DCU Comic Book Reviews

THE FLASH:  REBIRTH #2

Dead Run

July 2009

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Ethan Van Sciver

Inks by Ethan Van Sciver

Covers by Ethan Van Sciver

Synopsis

In the Balkan Mountains, Christina Alexandrov worships on the alter of Savitar, hoping to pull him from the Speed Force.  Instead, she witnesses Saviar’s death as he races with Barry Allen.  At the scene of the Crime, Hal Jordan catches up to Barry, who tells Hal to process the scene before he runs away.  When he reaches his home, he finds the police waiting with his wife, Iris.  Detective Frye welcomes Barry back and asks his help on a new case, the murder of two science forensics specialists.  Elsewhere, various speedsters felt a change in the speed force at the time of Savitar’s death.  With Wally, Barry runs to Fallsville, where he was born.  There they find the body of the Black Flash.  They also encounter Alexandrov, who blames Barry for Savitar’s death.  She attacks Barry, who fights back.  As soon as he touches her, there is a change in the speed force.  Wally senses it too and realizes that Barry is the new Black Flash.  

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

For whatever reason, this issue lacks a certain flair, especially for a comic not only written by Geoff Ohns, but one featuring the Flash written by Geoff Johns.  I wouldn’t say it was a downer, but the story just seems to plod along beat by beat.  Some of this, I think, has to do with the character of Barry Allen, who is being portrayed as someone who is less than excited about his return from the speed force.  After all, how can we be energized by a grumpy old man?  But I think the other part is that the comic has the feel of a writer and artist going through the motions, making sure they hit all of the different beats that they need to for the story.  I am not saying this story is bad.  For the most part, I enjoyed it and the ending certainly added some spark, but overall the story just lacks any type of excitement. 

For a story about some returning to the living, for some who has a “rebirth,” this issue is strangely (or ironically) more concerned about death: Savitar, the Black Flash, Barry’s mother and then later his father in jail.  I suppose Johns is making a point in the contrast between life and death, but the heavy dose of death is another reason why this issue feels like a downer. 

I liked the decision Johns made to explain Barry’s absence by simply saying that Barry was in the Witness Protection Program.  It is a simple and elegant way to explain why somebody was there and then suddenly disappeared.  I am thinking that Johns went the simple route because he needs to spend time explaining Barry’s past, leaving little room to go into more detail.    

If Barry’s mother died and his father was in jail, who raised Barry?  I am still a little disappointed that Johns felt the need to retcon Barry’s life to find a tragic reason why he was a hero.  We see more of it here and I am curious to see where the wrongful jail time for Barry’s dad is going to go (is he really innocent or guilty).  I always maintain that Superman is a true hero because his motives are pure.  He wants to do good because he knows the being bad is, well, bad.  Barry was one of the others.  But with his mother’s death and father’s incarceration, Barry is closer to Batman (and, as we saw here, to Hal Jordan), then he is to Superman.  And I think that is a shame. 

In the lab, the one called Desmond might be Albert Desmond, the future Dr. Alchemy, who is referenced in the frame hanging in Iris’ house.  My first thought is that Forrest was supposed Chunk, a supporting character during the run with Wally.  They look very similar.  I wonder if it is meant to be a relative of some sort to Chunk.  Father?  Uncle? 

The cover, as stated in the credits page, is an homage, specifically to Showcase, issue #4 (Sept/Oct 1956), which is also Barry Allen’s first appearance.