Flashpoint Reading Order: The Complete Guide

YsmaelByYsmael Delicana Published on
flashpoint

One of the biggest and most important events in the history of the DC universe is the Flashpoint because this was a huge crossover event that allowed multiple different DC storylines to end. In fact, Flashpoint was the event that marked the end of the DC universe from 1985 to 2011, as it was able to reset the entire timeline and give birth to the New 52. As such, it will allow you to understand the events that led to the entire reset of the DC universe.

With that said, fans of the Flash will love the entire Flashpoint storyline because of how it allows them to connect with the character on a different level while also getting to know more about the different DC characters that are part of this huge crossover event. But the best way to understand Flashpoint is to actually read the comics in order. Luckily for you, we have a good list of the comics and trade paperbacks you need to read to follow the storyline well enough.

Flashpoint Reading Order At A Glance

The Flashpoint event in the history of DC is actually one of the biggest and most important crossover events in comic book history. That’s because this is an event that includes more than 60 issues, as it is necessary for readers to be able to understand and read all of those comic books to see how it all led to the entire reset of the DC universe. Now, let’s look at all of those comic book issues at a glance.

  1. Flashpoint: Reverse Flash #1
  2. Flashpoint: Project Superman #1
  3. Flashpoint: Project Superman #2
  4. Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #1
  5. Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1
  6. Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #2
  7. Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #1
  8. Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket #1
  9. Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1
  10. Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #2
  11. Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #3
  12. Flashpoint: Grodd of War #1
  13. Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #1
  14. Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #2
  15. Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #3
  16. Flashpoint: Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #1
  17. Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1
  18. Flashpoint: Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #2
  19. Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #2
  20. Flashpoint #1
  21. Flashpoint: The Outsider #1
  22. Flashpoint: Secret Seven #1
  23. Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1
  24. Flashpoint: Secret Seven #2
  25. Flashpoint: Secret Seven #3
  26. Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #2
  27. Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #3
  28. Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #1
  29. Flashpoint #2
  30. Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #2
  31. Flashpoint: The Outsider #2
  32. Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #1
  33. Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #2
  34. Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #3
  35. Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #3
  36. Flashpoint #3
  37. Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #2
  38. Booster Gold Vol. 2 #44
  39. Booster Gold Vol. 2 #45
  40. Booster Gold Vol. 2 #46
  41. Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1
  42. Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2
  43. Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #3
  44. Flashpoint: The Outsider #3
  45. The World of Flashpoint #1
  46. The World of Flashpoint #2
  47. Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #3
  48. Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1
  49. Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #2
  50. Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #3
  51. Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #3
  52. Flashpoint: Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #3
  53. Flashpoint #4
  54. Booster Gold Vol. 2 #47
  55. The World of Flashpoint #3
  56. Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #3
  57. Flashpoint: Project Superman #3
  58. Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #1
  59. Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #2
  60. Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #3
  61. Flashpoint #5

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Flashpoint Reading Order

In the past, those who wanted to read the Flashpoint crossover storyline had to secure copies of each of those comic book issues. The good news is that we have a list of the trade paperbacks (TPB) that will allow you to read all of those comic book issues without having to secure them all one by one. TPB is usually the way to go for most comic book readers that want to read huge crossover events, and the same goes for something as big as Flashpoint. Now, let’s look at each TPB you need to read to understand the Flashpoint event in the DC universe.

Flash Rebirth

rebirth

Flash Rebirth shouldn’t be confused with the 2016 comic book called Rebirth. In Flash Rebirth, we get to see the “rebirth” of the Flash, who is one of the best Silver Age comic book heroes. It follows Barry Allen’s story after he returned in 2008’s Final Crisis crossover. Flash Rebirth also allows us to see what has been going on in Barry’s life.

Flash: The Road to Flashpoint

road 1

The first comic book storyline where the Flashpoint is referenced is Flash: The Road to Flashpoint. This collects The Flash 8 to 12. There are a lot of people who might want to start with this one if they already know a bit about Barry Allen’s background during his “rebirth.” But we recommend that you go with Flash Rebirth first.

