Laid Back Comics Watches Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox

It is hard to believe it has been almost three years since the New 52 has come into the DC World starting at the very end of Flashpoint mini-series. I can still remember hanging out at my comic shop ready to pick up the final issue.  And in that short time, the mini-series has not transformed into an animated feature. This is one of the quickest turn around for an animated project of DC, and one that even though mentions in the title of Justice League, this is a Flash mystery movie.

One of the biggest tricks of taking something like the Mini-series Flashpoint and turning it into a movie is trying to fit in all of the story threads. There were several mini-series and side stories that tried to fully explore the world that Flashpoint was. In movie form it could only handle small doses of it, it give a background to the changed events that are leading up to the war currently being fought and short side pieces, but that is far as it can go story wise before dragging on for too long. The main story is with Flash and this worlds Batman, Barry having to re-connect with the speed force and the hopes of going back and changing all that has happened to the world around him.

The world of Flashpoint is a brutal in animation as in comics, while the impending war that is waging between Amazons and Atlantans is shown to be ready to destroy it, there is a lack of urgency with the story and characters as it speeds closer to the conclusion. By no means is the movie slow in any fashion, which Flash being title character would be ironic, but because of the quickness for the 80 minutes we get, characters and stories are quickly introduced and not too much longer quickly ended.  That has always been a major downfall of the direct to DVD movies DC has made, more often the time is cut so the story suffers from it. Here that same can be said as we didn't know the world as we knew it. And the mystery of who changed time is well laid out so when the reveal hits you sit and nod your head with the movie and saying, “Yeah got it.”

This is also something of a comics fan movie, anyone who may pick this up out of curiously might, no wait change that will be confused by the sudden motivations and characterization changes between timelines. But, a nice touch that is they animators threw in some cameos from Young Justice Show that was a treat to see.

There is also a big change to the animation style with this movie, a much broader and exaggerated look to

many of the characters, massive muscles to the super strong. The look is not one that many would say is pleasing to the eye, it is a distraction at times. But, there may been a reason for some, as Superman first seen (As pictured to the right) is compete opposite from the Flashpoint version it is staggering and standing next to Cyborg and Batman he seems so frail. Showing the world is harsh to even the most super of heroes. One must also bring up the CGI Flash that shows up every so often making it very noticeable at times. But, the action, the chase of Flash and Professor Zoom go through in the final battle makes up for it. The sense of speed and the way they flow back and forth though the shots is amazing to watch.

And of course I must finish on the voice work, which always a stand out on these movies and here they work out wonderfully. And while it may be sad to know Kevin Conroy only has a few lines as Batman to be replaced by his father Kevin McKidd, who brought the weathered Thomas Wayne to the screen and stole a few scenes. For the Flash Justin Chambers did a good job, but in key scenes his voice sounded more forced than I am sure he would have liked. Though he is welcome to be The Flash again at any time. I also think it is fantastic the Daily family is now passing down voice work for Superman and Sam Daily is a excellent addition to the cast.

In the end, this was a solid movie put together with only a few bumps along the way in the story and animation. This of course is the first in a two part story as the end reveals that the second pass through time changed a few more things, much in the same way the first one did. As the next movie Justice League: War is a direct sequel to this movie in the same way when Flashpoint ended the New 52 began.

OVERALL: 7.5 out of 10

Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digitally now.

Bryan "BAC" Clendening writes for The Broken Infinite. Follow him on Twitter @BAClend

Comic News: Pandora Hits the stage From Fawkes & DC

   During this year's Emerald City Comic Con, DC Comics announced another new title coming this June called Trinity of Sin: Pandora. Since first appearing in Flashpoint #5 back in 2011, Pandora has been staying in the shadows ... even though she was a key element that changed the DCU into the New 52. After she appeared in the New 52 # 1s and recently decided to visit Phantom Stranger, she is getting a new solo series. The new series will be written by Ray Fawkes with art by Daniel Sampere, who recently worked together in the 2 fill in issues for Batgirl.

