So if your not sitting in Pennsylvania reading these blogs you wouldn't know about all the winter weather we're having here. Just this morning I awoke to see the street in front of my house frozen over like an ice skating rink and mass school closings from an ice storm. BUT according to one Punxsutawney Phil we're going to have an early spring.
Another reason to look forward to spring is DC's recent teases regarding their upcoming event entitled Flashpoint. If you haven't been reading the Flash I highly suggest you start. The series follows the adventures of Barry Allen, police scientist on the Central City PD and the super speed superhero known as the Flash. In the most recent issue (#8), writer Geoff Johns focuses on the deadliest of the Flash's colorful Rogue's Gallery, Professor Zoom, the Reverse Flash. Eobard Thawne returns to his native 25th century as readers witness the retelling of his origin. Or do we?
We follow young Thawn's formative years in this futuristic earth where every aspect of life is structured down to the minute in an effort to eliminate all wasted time. We see him sitting in a virtual reality classroom (to elimate the wasted time of going to school) where the instructor is assigning him a thesis "on the uselessness of 'dwelling' on the the past both historically and personally and the negative time costs assciated with it.." As he reaches adulthood he begins his research into the origins of the speed force (the source of the Flash's speed). When he accesses historical records illegally the first policeman on the scene is his brother. As he is about to be arrested we see the shadowy figure of the Reverse Flash emerge and kill his younger brother, elimating him from time. The new timeline sees Thawne thrive academically, freed from the responsibility of caring for a younger brother in his youth.
Now, legally granted access to the speed force data he needed, he became an authority on the Flash. When another scientist beats Thawne to a breakthrough the Reverse Flash again appears to eliminate him from time. Altered a second time we see Thawne holding his rival's position at the Flash museum in the new timeline. And so the story goes, the Reverse Flash appearing in his past to alter history in his own favor.
From rivals in his career to rivals for the heart of the woman he falls in love with, no one is safe. Not even Rose, the object of his affections, is safe. After elimating all boyfriends she had, Thawne still finds his affection spurned: "I told you, I don't think of you like that! And I never will! So stay away from me!" As Rose storms away she finds herself face to face with the Reverse Flash! He grabs her and shakes her at superspeed. The next panel reveals to us yet another divergent timeline. We see Rose, a vegetable, in a mental hospital. "She hasn't spoken since she was five."
Finally Thawn finds a time capsule and in it the Flash's costume. Thawne analyzes the costume and finds just enough speed force residue to conduct experiments and give himself the same abilities. He becomes the Flash in his 25th century and he is finally happy.
The story ominously ends with the Reverse Flash watching himself embark on a heroic career: "It won't last long. You will never find love. You will never be the Flash. Barry Allen destroyed my future. It's time I destroyed his." In the final page of the story Johns explains why Thawne cannot just kill his enemy: "Without the speed force, the negative speed force would never exist. The Reverse Flash would never have the opportunity to discover what other powers it can provide him beyond speed. And there are many to discover starting today."
Enter Flashpoint - DC's summer event! All teases provided by DC seem to hint that reader's will be introduced to an entire DC universe altered by the actions of the Reverse Flash! Cyborg, America's greatest hero? Abin Sur still Space Sector 2814's Green Lantern? Aquaman & Wonder Woman married to bring peace between their hidden kingdoms? These are just some of the apparent changes!
Now I love these types of stories! It gives creators & readers the opportunity to explore the what ifs? of the comic book world without affecting continuity. Here are the tie-ins DC recently announced as part of Flashpoint:
Whatever Happened to Gotham City?
FLASHPOINT: BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #1-#3
Whatever Happened to the World’s Greatest Super Villains?
FLASHPOINT: CITIZEN COLD #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: DEATHSTROKE & THE CURSE OF THE RAVAGER #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: THE OUTSIDER #1-#3
Whatever Happened to the Aliens?
FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR THE GREEN LANTERN #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: PROJECT: SUPERMAN #1-#3
Whatever Happened to Science & Magic?
FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN & THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN #1-#3
Whatever Happened to Europe?
FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #1-#3
Everything You Know Will Change in a Flash
FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT #1-#3
So don't let the weather get you down! Spring is coming. And so is Flashpoint......
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