Flashpoint #2 – Review

By: Geoff Johns (writer), Andy Kubert (penciller), Sandra Hope (inker), Alex Sinclair (colorist)

The Story: Barry, I need you to know, if you don’t make it through this…this is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done.

The Review: Unlike many comic book Events, Flashpoint intends to move fast (ba-dum­-tch!), as its story has been written to fit five issues instead of the traditional seven, and we’re already on the second.  Some see this truncation as a welcome relief from having to deal with Event-mania for a few extra months.  But it’s worth pointing out it also cuts down the time for proper world-building and pacing, which can be hazardous to such an important, large-scale story.

Here we do get some up-close, personal moments with the new, hardened Aquaman and Wonder Woman, being among the most integral obstacles/players in this story.  The encounter between Diana and the resisting Steve Trevor feels more profound and useful, since it reveals some developments to the Atlantean-Themysciran war, but Aquaman’s confrontation with pirate-Deathstroke is just an opportunity to show off his current inclination for violence.

Johns would’ve been better off had he cut down the amount of time we spend with the Flash and not-really-Batman; their scenes take up most the issue, and do little to advance the plot.  Basically, they spend half the time fighting (though you can’t really call it a fight, since it’s mostly the depowered Barry getting his butt handed to him) while dealing with all the “I don’t believe you, you’re crazy!” issues that come hand-in-hand with these altered-universe stories.

That’s all fine and necessary; the several pages Barry spends describing his past and the real world to Thomas Wayne are not.  It basically re-describes everything we already know, instead of moving on to some new points.  It also makes little sense how all this suddenly gets Thomas to place his faith in Barry; it’s hard to understand how someone that cynical can so quickly flip-flop from calling Barry a “delusional son-of-a-bitch” to believing that SOB can get his son back.

The problem is selling these moments with more credibility requires more time, which Johns can’t afford.  He even sets up a ticking clock of sorts as Barry’s memories start to adapt to the new reality, just to motivate the characters to act as hastily as possible.  And yet for all this haste, you don’t feel like you’ve moved very far forward on this story.  It seems like Johns wants you to assume there’s some high-stakes tension here, rather than showing it to you.

The Flash #8 – Review

by Geoff Johns (writer), Scott Kolins (art), Brian Buccellato (colors), and Sal Cipriano (letters)

The Story: The origin of the Reverse Flash…or at least the origin that he creates for himself.

What’s Good: In many ways, this issue can be read as one centered around a comic writer gone mad.  Rather, it’s about a character gone retcon crazy, who is hell-bent on retconning his own history as many times as necessary until he gets the optimal result.  It’s a very dark, but also slightly humorous bit of self-aware superhero comic goodness and it shows just how clever a writer Geoff Johns can be when he really tries.

The best part of it is how closely Johns plays it; Eobard Thawne and the Reverse Flash are separate characters.  Thawne is the story’s lead, no doubt, and the Reverse Flash is rather a demonic, mostly wordless presence, lurking around the corner, always ready to jump in and give Eobard a redo whenever things don’t go his way.  What results is a ridiculously fun romp through time that’s an absolute pisstake on the very idea of retroactive continuity.  The Reverse Flash “redos” become increasingly frequent as the issue wears on, which only makes it more amusing.  By issue’s end, you get the sense that if Eobard got a B on a paper, his future self would step in to kill the professor before ever having to write the paper.

That’s not to say that the things the Reverse Flash perpetrates are minor.  We learn that in his becoming antisocial and isolated was a slow, gradual process, one that he was one the one hand doomed to, but one that is also ironically exacerbated by his later attempts to retcon his own history.  Along the way, he does some truly evil things as only the Reverse Flash can.  As ever, the Reverse Flash is a bad, bad man and the acts he’s guilty of are fairly shocking.  Of course, Eobard and the Reverse Flash are two different kinds of evil, and one sees the descent between the two.  At least Eobard, while a wretch, is still human; the Reverse Flash comes across as something not so much

The Flash: Rebirth #4 – Review

by Geoff Johns (writer), Ethan Van Sciver (art), Brian Miller (colors), and Rob Leigh (letters)

The Story: Barry Allen’s true relationship with the Speed Force is revealed, as the battle with Professor Zoom begins.

What’s Good: It’s no secret that Rebirth has been a bit tepid at times, and often I find the best thing I have to say about an issue being that is when “it’s finally picking up.” Well, finally, greatness arrives.  This is bar none the best issue of the series thus far.  It’s hard to believe I’m saying this about an issue of Flash: Rebirth, but this month’s book is so fast paced and exhilarating, both action and development-wise, that it borders on being disorienting.

The book is great, largely thanks to Professor Zoom, who finally gives the book the focus, direction, and central conflict that’s needed. More than ever, Johns positions Zoom as the perfect foil and nemesis to Barry, giving Allen and the series a definite point.  Johns does a great job of writing Zoom as well; the Professor is crazy, egotistical and obsessive. He’s a great character to read and Johns, with a little retconning, has made Zoom the direct opposite of Barry, making for an epic contest and a fist-pumping ending.

