Movie Monday - Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox

Flash! Saviour of the universe! No, wait, that's Flash Gordon. Blond guy, picks on puny Peter Parker and got a black symbiote suit. No, that's not right either, that's Flash Thompson. I'm talking about THE Flash; whose reintroduction kickstarted the Silver Age of comics, whose new TV series had its pilot leaked on the internet during the week (and once it airs properly expect me to talk at length about it), and whose major event began this whole 'New 52' business in the first place. It's been a long time coming, because just like the Flash, it's been running a little late – this week Movie Monday moves onto Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox.



Director: Jay Oliva

Writer: James Krieg

Starring: Justin Chambers, Michael B. Jordan, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin McKidd, Sam Daly, Kevin Conroy, Cary Elwes, Nathan Fillion, Grey DeLisle, Ron Perlman, Vanessa Marshall

Released: 2013

Barry Allen, the Flash, has never been able forget the death of his mother when Barry was but a child. All of his heroics have been an attempt to make up for her loss. So when he wakes up in a world where she's alive, he doesn't ask too many questions – even though he no longer has the superspeed that made him the Flash. But the world has changed in other ways too. There's no Superman, Batman is a violent killer who tortures criminals for information on the mysterious Joker and Wonder Woman and Aquaman have brought the world to the brink of annihilation from the war between Themyscira and Atlantis. Barry quickly realises that something has happened to change the world and he's the only one that knows it needs to be changed back. But without his superspeed, without the Justice League, what can he do? Is it even possible to convince the heroes at each other's throats to set aside their differences or has too much blood been spilled to ever turn back?

THE SQUEE

• This was a fantastic adaptation of the original Flashpoint event. Sure, there were changes from the story and most were fantastic. There was even an inclusion of Aqualad from Young Justice! As is common with the animated films from DC, the animation is smooth and utterly captures the feel of the original story.
• Another common element of the animated DC entries are the outstanding cast. Justin Chambers as Barry Allen. Cary Elwes as Aquaman! Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern! Ron Perlman as Deathstroke! Michael B. Jordan as Cyborg! And those are just the new people! The usual DC stable are amazing as always, giving a sense of familiarity in a world that is completely overwhelming.
• The epic story is given the epic feeling it deserves, capturing the whole world of Flashpoint. The original series benefited from having a whole series of tie-ins that explained the wider world that had been created by the main events and the film manages to show much of this as well, giving a true idea of the scope of this alternate universe.

THE SUCK

• The ending. It's not a huge spoiler that at the end of Flashpoint the timeline is restored at the cost of Barry Allen's mother and the creation of the New 52. However, the film doesn't follow the same format and doesn't reboot the entire universe. This is a little irritating (to me) as the next film that DC would release was Justice League: War which was a retelling of the Justice League: Origin story from the New 52. There was a great opportunity to begin the DCAU all over again but instead the film is just another animated movie. Given that DC Entertainment is now trying to create a shared universe for their live-action films, much like Marvel has done, it would have made sense to create an animated universe alongside it, with different instalments every year. The DC animated department has consistently made quality productions with a wide variety of heroes (including Wonder Woman) and it just seems silly to miss out on this opportunity.

So that's the Flashpoint Paradox. It's a lot like Flashpoint, but more animated. However, if you want to see your favourites of the Justice League in titanic battles against each other, there's nowhere else to go.

Flashpoint – 9781401233389 – Geoff Johns - $29.99 – 176 pages