Here’s a random question: What was the original ending of Flashpoint?
If the new “DC All Access” text page that appeared in this week’s DC titles is to be believed, the New 52 really got started at a creative retreat last October, but Flashpoint had been teased at the end of The Flash #1, way back in April of that year – and, as those who’ve read the collection of The Flash: Rebirth, it was even mentioned as part of Geoff Johns’ pitch for that title, from 2009. So, clearly, Flashpoint precedes any idea of rebooting the DCU by quite some time… So how was the story originally going to end?
There are potentially some hints in the two-page teaser that appeared at the end of Flash #1: In the Flashpoint we saw, there was no countdown clock reaching zero with someone saying “Now,” no appearance for Jay, Wally or Bart – Although Bart did get a mini to himself – and the Flash and Batman didn’t come to blows at any point. We also didn’t see anyone with the White Lantern ring at any point. So was Flashpoint originally a very different story, with a completely different ending? Was the teaser cooked up before anything had really been planned out for the series, beyond the rough strokes (The Flash changing time, Wonder Woman as warrior destroying the UK, Superman as secret project)? And was everything originally going to end with the DCU essentially returning to normal at the end, but with some minor changes, a la Age of Apocalypse?
We may never know… Well, unless Geoff Johns ever feels like spilling the beans.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
We actually did see a character with a White Lantern ring at some point during Flashpoint: Abin Sur in his mini-series.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Having just re-read Flashpoint, I think the answer is obvious: exactly what saw print, with a two page implant that allowed them to reboot the DCU. The variances with the teaser images are similar what saw print and in line with the idea of a broad strokes plot: it was basically a Flash/Batman Sr. story with room for them to come into conflict (more than they did), Abin Sur did become the White Lantern at the end, etc.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Good point. It’s very unlike Johns to not have his teasers line up with very specific scenes in future comics. Now you’ve got me wondering what was originally planned.
As for the timeline, I read somewhere that Didio has been wanting to do the DCnU thing since Infinite Crisis. And I can kind of see him trying to use the events to push toward that goal. Note that the plot of Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis, and to a certain extent Flashpoint, have all revolved around the universe of Earth-1 being totally destroyed and rebuilt. I guess right now the sales figures were low enough to prompt something dramatic like this.
September 13th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Well, Captain Atom was supposed to be the bad guy, but then word leaked at the last minute and…
No, that’s something else.
Now I remember. The Joker was supposed to accidentally kill himself. But the editor realized that he was too good a character to not bring him back over and over.
September 13th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
another useless blog post by the most useless comics blogger this side of the multiverse…… couldn’t Flashpoint have removed Graeme Macmillan from OUR universe when the reset button was hit?
September 14th, 2011 at 2:41 am
@Joe. What r u even doing here? If you don’t appreciate Graeme’s blog posts, the solution is simple: leave.
September 14th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
i think the story of flashpoint was pretty much what geoff johns wanted, with the only major difference being the splash page and redesigned costumes after it.
flashpoint felt like it was a story that would affect the main character(s) only, a la war of green lantern’s; but it’s timing and alternate universe setting made it an ideal point for editorial to start the dcnu.
September 20th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
I’m trying to get into New 52 but its been mostly miss. Grifter just about the only title that I’m remotely interested in. Tried out Frankenstein and couldn’t take the ludicrous concept serious enough. Demon Knights started off alright but seemed to breeze by without solidifying any plot. Going to give Animal Man a try next. And there’s still Birds of Prey but I didn’t like the writer’s overly long work on Cable with Marvel and then JLA Dark is the last resort but I give up completely.