Flashpoint #3: Good but not epic…not enough, anyway

I’m starting to feel like a real nitpicker here.

Flashpoint #3 delivers a solid chapter. It drives the plot forward, weaves in some interesting twists, and introduces some new, important characters. There’s just one problem: it still feels like a Flash story rather than an epic crossover event.

And this is supposed to reboot the entire DC Universe.

The plot is intriguing enough. Flash regains his powers (was there ever any doubt?), Batman agrees to help save the day, and our super team-up crew infiltrates a government facility to locate the Man of Steel himself. All in a day’s work, except Batman’s blatantly lying to everyone, Flash has a hidden agenda, and this timeline’s Superman was captured and imprisoned by the government rather than raised by a kindly couple from Kansas.

I’d treat this story much more kindly if it actually felt like the epic event it’s supposed to be. After all when this story is concluded, all DC titles restart. Action Comics, who recently hit a milestone with its 900th issue, will revert back to issue 1. Detective Comics (DC’s namesake,) after publishing 881 issues, will start anew. These are pretty major changes for DC, regardless of whatever stories follow. I guess I just feel the story that leads into that should feel equally as major.

Alas, it is what it is. And with the miniseries half-finished, I doubt it’s going to start feeling like the epic event I think it should. There are just two issues to go in this (if you discount the endless ties…and I am) and I have a hunch I’ll see them exactly the way I see this. They’ll be great issues for a great Flash story…but not quite epic enough to merit their status as a universal, franchise-rebooting crossover.

Alas, indeed. Three out of four stars.

You want to know the real irony, though? I’m still intrigued by the whole September reboot, intrigued enough I’m planning on picking up several #1 issues.