Flashpoint Fizzles Out

I just finished reading the 5-part Flashpoint mini-series and several related individual mini-series.  I was a bit disappointed, especially with the "grand" finale in Flashpoint #5.  All of the events just seemed to...fizzle out.  (Is anyone as tired of the overused Reverse Flash/Professor Zoom and redundant time-traveling storylines as me?)  I guess I was expecting more of a lead-in to DC's "New 52."  I learned more about Flashpoint and its consequences from reading articles online than from reading the comics, and there's some shame in that.  To me, that means that the writers, editors, and powers-that-be didn't do their job.   On a related note, I think the best part about Flashpoint #5 was the interaction between Flash and Batman at the end.  I wish more comic book series employed this human touch.  It makes the characters feel more real and relatable and demonstrates true story-writing ability. 

Aquaman looking bad-ass.

• Flashpoint: Batman Knight of Vengeance - one of the better related mini-series to the Flashpoint storyline.  It involves Thomas Wayne (Bruce's father) as Batman because Bruce died during the shooting that one fateful night at the theater instead of Thomas.  It's provides a good "what if?" storyline.
• Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons - another good mini-series with Deadman, Nightwing, and Dick Grayson's still-alive parents as traveling circusfolk.  
• Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman - another good Flashpoint related mini-series.  Aquaman and Wonder Woman's proposed union dissolves and the Atlanteans flood most of Europe, making him one of the world's most wanted. 
• Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies - Ties in with Emperor Aquaman.  While Aquaman has flooded most of Europe, Wonder Woman and her furies have taken over England. 
• Flashpoint: Citizen Cold - Captain Cold as a hero?  Well...not really.  And not really a great story either.  
• Flashpoint: Deathstroke & the Curse of the Ravager - Ever wonder what would happen if you crossed Deathstroke and Capt. Jack Sparrow?  Me neither.  Skip it.  I read the first issue and it was as lame as expected.
• Flashpoint: Legion of Doom - the Legion of Doom, with its recognizable headquarters shaped like a scary, giant Darth Vader-like head, holds a special fondness in my heart.  It reminds me of Saturday mornings as a kid, watching my favorite classic Super Friends cartoon shows.  This series focuses mainly on the villain Heatwave going on a killing spree with the assistance of his corrupt pal, Plastic Man.  Unfortunately, there's no true "Legion." 
• Flashpoint: The Outsider - I skipped this series all together. 
• Flashpoint: Abin Sur - The Green Lantern - what if Abin Sur had lived and there was no Green Lantern Hal Jordan?   Another average series.
• Flashpoint: Project: Superman - This series imagines Kal-El as a government-kept secret.  He's scrawny and shy.  I'm guessing it's the premise for the new Superboy series, which I'm not sure I'm going to like.  (Goodbye, former sensitive-jock Conner Kent.  I'll miss you.)  
• Flashpoint: Frankenstein & the Creatures of the Unknown - Dracula and vampires have been done to death (literally), so how about some focus on Frankenstein?  Frankenstein as a superhero and a leader of a superhero group?  Yeah...it's as bad as it sounds.  
• Flashpoint: Secret Seven - I bought and read this series for two reasons: the resurrection of Amethyst and George Perez as the artist.  While the art was fantastic (naturally), the story just wasn't there.  It was primarily about Shade the Changing Man (double yawn). 
• Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost - I think this series really helped support the main Flashpoint series as much as Emperor Aquaman and Wonder Woman and the Furies did.  I suspect its events also directly relate to the New 52.  
• Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint - Why was this series called The World of Flashpoint?  Oh, I guess because nobody would buy it if it just said Traci 13?  Anyway, it's about the mystical Traci 13 and her family.  Good, but nothing extraordinary.  
• Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance - resist buying this series unless you're a big fan for the Wildstorm Universe's Grifter being integrated into the DCU.
• Flashpoint: Hal Jordan - Hal Jordan as an every day hero instead of a superhero.  See:  Marvel Comics' Steve Rogers, Super Soldier (when he's not being Captain America).
• Flashpoint: Grodd of War - The world is divided up among villains.  Grodd happens to own all of Africa.  A good one-shot tie-in since we don't really see/learn much about him and his kingdom elsewhere.  
• Flashpoint: Reverse-Flash - if you didn't read enough of him in the main Flashpoint mini-series, here he is again, still time-traveling and fucking things up.  
• Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries - The super-liberal, justice-seeking Oliver Queen as an arms dealer.  Meh. I guess that's why there was only one issue.
  
• Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket - I draw the line at giant, talking insects.  Seriously.  What is this?  Kafka?

I guess there were no Teen Titans in the world of Flashpoint?  Maybe the adults ate their young. 

So now that Flashpoint is now over, let's get into the meat of things and see what this whole New 52 is really all about.  I hope it was worth it...