Flashpoint is a 2011 comic book crossover story arc published by DC Comics. Written by Geoff Johns and pencilled by Andy Kubert, the five-issue core miniseries upended the status quo of the DC Universe. The story begins when Barry Allen, the Flash, wakes up in a radically altered timeline where he has no powers, his mother is alive, and the world is on the brink of destruction due to a war between Aquaman's Atlantis and Wonder Woman's Amazons.
In this twisted reality, familiar heroes are drastically changed: Bruce Wayne died as a child, prompting his father Thomas to become a brutal, gun-wielding Batman; Superman is a frail, government-held captive; and the world lacks its greatest protectors. Barry must race to restore his powers and uncover the truth behind the altered timeline, a mystery that ties back to his own tragic past and the actions of his nemesis, the Reverse-Flash.
The event was a massive critical and commercial success, praised for its high-stakes storytelling, emotional core centered on Barry's relationship with his mother, and Andy Kubert's dynamic artwork. Flashpoint served as a bridge to DC's 'New 52' publishing initiative, with the final issue literally rebooting the entire DC Universe continuity. Its legacy endures as one of the most impactful and widely adapted Flash stories, fundamentally reshaping the character's mythology for a new generation.
