THE FLASH #231

The Wild Wests, Part One:  Growing Up Fast

October 2007

Written by Mark Waid

Pencils by Daniel Acuña

Inks by Daniel Acuña

Cover by Daniel Acuña

Synopsis

In Keystone City, a commuter fey collided wit ha concrete pier.  On the scene to rescue the occupants are two young kids.  Afterwards, the press attempts to interview them, but they are whisked away by their father, Wally West (aka The Flash).  Later, their mother Linda takes them downstairs to check and regulate their powers and make sure they are okay.  The next day, Wally and the kids, Jai and Iris, head out to investigate the crash site.  Underneath the water, Wally finds a giant sea monster, which grabs and pulls him under.  Meanwhile, two other monsters have captured the kids, too.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This started well and ends well, but the middle section, while needed, is extremely frustrating and annoying to read.  It is needed because, as the reader, the background information on where the Wests had been, why the kids were suddenly older, is vital to understanding a little bit about the family.  But it is frustrating because it appears the form of Wally telling the story to Linda, which makes little sense because she was there for it.  It is akin to your father telling your mother what happened during the wedding.  Other than that short section, Waid has craft a wonderful family story featuring (I think) DC’s first family of superheroes.  The kids come across as, well, kids, and Wally and Linda are properly represented as concerned and proud.  Perhaps Waid has been spurred on by the success of the Incredibles, I don’t know, but it is certainly a different path (and luckily Waid stayed away from the doom and gloom of Bart’s death) so I welcome whatever may come with this family of superheroes. 

As for a first issue featuring the unnamed Tornado Twins (who were originally the children of Barry Allen) I was a little unsure what type of powers they possess.  It looks as if whatever they are tapping into (the speed force), it doesn’t last long.  We also don’t get a clear indication of what they can do (although Jai has strength and Iris can vibrate through things, but is that all they can do?).  Hopefully this is something that will be addressed at some point. 

So, a vacation on an alien world turned former tv reporter Linda Park-West into a top notch scientist able to scan her children and regulate their powers?  Yes, she had started med school during Johns’ run of the series, but I don’t think she was in school look enough to even accomplish what she says she did.  Two semesters short of an MD?  I doubt she was in school for, what, six or more years?  Those alien lessons must’ve really paid off.

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