By Geoff Johns, Howard Porter, Livesay & various (DC Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-4012-0723-6
Created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, Jay Garrick debuted as the very first Scarlet Speedster in Flash Comics #1 (January 1940). “The Fastest Man Alive†wowed readers for over a decade before changing tastes benched him in 1951. The concept of speedsters and superheroes in general was revived in 1956 by Julie Schwartz in Showcase #4 when police scientist Barry Allen became the second hero to run with the concept.
The Silver Age Flash, whose creation ushered in a new and seemingly unstoppable era of costumed crusaders, died heroically during Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-1986) and was promptly succeeded by his sidekick Kid Flash. Of course Allen later returned from the dead – but doesn’t everyone?
Initially Wally West struggled to fill the boots of his predecessor, both in sheer ability and, more tellingly, in confidence. Feeling a fraud, he nonetheless persevered and eventually overcame, becoming arguably the greatest hero to bear the title.
There are now many super-speedsters populating the DCU and the majority congregate in the conjoined metropolis of Keystone and Central City. Wally West lives there with his true love Linda Park, his Aunt Iris – Barry’s widow – and fellow fast-fighters such as the apparently tireless Jay Garrick.
Bart Allen, grandson of Barry & Iris, is a juvenile speedster born in the 30th century and has recently taken up Wally’s old role as Kid Flash.
This volume reprints issues #207-211 and #213-217 (issue #212 being a tale devoted to the Mirror Master which was bumped to the next compilation) of the monthly comic and opens with an absolutely crucial scorecard and checklist of characters…
In the aftermath of a staggering extended war of attrition that plagued the Twin Cities for over a year the Scarlet Speedster disappeared and, thanks to the intervention of nigh-omnipotent spirit The Spectre, everyone who knew Wally West was the Flash forgot the secret: friends, foes and even Linda and Wally too…
In The Flash: Ignition Wally recovered his memories but lost his wife as the attack of evil speedster Zoom caused her to miscarry unborn twins and the constant life of turmoil compelled Linda to take a desperately needed time-out. Wally, heartbroken, didn’t even have time to grieve. The Rogues Gallery of Flash-foes were still making trouble and, thanks to the Ghostly Guardian’s spell, all the Scarlet Speedster’s old Justice League allies felt that they could no longer trust a comrade who could so casually meddle with their memories…
Now, with the again anonymous hero back, the Twin Cities have declared a celebratory Flash Day against the wishes of the man himself – who feels that it’s a provocation to the super-villains haunting Central and Keystone. He’s proved right in ‘Rush Hour!’ as Plunder, the new Trickster, Tarpit, Abra Kadabra and a herd of Golden Giants crash the parade intent on much mayhem…
Meanwhile in super-penitentiary Iron Heights, Ashley Zolomon, criminal profiler and estranged wife of Zoom, is trying to see her comatose former spouse, determined to cure him of his murderous obsession, but she’s getting little help from draconian warden Gregory Wolfe.
When Jay Garrick and Kid Flash appear the three speedsters quickly drive off the party crashers in ‘Red Carpet’ before taking a tour of the newly refurbished Flash Museum, whilst in Chicago FBI Special Agent James Jesse – the original Trickster – is forming a task force of reformed Rogues intent on arresting his former criminal associates. Suddenly Wally vanishes, teleported to the JLA citadel and a brusque confrontation with his angry team-mates…
The stories in this collection were first seen during the shocking Identity Crisis crossover event when DC heroes were forced to re-assess their careers and procedures whilst hunting down the murderer of Sue Dibny, wife of the Elongated Man. As the investigation progressed, heroes – and villains – were forced to challenge many of their bedrock principles, especially when it was revealed that a cabal of heroes had indulged in involuntary, illegal brain-wiping and behaviour modification of criminals in their custody…
Thus the understandably antsy reaction of the JLA in ‘Fast Friends’, when the assembled heroes demanded answers from Wally regarding their own enforced selective amnesia, resulting in a speedy clash with Superman and an agreed rapprochement with the entire heroic community.
