If you want to read a positive review of this issue, click here. For a review from someone who doesn’t wet himself every time Johns puts pen to paper, read on!
(I tease, Bruce Castle!)
Seriously, this book isn’t bad. But, I am really confused. Last month, I asked who this book is for. After this issue, I think I have the answer. Johns is writing this for himself (and apparently Bruce Castle who may or may not actually be Geoff Johns.)
(Just kidding. Although I have never seen BC and GJ in the same place. hmmmmm…)
Back to Flash: Rebirth, this book requires a lot of Flash knowledge of the reader. Characters appear and disappear without any real explanation. Characters return from the grave only to die in the next panel. Unless you have been keeping up with the Flash (and Impulse) for the last twenty years or so, I have to think you’d be lost. And if you have been reading all of these Flash stories (as I have) you may not be relishing in Barry return or the ret-cons that have accompanied him.
I will say that issue 3 is an improvement of sorts over the last two issues. The first two issues were primarily told in flashback. The purpose of the series seemed to be to ret-con Barry Allen into someone modern audiences would want to read about. With the majority of the ret-cons out of the way, Johns actually starts moving the story forward… a little bit.
(Although, he did still find time to further address the troublesome issue of Barry Allen’s bow tie. Seriously.)
Last issue ended with the trademark shocking last page from Geoff Johns. In that issue, it was revealed that Barry is still around because he is the new Black Flash. His touch means death to speedsters. This issue, we see Barry dealing with that revelation. And his solution is to run back into the Speed Force to save the other speedsters.
It’s a reasonable solution. Frankly, I had problems with Superman’s objection to it. Barry had already sacrificed himself once to save the world. Why shouldn’t he sacrifice himself a second time to save his Flash family. They belong to this time. And as Barry has repeatedly pointed out, he doesn’t.
The cover image suggesting a race between Superman and the Flash is a bit misleading. There isn’t much of a race to be had here. Although the issue of who’s faster is addressed. It’s one of the cooler moments in the book, so I won’t spoil it. Although it’s one of those Geoff Johns moments where he seems to have built the entire book around setting up one cool line.
What follows just had me scratching my head. Apparently within the Speed Force, Barry is reunited with Johnny Quick and Max Mercury. As soon as they show up, one of them appears to die. I can’t imagine a death or resurrection have much less impact than that.
This all leads up to this issue’s trademark shocking last page from Geoff Johns. The original Reverse Flash shows up with no explanation. This was obviously supposed to have the reader geeking out. But for me, it just landed with a big thud.
So far, Flash Rebirth just feels like a jumble of scenes that pander to hard core Flash fans. But even on that level, I think the book misses it’s mark. It’s a Barry Allen book featuring a character who doesn’t act very much like Barry Allen and it requires extensive knowledge of the Wally West Flash run.
I hope Geoff Johns is enjoying the book. Because I have a hard time imaginging that many other people are.
For more comic goodness, go here.
“Back to Flash: Rebirth, this book requires a lot of Flash knowledge of the reader.”
I disagree. Everything you need to know is there, and if you want to know more, it’s just a Wiki page away. Which is good because it will hopefully get people into these characters.
“And if you have been reading all of these Flash stories (as I have) you may not be relishing in Barry return or the ret-cons that have accompanied him.”
C’mon man, comics change. Think about all of those Barry Allen fans who had to deal with a new Flash. Same thing, only with this, your character will actually be alive. Barry fans had nothing.
“The purpose of the series seemed to be to ret-con Barry Allen into someone modern audiences would want to read about.”
There was only one ret-con, and think about it, everyone was ret-conned post crisis, and this is Barry’s first official post-crisis appearance.
Although, he did still find time to further address the troublesome issue of Barry Allen’s bow tie. Seriously.
Yeah, for one page, and that should be it. The second issue explains why he started to wear the bow tie, and the third explains why he continued.
“Frankly, I had problems with Superman’s objection to it.”
That’s because you have no connection to Barry. Superman was friends with Barry for 20 years, in comics. What if your old, dear friend had returned? Wouldn’t you want to keep him? I mean, in the DC Universe, there’s probably something to keep Barry there and normal. In fact, they even had a solution at the beginning of the issue! So, that was Superman’s logic and it’s sound.