I also found myself surprised by how much I enjoyed the relationship between Barry and Max Mercury this month. There are a couple of really touching, emotional lines and it’s great to see their bond highlighted.  It’s a two-way street; Max encourages Barry, and Barry in turn, gives Max hope.

This book also finally succeeds in giving a great sense of family unity. Where in past issues I felt the story diluted by having too many Flashes, it works perfectly this month, adding a certain tone of fellowship, loyalty, and most of all, dynasty.

Van Sciver’s dedication to detail goes hand-in-hand with an even greater level of mayhem. He does a solid job of depicting the blurred Flash-combat, which remains completely comprehensible at all times.  Thanks in no small part to colorist Brian Miller, the scenes within the Speed Force also look absolutely fantastic.  Despite the chaos of being in a crimson hurricane, Van Sciver again manages to make it completely clear and understandable.

What’s Not So Good: How do you feel about retconning?  This is a heavilly retconning issue.  Even indifferent as I am to it, the rewriting/revelation of Allen’s relationship to the Speed Force is a pretty big pill to swallow, as it essentially makes him God of the Speed Force. That said, it’s obvious that this’ll make for some incredible stories in the future, particularly due to the diametrical opposition it creates with Zoom.

Also, given that this is a Speed Force-heavy issue, some of the dialogue comes with the expected pseudo-science babble. Expect to find yourself re-reading a few bubbles.

Conclusion: Hell yeah!  THIS is what I signed up for with Flash: Rebirth.  A great issue that totally rewards you for sticking around, as long as you don’t mind the change of what’s been established in the Flash folklore.

Grade: A-

-Alex Evans

The Flash:Rebirth #3

by Geoff Johns (writer), Ethan Van Sciver (art), Brian Miller (colors), and Rob Leigh (letters)

The Story: Barry Allen and the Justice League wrestle with him being the Black Flash.

What’s Good: First things first: With Speed Force and lightning aplenty, Ethan Van Sciver’s art continues to be absolutely amazing.  I’ve read that several people nitpick his performance on this series and frankly, I have no idea what they’re whining about. This book looks fantastic. It’s big, bright, explosive, and ridiculously detailed. Miller’s fantastic work only takes the art to another level, centering it all around the color red. This book is simply gorgeous and only the crabbiest reader– someone that’s deliberately looking for faults, will find anything to complain about.

Meanwhile, Johns continues to develop Barry Allen as a distinct voice. Allen feels increasingly lost and morose with every issue and I enjoy it more with every passing month. It brings a necessary grain of almost Batman-like darkness to the Flash. Allen is out of place and struggles to grasp what he’s missed, best evidenced by his well-written internal monologues, particularly as they relate to Bart or Wally.

We also get yet another foot-race between Superman and the Flash and as always, it’s good fun, resulting in the best one-liner of the series.  Though some will gripe about Superman “not flying,” I’m happy to say that the “who’s faster” issue is settled in blow-out fashion.

Far and away the best part of this issue was Barry’s solution for his current state, again highlighting the self-sacrifice that defines him as a character. His actions this month led to the best scene in this series thus far, as Barry runs as fast as he can, breaking the time barrier and watching his life flash before his eyes. It’s a truly emotional and tragic moment, beautifully depicted by Van Sciver. Furthermore, the story led to yet another cliffhanger that has me hungering for next  month’s issue. The new end result: we are finally given a central villain for the story.

What’s Not So Good: Johns needs to stop it with the filler. I realize that he’s wrestling with the extensive Flash mythos, but it ends up seeming needless. The comic did not need the scene with Liberty Belle. Also, for yet another month, we get a pointless flashback scene that accomplishes nothing save reminding us of Iris’ bow-tie fetish. This comic is about Barry’s return, so focus on Barry and focus on his return! I don’t need to know about Liberty Belle’s relationship to her father.

My biggest problem with this comic though is that there’s just too many goddamn Flashes/ Speedsters. Last month was great because it was just Barry and Wally. This month we get Jay and Bart, as well as visions of Johnny Quick and Max Mercury. I feel like this dilutes Barry’s importance and centrality.

Another couple things:  Star Trek-style techno-babble regarding the Speed Force and Barry’s abilities are a no-no. Also, some readers may be underwhelmed by the big reveal at the end of the issue regarding Barry’s new nemesis, feeling it to be not particularly fresh or surprising, perhaps even formulaic. I personally liked the decision, as it made sense and I’m a big fan of the character, but I can understand this reaction.

Conclusion: A solid issue. Better than #1, but not quite as good as #2, this issue has a slow start, but the last third of it is the best bit of the series thus far.

Grade: B-

-Alex Evans