THE FLASH #237

Superman's Cape

April 2008

Written by Keith Champagne

Pencils by Koi Turnball

Inks by Art Thibert

Cover by Freddie E. Williams II

Synopsis

Eight minutes before a job interview, Wally West (aka The Flash) still decides to run around the world on several errands.  Meanwhile, Linda takes their children, Jai and Iris, to Metropolis to perform a scavenger hunt designed to test their powers.  Their item to find:  Superman’s cape.  In Alaska, The Flahs is helping Superman deal with an ice creature when he suddenly remembers the job interview.  He rushes away, but forgets to tell Superman about the kids’ hunt.  Jai and Iris are searching for Superman but are having little luck.  They do, however, encounter Livewire.  As the fight each other, Superman arrives to lend a hand.  When Superman gets knocked down, Jai briefly considers taking the cape, but doesn’t when he realizes it is wrong.  Just then the Flash arrives, proud of his son.  Together as family, The Flash and his children take care of Livewire.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I am not a big fan of the art; it is too blocky, the characters are very disproportionate looking, and it is not the clearest storytelling.  The story is not that bad.  Although it is easily forgettable, Champagne at least keeps the focus on the kids and the family, reinforcing and building upon Mark Waid’s initial run that re-started this series.  As I have said in previous issues, I like the addition of the twins to Wally’s life, so I am not as put off by the re-focus of the book as others may be.  Ultimately, this issue is okay for it is, a fill-in story to bridge the outgoing writer to the incoming writer. 

Wally’s search for a job is strange since he should have marketable skills, even if he managed to not work for the past year.  When Johns was the writer, Wally was working in a garage as a mechanic.  To do that, he must have been certified or trained or something.  He should be able to troll garages looking for a job (and maybe work for Jaime’s dad, and if you get that reference, you read too many DC books -- like me).  Anyway, it seemed strange Wally would be looking for a job as a security guard. 

If I ever run into Keith Champagne, I must ask if the ice creature at the beginning of the issue was a node or reference or homage (if you will) of the Scooby-Doo mysterious in which a monster is used to scare people away so the bad guy can take the land/business/fortune for himself.  If so, kudos to you, my man, kudos.

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