THE FLASH #234

The Wild Wests, Part Four:  Tethered

January 2008

Written by Mark Waid

Pencils by Freddie E. Williams II

Inks by Freddie E. Williams II

Cover by Doug Braithwaite

Synopsis

While running around Keystone City after repelling a recent alien invasion, Wally West suddenly finds his daughter Iris next to him, appearing out of nowhere.  Wally realizes that when he taps into the speed force, he has the ability to pull his kids to him, like a magnet.  Jai thinks it is pretty cool, but Iris doesn’t like the “leash.”  Later, Jai and Iris are playing out back when suddenly Jai’s body begins to change shape.  He lurches away from the house, but Wally is able to use the speed force to bring him back.  As Linda runs test on him, Superman informs Wally that the JLA has been able to duplicate the alien’s transportation system, giving them the means to track the alien invaders down.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I suppose at this point, readers who dislike the kids will have dropped the title while those who like the new direction for the Flash will have remained.  I am firmly in the second camp and because of that, I really liked this issue.  Waid doesn’t seem intent on simply falling into writing the DC version of the Fantastic Four, which was often focused on being superheroes who happen to be family.  Rather, Waid is doing the other way, exploring the family dynamic more than the superhero dynamic.  This is really about the Wests and about Wally learning how to be a superhero dad. 

The kids as portrayed in this issue are typical kids; I could see how anyone would dislike being tethered to their parents that way, but I could see how the concept of flying would appeal to others.  You just never can tell how any kid will react to their parents.  Mostly, however, I like the way Waid is exploring Jai’s reaction to learning about his growth spurts and impending death.  The kids still don’t have much of a personality, but slowly Waid has focused more and more on them, pushing the hero stuff into the background (actually, except for the last page, it is mostly gone from this issue).  Hopefully, as time goes by, we’ll see more and more of them being kids, going to school while dealing with the being the children of the famous Flash. 

I wonder if the words were added to the cover in attempt to explain what the hell is going on with the picture.  Well, not so much that Jai is about to be crushed, but simply trying to explain why he looks so odd with the big chest and odd hands, er, claws. 

THE FAST LIFE,  Part 2 of 4:  The Allens

Written by Mark Waid and John Rogers

Art by Doug Braithwaite

Synopsis

On Planet Savorth, Barry Allen visits with his wife, Iris.  The news that Barry is married shocks Gorflack, who had planned on trying to marry Barry to a local woman.  He even had set up an elaborate wedding.  Iris is at first mad that Barry failed to tell Gorflack he was married, but then realizes he didn’t do it to hurt her.  Reconciled, Barry and Iris agree to participate in Gorflack’s wedding, which then becomes a national holiday in alter years.

Review

This second part of this story is not as funny as the first part, but it was still very good.  I like the way Barry and Iris come to terms with what happened by talking to each other rationally (and the reconcile before they catch the assassin; other writers might use the hunt for the assassin as a way to get the two back together, Waid and Rogers wisely forgo that bad plot device).  Other than that, there really is not much I can say about this installment.  It is short, it focuses on a character I am not that familiar with, and it is part of a larger story.  It is good stuff.

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