   Fawkes sat down with CBR saying this about Pandora as a character:

she's spent thousands of years crossing the globe, over and over again, hearing her name cursed for all the evils of the world. She carries this unfathomable guilt and this searing anger with her -- guilt because she may very well be responsible for all this suffering, and anger because she thinks she never had a chance to avoid unleashing it. She has reason to believe the game was fixed. So she's had all the time in the world to crawl through every kind of shame and pain and remorse you can imagine, and she's come out on the other side of it with a strong, pure sense of purpose. Is that going to lead to more trouble? Yeah, of course it is. But trouble for whom?



   Trinity of Sin: Pandora promises to go through anyone and everyone in the DC Universe. The first issue by Ray Fawkes & Daniel Sampere will hit stands this June.

SUMMER SPECIAL NEWS EDITION # 1 - DC's FLASHPOINT

Welcome to the Comic Book Clash Summer Special. Basically, It is the run down of major events from  different companies that are signaling great things to come.This first edition is dealing with DC's Flashpoint. Don't worry, we will get to Zenescope's event then Marvel's. I am gonna give you the run down of all the Solicitations on these events. No real news just previews of what is to come . . . which is kind of news of itself.  You need the low down on these summer event fests . . . so let's do it.

DC: FLASHPOINT

  Everything will change in a flash was NOT an exaggeration. Barry Allen has woken up in an alternate universe where everything is different. This event started earlier this month and continues as the second issue of Flashpoint hits stands this coming week (June 2). Yes, on Thursday cause remember, Monday is a holiday. Unless stated otherwise, all Flashpoint tie ins are 32 pages at $2.99 a piece. And now, the collective that is .. . FLASHPOINT:

MAY

FLASHPOINT #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by ANDY KUBERT
Not a dream, not an imaginary story, not an elseworld. This is Flash Fact: When Barry Allen wakes at his desk, he discovers the world has changed. Family is alive, loved ones are strangers, and close friends are different, gone or worse. It’s a world on the brink of a cataclysmic war – but where are Earth’s Greatest Heroes to stop it? It’s a place where America’s last hope is Cyborg, who hopes to gather the forces of The Outsider, The Secret 7, S!H!A!Z!A!M!, Citizen Cold and other new and familiar-yet-altered faces! It’s a world that could be running out of time, if The Flash can’t find the villain who altered the time line!
Welcome to FLASHPOINT!
40 pg/$3.99

BOOSTER GOLD #44
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art and cover by DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND 
Dan Jurgens returns to BOOSTER GOLD just in time for this FLASHPOINT prelude. Booster Gold returns to Rip Hunter’s lab after the events of TIME MASTERS and finds that this world isn’t the same one he left behind. 


JUNE

WEEK ONE:

FLASHPOINT #2
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
The world-changing miniseries continues! Where are the World’s Greatest Super Heroes? Barry Allen is on a mission to find out or die trying – and that may be what’s happening as he tries to make lightning strike twice! Meanwhile, around the submerged Paris, the pirate Deathstroke confronts Emperor Aquaman!
40pg/$3.99






FLASHPOINT: BATMAN – KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #1
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by EDUARDO RISSO
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
FLASH FACT! He spends his days running Wayne Casinos!
Retailers: Please see the Previews Order form for special FLASHPOINT promotional buttons.




FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN #1
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by GEORGE PEREZ and SCOTT KOBLISH
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ
FLASH FACT! One among them will betray them all! And so far confirmed from the Secret Seven are Enchantress, Slade the Changing Man and Black Orchid.




FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR – THE GREEN LANTERN #1
Written by ADAM SCHLAGMAN
Art and covr by FELIPE MASSAFERA
FLASH FACT! He survived the crash!


FLASHPOINT: THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT #1
Written by REX OGLE and others
Art by PAULO SIQUIERA
Cover by SHANE DAVIS
FLASH FACT! Everything you know changed in a flash – but how?
Retailers: Please see the Previews Order form for special FLASHPOINT promotional buttons.


