PGHHEAD’S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, PART 9
This marks the third consecutive year that I will attempt to document my comics reading by writing at least a mini-review. The goal is 1200 books read and reviewed in 2023, although I missed the mark in 2022 by 88 books. Still, I like that number as it’s easy enough to track - - - 100 books per month on average. Wish me luck!
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 219 comics documented
#191 - #197 FLASHPOINT BEYOND #0, #1 - #6 by Geoff Johns, Jeremy Adams and Tim Sheridan with art by Eduardo Risso, Xermanico and Mikel Janin (DC Comics, 2022) There was a time when I would shun and stay away from DC Elseworlds and Marvel What If? books simply because the story didn’t matter. When it was all over . . . . so what? However, since then with the multitude of parallel worlds, different versions of Earth and other planets, and the multiverse - - as well as continuity in regular superhero titles being thrown out the window - - I’ve adjusted my thinking about all of the above. If the story holds my attention and isn’t impossible to understand then I’ll read it. A good story is paramount, and that’s more important than whether or not it’s an imaginary tale (as DC used to call them).
The settings for FLASHPOINT BEYOND are enchanting and the character development (especially Dr. Thomas Wayne) is exceptional. Bravo to Johns and crew. Also, the art team is impeccable on this series. That leads us to the big question . . . beyond the good story, does this series mean anything? Or, are we all back to square one when it ends?
Hold that thought. I’ll tell you what I think in the concluding paragraph. Keep in mind that as FLASHPOINT BEYOND neared its’ final issues DC announced that this would lead into THE NEW GOLDEN AGE followed by a new JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA series and a STARGIRL mini-series, all written by Johns.
The opening issues hearken back to the original FLASHPOINT series, where Barry Allen/Flash traveled back in time to save his mother’s life and ended up changing reality. In the new timeline, Bruce Wayne was murdered in front of his parents. His father, Thomas Wayne, became Batman - a violent and angry version who isn’t averse to using a gun and/or killing. His wife, Martha, goes mad and becomes The Joker. With Thomas Wayne’s help, Barry Allen fixes things and changes reality back, thereby saving Bruce Wayne’s life.
Now, in FLASHPOINT BEYOND the reality of Thomas Wayne/Batman’s world has returned, Atlantis is at war with the Amazons, and Superman is under government captivity (Subject 1). Retaining his memories of the first mini-series, Thomas Wayne knows something is up and spends the rest of the series playing detective, trying to figure out how this happened as well as a way to restore everything so his son will live to become Batman. There are some fun twists that Johns throws in such as a different Two-Face, Psycho Pirate, and the Penguin managing Wayne’s casino as well as serving as his butler/servant (no Alfred in this reality). Before the series ends, the character of Thomas Wayne is explored in more depth and becomes likable and someone to root for. He did not have that effect on me in the first series.
Which brings us to the end of this compelling saga, where I suspect many readers may be saying so what? Because nothing changes. Bruce Wayne and Thomas Wayne are still alive, just in different places.
I think the point is that Johns wanted to establish the ability to tell stories in multiple timelines without having to constantly tie them together (although the new Justice Society so far seems to be overlapping). I don’t care as long as the stories are this interesting. I just know that Johns is a pretty reliable scripter. And, if he wants to tell more stories of the Thomas Wayne Batman I am definitely interested. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
This earns a three-star rating solely on the merits of the breathtaking, gorgeously detailed art of Liam Sharp. As a story-teller he needs some help. Basically this is working Batman and Wonder Woman into a Celtic murder mystery, loaded with English/Irish mythology involving faerie folk, daemons, gods, etc. that is heavy on wordy passages and exposition and lean on action and pacing.
I loved looking at the visuals but reading the text was burdensome and I couldn't wait for it to end. The pages with big panel art and less words were my favorites. THREE STARS.
With Blockbuster dead, Heartless makes his move to become crime boss in Bludhaven by assaulting the local private prison and releasing all the inmates into the city. Nightwing has to get things under control as long as he can subdue the powerful KGBeast, but gets an assist from his team mates.
The best scenes in the book occur outside of the main story, especially the conversations between Bruce and Dick at Alfred’s gravesite. Very tender and heart-warming. Next best scene is Dick finally getting some recognition for his value from the Justice League. FOUR STARS.
