Superhero Media: Justice League - The Flashpoint Paradox

Normally, I like to talk about the comic version of these stories before I cover the animated adaptations, but I didn't have ready access to Flashpoint and have always felt that the film is the better version anyway. After an encounter with Professor Zoom, the Flash (Barry) wakes to find himself in a world where his mother is alive, he has no powers and Europe has been ravaged by a war between Atlantis and Themyscria. Quickly figuring out that history has been altered, Barry heads to Gotham to find Batman and get help, only to discover that, in this reality, Thomas Wayne is Batman, Martha is the Joker and Bruce was killed by Joe Chill. Normally, I'm not keen on "edgier" interpretations of Batman, but there is a tragedy to Thomas Wayne leaving healing behind for murder that makes this more than the shallow treatments that are the Grim Knight and the Batman Who Laughs. Sadly, not too many characters get as interesting a treatment as Batman, with Superman being kept as an experiment for decades and Aquaman and Wonder Woman just being angry at each other. 

Where The Flashpoint Paradox excels isn't so much in being an interesting "Elseworlds" title, but as a character piece for Flash and the lengths he's willing to go to be a hero. Throughout The Flashpoint Paradox, Flash is intending to save the world that he is in, not the one he came from, partially because in this new world his mother is alive, but mainly because the world is suffering and he is a hero. Barry being Barry, he holds the assumption that if he can just get Batman and Superman behind him, things will work out and he can save the day, even though the British Isles have been destroyed in the war and Atlantis is prepping a doomsday device. The more fatalist Batman is the one who pushes Barry to make the sensible choice, travel back in time, and change the past back, because the world will be a much better place for it. This version of Batman accepts defeat, knows he will die, and makes his peace with leaving a better world behind him, that's why he's so satisfying to watch. 

Even though very few parts of The Flashpoint Paradox are especially good in of themselves, the combined whole is excellent, certainly one of the best of the Justice League animated films. Keeping Barry as the focus character works well, as he is the most human and relatable of the main Justice League roster, as well as often being the "heart" of the team. This story simply wouldn't work as well with Batman or Wonder Woman in the main role. Online superhero commentators tend to tout The Flashpoint Paradox as being one of the best examples of what Warner Bros "should" be adapting, and I can't say I disagree too much, but doesn't The Flashpoint Paradox pretty much engender a reboot? The worst part of the story is that it booted the New 52, I'd really hate any live-action version to wipe away the DCU films and characters I actually enjoyed. If you haven't seen The Flashpoint Paradox yet, add it to your watch list, it's an enjoyable time.