THE FLASH:  THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #12

Full Throttle, Conclusion:  Fastest Man Alive

August 2007

Written by March Guggenheim

Pencils by Tony Daniel

Inks by Jonathan Glapion, Marlo Alquiza, Tony Daniel

Cover by Tony Daniel

Synopsis

Led by Intertia, the Rogues have taken away the speed force from Bart Allen.  While Bart’s grandmother Iris Allen and his girlfriend Valerie Perez desperately try to restore the speed force, Bart valiantly battles the rogues to give them time.  The Rogues, however, figure out Bart’s plan.  Inertia runs to stop Valerie, but Bart runs after him, catching him.  The rogues then catch Bart and proceed to pummel him to death.  In San Francisco, Tim Drake (aka Robin) receives the news of his friend’s death.  At the JSA headquarters, Jessie Quick and Jay Garrick also receive the news.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“A hero is someone who stands when their legs are gone.”

I think a look at this issue really needs to be done in two different ways.  First, in terms of the story being told and second in terms of its ending.  Granted, the two are connected, but knowing the ending ahead of time (and let’s face it, following DC’s recent announcement regarding the cancellation of this title and the restart of the old title with its numbering intact, the ending was not a surprise) can cloud how you read this issue.  The big splash page with Allen knocking off the rogues and then yelling, “I am the Flash” can either be a terrific moment in the story or guffaw moment because we know Bart Allen is not the Flash.  So, yes, knowing the ending and realizing how stupid killing Bart really is can make you think this comic is crap, but take that away for a moment and Guggenheim crafted a very good story.  At the heart of the issue was Bart’s desperate struggle to fight against impossible odds (one non-powered human against multiple rogues with powers).  It was engaging.  We get to see Bart come to terms with who he is and what it means to fight against impossible odds.  And we also see him accept fate, content that even in his death, Inertia did not get what he wanted.  His death was well done, even if he should’ve never died. 

There was a moment when Bart realizes that the Black Flash could’ve come for a different speedster:  Intertia.  At that moment, I thought that perhaps there might’ve been a different ending that what we thought.  I thought that the ending would’ve been the machine gets fixed and Bart would disappear into the speed zone, much like Wally did during Infinite Crisis.  But the brief flicker of hope was dashed quickly. 

Here are a few guesses regarding the fate of Bart Allen.  I really think that this was planned pretty much from the time Infinite Crisis was being written.  At the time, Wally’s “death” was seen as an analogue to Barry’s death in the original crisis.  And just like Wally took up the mantle from his protégé, so does Bart.  But this was never meant to be permanent.  I also think that if this title was critical applauded from the beginning and was still selling like gangbusters, that Bart may not have been killed.  I still think Wally would’ve returned, but the book as we know would still exist.  But this re-launch failed and because of that, it was easier to kill Bart (or stick to the plan to kill Bart).  Why they needed to kill Bart, I am not sure, but I am willing to bet we will find out in the coming weeks the reasons behind the decision. 

Finally, as a side note, I feel sorry for Robin.  First Superboy, now Impulse.  The other members of Young Justice better be careful!

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