Batman #22 Review – Wait, What Was the Point of Flashpoint again?
While chasing Reverse Flash’s radiation trail through the time stream, Batman and Flash have ended up in the BatCave, but it’s the BatCave of old. While they try to figure out where they are in the timeline, Thomas Wayne Batman walks in on them. Naturally, Bruce has a very hard time reconciling the fact that his father is standing before him. He insists that this must be one of the alternate universes he and Flash witnessed during their trek on the cosmic treadmill.
Flash, however, verifies that they are indeed in their own universe. The vibrations are the same, which can only mean one thing—they’re in Flashpoint. Somehow, even though Flash corrected his Flashpoint mistake, the world of Flashpoint has continued to run its course. Don’t bother trying to sort that out. At that time, Wonder Woman and Aquaman have put aside their differences to kill Thomas Wayne. They’re outside the mansion now, trying to barrage their way in. Thomas wasn’t even trying to stop them. Now that Flash and Bruce are present, Thomas is a bit distracted trying to help them figure out why Flashpoint still exists. All this time, Thomas believed that Flash failed in his mission because Flashpoint kept on turning (like Proud Mary).
After a brief recap, some questions about why this place could still exist, and a father-son reunion, they see the Button is not there. Even though the radiation trail led them here, Reverse Flash definitely wasn’t there. Then for some reason, Flashpoint starts to break apart around them, how it should have done years before. Thankfully Flash was able to rebuild the cosmic treadmill (it kind of shattered upon arrival). They were allowed to escape, and Bruce tried to take his father with them. Not sure how many realities that would have destroyed, but fortunately Thomas stayed behind. As they leave the disappearing world of Flashpoint behind them, they run into Reverse Flash, in the time stream, holding the Button.
I think this is all supposed to be concluded in this week’s The Flash, but I’m not entirely sure how it can be. Because they are in the time stream, are they going to see how Reverse Flash died? Are they responsible for killing him? Is he going to lead them to Dr. Manhattan?
All speculation aside, what in the world was the point of taking Bruce and Flash to Flashpoint just for it to disappear again? Has Bruce not been tormented enough lately, so DC thought he should go through the tragedy of losing his father once more? It was all so bizarre, and no one ever really provided an explanation. Was Flashpoint still there because whoever is manipulating time was toying with that as well? I’d like to say it will all come together soon with the last part of The Button, but I’m fairly certain that’s extreme wishful thinking.
Our Rating: meh
Authors: Joshua Williamson and Tom King
Aritsts: Jason Fabok and Brad Anderson
Publisher: DC Comics
Publish Date: 05/03/2017
Acquired via Purchase
