Flashpoint: Abin Sur, The Green Lantern #1
Writer: Adam Schlagman
Artists: Felipe Massafera (pencils, inks), Rod Reis (colorist)

Adhering to the credo, “All Life Matters”, Abin Sur obsesively protects those around him and in his care as a Green Lantern. Having failed to protect the one closest to him, he withdraws from personal relationships fearing he could not bear a similar loss. After a failed attempt by Thaal Sinestro to recruit him outside of a Guardian-approved battle of the Black Lanterns, he answers a summons to Oa. Concerned by the waging battles on Earth, the Guardians dispatch Abin Sur to retrieve the “White Entity” at any cost. Abin Sur vows to defend all six billion souls on the planet.

The background setting for Abin Sur is decent enough and you get a quick view into where the Flashpoint DCU is in regards to the Green Lantern Corps. A very familiar Green Lantern is still in the ranks of the Corps but through his tone (and the issue’s ending) it’s apparent a tiger’s stripes don’t change, or in this case the true color of a Lantern. Other than that, this one doesn’t seem to have much meat to it. Sticking around for a brief look at #2.

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1
Writer: Adam Schlagman
Artists: Ben Oliver (pencils, inks), Allen Passalaqua (colorist)

No point in a synopsis here, really. Hal wants to fly at an early age. Hal grows up and becomes reckless. Hal is drafted and joins Ferris Air in patroling the coast in preparation for attack on U.S. Hal still reckless. Hal meets an alien.

This one isn’t a favorite for me, that’s for sure. First off, it mimics much of Johns’ GL: Rebirth with young Hal. I’d have to go back and look at some of that stuff to be sure but so many of the visuals remind me of the young Hal Jordan/Carol Ferris sequences. And while I thought the art was alright I wasn’t crazy about EVERY page (that wasn’t a splash page, that is) having diagonally skewed and lopsided panels. I’m a big fan of panel design and interesting page layout but it was jarring to have basically the same design on each page. Repetition, here and there, is fine and is a necessity for the most part in comic panel storytelling but this was too much. Will likely just give issue #2 a cursory glance.

Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #1
Writer: Sterling Gates
Artists: Oliver Nome (pencils), Trevor Scott (inks), Brian Buccellato (colorist)

Awakening from a virtual reality chamber, Kid Flash finds himself in an alien environment. Coming face to face with his jailers, he comes to the quick conclusion that not being fast on his feet will be a detriment to his situation. Out of nowhere, a helmeted hero comes to his aid. Fleeing, they both come to realize “when” they exactly happen to be.

Thus far, all the Flashpoint comics have had one particular thing in common. Not so, with this one (at least as far as issue #1 goes). Storywise, this comic could be a link between “our” DCU and the “Flashpoint” universe. The opening sequence was a bit weird until I figured out what was happening (and was quickly revealed, too). I didn’t find the story or art particularily earth-shattering but I am at least interested in seeing where the story goes from this point. Two movies are referenced through art and dialogue (The Matrix and Back to the Future) which I found to be a bit weak. Gates isn’t trying to pawn something off which isn’t his own here but it rubbed me the wrong way nonetheless. Still, I want to see just how translucent Kid Flash can get so I’ll at least check out the next issue.