REVIEW: DC Flashpont #5

Thanks to a week of hurricane's and earthquakes, my daily DC and Marvel subscriptions were put on hold. So I am sorry that this review is coming out so late. But its the end of an era for DC and this issue deserves a review regardless. So lets get started!
SPOILER ALERT!!
Flashpoint #5 begins with the long awaited climatic battle between The Flash (Barry Allen) and Reverse Flash (Eobard Thwane). Fans have been dying to have some sort of explanation on how and why the Flashpoint time line was created. And thankfully it is. Reverse Flash explains to Barry that it was his attempt to rescue his mother from being murdered, caused the time lines to be altered. And with that revelation the battle between the two Flashes rages on. During the battle we are given some very intresting and engaging banter between the two, mainly on Thwanes part. For it is revealed their rivalries between the two were part of something much more. Because Thwane never killed Barry Allen, Allen was able to generate the "speed force". And through this Reverse Flash is able to turn into a "living paradox", and has the ability to kill Barry at anytime and still exist.




Just when things are getting juicy, Batman (Thomas Wayne) impales Thwane with a sword killing him. Showing that Thomas Wayne is much different from his son Bruce Wayne. Sad to say that after Thwanes death this issue falls pretty much downhill from there. Mainly because the next few pages are pretty much expected and brings nothing new to this series. All hope is lost and the earth is literally on the brink of destruction. And like Dorthy from the Wizard of Oz, Barry had the ability to set things normal the entire time. We are given a nice little reunion between Barry and his mother just before the time line is set straight. As Flash prepares to fix the time lines it is revealed that there are three DC time lines and that they must be united into one against the impending arrival of an unbeatable foe. This is all told by a mysterious hooded lady. (As seen throughout the various new DC 52 titles) And thus the new DC Universe is born. Not much is revealed towards the end of the new universe and the changes. Even Barry cant even tell the differences. But we are given what I would say a very heartwarming ending. Flash explains to Bruce Wayne what happened and gives him a letter from his father Thomas Wayne, now dead in this time line. And we are given a very compassionate Batman to the point in which he begins to tear up after reading the letter. Yes people Batman cried.

In conclusion Geoff Johns have delivered another stunning story arc and the last for the old DC universe. But like many comic book story arcs the beginning was very engaging but fail to deliver towards the end. Flashpoint #5 answers many of the fans questions but at the same time raises many others. Most of them being the continuity issues of the change and the mysterious hooded lady and her message. Unfortunately this issue did not have that lasting impact this issue should of had. This was the last issue of an era and I was left pretty disappointed. I kept asking myself,"Is that's it?". Especially when it came to the final battle between the Amazonian's and the Atlantian's. It just felt like Johns just forgot about that whole story completely in this final issue. And another issue that I had was, just how did Barry cause the time lines to rift just by saving his mother? But even with all these issues Flashpoint #5 is still a good read and a decent way to end an era, even though this issue should had ended with a bang. Flashpoint #5 earns a 3.5/5.