Batman / Flash: The Button [International Edition Mikel Janin Cover]
([August] 2019)

DC, 2019 Series
Published in English (United States) United States
 
Price
14.99 USD; 19.99 CAD
Pages
108
On-sale Date
2019-06-19
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
DC Comics
Brand
DC [circle and serifs]
ISBN
978-1-4012-9861-6 Search at WorldCat
Barcode
9781401298616 51499
Editing
Brian Cunningham (editor - original series); Mark Doyle (editor - original series); Rebecca Taylor (associate editor - original series); Amedeo Turturro (assistant editor - original series); Jeb Woodard (group editor - collected editions); Robin Wildman (editor - collected editions)
Color
Color
Dimensions
Standard Modern Age US
Paper Stock
Card stock covers; matte paper interiors
Binding
Trade paperback
Publishing Format
Collected edition

Issue Notes

Collects Batman (DC, 2016 series) #21-22 and The Flash (DC, 2016 series) #21-22.

International edition cover depicts Batman and The Flash running. Due to trademark restrictions of the smiley face in the UK, the international edition could not feature a smiley face on the cover, so different art was used.
This issue is a variant of Batman / Flash: The Button (DC, 2019 series) [Jason Fabok Cover].

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents)

Batman; The Flash / cover / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Mikel Janin
Inks
Mikel Janin
Colors
?
Letters
?

Genre
superhero
Characters
Batman [Bruce Wayne]; The Flash [Barry Allen]
Reprints
No image yet

[Title Page] (Table of Contents: 1)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Jason Fabok
Inks
Jason Fabok
Colors
Brad Anderson
Letters
typeset

Characters
Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Professor Zoom [Reverse-Flash; Eobard Thawne]; Flash [Barry Allen]

Indexer Notes

Title page, includes illustrations from Batman #22.

[Title and Credits] (Table of Contents: 2)

Batman; The Flash / credits, title page / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils
Howard Porter
Inks
Howard Porter
Colors
Hi-Fi
Letters
typeset

Genre
superhero
Characters
Batman [Bruce Wayne]; The Flash [Barry Allen]

Indexer Notes

Title pages with creator credits, includes illustration from The Flash #21.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 3)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

Characters
The Flash [Barry Allen]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]

Indexer Notes

Indicia and publisher information with Smiley Face button illustration.

[Batman #21] (Table of Contents: 4)

Batman; The Flash / cover reprint (on interior page) / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils
Jason Fabok (signed)
Inks
Jason Fabok (signed)
Colors
Brad Anderson (signed as BA)
Letters
typeset

Genre
superhero
Characters
Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Flash [Barry Allen]
Reprints
Keywords
smiley face button

Indexer Notes

The two images that were featured on the original lenticular cover broken out as two separate images, one of Batman and one of The Flash, each holding the smiley face button.

The Button Part 1 (Table of Contents: 5)

Batman / comic story / 20 pages (report information)

Script
Tom King
Pencils
Jason Fabok
Inks
Jason Fabok
Colors
Brad Anderson
Letters
Deron Bennett

Genre
superhero
Characters
Saturn Girl [Imra Ardeen Ranzz]; unidentified Arkham patients; unidentified Arkham orderlies; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; unidentified news anchor; unidentified hockey announcer (voice only); Farfanick (hockey player); Bungay (hockey player); Taylor (hockey player, death); Shuster (hockey player); other unidentified hockey players; unidentified hockey referee; Batman [Thomas Wayne] (from the Flashpoint universe); The Flash [Barry Allen]; Samuroids; Professor Zoom [Reverse-Flash; Eobard Thawne] (death)
Synopsis
Saturn Girl, currently a patient at Arkham Asylum, correctly predicts the death of a hockey player. In the Batcave, Batman is examining the smiley face button that was left behind when Wally West appeared to him from the speed force, and he sees a vision of his father as the Batman in the Flashpoint universe. Batman calls The Flash for assistance, but Professor Zoom arrives first and attacks Batman. With Batman beaten and injured, Zoom takes the button and abruptly vanishes. He re-appears moments later and collapses dead.
Reprints
Keywords
Batcave; hockey; smiley face button

Indexer Notes

Story credits include special thanks to Geoff Johns and Joshua Williamson.

