DCU Comic Book Reviews

BLACKEST NIGHT:  Flash #3

Blackest Night: The Flash

April 2010

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Scott Kolins

Inks by Scott Kolins

Covers by Scott Kolins and Francis Manapul

Synopsis

In Keystone City, Owen Mercer (aka Captain Boomerang, Jr.) has his father locked away, feeding him human bodies in the hope he will come back to help his son.  Elsewhere, Blue Lantern Barry Allen and The Flash Wally West are fighting Black Lanterns Solovar, Eobard Thwane, and Bart Allen.  In Iron Heights, the Rogues are battling Black Lanterns, but each time they think they destroy them, they just come right back.  Suddenly, the Black Lanterns stop and stare at Eobard Thwane.  While they are distracted, Cold sets off a cold-grenade, encasing Iron Heights in ice as they get away.  Meanwhile, Wally learns that the speed force still connects him and Barry to Bart.  So, Barry vibrates through to Bart and frees him from the control of the Black Lanterns.  Elsewhere, the rogues encounter Owen.  When they realize he has been throwing women and children for his father to feed on, they toss Owen to his father, who promptly kills his son.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

There are three separate plot points in this issue so let’s tackle the three of them separately.  Together, these three parts form a mix bag, not quite coming together to create a cohesive whole (although I love the ending and the similarity/differences between the Flashes and the rogues) although individual moments are pretty good.  I think the biggest problem I have is that everything feels too short, not given enough time to make much of a story.  I like the scenes, but thinking about it and it just doesn’t work overall. 

First, there are the Flashes, with Barry saving Bart Allen.  It was a nice scene and I liked how it all played out (effectively showing just how much he can inspire hope in others), but as I was reading I wondered, why couldn’t something like this appear in the Flash Rebirth series.  Given the fact that Barry has only recently come back and Bart’s issues deal with his return, the touching heart-to-heart he has here with Bart seems like it should’ve belonged in the Rebirth.  I realize at this point the mini-series is not over so who knows what will happen, but Bart does not have much of a role in Rebirth so I can’t imagine he will suddenly be given a big scene. 

Second, there are the rogues.  To be honest, there wasn’t much there other than the Rogues taking a lucky break to get the hell out of dodge.  Their big fight scenes and emotional confrontations with the Black Lanterns occurred in the previous issue.  This issue I think they were there more or less to deal with Owen at the end.  For as much as I liked what they did to Owen, and it makes perfect sense given Cold’s moral view of things, the rest seems extraneous. Granted, it was still good and I liked how Johns and Kolins handle the rogues, but still superfluous. 

Third, there are the Boomerangs, which is gruesome, disturbing, and tragic.  Or I think it would be a little bit more tragic if Johns had devoted more time to Boomerang’s daddy issues or his efforts to bring his father back.  Despite that, I still though the entire thing was chilling and I thought that Johns managed to make Owen pathetic and sympathetic at the same time.  Frankly, I would like to find out more about father and son and what will happen to them.

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