100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation
#51. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Date
July 30, 2013
Credits
Director: Joy Oliva
Writer: Jim Krieg
Based On: “Flashpoint” by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert
Cast: Justin Chambers as Barry Allen / The Flash, C. Thomas Howell as Professor Eobard “Zoom” Thawne / Reverse-Flash, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Kevin McKidd as Thomas Wayne / Batman, Michael B. Jorda as Victor Stone / Cyborg, Dee Bradley Baker as Etrigan the Demon / Top / Canterbury Cricket, Steven Blum as Lex Luthor / SHAZAM! / Captain Thunder, Sam Daly as Clark Kent / Kal-El / Superman, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, Cary Elwes as Orin / Arthur Curry / Aquaman, Nathan Fillion as Hal Jorda / Green Lantern, Grey DeLisle-Griffin as Nora Allen / Young Barry Allen / Martha Wayne / The Joker, Jennifer hale as Iris West / Billy Batson, Danny Huston as General Sam Lane, Danny Jacobs as Cole Cast / Grifter / Leonard Snart / Captain Cold, Peter Jessop as Dr. Vulko, Lex Lang as Nathaniel Adam / Captain Atom / Funeral Presider, Vanessa Marshall as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman, Candi Milo as Persephone / Pedro Pena, Ron Perlman as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke, Kevin Michael Richardson as The President of the United States / James, Andrea Romano as Doris / Central City Newsreader, James Patrick Stuart as Steve Trevor / George “Digger” Harness / Captain Boomerang / Orm Marius / Ocean Master, Hynden Walch as Yo-Yo
The Reason It’s Great
If there ever was a story that surpassed its source material, it would be Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. With great animation, high-octane action, and deep character interactions, this animated feature film ranks among the best from Warner Bros. / DC.
Barry Allen wakes up one day and his world has changed. He’s no longer a speedster; Iris West is married to someone else; the Justice League doesn’t exist; and his mother is still alive. Many events are drastically different (e.g. Batman is Thomas Wayne, as Bruce was the one who died during the robbery) and Barry’s memories are starting to get overwritten.
With the help of Thomas Wayne, Barry recreates his lab accident and regains his speed. Barry later finds out that he changed the timeline when he traveled back in time and saved his mother. To fix the timeline, Barry travels to the past again and stops his previous self from saving his mother.
With a large amount of violence, this film is one of the most mature animated productions from the studio. The mature themes also lend to the films many poignant and emotional scenes.