Batman first discovered the smiley face button in the Batcave after Wally West reached out to him from the Speed Force in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 (DC, 2016 series). Also in that issue, we saw Saturn Girl in the 21st Century in the custody of the Gotham Police, who were holding her for mental evaluation because of her claims of being friends with Superman and claiming to know the future.

Batman and The Flash previously agreed to investigate the button and the disruption to their timeline that Wally revealed to them, as shown in Flash: Rebirth (DC, 2016 series) #1.

The letter to Bruce from his father Thomas that had been brought back from the Flashpoint universe by Barry Allen (as shown in the Flashpoint DC 2011 mini-series) was destroyed in this issue by Professor Zoom.

[The Flash #21] (Table of Contents: 6)

The Flash / cover reprint (on interior page) / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils
Jason Fabok (signed)
Inks
Jason Fabok (signed)
Colors
Brad Anderson (signed as BA)

Genre
superhero
Characters
Professor Zoom [Reverse Flash; Eobard Thawne]
Reprints
Keywords
smiley face button

Indexer Notes

The two images that were featured on the original lenticular cover broken out as two separate images of Professor Zoom.

The Button Part Two (Table of Contents: 7)

The Flash / comic story / 20 pages (report information)

Script
Joshua Williamson
Pencils
Howard Porter
Inks
Howard Porter
Colors
Hi-Fi
Letters
Steve Wands

Genre
superhero
Characters
The Flash [Barry Allen]; Johnny Thunder; unnamed hospital orderlies; Professor Zoom [Reverse Flash; Eobard Thawne] (deceased); Alfred Pennyworth; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Thomas Wayne (photograph); Martha Wayne (photograph); Kid Flash [Wally West] (original Wally West, flashback); Justice League of America [Superman [Clark Kent]; Wonder Woman [Diana Prince]; Green Lantern [Hal Jordan]; Martian Manhunter [J'onn J'onzz]; Aquaman [Arthur Curry]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Flash [Barry Allen]] (from JLA original timeline); Justice League of America [Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Flash [Barry Allen]; Hawkman [Katar Hol]; Zatanna [Zatanna Zatara]; Green Arrow [Oliver Queen]; Green Lantern [Hal Jordan]] (JLA from Identity Crisis timeline); Dr. Light [Arthur Light] (from Identity Crisis timeline); Batman [Thomas Wayne] (from Flashpoint universe)
Synopsis
Barry investigates who or what killed Professor Zoom, and finds that his body shows signs of the same radiation as the smiley face button that appeared in the Batcave when the original Wally West returned from outside of time. Barry and an injured Batman use the Cosmic Treadmill to trace the source of the radiation through time.
Reprints
Keywords
Batcave; Cosmic Treadmill; Justice League Watchtower

Indexer Notes

Story credits include special thanks to Geoff Johns and Tom King.

The smiley face button first appeared in the Batcave when the original Wally West returned in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 (DC, 2016 series), and that is when Batman and the Flash first learned of an outside influence manipulating the timeline. They agreed to work together to investigate this mystery in Flash: Rebirth #1 (DC, 2016 series).

Johnny Thunder, at 90 years old, is shown trying to find his lost Thunderbolt in an attempt to bring back the Justice Society. Wally West had appeared to Johnny in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 to tell him to find the Justice Society, who have also been removed from the timeline in the post-Flashpoint universe.

When using the Cosmic Treadmill to travel through time, the Flash and Batman view alternate past timelines of the DC Universe of which they have no memory, including the original formation of the Justice League (from Justice League of America (1960 series) #9), the JLA from during Identity Crisis (2004 series), and a dying Barry Allen appearing to Batman through time (as seen in Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985 series)).

