Newly-Released Cover to Batman #22 Teases Watchmen Connection to Flashpoint

02/16/2017 05:06 pm EST

DC has released the first look at Batman #22, the third of four issues crossing over Batman and The Flash and tying into the events of last May's DC Universe: Rebirth.

More particularly, tying into its surprise ending that connected the events of Flashpoint with Doctor Manhattan and Ozymandias from Watchmen.

The image, seen above, features a lenticular cover that splits between two images: the Batman of the Flashpoint Universe, Thomas Wayne, standing over the bodies of his son Bruce and his wife Martha; and the pre-Flashpoint Reverse Flash, standing over the body of Nora Allen, his hands covered in her blood, while a young Barry Allen sobs over her.

There is also a splash of blood on the Reverse Flash's yellow costume which, coming from the upper left part of his chest, splashes down over his logo in a way that's very reminiscent of the bloody smiley face badge that serves as the most iconic image from Watchmen.

A rainy night making little splashes in the blood puddled in the street and gutter is a pretty Watchmen image, too, come to think of it.

Courtesy of the Batman team of writer Tom King and artist Jason Fabok, along with The Flash writer Joshua Williamson and artist Howard Porter, the two greatest detectives in the DC Universe unite to unravel the mystery behind a certain blood-stained smiley face button stuck in the Batcave wall.

However, what begins as a simple investigation soon turns deadly when the secrets of the button prove irresistible to an unwelcome third party – and it's not who anyone suspects! This is a mystery woven throughout time, and the countdown starts here.

DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns stepped away from writing comics following the best-selling DC Universe: Rebirth #1 last year in order to make more time for the increased responsibilities he has overseeing DC's movie slate. Recently he revealed that his return to comics writing would come in 2017, and would relate to that book's final pages, in which it was teased that Doctor Manhattan was responsible for some of the events of the post-Flashpoint DC Universe.

In addition to the standard $2.99 covers on Batman and The Flash in late April and early May, each of the four issues will feature a special $3.99 lenticular cover, all drawn by Jason Fabok. These issues hit your local comics retailer and digital comics retailers beginning April 19.

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