DCU Comic Book Reviews

BLACKEST NIGHT:  Flash #1

Blackest Night: The Flash

February 2010

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Scott Kolins

Inks by Scott Kolins

Covers by Scott Kolins and Francis Manapul

Synopsis

In Central City, the dead rogues have been brought back as Black Lanterns.  The living rogues prepare to confront them.  Meanwhile, Barry Allen warns the heroes of Earth of the Black Lanterns while Wally West prepares to help Barry.  At the rogues gravesite, Captain Boomerang Jr. waits along with Tar Pit for his father to return.  Just then Eobard Thwane (aka Reverse Flash) rises from the dead to become a Black Lantern. Thwane seeks out Barry, who keeps his emotions in check long enough to toss Thwane half way around the world.  Barry then decides to find Solovar, the leader of Gorilla City.  What he doesn’t know is that Solovar died long ago.  When Barry reaches Gorilla City, he finds Black Lantern Solovar.  Barry Grabs the black ring and runs until Solovar breaks apart.  Just then, the Black Lantern rings power to 100%.  Barry tells the others, change of plans. They head out to Coast City.  Elsewhere, the rogues prepare to kill zombies.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Part of this issue feels like a bit of housecleaning, first in terms of the exposition at the beginning to get everyone up to speed (if you pardon the pun) on the events in Blackest Night and Flash: Rebirth and second in terms of Barry’s role in Blackest Night.  Right now, Barry is a major part of the main Blackest Night series, as shown in issue #5.  I get the sense that Johns had some ideas for Barry, but knew he couldn’t do too much with him because of the main series.  So, Johns rushed (if you pardon the pun) Barry’s story, pushing through the various things he wanted to get across, then ending the issue so it synchs up with the main series.  In that way, he can use Barry without compromising the timeline of what is supposed to be happening.  While the material is pretty good, it doesn’t have the chance to breathe and really sink in, especially the scene with Solovar.  Johns does his best to get the friendship across, but I think it would’ve benefited from a little bit more space so that when Solovar asks for help, it would’ve had a bigger emotional impact.  As it is, I think it just passes by too quickly.  

Personally, I think Johns would’ve been better off focusing on the rogues, rather than trying to shoehorn Barry into the story.  The rogues are separate from the main series, so Johns would have the time and space to tell the story without rushing to reach the ending.  As it is, the rogues take a back seat in this issue, appearing only in brief scenes that show them getting ready for the Black Lanterns.  It is frustrating because they are so vibrant and alive, especially under Johns’ pen, that a rogues vs. rogues confrontation promises to be a good one.  Hopefully, we’ll get it next issue. 

The cover on the left, by Scott Kolins, gives thanks to Ethan. The Black Lantern Flash here is posed the mirror opposite (the logo included) as Barry in the first issue of Flash:  Rebirth, drawn by Ethan Van Sciver.   

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