Is The Flash running out of speed?
I know, stupid joke, but it might be right on the money. Something has happened at DC since the end of Blackest Night. It’s as if they can’t recapture their focus or get sturdy legs under anything they’re doing. Sure, Batman and even Action Comics seem to be moving forward without quandary, but the same can’t be said for other books. Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Brightest Day and yes, even The Flash, have all really started to falter in recent months. Each one either began or was rebooted with great result but the follow up issues have been one mediocre failure after another.
The Flash #7 is the latest entry to this lack of focus and solid storytelling. The first few Flash issues were wonderful, it was so good to see Barry Allan back in his own title and the plot of the future Rogues being good guys trying to arrest The Flash, was excellent. However, the end of that storyline petered out with little fanfare and now, with The Flash #7, DC has reduced itself to re-telling origins. Here it’s the story of Captain Boomerang, recently brought back to life by the White Lantern. While a well written and in-depth look at the life and times of Captain Boomerang, the question remains, who cares?
Geoff Johns does a great job at bringing some new angles and textures to the back-story of one of the old school Rogues, but there’s no reason for it. At the end of The Flash #7 there’s an advertisement for issue #8 stating we next get a look at the origin of The Reverse Flash, also brought back to life by the White Lantern. Clearly either The Flash is being retooled or DC is stalling while they try to set up some cataclysmic multi-issue arc. The sudden drop into these “Secret Origins” is so hamfisted that it reeks of desperation or perhaps a lack of what’s next for The Flash. As with Green Arrow, The Flash is now plodding, moving forward like somebody wrapped in cellophane swimming in glue.
The art by Scott Kolins doesn’t really help the process either. I’m not sure if Kolins decided not to care because this is a throwaway issue but the work here is really subpar. At one point Kolins gives us a panel with the Rogues standing over a wounded Flash who, for some reason, looks like constipated old man. There’s another scene depicting the first meeting between The Flash and Boomerang where Boomerang looks like his body is bent all wrong. The list of problems goes on but you get the idea. It’s as if Kolins didn’t even try.
While clearly not living up to expectations I’ll keep reading The Flash until the next story arc kicks in. Hopefully all of this half-assed writing and art is due to the creators’ razor focused on something really wonderful. If that isn’t what’s going on than I have to ask, why bring Barry Allen back at all?