WEEK TWO:


FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art and cover by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
FLASH FACT! He will drown the world – then rule it!


BOOSTER GOLD #45
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art and cover by DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND
Booster knows that the Flashpoint world isn’t his own. But how does he get back? How does he make things right?


FLASHPOINT: DEATHSTROKE AND THE CURSE OF THE RAVAGER #1
Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art and cover by JOE BENNETT and JOHN DELL
FLASH FACT! He will stop at nothing to find his lost treasure!


FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by IBRAIM ROBERSON
Cover by DOUG MAHNKE
FLASH FACT! They can’t survive unless they find their maker!


FLASHPOINT: CITIZEN COLD #1
Written by SCOTT KOLINS
Art and cover by SCOTT KOLINS
FLASH FACT! He loves someone he should not!


FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR #1
Written by SEAN RYAN
Art by IG GUARA
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
FLASH FACT! Africa belongs to him!


WEEK THREE:


FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #1
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by SCOTT CLARK and DAVID BEATY
Cover by ED BENES
FLASH FACT! If she can’t have the world – no one will!


FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #1
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by MIKEL JANIN
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
FLASH FACT! For their last performance – an escape act!


FLASHPOINT: LEGION OF DOOM STARRING HEATWAVE #1
Written by ADAM GLASS
Art by RODNEY BUCHEMI and JOSE MARZAN, JR.
Cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
FLASH FACT! They have to kill the president!


WEEK FOUR:


FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #1
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by EDDY NUNEZ
Cover by EDDY NUNEZ and SANDRA HOPE
FLASH FACT! She is ready to reveal the Amazons’ secret!

FLASHPOINT: THE OUTSIDER #1
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by JAVI FERNANDEZ
Cover by KEVIN NOWLAN
FLASH FACT! He won’t join the war! (It could dirty his new suit.)


FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST STARRING BART ALLEN #1
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by OLIVER NOME
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
FLASH FACT! Where is he? Or should we say when?


FLASHPOINT: REVERSE FLASH #1
Written by SCOTT KOLINS
Art by JOEL GOMEZ
Cover by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
FLASH FACT! He’s more powerful than ever...


WEEK FIVE:


FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN #1
Plot by SCOTT SNYDER
Script by LOWELL FRANCIS
Art and cover by GENE HA
FLASH FACT! They experimented on him in a lab for years!


FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN #1
Written by ADAM SCHLAGMAN
Art by BEN OLIVER
Cover by RAGS MORALES
FLASH FACT! He never got the ring!


FLASHPOINT: GREEN ARROW INDUSTRIES #1
Written by PORNSAK PICHETSHOTE
Art by MARK CASTIELLO
Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV
FLASH FACT! He makes money from war!


FLASHPOINT: THE CANTERBURY CRICKET #1
Written by MIKE CARLIN
Art and cover by RAGS MORALES
FLASH FACT! His power is his curse!




JULY


WEEK ONE: 


FLASHPOINT #3
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
Cover by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
FLASH QUESTION: Will The Flash and his new allies be able to fix the world?
40pg/$3.99




FLASHPOINT: BATMAN – KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #2
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by EDUARDO RISSO
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
FLASH QUESTION: Who is The Joker? And what is his dark connection to the Wayne family?


FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN #2
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by GEORGE PEREZ and SCOTT KOBLISH
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ
FLASH QUESTION: Who killed the first Seven? And can Amethyst stop them from killing the new Secret Seven?


FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR – THE GREEN LANTERN #2
Written by ADAM SCHLAGMAN
Art and cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA
FLASH QUESTION: Will Sinestro side with Abin Sur against the Guardians of Oa, or is all hope lost?


FLASHPOINT: THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT #2
Written by REX OGLE
Art by EDUARDO FRANCISCO
Cover by BRETT BOOTH
FLASH QUESTION: Why is Traci 13 the most important girl in the world? Does she have the strength to do what must be done?


