New revised review
By Mark Waid, Greg LaRocque, Sal Velluto & Roy Richardson (DC Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-56389-268-4
When the Silver Age Flash died during the Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985, he was promptly succeeded by his grieving shell-shocked sidekick and nephew Wally West, who initially struggled to fill the boots of his groundbreaking predecessor, both in sheer physical ability and, more tellingly, in confidence. Wally felt like a fraud, but like a true hero he soldiered on and eventually rose to esteemed heights.
Just as he was becoming comfortable in the role though, the unthinkable happened… Actually in comics not so unthinkable and that idea is used to telling effect within the text.
Years later just as Wally was coming to terms with his historic heritage and still painful sense of bereavement Barry Allen reappeared, stunned, amnesiac, but unquestionably alive…
This slender chronicle collects issues #74-78 of the Wally West Flash (which originally ran from March to August 1993) and, after ‘Flashback’ – an informative introduction from Mark Waid & Brian Augustyn – opens with a couple of teasing, foreshadowing pages from earlier issues which lead to the late Scarlet Speedster turning up on Wally’s doorstep on Christmas Eve after which the high-speed action opens with ‘Trust’ by Waid, Greg LaRocque – assisted by Sal Velluto – & Roy Richardson.
Heroes have come back before and villains have always pulled imposturing fast ones too, so as Barry’s memories slowly return Wally is suspicious, although his mentor’s oldest friends Jay Garrick and Hal (Green Lantern) Jordan are quickly convinced. But still, something doesn’t seem quite right with the returned, but no longer so easygoing, heroic ideal…
In ‘Running Behind’ Barry and Wally are happily patrolling together and the younger Flash is becoming convinced that nothing more than insecurity and jealousy are colouring his misgivings. Even Garrick, the WWII Flash, is apparently content and cooperating in their unstoppable crime-blitz. Wally is even considering surrendering the name and creating a new heroic persona for himself when, during a skirmish with high-tech bandits Barry inexplicably flies into a psychotic rage…
Helpless, fearing Barry’s derangement is caused by his death and resurrection, Wally watches his mentor progressively lose it in ‘Identity Crisis’, whilst the utterly pragmatic Garrick recruits fellow veteran speedsters Johnny Quick and Max Mercury just in case the worst comes to pass. When the tech-bandits are revealed to be a deadly alien gang Wally and uncle Barry track them down and the younger Flash is apparently killed…
Wally has survived but is hiding: only he knows that his beloved uncle Barry has gone mad, attempting to murder his own nephew, after which in ‘Suicide Run’ the returned Scarlet Speedster tries to kill everybody else who might rival his standing as the Fastest Man Alive…
An incredible accident finally reveals the truth to the despondent Wally as “Barry Allen†goes on a murderous global rampage in ‘Blitzkrieg’ before the youngest Flash returns to lead a dramatic and desperate final charge against the most dangerous man of all time in the staggering, blockbuster, revelatory conclusion ‘The Once and Future Flash’.
That is one of the very best Fights ‘n’ Tights tales of the 1990s, a rollercoaster ride of bluff, misdirection and all-out action that was instrumental in shutting up old coots like me who kept whining about how the new stuff just wasn’t as good as the old…
Despite some less than stellar artwork this is a great tale, captivatingly told and which powerfully pushes the buttons of any superhero fan, whether a Flash follower or not. Catch and enjoy, time after time after time….
© 1993 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.