THE FLASH:  THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #3

Lightning In A Bottle, Part Three:  Night Of The Griffin

October 2006

Written by Danny Bilson & Paul Demeo

Pencils by Ken Kershcel

Inks by Serge LaPointe

Cover by Ken Lashley & Art Thibert

Synopsis

Bart Allen dons Barry’s old suit and rushes to save Valerie Lopez from the fiery explosion that rocks STAR Labs.  Afterwards, Bart tells her he is not the Flash, despite what he did.  Meanwhile, Griffin is experiencing strange effects since the first explosion and he knows plans to do some good with his new abilities, although his motives may not be pure.  At STAR Labs, Dr. Tina McGee has learned that Val’s father was noted Flash villain Manfred Mota (aka Atom Smasher, aka Professor Fallout, aka Fusion).  As a result, Val may lose her job.  The next day, Bart comes to STAR Labs for more tests.  He asks Val why she wants to help.  She tells Bart that Kid Flash once saved her life.  Bart and Val kiss.  That night, Griffin hears of a kidnapping on the radio and attempts to help, but bungles the effort; luckily, Jay Garrick (aka The Flash) is there to save the day.  Later, Griffin overhears Bart talking about the identity of the bomber of Keystone Motors:  Luke Thatcher.  Griffin races over to Thatcher’s apartment.  Thatcher is gone, but Griffin finds notes that he is about to bomb a yacht with Keystone Motors CEO on board.  Griffin calls the cops to get the Flash out of the way and then heads over to save the day himself...

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This issue was a definite improvement over the first two issues.  Part of this is simply because the flashback reminisces from Jay, Barry, and Wally are no longer interrupting the flow of the story.  For the first time, the story flows naturally from one plot point to another.  For another of the odd bits and pieces are finally starting to make sense, especially with the character of Val.  Some of the small bits from previous issues (like the strange phone calls) should have been saved for after the revelation of Val’s father.  It is one thing to set up a plot point; it is another to confuse the reader while you are doing so.  And, as I said, this issue clearly keeps everything in perspective. 

This issue sees the presence of a guest art team.  My first reaction after I finished reading this issue was that the art was a definite improvement over the first two issues.  But I don’t think that is really the case.  I think the difference is that the art this time tells a better story than before.  It is one thing to be a good artist, but the artist must be able to tell the story as well.  Now, I am willing to concede that Lashley’s ability was probably hampered in part by the multitude of different inkers as well as by the breaks in the pages for all of the different flashbacks.  Hopefully next month we’ll get to see what Lashley can do. 

The most interesting aspect of this story so far is the story of The Griffin.  At the moment, the Griffin is straddling the line between good and evil, although it should not be difficult to figure out where things will fall at the end of this story arc.  Part of me likes the idea that Bart will have his own ready made arch-enemy (of course, I thought that should have been Captain Boomerang, Jr., but I digress).  Much like the Joker and Batman, their histories are tied up with each other.  However, with the vast number of rogues within the history of the Flash and especially the way Geoff Johns was able to really strengthen the rogues gallery, is it really necessary to create and entire new villain?

One problem with Griffin’s outfit:  he looks too much like the Pied Piper.

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