The Flashpoint storyline revolves around the Flash, who wakes up to find that his world has changed dramatically. His mother is alive, and he has no powers. He meets Batman, who is not Bruce Wayne but Thomas Wayne, Bruce's father. The Flash learns that the world has been altered, and he must find a way to restore the original timeline.
The Flash, along with Batman and Cyborg, embarks on a mission to stop the Reverse Flash, who is responsible for the changes. They also encounter Superman, who is being held captive by the government. As they fight to restore the timeline, the Flash's memories begin to fade, and he must find a way to prevent the Reverse Flash from altering the course of history.
The story reveals that the Reverse Flash did not cause the changes; instead, it was the Flash himself who went back in time to save his mother, creating a butterfly effect that altered the timeline. The Flash must then go back in time and stop himself from saving his mother, restoring the original timeline.
The story concludes with the Flash succeeding in restoring the timeline, but not without some minor changes. The comic book series also introduces the concept of the DC Multiverse, where three distinct universes (DC Comics, Vertigo, and WildStorm) merge into one, creating the New 52 universe.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. DC Comics reboots its universe through events of gigantic proportions.
2. The Flashpoint event rebooted the DC universe in recent years.
3. The Flash is the main protagonist and antagonist of the Flashpoint saga.
4. The story begins with the Flash waking up at work and realizing things are different.
5. The Flash discovers he has no powers and one of his archenemies, Captain Cold, is a hero.
6. The Flash's mother is alive, which confuses him.
7. The Flash discovers Superman doesn't exist, but Batman does.
8. Batman is hunting the Joker in Gotham City.
9. Cyborg is a superhero representing the US government.
10. Cyborg invites Batman to join his team to help end the war between the Amazons and Atlanteans.
11. Batman refuses to join the team due to trust issues.
12. The Flash visits Batman's mansion and finds it abandoned.
13. The Flash meets Thomas Wayne, who is Batman in this reality.
14. The Flash discovers he has a reverse Flash ring and suspects the Reverse Flash is the cause of the changes.
15. The Flash tries to recreate the events that gave him his powers but fails initially.
16. The Flash eventually gains his powers back and uses them to heal from his injuries.
17. The Flash and Batman search for Superman, who is being held by the government.
18. Superman is revealed to be a pale, anorexic version who can hardly speak.
19. Superman is kept under a radiation that copies the radiation from the red sun.
20. The Flash, Batman, and Cyborg rescue Superman, who gains his powers when exposed to sunlight.
21. The Flash's memories start to fade, and he realizes he must stop the Reverse Flash.
22. The Reverse Flash reveals he didn't cause the changes, but the Flash's actions did.
23. The Flash used the Cosmic Wake to go back in time and prevent his mother's death, causing a butterfly effect.
24. The Reverse Flash explains that breaking the time barrier causes a temporal blast, leading to changes in the future.
25. The Flash's actions led to Thomas Wayne becoming Batman, and Martha Wayne becoming the Joker.
26. The Flash also caused the ship carrying Superman to land in Metropolis instead of Smallville.
27. The war between the Amazons and Atlanteans started due to a love affair between Aquaman and Wonder Woman.
28. The Flash, with the help of Thomas Wayne, goes back in time to prevent the changes.
29. The Flash stops himself from using the Cosmic Wake, and the story restarts with him waking up at work.
30. Everything returns to normal, but the Flash's actions have created a new timeline, the New 52.
31. The New 52 universe combines elements from the DC Comics, Vertigo, and WildStorm universes.
32. The Flash's actions have consequences, and some characters, like Superman, now have different love interests.
33. The story concludes with a war between the Dark Side and the Anti-Monitor, setting the stage for future events in the DC Universe.