And Then I Read: FLASHPOINT 4

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

The first half of this issue has The Flash and this world's Batman trying to build consensus among superheroes to attempt to stop the brewing battle between armies led by Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Flash is more concerned with overturning the fractured history created by the Reverse-Flash that brought this entire reality into being, but no one has any good idea how to do that. Some new characters are explored, then a group heads for the big battle site in England, where the realities of war are soon made plain, and Barry Allen finally gets to face his nemesis.

The art by Kubert and Hope continues to be wonderful. At upper left you see one of the new characters, Element Woman, sort of a female Metamorpho. Her personality is cutesy with a touch of madness. It may be hard to see, but her word balloon has some pink shapes along the edge that I at first thought were hearts.

Actually they're paired circles, perhaps meant to represent Mandlebrot set shapes, or just bubbles, but neither explanation seems to fit her powers particularly. Maybe pink was a bad color choice, as they do look like hearts until you examine them, and I continued to read her dialogue as very lovey-dovey because of that, which I'm not sure was the intention.

At any rate, this storyline is moving quickly, at least, and will wrap up next issue. Recommended.