Paradox is proving to be the most powerful villain Flash has faced yet. He is jumping through time, killing various versions of Barry Allen – and gaining temporal energy from the paradoxes he creates. Our Flash cannot stop him, not alone. So, he has had to go to the last person he ever dreamed he would team up with…the Hero of the 25th Century, Eobard Thawne! What? Yes, that’s right! The Reverse Flash is the only person who ever defeated Paradox, so it’s time to set up the strangest “buddy” adventure of all time(s). Wanna know more? Follow us after the jump!

SPOILERS AHEAD! 

In the 25th century, or at least this version of it, Eobard Thawne became the hero he always wanted to be. Thawne defeated Paradox when no one else could. And, he built a prison that could contain Paradox and his temporal powers. So, yay for Thawne?

Barry isn’t ready for that. He has had to pluck Thawne out of the time stream just after Nora Allen is killed. Yes, Barry had to stand by last issue while that happened. Barry is angry…and Thawne is ecstatic. He is finally getting to team up with the Flash, and they head out to find Paradox. But first…

Time to pick up Thawne’s Lightning Rod. It’s what he used last time to defeat Paradox. They go after Paradox through time, only to find that Paradox is a step ahead of them…

Paradox continues killing the Flash again and again through time, including Crisis on Infinite Earths and even at the classic meeting of Barry and Jay. Still, Barry remains a hero, and that is unacceptable to Paradox. So, how to create the ultimate Paradox?

Paradox arrives at the same place and time as Flash and Reverse-Flash. Thawne believes the key to winning is to kill the human version of Paradox before he can become this powerful villain. Barry tries to stop him, but Thawne is ready to kill when…

Paradox kills his earlier self, creating the ultimate paradox and granting himself immeasurable power! Paradox releases that power…and it’s erasing the time stream itself! Paradox is ready to kill everyone that Barry ever loved…and the only way to stop him is to…kill him? Will Barry make that choice? We won’t know until next issue…and that’s where we leave it for now.

NOTES:

• This partnership is something most Flash fans would never have imagined, yet it works here. No, there is no way for Barry to accept Thawne – but Thawne does get to live out his fantasy of being “the worthy successor to the Flash”.
• The opening scene, narrated by Eobard Thawne, is so full of his ego that it’s difficult to believe everything happened exactly as he said. Of course, the time stream is falling apart so anything is possible.
• Note for digital edition – I don’t know if this came out the same way in the print copy. But, there is one page where some of the word balloons are pointing to the wrong person. Some of Thawne’s lines are pointing to Barry and vice-versa. I’m hoping that was fixed for print.
• The artwork continues to be a highlight. Rafa Sandoval’s pencils, Jordi Tarragona’s inks, and the colors by Arif Prianto and Hi-Fi were outstanding.

SUMMARY:

Joshua Williamson continues to do amazing things with the mythos of The Flash. We have a few more issues of Williamson’s excellent scripts, and he will be terribly missed when he’s off the book (though I am MORE than thrilled to see a new volume of NAILBITER). This issue is a 9/10 for me – but of course, that’s just my opinion. What do YOU think? Leave your comments below!

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