On a recent episode of Funnybooks, I complained bitterly about how DC was handling Flashpoint, their new big summer event book.  Though the book is only 5 issues long, there are TWENTY three-issue tie in mini-series that take place in the world of Flashpoint, as well as three tie in issues of Booster Gold.

Then I crunched some numbers after looking at August solicits.  When Flashpoint ends at the end of August, if you’ve purchase EVERY single issue and tie in comic, you’ve spent, roughly, about $220 bucks.  Sounds like a lot of money, right?  I mean, not that you have to buy the tie ins, of course, but if you wanted to, it’s a big commitment.  Then I checked out Marvel’s Fear Itself event which, come the end of August, again, if you buy every single issue of every tie-in and the main series itself?  Well, it’ll run you over $300…and that’s just with what’s solicited (there are still two more months after that).

Ouch.  So…maybe I was a little hard on the way DC is handling FlashPoint.  After all, it’s not like you have to read the tie in books, or even Flashpoint, as it doesn’t crossover into any of the monthly books, unlike Fear Itself, which crosses into almost every Marvel book (except Amazing Spider-Man and FF, really…but they get tie in minis).

Not only that … I enjoyed the hell out of Flashpoint #1, and am really interested in the world it portrays.  Those not picking up Flashpoint #1 are missing out.  But, after looking at DC’s recent solicits and reading some stuff online…maybe it’s more important than DC is even letting on….

(note … if you hate spoilers and solicits…you may want to stop now)

FLASHPOINT #5

Flashpoint #5 is the ONLY DC book being released on the last week of August.  Yeah … that hardly ever happens (the last issue of Blackest Night comes to mind), and definitely signifies importance.  Then there’s this article from Bleeding Cool, which shows that most of DC’s storylines are wrapping up in August, sometimes even releasing two issues that month to wrap up storylines.  Some examples they mention include…

Action Comics #904

Now it all comes down to a weakened Superman versus the monster known as Doomslayer in this, the epic finale of “Reign of the Doomsdays”!

Batman Gates Of Gotham #5 (pushing through two issues in August)

And in issue #5, it’s Batman vs. The Architect! The downfall of a major Gotham family! The betrayal of Damian Wayne! It’s all here in this final issue, plus the untold fate of Gotham City’s first Super Villain!

Detective Comics #881

This is it – the finale so twisted, so shocking we can’t even begin to give away details here! Be there for the extra-sized conclusion of the acclaimed run by Scott Snyder, Jock and Francesco Francavilla.

Superman #714

Superman hits Seattle for his last stop on his “Grounded” walk across the country, and it is in that city where everything will come to a head!

Wonder Woman #614

The all-new Wonder Woman reaches the end of her epic “Odyssey” and comes face-to-face with the malevolent force behind it all!

FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #3

Wonder Woman even had it’s “Odyssey” storyline extended by an issue to end in August instead of July.  Some other items to note?

  • The War of the Green Lanterns epilogue stuff ends in August.
  • Batman Incorporated #10 mentions a “surprise ending” (more on that in a bit)
  • Batman #713 seems to indicate Dick might be nearing the end of his run as Batman
  • “The betrayal of Damian Wayne?” mentioned above?  Does that mean Damian will no longer be Robin?
  • Batman and Robin #26 is written by David Hine, with no mention of a new creative team, or if this is a one-shot or a 3-parter, like every storyline has been since the series started.
  • Batgirl #24‘s solicit reeks of finality
  • So does Red Robin #26’s, which features Tim confronting Captain Boomerang

The big rumor?  DC is renumbering ALL of its titles with #1 in September.  Not only that, it’ll happen as a result of events in Flashpoint, with some of the Flashpoint world being brought into the DC universe.  DC has been hinting at something called “The Dark.”  A possible skip week?  Black covers?  A big death?

BATMAN INCORPORATED #10

Is it possible Flashpoint is going to change the DC Universe in the same way Infinite Crisis and Crisis on Infinite Earths have?   It should be noted that Flash has been a big part of storylines that change DC continuity, whereas the last couple of Green Lantern-centric events?  Not so much.  Just something to think about.

So what do I speculate might happen if they integrate Flashpoint-centric changes into the DC universe?

  • I think Thomas Wayne might be Leviathan, the hidden villain of Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated storyline.  Thomas Wayne has been a big proponent of Morrison’s stuff, with Doctor Hurt pretending to be him.  Either that or “The Architect” from Snyder’s Gates of Gotham book, which is said to be a BIG event for the Bat books.  Is it possible that Flashpoint might already be influencing the DC Universe?
  • I really expect Scott Snyder to still be writing a Bat-title.  I think Pete Tomasi and Patrick Gleason are already working on one, which is why they aren’t doing Batman and Robin right now.
  • Damian Wayne seems like he may be gone.  I hope not though.
  • Wonder Woman and Aquaman…one of them will be the evil counterpart from the Flashpoint universe.
  • Expect Superman to be younger and unmarried.  I’m almost sure this is going to happen, especially with the upcoming movie.
  • What about the recently announced Red Lantern ongoing?  Is the Green Lantern universe to remain unchanged?  Or will we lose on of the GL-titles, and instead get one or two GL titles, and the Red Lantern book?
  • Wally West might be gone from existence.
  • Will Booster Gold or Flash remember both timelines?

Of course, those are purely speculation … but I imagine one or more might actually happen.  What do you think?  Will DC rebooting continuity get you on board with Flashpoint, or will you wait for the #1 issues?  Would a reboot of continuity interest you more or less in the DC universe (a universe we’ve been complaining about for a while now, with waning interest)?

Speculate below!