Comics Review: FLASHPOINT #5 Review

rating: 3.5

Just over two hours ago I sat down to read Flashpoint #5 and two hours later I still don€™t know what to fully make of it or how I feel about this issue. That alone is never a good start for a comic. For new readers that go into their local comic shop today, wanting to jump onto the New 52 wave by picking up Justice League #1 and out of curiosity and see Flashpoint #5 (the issue leading into the reboot) sitting next to it, I truly find it hard to give it a recommendation. For people thinking it will give some back-story to JL #1 there is no need. Thankfully JL #1 is truly a stand off issue without the need for any €œPreviously on€€ info (in fairness having to go and hunt for back-story really negates the point of a reboot). For people who are already in the know of the current DCU and already been reading Flashpoint there is no harm in reading this, however I felt unsatisfied at the fact that if you haven€™t read almost every Flashpoint tie in, you€™re bound to tilt your head in confusion at least once after Character X proclaims something to Character Y or shoots Character Z without previous knowledge from their respective books. Another gripe is the level of side plots, story arcs and characters (from other books mind you) that are quickly given a half baked conclusion in a matter of panels (Superman, Aquaman & Wonder Woman, all had their own tie in mini-series€™s throughout Flashpoint and all appear in a total of six panels each in this issue) or they are simply left without a conclusion. But it€™s fine this universe isn€™t going to exist anymore once you hit the next page! In regards to the story itself, Geoff Johns once again shows off his abilities to write a very good story and to especially write great character moments. His love for characters like The Flash and Batman are very clear on these pages. I would look at this issue in a better light if it didn€™t spend so much time tidying up other books loose ends. I feel this event may have worked better if it was one issue longer to give it room to breathe or simply if it simply has a quicker beginning to give the rushed ending a bit more room to breathe. Andy Kubert art throughout Flashpoint has been top class even to it€™s tight schedule, his composition of panels and the detailed expression from characters are some of the areas where Kubert works best and it shows in these pages. My only gripe is backgrounds can be lacking at times during the final fight, which can be very distracting and take you out of the book. With all this in mind, for a current DC reader Flashpoint #5 is worth reading, simply for the last nine pages of story that sets up the New DCU. It answers the much wondered questions of Who remembers what? Under what circumstances do they remember? I am quite pleased with how it was handled as I truly thought it would not even be mentioned post reboot (much in the fashion of Spider-Mans One More Day) Johns has found a very smart and simply way to make characters (slightly) aware of the situation but in a way you may not expect. A moment in these nine pages was so powerful it even made me a bit teary eyed, this is Geoff Johns at his best, strong character moments that impact on the characters deeply. The only thing I know for sure after reading this issue is that it is going to spark a hell of a discussion between fans.