“Finish Line” is quickly turning into one of the greatest arcs in the history of the title – and that’s a Flash Fact! Writer Joshua Williamson continues to throw everything except the kitchen sink into the storyline – and somehow does it without muddling up the flow of the tale. If you are a Flash fan of any era…and I mean ANY era…you’ll find plenty to cheer for in this arc. Wanna know more? Follow us after the jump!
Light Spoilers Ahead!
I’m keeping the spoilers light here, on purpose. You should really be reading this one for yourself. We are watching Thawne in Barry’s body, trying to eliminate the entire Flash Family. What he doesn’t know is that the family he’s trying to erase is actually putting the band back together. Barry is trapped in a special part of the Speed Force, called “Starting Line” (the “big bang” of the Speed Force, as Max Mercury puts it). His battle to escape and take back his body brings us to not one, not two, but three characters we haven’t seen in a very long time.
Thawne’s battle plan falls apart during this issue, with some resolution for at least part of the Legion of Zoom. But, as you may guess, Thawne is always prepared for any eventuality in the time line. And, just as the Flash Family is bigger than Thawne thought…the Legion of Zoom is much bigger than any of us realized before! This is setting up for one of the true epic battles of Flash history!
NOTES:
- Along with all the nods to history, we gain a new element in Flash lore – the “Starting Line”. It’s the “big bang” of the Speed Force, as Max Mercury puts it, and this is where Barry has been trapped along with the others. It’s a truly neat concept – a part of the Speed Force that is much harder to escape, and one that adds an additional layer of mystery to the story. It also fits in so well with a “Finish Line” arc…and I’m in for this concept.
- Okay, so if Max Mercury named the Speed Force in the storyline, and Mark Waid named it IRL, does that mean that Mark Waid is secretly…nah, couldn’t be, could it???
- I’m not naming the other characters you will see in this issue, but you WILL find heroes and villains from EVERY era of Flash history, from the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, Post-Crisis, and beyond. It’s a “who’s who” of Flash lore, presented in epic fashion.
- The artwork is fantastic, with once again two art teams taking on the story. Christian Duce and Luis Guerrero illustrate the main storyline, while Scott Kolins and Hi-Fi take on the “Starting Line” sequences. Steve Wands letters the full issue. I read these issues digitally, on a computer with a 50 inch monitor…and it holds up perfectly even blown up that big.
SUMMARY:
I’m finding myself smiling, joyful, and even cheering for this arc. As an old Flash fan (more than 50 years of reading off and on) I am simply blown away by this story. It both respects the past and drives us forward…and I could not be more impressed. I’m giving this a 10/10…of course that’s my opinion. What do YOU think? Leave your comments below!