Comic Book Wednesday #8 - Part Two - Flashpoint #3 Review

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #8

Part Two

Flashpoint #3

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Andy Kubert

Published by DC Comics

So. Barry Allen is re-Flashified, Thomas Wayne has some tragic motivation, and Superman needs to eat a cheeseburger.

The first two issues of Flashpoint was compelling, as we the readers walked alongside of Barry Allen as he learned the truth about the reality that he'd been pushed into. It's a world where Wonder Woman and Aquaman are ruthless tyrants waging a war with each other that is literally tearing apart the Earth, where Thomas Wayne is Batman, and where Superman doesn't seem to exist... until this issue, that is.

Flashpoint #3, much like the first two installments, continues to set up story elements. Barry finally gets his powers back, Superman is located, and the Justice League is on its way toward being a somewhat functional unit. This is very much a middle issue, in that it spends most of the page time setting up for the eventual climax and slowly introducing the audience and Barry to the Flashpoint version of our beloved characters. It's not as strong as #1 or #2, but it's still intensely interesting and fast-paced. Some of Geoff Johns' best writing comes from paying off events that he set up earlier in the series, and I can tell that there are a lot of those to come in the comic issues.

So far, Flashpoint is kicking ass. I'm not quite sure if it's taking names yet, but #4 and #5 will determine that. This issue had a lot of great stuff, such as the reveal of Weak!Superman, how things change quickly for Supes as soon as he looks at the sun, the sad and creepy skeleton of Krypto, and Thomas Wayne tragic motivation in helping The Flash try to return the universe to its status quo.

FLASHPOINT #4 comes out August 3, 2011.

Click here to read Part One, where guest blogger Jay Valen Perez reviews CHARMED from Zenescope Entertainment.

NEXT WEEK: Well, I'm in Indiana, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to update. If I am, expect another Part One/ Part Two blog. Part One will include already published graphic novels, and Part Two (that Friday) would get down to Superman #713 and Dollhouse #1.