Flashpoint, not to be confused with 2011's Flashpoint (DC Comics), is a 1999 DC Comics story published under the Elseworlds imprint starring The Flash. It was written by Pat McGreal and illustrated by Norm Breyfogle, Rick Parker, and Noelle Giddings.
Set in a variant of the DC universe where Barry Allen was this reality's sole superhero, life was good—until saving JFK caused him to get hit by a mysterious career-ending bullet. Now paralyzed from the neck down, the former Flash spends his days dreaming of both his glory days and a strange world where there are more heroes like him, all while he works on the space program.
But everything changes when Wally West uncovers a strange tuning fork on Mars—an artifact that the philanthropic Vandal Savage is very intrigued by. With his mind still working at super-speed and with unexpected help from a hero in the shadows, can Barry solve the mystery in time to save the future?
This comic book contains examples of:
- Alternate Universe Reed Richards Is Awesome: While Barry's body was ruined, his mind still worked at super speed, and he managed to accelerate the space program to the point where humans successfully landed on Mars.
- Ambiguous Ending: The ending leaves it ambiguous as to whether Barry has been transported to another universe or is just imagining it as he dies.
- Big Bad: Vandal Savage ruined Barry's life and is behind the plot of the story, wanting to trigger Flashpoint and use the Speed Force to ravage the Earth.
- Career-Ending Injury: Flash was paralyzed from the neck down after saving JFK from assassins, ending his superhero career.
- Dying Dream: As he expends himself to save the world, Barry dreams of the regular DC universe and its heroes welcoming him.
- The End of the World as We Know It: This happened in the backstory when Mars' civilization was destroyed by the Speed Force tuning fork, which had the unintended side effect of vaporizing everything organic on the planet.
- Expendable Clone: Vandal Savage creates clones of Wally West to figure out the key to Barry's speed, but later deems them expendable enough to destroy.
- Glory Days: Barry lived the good life up until the mid-60s and frequently reminisces on his past handiwork and adoration.
- Kill It with Fire: Vandal Savage incinerates J'onn J'onnz with flames, reducing him to bones.
- Like Reality, Unless Noted: The main difference from the main DC universe is that Barry Allen was the world's only superhero. Martian Manhunter is one other.
- Mythology Gag: The Flash's hero career began in 1956, AKA the year Showcase #4, Barry's first appearance, was published.
- President for Life: JFK was elected to a tenth term and is still in power by the time of the story.
- Really 700 Years Old: JFK has been taking anti-aging treatments to stay youthful. Once Barry and Vandal Savage are gone, this wears off and he starts feeling his real age.
- Suicidal Cosmic Temper Tantrum: Boredom with immortality made Vandal Savage try to open a gateway to the end of time and destroy everything on Earth, including himself.
- Villain with Good Publicity: Vandal Savage is completely trusted by Barry and the public at large, and it takes a lot of effort to prove he had evil designs on the world. He uses this trust to kill J'onn J'onnz.
- Walking Transplant: Vandal Savage creates brain-dead clones of himself to harvest their organs and keep himself youthful in his immortality.
- Who Shot JFK?: Flash's injury occurred when saving JFK from the many bullets that popped up trying to kill him, including from Lee Harvey Oswald, the grassy knoll, and Vandal Savage.
