James Robinson and Javi Fernandez"The Outsider: Shades of Gray:" Where can I begin with this thing? The Outsider easily the most mysterious character to be teased in the Flashpoint world, and even after getting an origin and a full issue, I have ten more questions and no answers. Anyway, we open to India decades ago, with the birth of who is basically the personification of "Lost," as his mother dies in childbirth... which is not uncommon with tragic birth stories... however, this time it makes perfect sense because, and I need this fact to be clear... because it's a subtle fact... the baby's skin is covered in scales... that are made of rock. Not surprisingly, the father wants the child killed for being an abomination... which it is, no one's denying, but at this point, the story feels heavy handed. Will the child grow up to hate his father and kill or maim him for his prejudice? I wonder... Actually, I don't, because at this point, the village this is all going down in, is destroyed by a giant sand-cyclone. Yeah, bit of a surprise... apparently in the Flashpoint world, the US decides to ignore the Middle East, and after this event sparks a war between India and Pakistan, the US is free to intervene in that incident. Millions are killed in the resulting war. I'm getting offtrack... there is one survivor to this sand-cyclone, however: the baby. Cutting to the present, the Outsider is in the "hero" teleconference that we see in the first issue of the main Flashpoint title. As he speaks, his assistants are charged with finding out the locations of each of the others in the conference. Despite having, what would appear to be, a top notch facility and staff, pinpointing a location is tricky. "Blackout" could be in Oklahoma; Perth, Australia; or Lima, Peru. Check your world maps. That's ridiculous. Anyway, moving on... after the conference is over, he is alerted that an undercover agent of his, Alfred Pennyworth, was captured and beheaded by the Amazons (Again, I'm sick of the Amazons and Atlanteans... this war needs to end, so we can get something interesting going down). Before any other info can be delivered the messenger is shot and gunfire breaks out through the labs. This is led by Rising Sun, a Silver Age Japanese hero and Mr. and Miss Terrific, Michael and Michelle Holt- all claiming that they were framed and falsely imprisoned by the Outsider. Outsider's staff is eliminated quickly, but because of his bulletproof skin the bullets just bounce off. He activates his security force, which are actually kinda cool- giant stone versions of Hindu gods. One of these eviscerates Mr. Terrific fairly quickly, and another beheads his counterpart a page later. Rising Sun fills the room with fire, destroying everything and killing off all the remaining humans in the room. The Outsider, now nude and pissed that his favorite suit was ruined, punches a hole though the hero, killing him, and he shuffles off stating that the frame up was simply just smart business. (There are some very Lex Luthor aspects to this guy... I'm calling it now). Cut to a few minutes later as the Outsider, now dressed and drinking tea, looks at several screens, ala Ozymandias from Watchmen, trying to figure out who hired those three to kill him. Among the faces on the screen (those that are unknown will be guessed with ?'s): Abin Sur, Aquaman, Batman, Damien?, Blue Beetle (Ted)?, Citizen Cold, Deadman, Grodd, Ocean Master, Cyborg, an angel?, Wonder Woman, and, of course, a screen that's blocked.
Highs: Its a good read and its an all new character... so I'm actually anxious to see where this goes. The art is pretty good as well.
Lows: Is everyone in this universe, besides Cyborg, an anti-hero? Its really getting beyond crazy how everyone the reader is rooting for kills without question here.
Verdict: A-. Its got some great moments and some mystery, so I think this may be a sleeper hit with the Flashpoint series. We shall see. Thoughts, Vander Beek?
Fine, we'll come back to you.
Sterling Gates, Oliver Nome, and Trevor Scott"Part One (actually, from now on, if it is just called "Part" something, I'm picking a new title. So, I present: The (Insane) Brainiac Paradox):" So, this is going to be the fast one, because its not very interesting, unless you are a Kid Flash/Impulse/Bart Allen fan. We open as Bart and Barry race around the city, while Barry chastises him for not being smart or skilled enough to be a Flash. If you have ever read... anything... ever, you would get that this is totally out of character for a hero, much less Barry. So, after realizing that his knee (which was shattered years ago, and replaced) is perfectly fine, Bart knows this isn't real. He busts out of a containment center which was keeping him sedated and is attacked by what appears to be a Braniac robot. Much like barry though... he has no speed. He is rescued by a female hero, with a time travel motorcycle (I really hope she can play card games on it too) known as Hot Pursuit, who is literally the most tacked on cardboard character I've seen since I started this blog. We find out that this is 3011, and under the fifth century of Braniac's rule of Earth (Thank God we got a new "great" villain besides the two shitty warring despot characters from all the other Flashpoint titles). Bart has a great moment here though, as he connects the events before him with a reference to seeing Planet of the Apes with Superboy and how neither of them liked it. This is a wrong Earth to Bart because he's from the 31st century, originally, and he has no knowledge of any of this. Turns out, Braniac grabbed the two of them from the time stream and put them in stasis so they would not be affected by the effects of Flashpoint. Take a second and think about this. This Braniac was created by the effect of Flashpoint... and Braniac does not technically have any time travel capabilities... and it grabbed these two... from BEFORE Flashpoint happened. Eyes cross yet? Yeah, mine too. Anyway, turns out this is bad news for Bart because, and this is connected to seeing "this" movie with Wonder Girl, he requires some access to the speed force to stay alive. And so he begins to decompose... or dissapate from not existing. Kinda gross, either way. Hey Vander Beek, what's your favorite scene from a movie?
Good pick.
Highs: New bad guy is new.
Lows: Stupid female on motorcycle is stupid.
Verdict: C-. Boring comic is boring. But really, Bart's movie references are the saving grace here from this thing getting a failing grade. Two panels and a villain I've never been a fan of being the "big bad" here keep it afloat. I wouldn't bother with this story... but I will because this is what I do.
You remember when we talked about R.L. Stine writing a book for adults and how it was chock full of blood and sex and violence? I think it's a similar thing here. I'm sure DC (and Marvel) writers have a standing "Don't Kill Anyone" stipulation handed down from on hire, at least not without teasing it to the public for months and calling the New York Times. But in Flashpoint, since it's all just going to get erased, everyone can kind of do whatever they want with Flashpoint characters, including killing characters who have been alive for decades.
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