[Batman #22] (Table of Contents: 8)

Batman; The Flash / cover reprint (on interior page) / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils
Jason Fabok (signed)
Inks
Jason Fabok (signed)
Colors
Brad Anderson (signed as BA)
Letters
typeset

Genre
superhero
Characters
Batman [Thomas Wayne] (from Flashpoint universe); Bruce Wayne (deceased, from Flashpoint universe); Martha Wayne (deceased, from Flashpoint universe); Professor Zoom [Reverse Flash; Eobard Thawne]; Nora Allen (deceased); Barry Allen (as a boy)
Reprints

Indexer Notes

The two images that were featured on the original lenticular cover broken out as two separate images, one of Flashpoint Thomas Wayne as Batman over the bodies of Martha Wayne and young Bruce, the other of Professor Zoom over the body of Nora Allen and a grief-stricken young Barry.

The Button Part 3 (Table of Contents: 9)

Batman; The Flash / comic story / 20 pages (report information)

Script
Joshua Williamson (story, script); Tom King (story)
Pencils
Jason Fabok
Inks
Jason Fabok
Colors
Brad Anderson
Letters
Deron Bennett

Genre
superhero
Characters
Batman [Thomas Wayne] (from Flashpoint universe, death); Emperor Aquaman [Arthur Curry] (flashback, from Flashpoint universe); Wonder Woman [Diana] (flashback, from Flashpoint universe); unidentified Amazons (from Flashpoint universe); unidentified Atlanteans (from Flashpoint universe); Cyborg [Victor Stone] (flashback, from Flashpoint universe); Martha Wayne (photograph, from Flashpoint universe); Bruce Wayne (photograph, from Flashpoint universe); The Flash [Barry Allen]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Professor Zoom [Reverse-Flash; Eobard Thawne]
Synopsis
Having used the Cosmic Treadmill to track the energy from the Button, Batman and the Flash arrive in the Flashpoint universe where Bruce meets his father Thomas, the Batman of that universe. Their meeting is interrupted by a combined attack of Amazons and Atlanteans. While Bruce and Thomas fight off the attack, Barry rebuilds the Cosmic Treadmill so they can escape the Flashpoint universe, but Thomas decides to stay behind and sacrifices himself to allow Bruce and Barry to escape into the timestream. There they encounter Professor Zoom before his death, still in possession of the Button.
Reprints
Keywords
Batcave; Cosmic Treadmill; Flashpoint universe; smiley face button

Indexer Notes

Story credits include special thanks to Geoff Johns.

In the Flashpoint universe, when his wife Martha and his son Bruce were shot before his eyes, Thomas Wayne swore vengeance and became the Batman. This Thomas Wayne previously met and helped Barry Allen in the Flashpoint 2011 DC mini-series.

The Flashpoint universe is wiped from existence as Bruce and Barry leave it.

[The Flash #22] (Table of Contents: 10)

The Flash / cover reprint (on interior page) / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils
Jason Fabok
Inks
Jason Fabok
Colors
Brad Anderson
Letters
?

Genre
superhero
Characters
The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Joan Williams; The Batman [Bruce Wayne] (inset); The Flash [Barry Allen] (inset); Reverse-Flash [Professor Zoom; Eobard Thawne] (inset); Red Robin [Tim Drake] (inset)
Reprints

Indexer Notes

The two images that were featured on the original lenticular cover broken out as two separate images, one featuring a modern version of Jay Garrick burning through the original cover of Flash Comics #1, the other is a re-creation of the cover of Flash Comics #1 (1940) featuring Jay Garrick.

The Button Part Four (Table of Contents: 11)

The Flash / comic story / 21 pages (report information)

Script
Joshua Williamson
Pencils
Howard Porter
Inks
Howard Porter
Colors
Hi-Fi
Letters
Steve Wands

Genre
superhero
Characters
The Flash [Barry Allen]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Professor Zoom [Eobard Thawne] (death, originally shown in Batman #21); The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Alfred Pennyworth; Doctor Manhattan (hand only)
Synopsis
Returning from the Flashpoint universe after the events in Batman #22, Barry and Bruce arrive in the time stream in time to witness Professor Zoom's death by a unknown god-like entity. A mystery voice calls out to Barry, and identifies himself as Jay Garrick, who has been lost in time as was the original Wally West. Barry tries to rescue Jay, but is unable to as he is pulled away by a mysterious force. Barry and Bruce find themselves trying to understand the events they have witnessed. Meanwhile a mysterious blue hand retrieves the button that was lost by Professor Zoom when he was killed.
Reprints
Keywords
smiley face button

Indexer Notes

Story credits include special thanks to Geoff Johns and Tom King.

