Barry isn't entirely blameless in the events of DC Rebirth/New 52

[Buried Alien]

Times change and Barry Allen should have caught up with it.

There was absolutely no precedence for what occurred in FLASHPOINT. It was a completely new phenomenon in the DC Universe.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[theoneandonly]

Well Barry has learnt his lesson but it's clear that sometimes heroes who are aware of his actions are always going to squint at him due to flashpoint. it's telling that in CW verse the moment Arrow realized that reality has altered he goes dammit Barry!

[Vakanai]

I get that a lot of people were butthurt originally over the New 52 and that some of that anger still lingers even now, but blaming Barry for a corporate decision is crazy. Plus when you think about it blaming Flash is basically saying that attempting to stop a time traveling psychopath from killing a loved one is somehow a reprehensible act for a hero. Saving a member of your family from a time traveling villain is a vile act? Really? Thawne would love it if things worked by that kind of logic.

[theoneandonly]

well of course silly boy some people will get butt hurt. it's the internet comic fandom after all.

[Dred]

I get that a lot of people were butthurt originally over the New 52 and that some of that anger still lingers even now, but blaming Barry for a corporate decision is crazy. Plus when you think about it blaming Flash is basically saying that attempting to stop a time traveling psychopath from killing a loved one is somehow a reprehensible act for a hero. Saving a member of your family from a time traveling villain is a vile act? Really? Thawne would love it if things worked by that kind of logic.

You can blame the company for what they did and expect the character to reap what they sow at the same time. It's not that Barry was horribly in the wrong, but just because you didn't mean for something to go wrong doesn't completely absolve you of having done it. That's not how we treat normal people, much less heroes held to a higher standard. It doesn't help that Barry's actions after Rebirth have been terrible.

This is the same universe where the Titans got shut down because an alternate universe version of Donna time traveled and Wally used his powers "recklessly," yet Barry and Bruce did worse a few weeks prior by literally abusing time travel to find out who killed Thawne -- it wasn't even a life or death thing, they just wanted to know so they time traveled. A lack of internal consistency and playing favorites with the characters creates grudges against those characters. Why does Barry get to be absolved of everything when Wally, in universe, gets treated like **** for things that AREN'T actually the result of his actions?

We know why, the company is frequently awful, but the characters get special treatment for it so the ire will get pointed their way.

[Vakanai]

You can blame the company for what they did and expect the character to reap what they sow at the same time. It's not that Barry was horribly in the wrong, but just because you didn't mean for something to go wrong doesn't completely absolve you of having done it. That's not how we treat normal people, much less heroes held to a higher standard. It doesn't help that Barry's actions after Rebirth have been terrible.

This is the same universe where the Titans got shut down because an alternate universe version of Donna time traveled and Wally used his powers "recklessly," yet Barry and Bruce did worse a few weeks prior by literally abusing time travel to find out who killed Thawne -- it wasn't even a life or death thing, they just wanted to know so they time traveled. A lack of internal consistency and playing favorites with the characters creates grudges against those characters. Why does Barry get to be absolved of everything when Wally, in universe, gets treated like **** for things that AREN'T actually the result of his actions?

We know why, the company is frequently awful, but the characters get special treatment for it so the ire will get pointed their way.

Why not point the ire at the writers or executives calling the shots?

[The Darknight Detective]

Why does Barry get to be absolved of everything when Wally, in universe, gets treated like **** for things that AREN'T actually the result of his actions?

Barry gets to be absolved here, despite efforts to blame him for Flashpoint, because it was not his fault. It was only the fault of Thawne fictionally and DC management in reality beyond doubt. Now if Wally is getting blamed for things he also didn't do, then he should also be absolved.

[Cmbmool]

Barry gets to be absolved here, despite efforts to blame him for Flashpoint, because it was not his fault. It was only the fault of Thawne fictionally and DC management in reality beyond doubt. Now if Wally is getting blamed for things he also didn't do, then he should also be absolved.

If Thawne knew about this, then why doesn’t he try to fix this ? I mean doesn’t he want payback on Doctor Manhattan for using him like this ?

[The Darknight Detective]

If Thawne knew about this, then why doesn’t he try to fix this ? I mean doesn’t he want payback on Doctor Manhattan for using him like this ?

No if about it. Unless it gets retconned out, Thawne definitely was the architect.

[MajorHoy]

Is there any way to put a stake in this annoying, illogical thread that eventually only creates ill-will and divisiveness whenever some misguided fool decides to suddenly revive it?

[Buried Alien]

Barry gets to be absolved here, despite efforts to blame him for Flashpoint, because it was not his fault. It was only the fault of Thawne fictionally and DC management in reality beyond doubt. Now if Wally is getting blamed for things he also didn't do, then he should also be absolved.

...and I'm yet to see Wally credibly being blamed for anything. Even what's going down right now in HEROES IN CRISIS is more likely than not a red herring. I find it odd that those who proclaim to be Wally's most ardent fans somehow automatically believe that he's going to be revealed a murderer when that is yet to be proven and highly improbable in any case.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Buried Alien]

If Thawne knew about this, then why doesn’t he try to fix this ? I mean doesn’t he want payback on Doctor Manhattan for using him like this ?

Correcting problems in Barry Allen's and Wally West's lives aren't exactly favorite items on the Eobard Thawne agenda. Moreover, as powerful as Reverse Flash is, he's several pay grades below the reality-manipulation abilities of Dr. Manhattan. Only the Anti-Monitor is in Dr. Manhattan's class where that's concerned.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Dr. Ellingham]

You can blame the company for what they did and expect the character to reap what they sow at the same time.

No. And the reason why is because most people reading comics are over the age of 10, and recognize these characters are fictional, as are their actions. They can either be used well, or not used well. They have no actual life, no actual motivations, losses or gains. Treating them like their actions are real is only fine for a child who doesn't grasp that line between fiction and reality.

For an adult, it's into the territory of being over-invested in a fictional world, and taking entertainment far too seriously.

[Dr. Ellingham]

Yet even if Thawne knows the truth about the past: Why isn’t he doing anything to fix it ?

But honestly - thank you. Your threads are damn entertaining! On multiple levels, too:

spoilers:

I often wonder if you're posting actual diatribes, or perhaps satirizing the superhero fan culture, and our reactions to fictional stories. If so, brilliant. But don't tell me!

end of spoilers

[BohemiaDrinker]

Is there any way to put a stake in this annoying, illogical thread that eventually only creates ill-will and divisiveness whenever some misguided fool decides to suddenly revive it?

Stop screwing with Wally West and this all goes way.

These threads were pretty rare during the sweet and brief moment right after DCU: Rebirth...