In ‘Reconnected’, Captain Cold puts the Rogues on a war footing as Wally reminisces with Nightwing and reconnects to his former Teen Titans chums. Whilst Ashley finally gets her time with Zoom – which everybody will come to regret – The Penguin briefly and painfully relocates into and out of the Twin Cities, courtesy of the Flash and Nightwing, just as the FBI’s reformed Rogue unit (Jesse, Heatwave and Pied Piper) turn their attention to the murderous Flash-foe Murmur…
When Wally gives Dick Grayson an after-hours tour of the Flash Museum they are ambushed by the horrific Gorilla Grodd in ‘Animal House’ resulting in a devastating battle and the super-ape’s crushing defeat. Returning the beast to Iron Heights, Flash clashes with Ashley, whose husband he holds responsible for Linda’s leaving.
Later that night Zolomon almost dies when her car brakes mysteriously fail…
‘Slow Motion’ sees events spiral out of control. Although nobody remembers that Wally is the Flash, Zoom’s attacks on him and Linda are common knowledge and, in his job of police motor mechanic, West was the last person to service her vehicle. However during his interview with Detectives Chyre and Morillo, time literally stands still as The Turtle – Slowest Man Alive – escapes custody by stealing the city’s kinetic motion and the Vizier of Velocity is compelled to stop him between ticks of the clock…
In ‘The Secret of Barry Allen’ chapter 1 the ongoing crisis and pitched metahuman battles of the Identity Crisis begin to hit home as more heroes’ family members are targeted. When Flash discovers that his comrades and idols – particularly his uncle Barry – had crossed a line with their mind-control tactics, he confronts the JLA-ers originally involved and is given a letter written before the second Scarlet Speedster’s death…
In ‘Reformed’ Wally learns that his sainted predecessor was a mere man, filled with fears and foibles who, in a moment of weakness, took the behaviour modification a stage further and attempted not to merely neuter an implacable foe, but, with the aid of magician Zatanna, turn him into a force for justice.
Thus deadly, psionic phantom menace The Top became a man compelled to “do good†but with catastrophic results and, plagued by guilt and remorse, Barry’s last wish was that Wally undo this well-meaning mistake and rectify any harm the ill-advised procedure had caused…
As The Top Roscoe Dillon tapped into incredible mental powers and in ‘Spinning’ his full lethal potential was restored, with terrifying results. Possessed once more of evil free will, Dillon disclosed that he had carried on Barry’s mistake: forcibly making many of his fellow Rogues defenders of society. Almost all of Barry’s Rogues had tried to reform after his death for different lengths of time and with qualified success. Some even became FBI operatives…
Now the vengeance-crazed Top intends to undo his past mental manipulations and see just how many poachers-turned-gamekeepers actually changed their spots…
This volume concludes with ‘Post-Crisis’ and yields the spotlight to the Rogues as they prepare to bury Captain Boomerang and induct his son Owen Mercer as his replacement. Meanwhile Flash is put on final warning by Batman, but isn’t too fussed since Linda has finally returned.
What nobody knows is that the FBI have stolen Boomerang’s corpse (another casualty of the Identity Crisis) in preparation for an all-out war against Captain Cold and the Rogues…
With a cover gallery by Michael Turner, Peter Steigerwald, Howard Porter & Livesay and including a photo-feature revealing how Turner’s cover was converted into a statue of Flash triumphant over Gorilla Grodd, this tome is a captivating reaffirmation of the strength and vitality of the Flash as a fan-favourite who always delivers the goods.
Fast, furious and fabulous, the numerous Scarlet Speedsters have always epitomised the very best in costumed comic thrills and these spectacular yarns are among the very best. Moreover, this entire book is just a prologue for a blockbusting epic still to come…
© 2004, 200s DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.