As always, I will be discussing specifics of this issue of the comic so if you do not want to spoil the issue before reading it stop reading right here. If you want to get caught up with a physical copy of this or any other issues, head right to mycomicshop.com and get caught up. If a physical copy is not your thing, you can sign up at comiXology.com where you can get caught up on a ton of titles with digital issues. Their unlimited subscription lets you read many back issues for a monthly fee.
So getting right into the issue, it’s written by Joshua Williamson and drawn by Howard Porter. You can tell I got the Porter cover which is very interesting. You’ve got the Flash on top of a pile of old shoes that look as if they have been run ragged. The Year One story arc starts here and looks as if we are starting over in the life of Barry Allen, forensic scientist. This is another DC book I started at issue #50 so there is a lot I’m missing from the events leading up to #69 so it’s refreshing to get a new start.
If you know anything about the Flash, you’ll know how this story should go. We start with a flash back of young Barry reading comics in the attic. It’s a good look at what is probably a very fond memory for him with the sequence ending with his mother telling him to always be hopefully. The story jumps 11 years to Barry at a crime scene schooling August on how to read what has happened. Some character introduction take place at the crime scene and back at the police station, with the most notable being Iris West. We learn that Barry has not remained hopeful since his mother’s murder, and that Iris appears to have an interest in Barry. More information that is consistent with what you would expect from a Flash origin is given such as Barry’s father being in prison for his mom’s murder and that being his motivation to be a forensic scientist. So if we are getting a new Flash story, the beginning is mostly consistent.
Barry gets struck by the lightening and ends up in a coma, only to wake up and find that he can move incredibly fast. He does some experiments and training to try and figure out what is going on like anyone would given the circumstances. Just when Flash starts to get the hang of running that fast, he runs into what appears to be a future in which King Turtle has control of Central City. Just as Turtle’s minions are about to grab Barry, we end with an old man Flash telling Barry he shouldn’t be there.
I’m pretty confused on why we’re getting an origin story just after the conclusion of the Flash and the Trickster going at it and the quest for the speed force. That alone makes the story a little more intriguing for me. The action was pretty well paced, but the lack of an extended origin makes me think this may all be a part of Barry’s speed force quest. I can’t help but think we’re going to eventually get back to the events following #69.
I think everything is drawn really well. One thing about me is I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to artwork. Barry’s super speed is captured really well I think, and old man Flash looks pretty cool. I like the sleeveless look with the gloves. I also notice old man Flash does not wear a mask. So I’m guessing everyone in the future knows his identity. I, for one, am very intrigued as to where this is all going.
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