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  Flashpoint Beyond #1

  Writer:

  Geoff Johns, Jeremy Adams, Tim Sheridan

  Artist:

  Xermánico, Mikel Janín

  Letterer:

  Rob Leigh

  Cover Artist:

  Mitch Gerads

  Publisher:

  DC Comics

  Price:

  4.99

  Release Date:

  2022-05-05

  Colorist:

  Jordie Bellaire, Romulo Fajardo Jr.

It's been over a decade since the 2011 crossover event Flashpoint, by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, completely shook the DC Universe to its core, and the story's legacy still looms large years later. The new miniseries Flashpoint Beyond serves as a direct continuation of the original story, picking up the pieces of a shattered reality where brutality and mercilessness might win out over compassion and virtuous idealism. In the debut issue Flashpoint Beyond #1, written by Johns, Jeremy Adams, and Tim Sheridan with art by Xermánico and Mikel Janín, it's clear there is still plenty of storytelling potential to be explored in this alternate reality.

Flashpoint Beyond takes place in a variation of the Flashpoint Universe, where Barry Allen was killed rather than regaining his connection to the Speed Force and working with this world's Batman, Thomas Wayne, to prevent this timeline from coming to pass. With his destiny significantly altered, Batman contemplates how to proceed with the information Barry provided him before his untimely demise, leading him on a collision course with Aquaman and Wonder Woman after Atlantis completely routs the Amazons in London. As Batman finds himself at an existential crossroads, the Dark Knight realizes he holds the key to changing the world.

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Whereas Johns wrote the prelude issue alone, Adams and Sheridan join him for the first issue of this six-part miniseries and seamlessly complement him as they script this new direction for the Flashpoint Universe. The story feels very much like a natural progression from the world that Johns and Kubert established years ago, albeit one squarely focused on Batman as he navigates the immediate aftermath of the Atlantean-Amazon conflict that devastated the planet. In setting the stage, there is quite a bit of exposition as Thomas shares how the world has changed while hinting at more cataclysmic things to surface in the near future.

Xermánico captures the dark sensibilities of the Flashpoint Universe well, working with colorist Romulo Fajardo, Jr. There is a mounting sense of dread and an ominous cloud that visually hangs over the proceedings, and the art team makes this abundantly clear as the population languishes in a world without its usual heroes. While the overall issue is relatively light on action set pieces, there is one sequence that reminds readers just how vicious and lethal the Flashpoint Universe truly is. Janín and colorist and longtime collaborator Jordie Bellaire illustrate the opening issue's epilogue, hinting at an adventure of reality-bending scope set to unfold with understated artistic aplomb.

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Regarding accessibility, the original Flashpoint series is a must-read to prepare for this miniseries, and the prelude issue, by Johns and Eduardo Risso, similarly should be read before diving into this first issue. The stakes and overall tone of Flashpoint Beyond are just as grimly dire as the main series, but there is a bit of a surprising wink and a nod to the reader from Batman as he attempts to proceed with his daily life. This is a setup issue -- there are greater things coming, the creative team is just moving their narrative pieces into the right positions.

Flashpoint Beyond picks up and remixes where the original miniseries left off, exploring a version of the story where The Flash never swooped in to save the day. The creative team is firing on all cylinders as they explore this dark twist on the DCU from the perspective of its Batman. There is still plenty of life in the Flashpoint Universe and Flashpoint Beyond is set to deliver a new future to one of the DCU's most influential stories.