Flashpoint by Geoff Johns

Title: Flashpoint
Author: Geoff Johns
ISBN:9781401233389
Publisher: DC Comics
Copyright Date: 2011
Genre: Graphic Novel

About the Author:
Johns was born in Detroit and studied media arts, screenwriting, film production and film theory at Michigan State University. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked as an intern and later an assistant for film director Richard Donner, whose credits include Superman: The Movie, Lethal Weapon 4 and Conspiracy Theory.
Johns began his comics career writing STARS AND S.T.R.I.P.E. and creating Stargirl for DC Comics. He received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 through 2005 and 2007 and 2008, and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 through 2005.
After acclaimed runs on THE FLASH, TEEN TITANS and the best-selling INFINITE CRISIS miniseries, Johns co-wrote a run on ACTION COMICS with his mentor Donner. In 2006, he co-wrote 52: an ambitious weekly comic book series set in real time, with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Johns has also written for various other media, including the acclaimed "Legion" episode of SMALLVILLE and the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN. He is writing the story of the DC Universe Online massively multiplayer action game from Sony Online Entertainment LLC and has recently joined DC Entertainment as its Chief Creative Officer.
DC Comics. Geoff Johns. http://www.dccomics.com/talent/geoff-johns.

Curriculum Ties:

• Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
• Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

Plot Summary:
In Flashpoint, Barry Allen awakes at his job with the police, but with his memories seeming to be wrong. Everything that he has known, including the Justice League and his life as the Flash, do not exist, and in this world, Aquaman and Wonder Woman have destroyed Europe through their war. Upon learning that Batman still exists, Barry goes to visit Bruce Wayne, finding out that Bruce was killed by a mugger when he was eight, prompting his father, Thomas Wayne, to become the Batman. After replicating the experiment that originally gave Flash his powers, which works once again, they go to Cyborg in hopes that he can figure out where Superman is. When they find Superman, they realize that he has never been released from an underground prison, making him a weaker, meek version of the hero who is unwilling to help. As they rally from this loss, they find that Aquaman and Wonder Woman’s war is reigniting, and that their time has run out. Barry Allen must work to save this world, and find out what caused it, if he has any chance of changing the past and returning the world to what it was.

Critical Evaluation:

Flashpoint is a collection of comics from the serial The Flash. Though it covers a single storyline, the story is still not completely self-contained because of this. The plot is well done, and features interesting twists on well-known characters. Batman is an excellent example of this. Though many of the features of Batman are the same, this one has a far more nihilistic view, who kills villains and doesn’t care who dies as long as Bruce will live again. These differences change the characters’ traditional dynamics, which is a fun way to play on readers’ perceptions. There are many characters that are introduced into this story which are not fully explained or fleshed out, like Grifter or the Outsider, and this is a side effect of the comic not being as all-inclusive as a book. However, the premise of Barry Allen figuring out what is happening in the world, and the mystery is satisfying enough to make these quickly dismissed characters less noticeable. 

Readers Annotation:
When Barry Allen wakes up the world is changed, with no Superman, and a war between Wonder Woman and Aquaman. For Barry to fix what has happened, he must team up with Batman and find out who has changed history.

Book Talking Ideas:

• Discuss what the normal characters in DC Comics are like. Look for some ways that the comic plays on the perception.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 13-17

Challenge Issues:

• The story has constant violence and fighting, including a hanging and the murder of a boy.

Defense Collection:

• Centering on Barry Allen—aka the Flash, “the fastest man alive”—this collection of the five-part miniseries follows Barry’s realization that his world is not as he has known it, with certain details being “off.” His long-dead mother is alive, many of his superpowered colleagues are different in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, and he himself is without his speedster abilities. As Barry unravels the mystery, he discovers there’s a limited window of time in which to set things right, or else the alternate reality will permanently supplant his own. This series was created as an “event” intended to shake up DC’s continuity, supposedly to attract new readers, resulting in the controversial “New 52” imprint-wide reboot. All of that sprang from this Johns-scripted miniseries (with solid artwork by Kubert) that starts out with much to interest both new and old readers. Unfortunately, it collapses under its own weight about halfway through and, along with resetting things to the current “New 52” status quo, results in a narrative hash, with too many plots and character points. The result is of interest mostly to see from whence the “New 52” sprang, and its events will most likely be glossed over with the next inevitable company-wide “fix.” (Nov.) --Staff (Reviewed November 28, 2011) (Publishers Weekly, vol 258, issue 48, p)
• This animated tale has complicated storylines, complex superheroes with tragic pasts and cynical attitudes, and frenzied action. FLASHPOINT also has the added bonus of a story that puts the Flash at its center rather than the expected Batman or Superman. The story itself is an interesting exploration of the idea behind the serenity prayer, a variation of which is quoted by the Flash's mother: "Accept what you cannot change. Have the courage to change the things you can, and have wisdom to know the difference." While the story of the Flash attempting to change what cannot be changed (for mortal men, anyway) is engaging, as are the horrible ramifications of his attempts to change the past (including Wonder Woman battling Aquaman in a war to conquer Europe), this is still best enjoyed by older kids and those who are already familiar with these stories. What stirs the imaginations of some kids will leave others confused. (Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/justice-league-flashpoint-paradox.)
• Reconsideration Policy
• Freedom to Read Statement
• ALA Library Bill of Rights
• Springville Public Library Collection Development Policy
• The Library Director and designated staff actively evaluate and select materials. The Springville Public Library Board, acting under the authority given to it by Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Springville Municipal Code and Title 09 of the Utah State Code, has the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the policies for selection and acquisition of materials.
• Library materials are selected based on the following (not necessarily in order of priority):
• Local public demand and usage potential
• Popularity
• Subject coverage
• Relevance
• Accuracy and currency
• Presentation, readability and format
• Point of view (all sides)
• Cost
• Local connection
• Social values
• Collection balance
• To assess the item based on the above criteria, staff utilize:
• Nationally recognized and relevant pre-publication reviews
• Staff expertise
• Bestseller lists

Purpose in Collection:

Though the story is less comprehensible for those unfamiliar with the comics, the story is important for those who do like DC characters. This story worked as a world wide event, and changed the comic history to DC 52 Universe. Though it features the Flash, it does include all the enjoyable and recognizable characters of DC, and is an important part of a comics collection at a library.