DC has been beating the drum leading up to this week’s launch of its Flashpoint event series, but if you know where to look then Flashpoint started over ten years ago.
Back in 1999, DC released an Elseworlds title by Pat McGreal and Norm Breyfogle called Flashpoint. Although DC has repeatedly stated that the 2011 event and the 1999 series have no connection, it’s interesting to look at what came before – just as we did with the overlooked 1992 Marvel graphic novel Fear Itself.
In the 1999 three-issue series Flashpoint, McGreal and Breyfogle presented a world where the Flash is the world’s only superhero. But after taking the bullet meant for JFK in 1963, Barry Allen is left paralyzed from the neck down. With his superhero career behind him, Allen becomes a proponent of space explorations and has dreams of his Earth-2 counterpart’s superhero career and a heaven that is revealed to be the Speed Force. Allen’s time here is thwarted by the machinations of this world’s Vandal Savage, but through the help of Wally West, Ralph Dibny and Martian Manhunter, Barry Allen turns back the tide from Savage’s attempt to unleash the Speed Force’s “flashpoint” on the world.
Although DC has reiterated numerous times no connection between that title and this summer’s event, it seems the two share the characters of being Flash-centric, depicting an alternate world, and being pretty cool. Although artist Norm Breyfogle’s best known for his Batman work and is currently working for Archie, I’d love to see him get a chance on DC’s new Flashpoint.
Here's the other covers to the 1999 series, as well as some pages and panel excerpts.
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X-Treme X-Men Vol. 3: Schism by Chris Claremont and Salvador Larroca
I’m assuming that creators just like the word “schism.” And that Jason Aaron’s secret idenity is not Chris Claremont.
That second flashpoint cover-
The Flash’s body language is – “Well Aww shucks fellas!”
So the Flash is Jesus?
@srh1son I actually own the X-Treme X-men Schism trade. It wasn’t the best story at all, but I’m a sucker for Storm.
I’m willing to bet Johns will connect the old and the new … just watch. 🙂
That I don’t own this is some kind of crime.
I think I remember seeing an ad for this but am not sure. There was a picture of a flash with a flash junior (but not a kid flash, if that makes sense!) on some kind of billboard but then prominently in one corner there’s barry in a wheelchair crying into his hands. I always liked the juxtaposition of those two images.
it was easy to miss as it was the time DC really started to backaway from both Elseworlds and Norm Breyfogle, a shame on both counts
I remember really liking that three-parter. Norm Breyfogle on Flash for a change was a big draw for me.
I’ve always felt that Norm Breyfogle was one of the best comic book not working. Well, actually he is working but come on, who is actually reading those teen Archie comics? DC REALLY needs to get him back on something awesome, whether its Batman or Flash again or just about anything, I’d totally read it.
@DarkKnightDetective I’m reading them.