10 Most Devastating Comic Book Endings

Despite it resulting in the reviled New 52 reboot, the epic Flashpoint storyline is remembered fondly for its creativity and emotional resonance. The Flash wakes up one day to find himself in a world where he has no powers and the dynamic between heroes and villains has changed dramatically. Wonder Woman and Aquaman are at war, Batman is a murderer, and Cyborg is the great American hero.

Over the course of the story, Flash regains his powers, assembles a pseudo Justice League out of the motley heroes of this new world, and intercedes in the Amazonian-Atlantean war.

The entire time, he assumes that the world he finds himself in was caused by his mortal enemy, the Reverse-Flash, going back in time to prevent the Justice League from forming. However, during a climactic battle in the remains of Europe, Reverse-Flash finally reveals himself and drops an unholy truth bomb on Flash and the readers. He didn't create the Flashpoint alternate reality, Flash himself did when he attempted to go back in time to save his murdered mother.

While this reveal is devastating in and of itself, the true tear-jerking moment comes after the Flash restores the timeline. To prove his insane tale to Batman, he present Bruce with a letter from his father, who was Batman in the Flashpoint world. The letter, and the fact that his father was able to write it himself, moves Batman to tears.