WEEK TWO:

BOOSTER GOLD #46
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art and cover by DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND
FLASH QUESTION: Will Booster be able to stop Doomsday and help The Flash – or has his time come to an end?

FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #2
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art and cover by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
FLASH QUESTION: Will his loss destroy the world?

FLASHPOINT: DEATHSTROKE AND THE CURSE OF THE RAVAGER #2
Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art and cover by JOE BENNETT and JOHN DELL
FLASH QUESTION: Will Deathstroke be able to find his treasure with Aquaman standing in his way?

FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #2
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by IBRAIM ROBERSON
Cover by DOUG MAHNKE
FLASH QUESTION: Can our heroes find the cure to their afflictions, or will the monster hunter Miranda Shrieve kill them before they get the chance?

FLASHPOINT: CITIZEN COLD #2
Written by SCOTT KOLINS
Art and cover by SCOTT KOLINS
FLASH QUESTION: Will Central City’s greatest hero be able to stand against the Rogues? 

WEEK THREE:

FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #2
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by SCOTT CLARK and DAVID BEATY
Cover by ED BENES
FLASH QUESTION: How many must die to avenge Queen Hippolyta’s death and satiate Diana’s fury?

FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #2
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by ALEJANDRO GIRALDO
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
FLASH QUESTION: Trapped behind enemy lines, will the Grayson family be able to help the Resistance, or is this their final performance? 

FLASHPOINT: LEGION OF DOOM #2
Written by ADAM GLASS
Art by RODNEY BUCHEMI and JOSE MARZAN, JR.
Cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
FLASH QUESTION: The villains have mounted a prison break! Now, one lone hero stands in the way. Will Animal Man be able to stop them, or will they have their revenge against Cyborg?

WEEK FOUR:

FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #2
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by EDDIE NUNEZ
Cover by EDDIE NUNEZ and SANDRA HOPE
FLASH QUESTION: Lois Lane meets the mysterious leader of the Resistance – but will she survive?

FLASHPOINT: THE OUTSIDER #2
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by JAVI FERNANDEZ
Cover by KEVIN NOWLAN
FLASH QUESTION: In a world where everyone hates The Outsider, who wants him dead? Will the ruler of Kahndaq have what it takes to finish the job?

FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST #2
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by OLIVER NOME
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
FLASH QUESTION: Where is he? And when? Can Hot Pursuit save him in time for Bart to help Barry?

FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN #2
Plot by SCOTT SNYDER
Script by LOWELL FRANCIS
Art and cover by GENE HA
FLASH QUESTION: Who is behind Project Superman?

FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN #2
Written by ADAM SCHLAGMAN
Art by BEN OLIVER
Cover by FRANCIS PORTELA
FLASH QUESTION: Will he be able to fly fast enough to escape his fate and defeat the Amazons?

AUGUST

WEEK ONE:

FLASHPOINT #4
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
Covers by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
FLASH FACT: The war between the Amazons and the Atlantians has arrived. The battle between Diana of Themyscira and Emperor Aquaman will tear this world apart – unless The Flash can fix it!

40pg/$3.99

FLASHPOINT: BATMAN – KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #3
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by EDUARDO RISSO
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
FLASH FACT: The Joker is revealed, and Thomas Wayne will have to figure out whether he can pull the trigger on his lifelong nemesis.

FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN #3
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by FERNANDO BLANCO and SCOTT KOBLISH
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ
FLASH FACT: The Secret Seven are being slaughtered from within. Shade the Changing Man must figure out who it is in time, or he will have another team’s death on his hands.

FLASHPOINT: WORLD OF FLASHPOINT #3

Written by REX OGLE
Art by EDUARDO FRANCISCO
Cover by BRETT BOOTH
FLASH FACT: As the war between Amazons and Atlanteans rages on the battlefield around her, Traci must find the strength to stop her father before he rips the world asunder.

