‘The Flash’ vs ‘Flashpoint’: 8 Differences between the DCEU movie and the Graphic Novel

It has been 31 years since The Flash last appeared in a movie where he served as the titular character. The DCEU had long teased his appearance, with audiences having to make do with blink and miss it appearance in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and collaborations in the Justice League films. In the Scarlet Speedster’s return to the big screen in The Flash (2023), the studio opted to visit Geoff Johns’ hugely popular Flashpoint storyline. However, not everything is the same, with the feature film taking some creative liberties; so here listing out  ‘The Flash’ vs ‘Flashpoint’ differences.

What is the story of The Flash?

The Flash sees Barry Allen on the day before Henry Allen’s final appeal. Barry is combing through the new evidence that has come to light when he realizes that there isn’t enough to save his father. This is because Henry Allen’s face isn’t visible in this footage. Barry then visits Bruce Wayne, who urges him not to try to change the past, or it may result in a Butterfly Effect that will drastically alter things. 

Barry does as he sees fit, creating a world where the Flash hasn’t gotten his powers yet, and Batman has long retired. Also, this world has no Superman, with only Kara Zor-El’s pod reaching Earth. Barry, Barry-2013, Supergirl, and Batman try to save the reality that they are in but fail to do so. When Flash tries to redo their present, he realizes that some events of the past must stay as they are.

Also, Read: 4 DC Movies You Ought to Watch Before Watching The Flash

What is the difference between The Flash and Flashpoint?

1. Atlantis vs. Amazon is not the central conflict in The Flash

Geoff Johns’ Flashpoint Graphic Novel sees Europe serve as ground zero for a conflict between the Amazons and the Atlanteans. However, this isn’t the case with The Flash.

The 2023 film sees General Zod’s 2013 invasion of Metropolis (from Man of Steel) serve as a conflict that draws superheroes to what remains of the Justice League It could be seen as the studio’s attempt to wipe out Man of Steel, the Snyderverse, and all past iterations that it may have seen as problematic. 

2. The characters appearing in the book and the film are different

Characters that appear in both the Graphic Novel and the film are Batman, Flash, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman. This is quite a minor overlap if one considers the special appearance nature of the latter two names. However, both the novel and the book have their own set of unique characters. 

The Graphic Novel has names like The Secret Seven, Pied Piper, Cyborg, Reverse Flash, Element Woman, Enchantress, The Outsider, Ocean Master, and more; the film series has Supergirl, Zod, and another Flash (2013-Flash). 

3. Thomas Wayne is not Batman

In the comics, when Flash runs back to alter his past, he wakes up in an unrecognizable timeline. Flash, in need of help, goes to Wayne Manor, where Batman attacks him. It is then revealed that Dr. Thomas Wayne is Batman, and he turned to vigilantism after a mugger shot Bruce Wayne in the street. 

This isn’t the case in The Flash; when Barry and Barry-2013 head to Wayne Manor, they see a dilapidated mansion with overgrown shrubbery. Inside, they meet an old Bruce Wayne who has stopped being Batman for an extremely long time. This was a novel way to cast Michael Keaton and explain his absence from the Joel Schumacher films. 

Thomas Wayne’s absence from the alternate timeline ensures that his note doesn’t reach present-day Bruce, as seen in Geoff Johns’ Flashpoint. 

Also, Read: The Flash Ending, Post-Credits, And DC’s Future Explained

4. Henry Allen is alive

When recounting his take to Thomas Wayne, Barry Allen revealed he studied forensics only to prove that his father was innocent. However, in the next panel, he dropped a bombshell. Henry Allen died in prison before Barry could find a suspect or know that he was the Flash and learn the truth about Eobard Thawne/Reverse Flash.

In The Flash, Henry Allen is in Iron Heights Penitentiary and is awaiting his date in court for an appeal. 

5. Batman has a different reason to help Barry Allen regain his power

In the comic, Thomas Wayne’s Batman learns that Barry is from a different reality; one where his son Bruce is alive. This leads him to ask Barry if he can restore that version. When Barry replied that he could, Dr. Wayne decided to help him regain his power with the chemicals and the lightning rod. 

In The Flash, Batman only decides to help Barry, as Barry-2013 (the one with the powers in the new timeline) is unable to harness them properly to deal with General Zod. Also, this had to be done as Barry, Barry-2013, and Batman’s plan to recruit a super being didn’t work as she flew off. 

6. The number of Barry Allens is different

In Flashpoint, Barry Allen heads to a reality where there is no other Flash. The world hasn’t heard of a speedster superhero; he is the only one with the power. If there is another Barry Allen, he isn’t explored in the subject matter. 

In The Flash, after Barry placed the tomato can in his mother’s shopping cart, he ran back to the present. Unfortunately, a speedster appeared in the speed force and expelled him from within. This saw him trapped in 2013 on the exact day Barry Allen was to get his powers. There was even a scene where Barry had to explain himself to Barry-2013 and convince him that it was essential for him to get struck by lightning. 

Also, Read: The Flash (2023) Movie Review

7. Barry Allen regains his powers in a different manner

In Flashpoint, the lightning rod and chemicals technique failed on two occasions within the Bat Cave. This saw Thomas and Barry head to the grounds of Wayne Manor for a third attempt. It worked, and Barry Allen regained his powers. 

In the film, after Barry suffered severe burns without regaining his powers, all hope looked lost. Supergirl then showed up and carried him into the clouds to get struck by lightning. This worked, with there now being two Flashes in 2013. 

8. Barry changed the past differently

The Flash derives it dramatic strength from a crucial event in the film, the death of his mother that forces him to go back in time. In Flashpoint, there is no initial explanation about how Barry Allen ended up in an altered timeline. Later, Eobard Thawne reminded him about how he ran back in time and intercepted the Reverse Flash to prevent him from killing Nora Allen. When Flash went back to right his wrong, he stopped a version of himself in the speed force to restore the timeline. 

In The Flash, Barry ran back in time when he realized that his father had no hope in the appeal. Considering Bruce Wayne’s words, he doesn’t interact with his past self and makes one change. As his father went out to get a can of tomatoes, future Barry simply placed one in the shopping cart from when he and his mother had visited the supermarket. He tried to save the current timeline, but nothing seemed to stop Supergirl and Batman’s deaths.

Hence, Barry understood that he had to allow Nora Allen’s death to take place. He then restored events by running back in time and taking the tomato can out of the trolley. Barry, however, made one slight alteration. He swapped the tomato soup cans to the top shelf, prompting his father to look up while retrieving one of them. This resulted in his face being captured and gave the court enough evidence to exonerate him from the murder of Nora Allen. 

A result of this alteration saw Bruce Wayne’s appearance altered.