the day that Barry caught his first crook. No, he should go back
further. To the day he first discovered that he had amazing abilities.
No, further, to the day when he was struck by lightning. He wonders,
what would happen if the beakers never fell on to him, what if the bolt
never hit him.
There are 8 books, but the four I mention are the best stories in the series.
MOVIE vs THE COMIC
There are some differences between the movie and the comics that might leave some people confused. Some are minor and nothing worth mentioning ( Just read the Novels ). Others were things I think the movie should have gone into more details.
Ok first let's start with the scene where Bruce Wayne is killed and Thomas and Martha Wayne survive the attack from the gun man. In the movies Martha is holding Bruce's body and crying, after Thomas finishes beating the crook, he goes over to them and Martha takes her bloody hand and puts it over her mouth, then starts to laugh. This is confusing to anyone who hasn't read the comics because they have no idea what it means. This is the point where she goes mad and becomes the Joker.
In the comics it wasn't that simple. I understand the movie can only do so much, but this is a big part of the Flashpoint story for Batman. Martha's transformation takes some time. She goes into a deep depression and finally loses it when Thomas says " I miss that lovely smile you always had". Well he gets his wish, Martha cut her mouth open on both ends and shows Thomas her lovely smile again. This is when she becomes the Joker.
Next I want to talk about the doomsday weapon Aquaman created as way to end everything if he wasn't victorious in his campaign againts Wonder Women and the Amazons. In the movie they talk about Capt. Atom flying to Europe on a mission to try and end the war and he goes missing. Later you find out he was captured by Aquaman and is now being used in a device as a bomb.
In the comics it wasn't Captain Atom, But Terra's bother Brion. He is hooked to a machine that amplify s his powers. When Aquaman activates the weapon the drown the amazons in Europe, Terra feels her brothers powers being used and saves everyone from being drowned by creating a new Themyscira from the existing land around them almost killing herself to do it.
Now I want to talk about the meeting between Batman and Cyborg. This was also a scene I think was important that the movie kinda of downplayed. When Cyborg save YOYO after Batman throws her off the roof, he has a meeting to discuss him joining a group of heros that are going to try a Final assault on both Aquaman and Wonder Women to end the war. Cyborg tells Batman that the would be hero's would all agree to fight as long as he was in and agreed to plan the assault. When Batman refuses, Cyborg ends the meeting and report to his government superiors. So much more should have been added to this point in the story.
In The Comics, some of the hero's and villains only agreed to help if Batman was in. Cyborgs tries his best to convince him, but he still declines. This causes many who attended this meeting to back out and think of themselves. Also there are a few spy's at this meeting for both sides that you discover later in the Flashpiont comics. I only bring this up because the movie would have had a bigger fight scene at the end. Especially the part when Wonder Women kills Captain Thunder.
She didn't use her lasso to make him say Shazzam, Someone else did. I don't want to give too much away so read the books.
Flashpoint Comics and Graphic Novels in Reading Order
Flashpoint Trade Reading Order
* Flashpoint
* Flashpoint: Batman
* Flashpoint: Wonder Woman
* Flashpoint: Superman
* Flashpoint: Green Lantern
* Flashpoint: The Flash
Flashpoint's tie-in miniseries are the
least connected to the main story than any other DC Comics crossover.
It is entirely possible to read just the main Flashpoint
miniseries and get a full story without reading the tie-ins; those
tie-ins, however, flesh out major parts of the story and add much depth
to the actions of the main characters; you'll see Wonder Woman and
Aquaman differently.
Flashpoint Reading order by issues
| Flashpoint: Reverse-Flash #1 |
|
| Flashpoint: Project: Superman #1 |
|
| Flashpoint: Project: Superman #2 |
|
| Wonder Woman and the Furies #1 |
|
| Wonder Woman and the Furies #2 |
|
| Green Arrow Industries #1 |
|
| Legion of Doom #1 |
|
| Legion of Doom #2 |
|
| Legion of Doom #3 |
|
| Grodd of War #1 |
|
| Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1 |
|
| Deadman and the Flying Graysons #2 |
|
| Deadman and the Flying Graysons #3 |
|
| The Canterbury Cricket #1 |
|
| Abin Sur - The Green Lantern #1 |
|
| Hal Jordan #1 |
|
|
|
| Flashpoint #1 |
|
| Abin Sur - The Green Lantern #2 |
|
| The Outsider #1 |
|
| Secret Seven #1 |
|
| Secret Seven #2 |
|
| Secret Seven #3 |
|
| Citizen Cold #1 |
|
| Citizen Cold #2 |
|
| Citizen Cold #3 |
|
|
|
| Flashpoint #2 |
|
| The Outsider #2 |
|
| Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #1 |
|
| Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #2 |
|
| Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #3 |
|
| Hal Jordan #2 |
|
| Batman: Knight of Vengeance #1 |
|
| Batman: Knight of Vengeance #2 |
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| Batman: Knight of Vengeance #3 |
|
|
|
| Flashpoint #3 |
|
| Flashpoint #4 |
|
|
|
| Wonder Woman and the Furies #3 |
|
| Emperor Aquaman #1 |
|
| Emperor Aquaman #2 |
|
| Emperor Aquaman #3 |
|
| Lois Lane and the Resistance #1 |
|
| Lois Lane and the Resistance #2 |
|
| Lois Lane and the Resistance #3 |
|
| Flashpoint: Project: Superman #3 |
|
| The Outsider #3 |
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| The World of Flashpoint #1 |
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| The World of Flashpoint #2 |
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| The World of Flashpoint #3 |
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| Booster Gold #44 |
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| Booster Gold #45 | |
| Booster Gold #46 |
|
| Booster Gold #47 | |
| Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1 |
|
| Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2 | |
| Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #3 | |
| Hal Jordan #3 | |
| Abin Sur - The Green Lantern #3 | |
|
|
| Flashpoint #5 |
|
| Kid Flash Lost #1 | |
| Kid Flash Lost #2 | |
Kid Flash Lost #3
Flashpoint was a great crossover series and animated movie.Although there were a few differences from the Movie vs the Comic books, this is definitely a pick up for any comic book fans or someone just getting into comics.
I would love to hear what you guys and girls think and if I missed anything that might be important to the stories.
by Sean Tucker | |
When
Neil Sinclair volunteered to become “Subject Zero” and serve as the
military’s lab-rat as they conducted experiments on him, he knew he
would become the ultimate fighting machine. But after the formula was
perfected, Neil become obsessed with his newfound strength and was
banished into solitary confinement. - See more at:
http://www.dccomics.com/tags/flashpoint-project-superman#sthash.LdsCnklM.dpuf
When
Neil Sinclair volunteered to become “Subject Zero” and serve as the
military’s lab-rat as they conducted experiments on him, he knew he
would become the ultimate fighting machine. But after the formula was
perfected, Neil become obsessed with his newfound strength and was
banished into solitary confinement. - See more at:
http://www.dccomics.com/tags/flashpoint-project-superman#sthash.LdsCnklM.dpuf
When
Neil Sinclair volunteered to become “Subject Zero” and serve as the
military’s lab-rat as they conducted experiments on him, he knew he
would become the ultimate fighting machine. But after the formula was
perfected, Neil become obsessed with his newfound strength and was
banished into solitary confinement. - See more at:
http://www.dccomics.com/tags/flashpoint-project-superman#sthash.LdsCnklM.dpuf
