The Flash #30 review

Classic Flash writer Mark Waid has been writing the last few DC KO tie-in issues with Christopher Cantwell and I’ve really been enjoying them. Here’s the final chapter of a serial which has seen Flash Wally West and his cousin Impulse, Bart Allen, being chased through time by a Darkseid-tainted Legion of Super-Heroes. As we join Bart this time he’s run away from Wally, having become convinced, by telepath Saturn Girl broadcasting the words of Darkseid, that he has to save grandpa Barry Allen from dying in the Crisis of Infinite Earths. Of course, 30th-century native Bart having arrived in our time after Barry died, the Silver Age Flash has no idea who he is.

Wally, trying to catch Bart, finds himself again facing the Dark Legion… and Darkseid himself.

But the 31st century’s greatest super-teens aren’t the only heroes darkened by the Lord of Apokolips – Max Mercury has also succumbed to the belief that Darkseid Is. But it’s not the Max who mentored Impulse, it’s a younger Max, from the 19th century when he was going by a different hero name. Happily, he’s now free of Darkseid’s mind mangling and all-in on helping the Flashes.

And who’s that person immune to Darkseid energy?

Why, it’s Rocky Davis, founding member of the Challengers of the Unknown, last seen in the final issue of a mini-series that ended almost a year ago.

That was written by Cantwell, who likely remembers what the deal is with Rocky. I stuck with the book and can’t recall much at all – my vague memory is that Challs of various generations were butting heads with the Justice League Unlimited chiefs over a slight dose of Darkseid. As for what enemy-turned-pal Ultivac’s deal is, forget it.

Here, Ultivac proves very useful when he, Max and Rocky Boom Tube in to help Wally against Darkseid and the Legionnaires. Wally manages to get to the moment in time where Bart is trying to stop Barry wrecking an Anti-Monitor machine. There’s an ending that’s obviously intended as optimistic but strikes me as rather depressing.

Waid and Cantwell keep things moving with the script, but this issue left me scratching my head. Loads of things happen, but even in a superhero ‘event’ sense, sense is in short supply. Darkseid, who according to the DC KO premise is at super-god power levels, would surely just blast Wally out of existence. Bart is conveniently declared the ‘living embodiment of the Speed Force’. Max can suddenly time travel wherever he wants at will.

I dunno. I just found this one almost annoying. The story was busy enough without bringing in the Rocky business from a mini-series even those of us who read it barely recall; if Cantwell actually explained why Rocky is immune to Darkseid corruption, that would be something. But he doesn’t, and it’s not like Wally is taken over, so Rocky isn’t really needed. Still, we get some fun visuals with Ultivac, even if he is about two thirds smaller than when last seen.

The visuals come from Vasco Georgiev, who does a good job with the big picture – dynamic movement, clear storytelling – but could pay more attention to details such as Ultivac’s size and, well, Rocky’s everything – he looks about half the age he should be, and too slim for the rufty-tufty wrestler he is. I’ve previously mentioned not being a fan of Georgiev turning limbs into skinny knives to represent super speed and it’s a tic that’s become even more pronounced over the issues.

Georgiev’s facial close-ups, though, are great, Darkseid looks wonderfully imposing and the ‘uplifting’ climax is well staged.

The colours of Matt Herms are exemplary – whatever the setting, mood or effect, he brings it, while the letters of Buddy Beaudoin are full of fire.

Dan Mora’s cover isn’t one of his most successful, the overuse of effects and hideously noisy current Wally costume ensure our title Flash is lost.

While not my favourite issue, there’s a lot of talent on display here, and creators attempting new things, or putting too many elements into a story, well, that’s a lot better than phoning it in.