Flashpoint #2

Geoff Johns, Andy Kubert, and Sandra Hope

"Day 2:" Fastest Man Alive, Barry Allen, awakens to a whole new world, much the same as the reality he knows, but with subtle changes in history, like a different Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman declaring WWIII on each other, and no semblance of organized heroes. This is the world of Flashpoint.
Summary: Now this will be shorter than my previous entry for a number of reasons. First off, half of the issue revolves around the "twist" from the previous issue, as well as events from it, so if you haven't read the events of that issue, I suggest picking it up... or just highlighting the dark text from my last entry. Second off, I have a number of these to get through, so here goes. We open up to the Flashpoint Deathstroke, who is apparently a pirate (think soldier of fortune Somali pirates, not the "Arrr" variety) now, with a crew made up of B list villains like Clayface, Icicle, and Electric Eel. Upon finding a graveyard of ships, the crew, and the reader, is introduced to Flashpoint Aquaman, who basically looks and acts like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. We then cut back to Batman and Barry Allen, discussing how this Batman came to be and how the world is different from Barry's. Barry finds a ring in his jacket and believes it to be his Flash costume ring, but it actually contains the costume of the Reverse Flash, who is probably going to be the Big Bad of this event. Batman agrees to help change things back to normal, after finding out what a great man Bruce bacame. Meanwhile in London, Steve Trevor (Wonder Woman's on/off love interest) is running through the rubble shooting at Amazon warriors on a mission to find Lois Lane. Flashpoint Wonder Woman catches up with Trevor and interrogates him with her magic lasso. Much like the Aquaman scene, we are left wondering on his fate. Outside Wayne Manor during a thunderstorm, Barry constructs an electric chair and chemical set that will recreate the event that made him into the Flash in the first place. At first the machine seems not to work, but after Barry taunts the lightning, a bolt blows up the set up, leaving Barry on fire, screaming in pain. Batman tries to save him, but its too late, and his body is horribly burned... possibly dead. So yeah... that happened.

High Points: For the most part, my praises and complaints are the same from last time. The art is amazing in some scenes and horrible in others. The final picture of the issue is magnificent in a number of ways. The storytelling does not feel as strained as the previous issue, since there doesn't seem to be as much to cram in. I have to admit that I'm intrigued by the ending, and much more intrigued by the Pirate Deathstroke.

Low Points: I however, could not be less interested in the new Wonder Woman and Aquaman bits. The characters seem to fall flat in a number of ways. WW seems indistinguishable physically or personality-wise from her Amazon warriors. Aquaman just seems one dimensional, at best.

Verdict: A. If you read the first issue, you'll read this one and enjoy it more, I believe. There is also the bonus map that comes in the back, which may come in handy with the 20+ tie-in issues that I will try and review, but you may be able to find that online. Whew, two of these down, how am I doing so far, James Vanderbeek?