Flashpoint Beyond #4 Review

 

 

Written by: Geoff Johns, Tim Sheridan, Jeremy Adams
Art by: Xermánico, Mikel Janín
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr., Jordie Bellaire
Letters by: Rob Leigh
Cover art by: Mitch Gerads
Cover price: $3.99
goog_849238669Release date: August 2, 2022


Flashpoint Beyond #4 brings the mystery closer to a reveal as Dexter Dent assumes a new role on a quest to save his mother. Meanwhile, Eobard Thawne's death sheds light on the true identity of the Clockwork Killer, and it's not who you would suspect.

Is It Good? 

This is the week of "I'm not sure" when it comes to assessing Batman comics. Batman #126 gave readers a love-it-or-hate-it last-page reveal. Flashpoint Beyond #4 does the same with the Clockwork Killer's identity. You're either going to love it or hate it.

The action-light story begins with Thomas Wayne examining Eobard Thawne's body. Thawne was killed by the Clockwork Killer to stop anyone with the ability to affect time from undoing the Flashpoint timeline. Now, Thawne's body, like the rest of the Clockwork Killer's victims, is filled with parts from a clock, and Thomas is convinced the parts are the key to finding the killer.

Meanwhile, Dexter Dent puts all of Penguin's "training" to good use by sneaking into the Batcave and suiting up as Flashpoint Robin so he can find and free his mother from Arkham.

So far, so good. The nagging questions surrounding this title still remain, however. Why does it exist, and what role does it play in Dark Crisis? We don't get answers, but we do get one doozy of a reveal when Dexter Dent succeeds in his mission at the same time Thomas Wayne puts the (literal) pieces together and figures out the Clockwork Killer's true identity. You'll either think it's a cool twist or a sick joke (*ahem*).

Does the reveal make sense? No, not when considering the circumstances of this character's last appearance. Does the killer's identity provide insight into everything happening with the Flashpoint timeline, Hypertime, and the Omniverse? No, not in the least little bit.

 

Does the reveal practically grab you by the shorthairs and demand your attention for the next issue? Eh, maybe. This issue plays a lot with deep cuts and character name drops, so it's quickly turning into Easter Egg; The Comic. The novelties are mildly interesting, but I'm not ready to say this series has justified a return to Flashpoint other than it's just something fun to do.

The art is excellent, and the last page's hint with Bruce Wayne/Batman suggests something bigger is at play with Dark Crisis, but not enough to tell what or how much.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.


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Bits and Pieces:

Flashpoint Beyond #4 starts assembling the pieces to the Clockwork Killer's identity, and when the killer is revealed, you may love it or hate it. The art is excellent, and the storytelling is top-notch. However, this series seems more interested in the novelty of Flashpoint and Easter Eggs and hasn't entirely locked down a reason to exist. A closer tie to Dark Crisis may be at play, but the nuggets we get here barely rise above mild curiosity.

7.5/10