The Flash 23.2
Special “Villains Month” Title: Reverse-Flash 1
Brian Buccellato, Francis Manapul, Scott Hepburn
Forever Evil Crossover
Spoiler alert! You have been warned!
Say what you will about previous issues of the main series, but this tie-in of The Flash is testing my patience with not only the character, but the creative team. Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul (who is a great artist, in his defense) are joined by Scott Hepburn in another lackluster issue about the fastest man alive and his rogues gallery. Except, as was the greatest disappointment with last issue’s Gorilla Grodd spotlight, it doesn’t actually feature the Rogues. This one’s entirely focusing on the new Reverse-Flash, who is a disappointing reimagining of a great villain.
This issue picks up where The Flash 23 left off (and leads directly into The Flash 24, for those who are completely confused by this whole ridiculous numbering fiasco). We get a little more insight into the new villain’s origin, but not enough to really care. The art is okay, but not as good as what we’ve come to expect (or are perhaps tricked into by the cover artist). But the script, much like the title character(s), is a little lacking in the interest department. For being the fastest man alive, Barry Allen and company sure are boring characters. So we get a little violence, a little tragedy, and a lot of revenge that not only diminishes the name Reverse-Flash (remember how cool he was before and during Flashpoint?), but also diminishes the Flash’s rogues gallery.
I would say that if you’re a Flash completionist and you’re going to get it anyway, it’s worth the extra dollar for the awesome cover. Excluding that, though, I’d save yourself the extra buck. And if you’re finding yourself disappointed with recent issues (and this new character “twist” especially), go ahead and just skip the issue completely. Barry Allen needs a new creative team, fast, and with recent news of that very thing happening in the near future, DC just successfully inspired this reader to stick around for a few more issues. But seriously. This series is a chore to read each and every month. Or, in this case: week.
My Rating: 2/5
I realize DC had to change a lot of the past within the New 52 because… well, because they wanted to, but making Daniel West the Reverse Flash instead of Professor Zoom or even Hunter Zolomon from the end of Wally's era is just… dumb. This was a horrible book and Flash was already on my chopping block – this and Grodd are ensuring it stays there.
The Rogues issue still looks promising. And the Zero Year crossover later in the year.