The Flash #26 – Mark Waid, Christopher Cantwell, Writers; Vasco Georgiev, Artist; Matt Herms, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: After 25 issues of Simon Spurrier’s mind-bending run, it’s time for an event tie-in before the next full run – bringing back one of the Flash’s most iconic writers, Mark Waid. Teamed with Chris Cantwell and regular series artist Vasco Georgiev, this arc focused on one of Waid’s most popular creations – Impulse, who has been fairly out of focus for years. Known for being a hyperactive, chaotic speedster, he hasn’t changed even a bit – and that’s my only real problem with this issue. While his teammates Tim Drake, Conner Kent, and Cassie Sandsmark all seem to have quietly slipped into adulthood at some point, Bart still looks and acts like he’s closer to Irey and Jai’s age here. It’s an odd choice – but it also leads to some chaotic and fun moments as he thinks he might have a solution to the problem of Darkseid. Knowing Bart, that’s going to cause even more trouble than it prevents.
After some arguments with Wally (who could always be a bit of a jerk to Bart) and Max Mercury (who is still trying to do his best to raise the kid right), Bart runs off to try to alter the timeline and prevent Darkseid’s attack – and winds up immediately erasing himself from the timeline. Wally chases after him, managing to track him down in the timeline, and the two of them wind up right back at the moment of Darkseid’s last attack. But Darkseid’ has gained control over time itself, and that means going back to the moment these two were most vulnerable. There are also some really good moments in this issue dealing with more personal affairs, such as a flashback to Wally’s encounter with a brutal bully in his childhood years, and Jay Garrick’s simmering rage after the death of his friend Wildcat. It’s a solid event tie-in that’s only hampered by Bart’s ongoing weird place in continuity ever since the New 52.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