Professor Zoom was shown to have died in Batman #21 after encountering a unknown entity. Here Bruce and Barry arrive in the time stream prior to Zoom's death to witness it, although they do not know who has killed Zoom.

Jay Garrick tells Barry that he has been lost in time as was the original Wally West. Barry was able to rescue Wally and bring him back to the real world in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 (DC, 2016 series). However, when Barry tries to pull Jay back to reality, Jay is pulled away by an outside force.

At the end of the story, we see the Button, which Professor Zoom was carrying when he was struck down, being retrieved by a blue hand, presumably Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen (DC, 1986 series). Doctor Manhattan presumably was one of the unidentified speakers at the end of DC Universe: Rebirth #1 (DC, 2016 series).

In this story's epilogue, we see the Button apparently morph into the "S" shield on a Superman costume. This storyline continues in Doomsday Clock (DC, 2018 series).

Doomsday Clock (Table of Contents: 12) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 2 pages (report information)

The Button Variant Cover Gallery (Table of Contents: 13)

illustration / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

Genre
superhero

Indexer Notes

Introduction to cover gallery of variant covers with Smiley Face button illustration.

[Batman #21 Tim Sale Variant Cover] (Table of Contents: 14)

Batman / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Tim Sale
Inks
Tim Sale
Colors
Brennan Wagner

Genre
superhero
Characters
Batman [Bruce Wayne]; The Flash [Barry Allen]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Color art from issue variant cover with no logos, numbers, and pricing.

[Batman #21 Mikel Janin International Variant Cover] (Table of Contents: 15)

Batman / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Mikel Janín
Inks
Mikel Janín
Colors
?
Letters
?

Genre
superhero
Characters
Batman [Bruce Wayne]; The Flash [Barry Allen]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Color art from issue variant cover with no logos, numbers, and pricing.

[The Flash #21 Howard Porter Variant Cover] (Table of Contents: 16)

The Flash / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Howard Porter
Inks
Howard Porter
Colors
Hi-Fi

Genre
superhero
Characters
The Flash [Barry Allen]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Color art from issue variant cover with no logos, numbers, and pricing.

[The Flash #21 Mikel Janin International Variant Cover] (Table of Contents: 17)

The Flash / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Mikel Janín
Inks
Mikel Janín
Colors
?
Letters
?

Genre
superhero
Characters
The Flash [Barry Allen]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Color art from issue variant cover with no logos, numbers, and pricing.

[Batman #22 Tim Sale Variant Cover] (Table of Contents: 18)

Batman / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Tim Sale
Inks
Tim Sale
Colors
Brennan Wagner

Genre
superhero
Characters
Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Batman [Thomas Wayne] (from the Flashpoint universe)
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Color art from issue variant cover with no logos, numbers, and pricing.

[The Flash #22 Howard Porter Variant Cover] (Table of Contents: 19)

The Flash / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Howard Porter
Inks
Howard Porter
Colors
Hi-Fi

Genre
superhero
Characters
The Flash [Jay Garrick]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Color art from issue variant cover with no logos, numbers, and pricing.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 20) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 2 pages (report information)

The Road to Doomsday Clock! (Table of Contents: 21)

Batman; The Flash / illustration / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Jason Fabok
Inks
Jason Fabok
Colors
Brad Anderson
Letters
typeset

Genre
superhero
Characters
Professor Zoom [Reverse Flash; Eobard Thawne]; Batman [Thomas Wayne] (from Flashpoint universe); Bruce Wayne (deceased, from Flashpoint universe); Martha Wayne (deceased, from Flashpoint universe)
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Back cover with text on contents of collection, includes illustration of Professor Zoom and the smiley face button from the cover of The Flash #21 with a red bloodstain added over Zoom's body. International version features instead the illustration of Flashpoint Thomas Wayne as Batman over the bodies of Martha Wayne and young Bruce with Zoom's head added over Thomas Wayne's body. Both the Thomas Wayne and Zoom images come from the lenticular cover of Batman #22. A red bloodstain added over Thomas Wayne / Zoom's body.