The Flash #77 – Joshua Williamson, Writer; Rafa Sandoval, Penciller; Jordi Tarragona, Inker; Tomeu Morey, Colorist
Ratings:
Ray – 8.5/10
Ray: Assuming Joshua Williamson has a pretty similar game plan to Tom King and will likely mic-drop after his 100th issue, we’re in the last year of this epic run and all the dangling plot threads are coming together for a suitably climatic showdown.
When we last left off, the Black Flash had emerged from oblivion to target Steadfast as part of his plan to exterminate the other Forces due to the threat they posed to the Speed Force. That kicks off Flash #77 with an excellent action scene as Flash, Kid Flash, and Avery Ho lead the supernatural entity on a wild goose chase around the Flash Museum until they trick it and get Steadfast free. We don’t know much about Steadfast yet, but he seems to be designed as the zen master of the Forces and he adds an interesting new dynamic to how hot-tempered the other characters tend to be. I was also intrigued by the Year of the Villain tie-in, which has Captain Cold putting the Rogues back together and reinvents Weather Wizard as an unstable eco-warrior.
The meat of the issue, though, is in the second segment as Barry and Steadfast decide to gather the primary Force users to try to develop a plan of action against the Black Flash. That means recruiting the antiheroes and villains from the “Force Quest” storyline.
Fuerza, who was an intriguing young hero with a more hardcore take on justice than Barry, is a compelling character who never fails to call Barry out on his nonsense. I especially liked the detail of why she warmed to Steadfast faster.
But the return of Psych didn’t do nearly as much for me. This con man pulled some pretty despicable moves in his last appearance and I’m not sure why Barry trusts him as far as he can throw him – especially since only pages later he pulls a move that makes him seem completely beyond redemption. Fuerza I’m happy to see again, but this guy I’d be okay with throwing to the Black Flash. Overall, though, Barry’s getting the team back together and it’s one of the more entertaining arcs of the series.
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Disclaimer: GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