FLASHPOINT: DEATHSTROKE AND THE CURSE OF THE RAVAGER #3
Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art and cover by JOE BENNETT and JOHN DELL
FLASH FACT: The death toll rises as Deathstroke’s journey nears its end. But when he finds his daughter, he also finds something else – something he could never have anticipated...

WEEK TWO:

BOOSTER GOLD #47
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art and cover by DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND
FLASH FACT: Booster is the only man with the knowledge to fix the world, but he has to find The Flash in time to tell him...

FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR – THE GREEN LANTERN #3
Written by ADAM SCHLAGMAN
Art and cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA
FLASH FACT: Abin Sur has lost everything he holds dear to help Earth, but in the end, there is one last thing he can do – if only he has the will.

FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #3
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art and cover by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
FLASH FACT: Arthur Curry’s rage has sunk countries, killed millions, and begun a world war. But as the end approaches, he will have to gather the ferocity needed to destroy his enemy utterly.

FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #3
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by IBRAIM ROBERSON
Cover by DOUG MAHNKE
FLASH FACT: The great monster hunter Miranda Shrieve will see our heroes dead before the night is done... unless they can defeat her and her army of robots.

FLASHPOINT: CITIZEN COLD #3
Written by SCOTT KOLINS
Art and cover by SCOTT KOLINS
FLASH FACT: Central City’s greatest hero’s darkest secret will be exposed.

WEEK THREE: 

FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #3
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art and cover by SCOTT CLARK and DAVE BEATY
FLASH FACT: The secrets behind Queen Hippolyta’s death and the start of the world war are revealed.

FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #3
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by ALEJANDRO GIRALDO
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
FLASH FACT: And now, the final show! If the Graysons don’t survive, there may be one person who can help their cause...

FLASHPOINT: LEGION OF DOOM #3
Written by ADAM GLASS
Art by RODNEY BUCHEMI and JOSE MARZAN JR.
Cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
FLASH FACT: Cyborg stands as the last defense against the world’s greatest villains, and they plan to play dirty. They don’t even care if they die...

WEEK FOUR:

FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #3
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by EDDIE NUNEZ
Cover by EDDIE NUNEZ and SANDRA HOPE
FLASH FACT: The Resistance has found Britain’s last great hope, the enigmatic and immensely powerful Brittania. It’s time to take back England!

FLASHPOINT: THE OUTSIDER #3
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by JAVI FERNANDEZ
Cover by KEVIN NOWLAN
FLASH FACT: The Outsider’s greatest enemy is revealed.

FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST #3
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by OLIVER NOME
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
FLASH FACT: Bart is back, but now he must find his way home.

FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN #3Plot by SCOTT SNYDER
Script by LOWELL FRANCIS
Art and cover by GENE HA
FLASH FACT: Subject Zero. Subject One. There can only be one.

FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN #3Written by ADAM SCHLAGMAN
Art by BEN OLIVER
Cover by J.G. JONES
FLASH FACT: This will be Hal Jordan’s greatest moment: delivering the bomb known as the Green Arrow. If he fails, it’s all over.

WEEK FIVE:

FLASHPOINT #5
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
Covers by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
FLASH FACT: The war between the Amazons and the Atlantians has arrived. The battle between Diana of Themyscira and Emperor Aquaman will tear this world apart – unless The Flash can fix it!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Because of its impact on the DC Universe, FLASHPOINT #5 is the only title that DC Comics is soliciting in this catalogue to arrive in stores on August 31.

40pg/$3.99

That is the line of for Flashpoint. Aquaman and Wonder Woman are technically evil, who want to take over the world. The Justice League does not Exist.The Secret Seven is full of mystical members, not mercenaries. Abin Sur Did NOT die. This is the DC Universe and things may never be the same, even after Flashpoint ends, 52 #1 will come out in September, marking an end of an era and a beginning of a new one. 

This has been the FLASHPOINT SUMMER SPECIAL. 

NEXT: Zenescope 's Dream Eater Saga, Followed by Marvel's Fear Itself.