‘The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman’ Graphic Novel Review

DC Comics really upped the ante with “The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman.” Most of the “Flashpoint” graphic novels have four story arcs with one focused on a major player. However this one included not only Wonder Woman, but Aquaman as well. That’s the two heavy hitters the main storyline is based around all in one volume.

This “Flashpoint collection features Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Lois Lane, Grifter, Etrigan the Demon Knight, the Outsider, and others involved in significant events within the world of the alternate timeline. I would say this book is one of the essential ones to the entire “Flashpoint” plotline. The war between the Atlanteans and the Amazonians is one of the key events running through the entire story and is covered here in detail.

“Wonder Woman and the Furies” begins by telling us how Aquaman and the Amazon princess Wonder Woman first meet. It shows how the entire war between the Amazonian and Atlantean races started. There’s plenty of political intrigue and battles between the two sides to keep even the biggest ADHD sufferer’s attention. It’s written by “Resurrection Man” co-creators Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. The artwork is provided by Agustin Padilla (“Green Arrow”) and Scott Clark (Batman Incorporated”).

“Emperor Aquaman” digs deeper into the events in and around the fateful assassinations of the Amazon Queen and Aquaman’s wife. More secrets are revealed as the curtain is pulled back on some of the happenings in the first story arc in this book. Writer Tony Bedard (“Green Lantern: New Guardians”) keeps the pace moving forward and weaves the events in his book throughout everything “Flashpoint” fans have read in the past. Vicente Cifuentes (“Batgirl”) and Diana Egea illustrated this arc.

“Lois Lane and the Resistance” has our career-driven Daily Planet reporter forced into physical action as Europe erupts in war. She finds herself joining forces with a rag-tag team of superheroes and fighters looking to clean up the UK and drive the Amazonian and Atlantean armies out. Writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning show their talents for addictive storytelling again with this. Their writing is beautifully accentuated by Eddie Nunez (“Valen the Outcast”), Gianluca Gugliotta (“Mister Terrific”), and Christian Duce (“DC Retroactive: Superman – The ’70s Volume 1”).

Lastly, “The Outsider” has the lead character using the war between the Amazonians and the Atlanteans to his own benefit. Will Martian Manhunter, Black Adam, and other superheroes put an end to his money making schemes? Also, can he keep from being pulled into the epic battle for the world? James Robinson (“Justice Society of America”) wrote this great story and immersed me in the world of the Outsider, which I don’t usually keep up with. Javi Fernandez (“Captain America: First Vengeance”) brought Robinson’s dialogue and narrative to colorful life through his excellent artwork.

“The World of Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman” is absolutely a must-read for anyone keeping up with the comic event that reshaped the DC Universe and kicked off the New 52. The way the different stories all weave together reminds me of “Pulp Fiction” if it had superheroes. The complex storylines will have you frantically turning pages to the very last page.

For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:

‘The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman’ Graphic Novel Review
Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child’ Issue #1 Comic Book Review
‘The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman’ Graphic Novel Review

Eric Shirey is the founder and editor of Rondo Award nominated movie and comic book news websites MovieGeekFeed.com and TheSpectralRealm.com. His work has been featured on Yahoo!, DC Comics, StarWars.com, and other national entertainment websites. Besides his three decades long obsession with everything sci-fi, horror, and fantasy related in TV and movies, Eric has what some would call an unhealthy love for comic books. This has led him to interviewing and covering legendary writers and artists in the medium like Geoff Johns, Scott Snyder, Steve Niles, Bernie Wrightson, and Howard Chaykin.