“Apparently within the Speed Force, Barry is reunited with Johnny Quick and Max Mercury. As soon as they show up, one of them appears to die. I can’t imagine a death or resurrection have much less impact than that. ”
Yep. Last issue it was explained that Johnny and Max were in the speed force. Oh, and in this series alone, it was explained that Max is Bart’s mentor and Johnny is Liberty Belle’s father. See, it’s all in the comic, my friend. Johnny and Max crumble like the other speedsters, that has already been set up. It wasn’t really a death or resurrection because they’ve both been “dead” for a while.
“The original Reverse Flash shows up with no explanation. This was obviously supposed to have the reader geeking out. But for me, it just landed with a big thud.”
Uh, spoiler alert! I, of course, liked the reveal. It should matter to you. He’s been the villain of the entire series. The murders in the beginning, the possible death of Abra Kadabra, etc.
“It’s a Barry Allen book featuring a character who doesn’t act very much like Barry Allen and it requires extensive knowledge of the Wally West Flash run.”
He acts like Barry. He’s just reacting to an extreme situation, but it’s all in character. And, again, everything you need to know, Flash-wise, is in the book.
“Although it’s one of those Geoff Johns moments where he seems to have built the entire book around setting up one cool line.”
Seriously, next time you read a Johns comic, take off your criticism bow tie and put on your open-minded bow tie.
I like your bow tie line
A lot of people seem to think that if you don’t like this book it’s because you are a Wally fan. And though I am a Wally fan, that’s not why I
don’t like this book. I don’t like this book because there’s not much to connect to. Barry, as written here, is very off-putting. He’s keeping everyone, including the reader, at a distance. And stuff just happens. Suddenly and with no explanation. It’s supposed to be one shocking twist after another. But with no build-up, it just feels random and desperate.
At this point, Wally’s been rendered pretty toxic as a leading man. Same with Bart. So, Barry is pretty much the best candidate to be the Flash by default. I have no problem with that. But I do have a problem with this lazy storytelling.
The guy over at speedforce.org made a really interesting point. He said that this isn’t the Flash relaunch. It’s more like the set-up to try to convince you that the relaunch is necessary. He had a whole analogy comparing it to building a house. It’s a good read. Check it out here:
http://speedforce.org/2009/06/review-flash-rebirth-3
Bruce is right. dclebeau is wrong. End rant.
Well, that’s going to be tough to dispute. Since, you know, you didn’t actually make any points.
I think he made the best point of all.
“Barry, as written here, is very off-putting.”
I so disagree! He’s acting exactly like a man who’s been dead for twenty years and now feels he has no reason to be around should act. He’s keeping people at a distance because A. He wants do as much good as he possibly can and doesn’t want to waste his life on Welcome Back Parties, which is SO Barry. and B. Because he feels he’ll go away again soon, and he doesn’t want the people he loves to be devistated if that happens. Again, SO Barry.
He’s only been back for a week, man. Oh, and Barry trying to sacrifice himself, yet again, to save the people he cares about while doing everything he can not to forget his wife is TOUCHING!
Grow a soul!
I thought the part where he refused to say good bye to Iris and the others was pretty damn selfish to be honest with you.
Oh, and he forrgot his wife. Wally bounced all over the Speed Force in every other Flash story and never once forgot Linda… (I’m just sayin’) Not that this is Barry vs. Wally or anything.
I just find that Barry is a grim and cold character in this mini. That’s not at all consistent with previous Barry Allen stories I’ve read. Barry was the poster boy for the optimism of DC’s Silver Age. This new, modern Barry is just a Debbie Downer.
Like I said before, DC has made a mess of Wally and Bart. So, I was ready for Barry to come back. But I don’t know who this guy is. It kind of reminds me of how when Bart became the Flash, he was not recognizable as the same character I’d been reading about for the last umpteen years.
I knew Barry Allen. Barry Allen was a friend of mine. You, sir, are no Barry Allen.
(Yeah, I’ve been waiting to say that.)
I’m so upset!
I’m going to go eat a potatoe!
[...] Blackest Night! Forget Flash: Rebirth! (Please let me forget Flash: Rebirth!) This is the Geoff Johns book I am looking forward to! [...]
[...] Read/Rant (2) – “Flash Rebirth just feels like a jumble of scenes that pander to hard core Flash fans. But even on that level, I think the book misses it’s mark. It’s a Barry Allen book featuring a character who doesn’t act very much like Barry Allen and it requires extensive knowledge of the Wally West Flash run.” [...]
[...] Flash: Rebirth #3 [...]