World of Flashpoint (Flash)

flash

The World of Flashpoint has a lot of tie-in books because a lot of different characters are involved in the greater narrative of this storyline. Nevertheless, World of Flashpoint (Flash) is the tie-in book that specifically features the Flash. This one collects Grodd of War 1, Kid Flash Lost 1 to 3, Legion of Doom 1 to 3, Reverse Flash 1, and Citizen Cold 1 to 3. This is an essential read for those who really want to dive deep into the storyline of what the Flashpoint is all about.

Time Masters: Vanishing Point

time

The thing about Time Masters: Vanishing Point is that it seems to fit in more with Final Crisis. However, it does have a link to Flashpoint, and that can be one of the things that will make this comic book interesting for fans of the Flash. It collects issues 1 to 6. Of course, it does give a few hints about what will happen in Flashpoint, and that may be something that purists want to dive into.

Flashpoint

flashpoint 1

The main event is collected in the Flashpoint collection, which collects Flashpoint issues 1 to 5. Written by Geoff Johns, this is the most crucial part of the entire Flashpoint reading experience, and there are even those who say that you can read it on your own without reading the other books because it does have a summary of the entire arc.

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Nevertheless, the important thing to take note of here is that it is still better to read the books that allow you to understand what led to the Flashpoint as well as the background stories of the characters involved in the entire event. Of course, the tie-ins are also going to be very important for you to understand the greater narrative behind the Flashpoint crossover event.

World of Flashpoint (Superman)

superman

World of Flashpoint (Superman) focuses more on Superman during the very beginning of Flashpoint when Barry Allen wakes up to it. This book also collects issues 44 to 47 of Booster Gold, and that may be interesting to those who are fans of this character.

World of Flashpoint (Wonder Woman)

ww

After World of Flashpoint (Superman), you might want to read World of Flashpoint (Wonder Woman) because it is the part where you get to understand more about Wonder Woman as well as Aquaman. This is where you will see the stories of these two important characters. The reading order of World of Flashpoint (Wonder Woman) isn’t necessary, but we do recommend that you read it before the next one on this list, although you can interchange them. This book collects Emperor Aquaman 1 to 3, Outsider 1 to 3, Lois Lane and the Resistance 1 to 3, and Wonder Woman and the Furies 1 to 3.

World of Flashpoint (Batman)

batman 1

World of Flashpoint (Batman) isn’t actually a part of the entire Batman continuity because it follows a different Batman (no spoilers). As such, it really isn’t important to fans of the Batman storyline, but it is quite important to those who want to understand what happened during the Flashpoint crossover event. You can read this book before or after World of Flashpoint (Wonder Woman). The book collects Batman: Knight of Vengeance 1 to 3, Deadman and the Flying Graysons 1 to 3, Deathstroke and the curse of the Ravager 1 to 3, and Secret Seven 1 to 3.

World of Flashpoint (Green Lantern)

green lantern

World of Flashpoint (Green Lantern) is the final part of the entire World of Flashpoint storyline. It collects Hal Jordan 1 to 3, Abin Sur 1 to 3, Frankenstein and the creatures of the Unknown 1 to 3, and Green Arrow Industries 1.

Ysmael

Ysmael “Eng” Delicana is a writer based in Davao City, Philippines. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at Ateneo de Davao University before continuing to teach part-time at the same university. While teaching was a fun gig, being a geek and a writer seemed to be his calling. His expertise includes fantasy shows and movies, comic books, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and popular RPG video games. Ysmael also excels at learning new things and getting to know new topics that are interesting yet foreign to him, and that’s why he can also be called a jack of all trades. He also works as a part-time writer for books about sports. As an avid fan of fantasy TV shows, video games, and books, Ysmael is fond of watching, playing, and reading things related to fantasy, magic, and mystical creatures. However, he is also a huge fan of anime, as he spends a portion of his time watching shonen anime. As long as something is interesting and worth his time, Ysmael tends to devote his effort to it, as he has been great at geeking out about a certain topic. Ysmael’s writing style tends to be quite conversational in the sense that he likes speaking to the readers instead of making them feel like they are reading something tedious. He picked up this during his teaching years because he needed to find ways to simplify topics that tend to be foreign and complex to students. Ysmael also writes for Comic Basics.