Why Doesn't The Flash Remember Batman in The New 52?

For many fans of DC's Justice League, the question of why The Flash doesn't remember Batman in The New 52 remains a mystery. This article aims to unravel the complex narrative threads that tie together the events of Justice League 1, the impact of the Flashpoint event, and the consequences of The New 52 on the characters' memories.

The Timeline Conundrum

Understanding the timeline is crucial to answering this question. The events depicted in Justice League 1 take place in a world that predates the Flashpoint event, which significantly altered the DC universe. In Justice League 1, the Flash (Barry Allen) gives Batman the letter from his dimensional father, marking the beginning of a new scenario compared to the pre-Flashpoint timeline.

Following the Flashpoint event, the DC Universe underwent a major reset, introducing the The New 52 era. This era saw significant changes to the characters, including altered backstories and new events. In the The New 52, characters lost their memories of events that occurred in the earlier continuity, effectively making it a fresh start for many heroes.

The Flashpoint Impact

The Flashpoint event directly affects the memories of many characters. In both pre- and post-Flashpoint versions of the The New 52, characters often have fragmented recollections of their past. Barry Allen loses his memories of his origin story, which is redefined in the aftermath of Flashpoint.

After the restoration by Reverse-Flash, the multiverse is reset, and characters, including The Flash and Batman, are left with fragmented memories. This means that when Barry returns to his original timeline, he doesn't remember his past interactions with Batman, much less the fact that he had ever met him.

Consequences of The New 52

The The New 52 era introduces sweeping changes, not just to the past but also to how characters interact in the present. In the pre-Flashpoint timeline, the Justice League's formation and initial meetings were well-established, but The New 52 recasts this as a more fluid and evolving process.

Barry Allen's return to the Flash's timeline in Justice League 1 is part of this re-established continuity. Although he meets Batman in this new timeline, the memories of their interactions in the altered universe have been lost. This is a direct result of the The New 52's reset of the DC Universe.

Final Thoughts

The question of why The Flash doesn't remember Batman in The New 52 has a nuanced answer rooted in the complex interplay of timelines, reset events, and narrative choices. The events of Justice League 1, the aftermath of Flashpoint, and the disjointed nature of The New 52 all contribute to this mystery, leaving fans to draw their own conclusions from the intertwined timelines of the DC Universe.