Writer Geoff Johns has been tackling legacy storylines like 2011’s Flashpoint and working his way up to Doomsday Clock, a direct sequel to Watchmen, with a brief stint as DC Extended Universe’s co-chair along the way. His latest endeavor, Flashpoint Beyond, once again ties into his earlier work and gives the Flashpoint timeline a new lifeline. The aftermath of the miniseries sends ripples through the shared continuity as DC’s past and future fall into utter turmoil. The New Golden Age #1 builds on the story and traverses through time to create a multifaceted tale. The issue features artwork from talented artists, including Diego Olortegui, Gary Frank, Nick Filardi, Matt Herms, and others, with letters from Rob Leigh.
The New Golden Age #1 is a double-sized one-shot that spans a thousand years, moving back and forth between the 20th and the 30th centuries. The story begins in November 1940, the foundation day of the Justice Society of America, and stretches through time to the year 3022 when a splinter group of young superheroes finds the remnants of the JSA headquarters. The issue is centered around Dr. Fate and Helena Wayne, who discovers the truth about her father’s nightly escapades.
The New Golden Age #1 shows the infallible fluidity of time. The book’s narrative strength lies in the nonlinear storytelling that jumps back and forth between Dr. Fate and Helena, offering a glimpse into each of their lives, which become progressively darker as an insidious entity targets them. There are distinct changes in both perspectives as one is too world-weary and morose, while the other is inquisitive, slowly gathering courage. Between these two, John introduces even more storylines to further complicate the mystery. Even with the steady pace and intriguing characters, the random cutaways risk distracting the reader. There is too much going on in this issue for the audience to form a viable emotional connection with the overall plot.
As no two points in time are identical, neither is the artwork in The New Golden Age #1, as a different creative team takes hold of each segment. From veteran line artists like Jerry Ordway to up-and-coming pencilers like Diego Olortegui, everyone leaves their mark in the book with their signature styles and unique perspectives. The sudden shifts in aesthetics impact the pace and tone of the story. Colorists like Matt Herms and Nick Filardi add energy and excitement to each panel. From splash pages depicting the blood-splattered relativity stairs of the Tower of Fate to the moss-covered Brownstone of the JSA base, the colorful artwork captures the dire nature of each story perfectly.
A cryptic prologue that leaves behind a trail of blood, The New Golden Age #1 gets the ball rolling on Geoff Johns’ next saga and brings thirteen Golden Age characters to the forefront. Johns clearly has more time-bending stories to tell in the Prime Earth continuity. As a one-shot, however, the story is all over the place. But the fermenting mystery keeps everything connected and sets the stage for an intriguing mystery.