THE FLASH #12

The Road To Flashpoint:  Part Four

July 2011

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Francis Manapul and Scott Kolins

Inks by Francis Manapul andScott Kolins

Covers by Francis Manapul and Francis Portela

Synopsis

In Central City, The Reverse Flash reveals himself to Patty Spivot as the murderer of the young people who were found aged to the elderly.  Elsewhere, Hot Pursuit is attempting to punish Bat Allen (aka Kid Flash) as the killer.  Barry Allen (aka The Flash) stops Hot Pursuit.  Just then, he realizes he was wrong.  Hot Pursuit rushes after Reverse Flash, followed closely by Flash and Kid Flash.  Flash saves Patty Spivot.  Hot Pursuit attacks Reverse Flash, who soon realizes he is being attacked by Barry Allen, albeit from a parallel Earth.  Reverse Flash kills this Barry Allen, something he can’t do to the Barry Allen.  Flash and Kid Flash arrive too late to stop him.  Reverse Flash then runs away and disappears.  Afterward, Barry tries to convince Patty to stay, but she decides to return to her home.  Later, Iris tells Barry that he is regressing, becoming the detached, distant man she first met.  He tells her he will be better by tomorrow.  Elsewhere, Reverse Flash ominously declares, “It changes.  It all changes” as the lightning strikes.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Due to the fact that I am extremely behind schedule (by 3 months) completing reviews, the following few words will suffice until I can get back on track. 

Fair/Average:  Not much here really.  You just knew the thing with Bart was red herring and with Flashpoint coming, you knew that whatever Reverse Flash had plans, it was only just beginning. 

Thoughts on final issue and series:  I don’t mean to be corny or funny when I say this, but this series has been rushed and went by way too fast.  I really think Johns wanted to do more with Barry than what we ultimately got.  Perhaps it was due to the publishing delays (12 issues in 14 months of which 2 of those months were double shipped), perhaps it was due to the arrival of Flashpoint, or maybe something else entirely, but this book never had the chance to really delve into the main character or the supporting cast.  One minute Barry was introduced and the next, the series is cancelled, and it happens without getting to know Barry.  Basically, the main character conflict is that Barry distances himself from his family, but you never really get the sense of it happening.  Oh, we are told that is what is happening, but that is different than being shown.  I think several extra issues, a chance for Johns to show Barry’s obsession and his pulling away, and we might’ve had something.  As it is, it is rushed and the story of Barry and his emotional trauma suffers because of it. 

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