Comic To Read This Week: The Flash #1

I was only a few years old when DC’s Comics Crisis on Infinite Earths took place.   At the end of the miniseries, Barry Allen, otherwise known as The Flash, sacrificed himself to save the world.  Afterwards, Wally West, known as The Kid Flash, stepped up and was The Flash for almost twenty years.  I grew up with Wally being The Flash and for a brief period I saw Bart Allen take on the mantle as well.  But being so young at the time I hardly know anything about Barry Allen, aside from the CBS television show.  Now Barry Allen has returned to his wife, his friends, and a world that has gone on without him. 

After the miniseries, Flash: Rebirth, Barry Allen is back as The Flash with Wally, Bart, and the rest of the Speed Force as his back-up.  In issue #1 reader’s get re-acquainted into Barry’s life as he returns to his jobs, both as a forensic scientist and as Central City’s scarlet speedster.  Along the way he runs into old friends, old enemies, and tries desperately to make it to a date with his wife.  But after a villain from his rogue gallery turns up dead, along with some visitors from the 25^th Century, Barry’s problems are just getting started.

When I started reading Flash: Rebirth I found that Barry was an interesting and fresh character.  Wally and Bart are known for being jokers, but Barry is pretty much a cop, and he takes being a hero seriously.  To me this was a new personality to The Flash.  And just as Clark Kent disguises himself by acting bumbling, Barry always tries to work at a slower pace than his colleagues.

DC’s Comics golden boy Geoff Johns (who I can’t wait to see at this weekend’s Chicago Wondercon!) has taken over duties for this character, and considering what he did for Green Lantern I hope that The Flash will be another success story for Johns.  It’s also been rumored that he is helping write the film version of The Flash, and if Johns is helping with it then I can’t wait to see it.  Artist Francis Manapul drawing style helps provide a light-hearted tone to this new world of Brightest Day.  His art almost seems animated, which keeps the tone of the book less serious, even though Barry is investigating a murder. 

The coolest part in this issue was when a speeding car flies off a ramp, but before it can hit the people below The Flash has already taken the car apart, piece by piece.  Mix that in with the patented “costume in his ring” and I’d say this Flash is ready to run towards a great future for the next generation to see.