From The Desk of The Don: The Flashpoint's Outta The Bag

Few storylines in comics history elicit a reaction at the mere mention of their names. I would argue that Flashpoint is one of those storylines that you either loved or hated, but will always remember. At the time, and as someone who was admittedly intimidated by modern comics lore, Flashpoint served as a Big Bang Event in my life, a moment where a single event's repercussions cause an explosion of creation, or in my case curiosity. Flashpoint is what revealed to a novice like me that The Flash was even capable of time travel, let alone changing the fabric of the universe by changing the past. It was also because of Flashpoint that DC Comics was able to reboot its continuity and allow new readers to join in their collective fandom. But what about old readers? To many who were reading long before Barry attempted to save his mother, Flashpoint was a band-aid to the ridiculously convoluted but cherished continuity in the DC Universe. Sure, things were imperfect, but it was still their universe that they have been fans of for years, causing a love-hate relationship with the reboot and Flashpoint as a whole.

The reason I bring this up is it seems like DC might be going to the Flashpoint well again in the new Flash movie. According to multiple sources (albeit unconfirmed), Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who played Thomas Wayne in Batman V Superman, is being looked at to reprise his role in the Flash film, leading many to believe he will don the cape and cowl like his Flashpoint counterpart. While this could all prove untrue, rumors of a Flashpoint film go so far back as when a Flash film was first announced, as Ben Affleck's future as Batman was in doubt. DC seems to need a quick fix, just like DC Comics did, and might use the same tool to do it. Will it work? I have no clue, but I honestly hope they try their best to fix the DCEU so we can go back to telling stories again.

Wondering About Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman 1984 has been delayed again.

I miss new comic book movies. I know it hasn't been that long since Birds of Prey and Bloodshot were released in theaters, but I can't help but miss the exciting moments leading up to a comic book movie release. The trailers, the marketing, the homework we do here as Comicbook Clique to research and predict what could happen, allow us to get hype for these releases. I miss making merchandise based off funny slogans from a film, or inspiring quotes from a character. Even as things seem to get a bit better in NYC, the release dates have been changed yet again to further dates. The June 2020 release of Wonder Woman 1984, for example, was moved to August, and now we will have to wait until October 2020 to see the Wonder Woman sequel. Black Widow, which was set to come out in May, was moved to November, which means we won't be seeing Natasha on the big screen until its time to turn our clock back again. Isn't that tragic?

I guess it really humbles me as someone who follows the flow of comic book media. We can't always predict what is to come and should be able to adjust on the fly and we will. We have a bunch of new ideas for content, one of which we have been filming in secret until we can dot our T's and cross our I's. Trust us content management is quite a challenge but being superfans allows us to meet those obstacles head-on and be more creative out of the gate.

Comic Book Catch Up

Boy, I knew DC's next big crossover Death Metal was going to be extreme, but that was an understatement. Picking up where Scott Snyder left off in his Justice League run, we see a multiverse transformed by doom and molded by Perpetua, where Lord Batman Who Laughs (try saying that five times fast) resides and reigns over humanity or what's left of it. The future looks bleak as the entire DCU is plunged into a hellscape that there seems to be no escape from. I'm also a bit astounded by how quickly readers have gotten behind The Batman Who Laughs or BWL for short. It's not hard to see why, though.

The design is cool, the backstory is ghastly, and he seems to be one step ahead of three people known for their meticulous planning; Batman, Joker, and Lex Luthor. His battle with Luthor is so massive that it was encapsulated in a limited series called Hell Arisen that I also suggest you read. It feels like just yesterday that we were reading about the Dark Multiverse, The BWL, and the breaking of the Source Wall. Snyder has used the effects of Dark Nights Metal to create a multi-year arc in hopes of transforming the DC Universe into one that challenges readers to look past the already established canon and onto new heights. The stories can be a bit heavy a times, with Snyder having to explain multiple multiverses, Hypertime, and hidden cosmic forces, but its only because he cares about the universe he is playing in and goes to great lengths not to mess anything up. I want to speak about more, but I can't without spoiling the story for you guys. Tune into our Justice League episodes to gear up for Death Metal, and we will see you on the other side!

Coming Up Next

I've done it! I have successfully read and taken notes on the totality (no pun intended) of Scott Snyder's Justice League! At a whopping 39 issues, with some tie-ins and side stories, this was no easy feat, but it was a fun look back at a story I may not have had time to enjoy the first time. What I wanted to share with you guys was the fact that I found my favorite issue in the entire run. #25 which takes place roughly 2/3rd from the ending of the story, sees our heroes in the 6th Dimension, as they hope to find a way to stop Lex from ruining the multiverse. Superman has been transported to a Dark Sector, far from sunlight. The Justice League thinks they have been betrayed by Batman and all seems lost.

Seeing both writer and artist combine their efforts to show a Superman slowly withering away into nothingness was effective. Seeing Batman pilot a cosmic suit of armor called the Sun Knight, was awe-inspiring, but hands down the best moment of the comic is when it is revealed that Batman was never on the side of evil. Instead, he was stalling so Superman could notice distant suns getting closure. Clark does, and he hears Batman's voice encourage him. He flies straight through multiple suns, gaining speed, power, and energy with each collision until he comes down crashing down on the foe who trapped him. The best part is Superman had just given up, the only things that kept hope alive were memories of his son and his father, and his trust in Bruce. It was cool to see the World's Finest have faith in each other. It was equally as cool to see Superman showcase how a loving family can inspire you to do great things. I'm not crying. You are.

Et Cetera

It's been over 90 days since I've casually seen friends and family and although everyone close to me is safe and healthy I can't help but miss them. In my spare time, I have picked up a new show and have already seen it twice from beginning to end. The show is called The Good Place and was created by Michael Shur, who also created Brooklyn 99 and Parks and Recreation, two other beloved NBC comedies. I had heard good things about The Good Place but honestly felt like the premise wasn't enough for me. That is for a very good reason. It turns out that creators kept details very scarce in the initial marketing material for the show, to not give away the big twists and turns that come at the end of every season. Initially its a show about a "bad person" who is sent to "The Good Place" after she died and the hilarity that follows watching her try desperately not to get caught.

What follows is a beautiful story of redemption, fighting fate, and being the best version of yourself. I don't know how far I would have made it in isolation if it weren't for Jason, Eleanor, Chidi, Tehani, Michael, and Janet. The lessons learned, the ethics argued, and the different perspectives expressed are valid reasons to get into this show, but don't get it twisted, the laughs are also there. This show is chock full laugh-out-loud funny moments, from silly puns to intricate joke construction, all with killer delivery from its cast of TV legends and newcomers. Ted Danson and Kristen Bell are amazing, but so is Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, D'Arcy Carden, and William Jackson Harper. If you take one forking thing away from this piece of shirt blog, let it be to check out The Good Place as soon as possible. Take it Sleazy and...

Remember You...Yes, You...
Are Worthy
G.S.