I am so glad the creative team behind Flashpoint Beyond revealed the Clockwork Killer here because we have two more issues to deal with the fallout – the murders, the pending invasion, Flashpoint Earth’s fate, how this all fits into the Divine Continuum, and of course, Batmen. That will be a worry for later, however. Instead, let’s look at the issue that just dropped and tease about the excellent read ahead of you.
Starting with the main cover by Mitch Gerads, the homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man makes for a genuinely eye-catching cover. The background of the clock gears is a nice touch as the Clockwork Killer leaves parts behind in their victims, so very well played! If you’re collecting the History of the DC Timeline variant covers, you’ll be treated to Zero Hour by Francis Manapul. I have to say I’ve been enjoying these variants, and it is exciting to wonder which two events will make for the last two issues’ variants.
The story deals with three different pairs of characters and their experiences. We get the advancement of the story with Batman (Bruce) along with Corky Baxter, the Dents, and Thomas together with Oswald. The dialogues between characters were excellent as they read very emotionally and honestly; I would recommend paying serious attention to the conversation between Bruce and Corky as I think there are some hints for their part of this adventure. The exchange with Thomas and Oswald was endearing as it shows a side of the character that we’re not used to, him caring. The part with the Dents will give you some answers, but it will raise a few questions.
The blurb at the end of the last issue did deliver on its promise of “Dexter Dent: Robin the Boy Terror,” and this kid could give Damian a run for his mask. Dexter’s adventure intertwines with Thomas’s investigation, which plays very nicely with building suspense. Of course, this leads to the big reveal, and I’ll be honest, I was closed-minded about it at first. It didn’t fit what I thought was happening and who I thought the murderer would be. Yet the reveal did something that comics should do: it made me go back and read more comics! Plus, it deepens the mystery of how and why.
I reread Flashpoint: Batman – Knight of Vengeance, and now it makes sense why DC Comics rereleased it. I thought my memory had the story on recall; oh, what a fool I was. Then I went to Tom King’s Batman #84 and followed up with a reread of issues #0 to #3 of this series, which makes sense. Issue #3 did an excellent job of showing but not telling, allowing for a better acceptance of the big reveal. I think the creative team knew this would be a tough pill to swallow, so that could be why they did it here, and I’m very thankful for that. Those who read the collected edition will have an advantage, but they’ll have to wait.
Pay attention to the opening panel, a conversation between Corky Baxter and Bruce Wayne. I like how this conversation is helping to place this event in the timeline, as it is being released in real time with Dark Crisis (note that the next couple of issues from both series will have the same release date). That panel teases what Bruce is doing, and I can’t wait to see how that will play out for the main DC Universe and the world of Flashpoint. I also appreciate the similarities between Barry Allen trying to save his mom and what Bruce is doing with Thomas, yet we know what Barry did changed everything, so what will happen from Bruce’s actions?
The art team of Xermanico and Romulo Fajardo Jr carry this issue as they cover the Flashpoint adventures. They are super consistent and give their set of characters such life – the facial expressions of joy, fear, worry, and madness in their art especially. For not having much in the way of action to work with, the team does a great job of making the pages move. Mikel Janin and Jordie Bellaire have the Bruce Wayne pages, and they bring a fantastic work ethic to their limited space; I can’t wait to see them flesh out their portion of the adventure because Bruce is messing with something just too big.
The big reveal is here and very satisfying as it ties so much of the mystery and adventure together. I’m surprised the creative team chose that character, but it will make for fantastic conflict later in the series. It looks like Thomas and Bruce Wayne are in for some heavy fallout.
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