If anybody asks you what are some of the most iconic, important and simply best Flash stories, Flashpoint is often brought to the discussion. Rightfully so - it is a great story, and one that's not afraid to take extreme risks that normally wouldn't be acceptable in anything taking place in the main continuity. Johns created an immersive dystopia and it's a shame we don't really have an opportunity to dive into it, to fully understand it and experience what it has to offer. Yes, I'm fully aware there are tie-ins to the main 5 chapter arc, but when you purchase a trade paperback, you expect it to be complete, to tell a cohesive, self contained story. And that's the reason why this particular release disappointed my expectations, and forced me to give it only 7/10 rating. I could forgive lack of Thomas Wayne's backstory (even though it's heartbreakingly memorable and shocking), I could forgive very brief and irrelevant appearance of Deathstroke, who sadly shown up just to die 5 pages later, but why, in the name of Dr. Manhattan, there's no proper explanation of the conflict between Atlantians and Amazons? This central conflict should have been on the foreground, being slowly unraveled, step by step. Lack of crucial backstory resulted in me, with all honesty, being more interested in quirky monologues of Emily Sung (who is indeed a lot of fun in this comic, bringing so much positive energy and life to otherwise gloomy, doomed world), instead of what's happening between Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Some events should have been shown in this very run, like Mera's death.

You're better off purchasing Flashpoint with all its tie-ins digitally rather that buying just this collected edition hoping it'll be enough to make you understand the story and enjoy it. Unless you really want to have it displayed on your shelf, that is, like yours truly.

Flashpoint is the series that ushered in the New 52 reboot line of comics and much later, played a part in DC Universe Rebirth and its line of comics. This is the book where Barry Allen, The Flash, awakens to find that everything has changed and nothing is as it was. Barry's dead mother is alive, Superman is nowhere to be seen, Batman is willing to take lives, Atlantis is at war with the Amazons, etc. Barry also realizes he no longer possesses his super speed and must team up with Batman in order to set things straight and return the world to what it once was.

The story is enjoyable as it shows us alternate versions of familiar heroes such as a more ruthless Aquaman, a Cyborg that works for the government, the powers of Shazam being split between six children, and so on. Sadly, we don't see much of these versions of the heroes that we're familiar with, as the focus always returns to Batman and Barry trying to make the world right again. These versions also play somewhat important roles in the final battle, as they aid the main characters in fighting two armies. Even here, the focus is back to The Flash fighting the one he believes to have caused this new timeline in the first place. Excluding the final battle, the alternate heroes don't play much of a role in helping the main duo, with the exceptions being Cyborg, Superman and Element Woman. Barry also has to deal with his memories slowly being replaced by the new timeline, giving us glimpses at his life if he never became a vigilante. These moments don't do much in the grand scheme of the story, thus they aren't that important.

Even though I knew the ending to the story, I still enjoyed the book due to the action, the explanation as to what caused these events, the alternate heroes and the time travel shenanigans involved at the end.

The artwork holds up well, easily showcasing a world that is bleak and devoid of hope and joy. This applies to the alternate versions of heroes too, such as a thin and haggard Superman, a Shazam with a scowl and scars, etc. Everything shown is grim and it works in the story's favor.

If you want to see how the DC universe became how it is now, read this. This is an enjoyable Flash story with ramifications that are still being felt today.