Newsarama interviewed Geoff Johns now that Flashpoint #1 has hit the shelves.

The writer talks about the new characters, and the presence of several existing, but obscure heroes, explaining:

I didn’t want to see the same old faces we always see. This is a different world, and it needs to be more than just “whatever happened to the A- and B-list?” It’s got to be some characters that never existed before, and characters that were at the bottom of the barrel who are now at the top.

Part of the reason for all the tie-ins is to make it possible to explore those new characters outside the scope of the Flashpoint story itself.

Like just about everyone at DC, he made sure to stress that the event will have “major repercussions,” though I like the remark he made about whether the story “matters,” since a lot of readers have expressed the feeling that an alternate reality story isn’t worth reading on principle:

The story does matter. It matters to the Flash and it matters to all the other characters who are in it.

And of course he talks about that last-page reveal and its implications.

The real surprise is down near the end of the interview. Responding to concerns about production delays (which have plagued not only the last few big event comics, but the Flash since Barry Allen’s return), he assured readers that he and artist Andy Kubert were wrapping up the final issue now, so that there’s no question that the whole series will ship on time. Then he added:

And you know, we’re shipping two issues in August. Issue #4 and Issue #5 both come out in August, which is cool.

I think it’s great to have four months of “BAM!” here’s Flashpoint! Here’s the story! It’s a great ride, and then we’re on to the next thing. I think it’s great that it’s quick, fast.

Yes, indeed!

UPDATE: Geoff Johns also spoke with CBR about the issue.