The first arc of the Si Spurrier era of THE FLASH comes to an end here – so it’s a good time to talk about the story overall…and the ending. What will become of the Speed Force? What will happen to time itself? Will Wally fully reunite with the Flash family? And what about…aw, let’s get to the story already, okay? Wanna know more? Follow us after the jump!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Wally and Barry have successfully excised the poison from the Speed Force, but the battle is far from over. The Arc Angles are not through trying to kill time itself. As Barry runs off with the poison, Wally has to face one of the biggest internal battles of his life. The Arc Angles make one major mistake, though.
They threaten Wally’s family.
That’s when they learn just how fast Wally can be, and how he can use that sideways jump ability we’ve seen in this storyline. After saving his family, they in turn save the Speed Force…
…and in this issue we find that the Speed Force is alive…and ready to give birth!
In the end, we see a tremendous burst of power from Jai (you’ll need to read that to believe it), and everything turns back to (sort of) normal.
But – there is a new status quo.
- Barry can no longer feel the multiverse.
- Wally can see a future…and another Wally…and the two don’t trust each other
- And are we about to see a dog with superspeed? Just asking…
Just my guess here – the “other” Wally may be the Absolute Flash that we will meet soon, so stay tuned…
NOTES:
Okay, let’s talk about the arc and where this title is going so far. Si Spurrier has been given the freedom to significantly change the tone of THE FLASH, taking Wally into a cosmic horror genre that is unlike anything we’ve seen, at least in this title.
In this arc, Spurrier basically told everything that was normal in the world of THE FLASH to get bent. Reality in the DC world, even time itself, was fractured and twisted into something very strange and new. The only caveat is that even major changes came at us so fast that we needed Wally’s speed to keep up. That wasn’t always easy in this arc, though things did pull together well as the storyline moved toward its conclusion.
I think it will take a little time (no pun intended) to get settled into some of the VERY significant changes to the world of our favorite speedsters. The Speed Force works differently now with different people, and even Wally has additional abilities that we could have never imagined before. I like the possibilities here, and as we see these changes in powers develop we may find a new life injected into the series.
SUMMARY
This is not your parent’s FLASH series – not even your older siblings’ version of THE FLASH. I don’t know how to compare this arc to previous creative teams – and perhaps that’s for the best. I’m still wrapping my brain around some elements – but I’m still in for the long haul. I’ll give the arc overall an 8/10 – but of course that’s just my opinion. what do YOU think? Leave your comments below!
I started reading Flash with 248 in 1977 and have read every issue since, even the Bart Flash series.
Sy Spurrier is the first writer to make me give up the title. This was my last issue.
This story didn’t match the solicitation for the book. And I quote:
“Barry Allen has been to the ends of the Multiverse and back. Now, he runs into a danger unlike any he’s ever encountered, as the fate of not only the Speed Force, but all heroes, hangs in the balance. Barry’s Life Story flashes before his eyes as he begins his most important race ever.”
And this arc has just plodded along.
Please, DC, get another writer for this book. Si Spurrier just isn’t a good fit.
We were promised an amazing Barry Allen story and all we got was this piece of garbage. Almost no Barry at all. And, the end of Absolute Power #4, the All In bullshit and the new Justice League make it clear Barry Allen is no longer central to DC Universe. He has no powers and even gives his ring with his suit to Wally in the preview of the next The Flash issue. He’s basically retiring. And I see Wally fans just loving it. This is plain stupidity. DC is throwing away – or putting on ice – one of its best, most iconic and most beloved characters.