Here, he’s working with Detective Montoya as they arrest Johnny Poodles, a member of the False Faces gang linked to Black Mask. Shortly after, the pair are assigned to another “psycho” case to track down the “Widow-Wacker”. Harvey gets a late-night visit from Black Mask, who makes him a deal - - handing over a data disc with info about Gotham’s underworld (with any reference to Black Mask’s operation omitted, of course) in exchange for his cooperation when Johnny Poodles gets his day in court. He agrees but has a change of heart at crunch time, which he painfully pays for but also turns the tables. There’s also a neat little bookend with a doctor warning Harvey about his diet/exercise habits and Harvey’s rebuttal at the end of the story. I also loved the art. FOUR STARS.
“Here There Be Monsters” features a young non-powered Peter Parker on a fishing trip with Uncle Ben and encountering first the amphibious Gigantus, then Groot the giant tree monster from Planet X, followed by the Vandoom creature and energy creature The Blip - - all giant monsters from Peter’s collection of comic books (from the pre-superhero, monster days of Marvel, MC comics back then). Naturally Aunt May makes him get rid of his collection when he wakes everyone up from his nightmare (but Uncle Ben stores them in the attic for when Peter is older). Nightmare (from Doctor Strange stories) shows up near the end, concluding that Peter is a prime subject for his torments. But he get taken out by Stan Lee wielding a tennis racket.
Monstrous nostalgic fun, good for a chuckle. THREE STARS.
Here, a criminal hanging from a light pole and presumably webbed up for the police department turns up dead, which makes Spider-Man wanted on suspicion of murder (to J. Jonah Jameson’s delight, of course).
Norman Osborn’s back in town, and when images and left behind pumpkins, etc turn up to torment Spider-Man, the Green Goblin becomes his number one suspect. But, Spider could be making the wrong assumptions.
The entire story takes place during a winter snow-storm and I admire the way the art team effectively overlaid the panels with white. THREE STARS.
In the VENOM INC tale, a symbiotic super villain (Maniac) takes control of New York crime families but doesn’t stop there. He’s also got a bunch of super-villains under his control with only Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Venom (Eddie Brock), Anti-Venom (Flash Thompson), and Black Cat resisting the control of his symbiotic goo.
There are some moments of decent characterization here amidst all the fighting, almost making me regret not reading the whole thing. Sandoval finishes off the final/epilogue pages and his art is just not on par with Stegman. THREE STARS.
After much prodding, Deadpool takes Spider-Man’s advice and checks himself into the Ravencroft Institute to get his head straight. But, also checking in is Carnage, who’s brought his gang of symbiotes and is on the hunt for ripping spines out and obtaining more codex. Who better to target than Deadpool - - who has previously hosted as many as five separate symbiotes?
Lots of fights and snappy one-liners and retorts ensue before Spider-Man has to jump into the fray to help Deadpool keep from getting ripped apart. THREE STARS.
While there are continuing story threads that weave throughout each issues, there's also a separate threat/conflict each time that usually gets resolved before the end. That's one of the things I like about this title, as opposed to the storylines that go on and on. Percy continues to weave those threads every issue but manages to keep them out of the way of the single issue story.
Johnny Blaze realizes that his Ghost Rider manifestation has been suppressed while living in a small town with a faux family. He breaks free of that bond and strikes out on his own. However, he's hampered by a behind-the-ear scar from his last motorcycle accident, a scar that harbors an inner demon that is constantly in conflict with him.
Add a curious new character, Talia Warroad, working for the FBI's Paranormal Unit investigating Johnny and always seeming to be one step behind, plus a mysterious night magician and a secretive council and you have the makings of a suspenseful mystery/thriller. Add cannibalistic monsters in caves, berserker trucks, a motorcycle race to hell, the re-introduction of Blackheart and there's plenty to like about this title. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Meanwhile FBI Special Agent Talia Warrroad manages to catch up to Johnny, subdue and chain him to a bed where she examines his mind so he can relive his sad past and how he arrived at this point. She ends up recruiting him as her new partner, as they have a lot of work to do.
Back in Hell’s Backbone, Utah (the site of the bike race to hell) Blackheart gives a campaign speech in front of his demonized recruits: “If you crossed the finish line, you were promised a chance to hold congress with the devil. . . . . I might not rule hell. But I command the ash and smoke its fires cast upon the world. And though I can no longer claim the Ghost Rider . . . I own his shadow” just as his new servant “Exhaust” shows up.
I’m beginning to get tired of this series, although I have the next five issues waiting for me to read. No hurry. THREE STARS.
Main character Jenny’s family has the ability to do something magical - - bring a snowman to life. Only one relative in a generation has the gift, and it’s Jenny. The whole issue details every single little item of her plans (she treats it like a military mission) then the day arrives, she makes the snowman, and by that point the story ends. There’s a twist but I don’t want to spoil it. TWO STARS.
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