Blackest Night: The Flash #2
Let’s face it; most event tie-in books are hardly ever good. Due to mandatory editing structures, many of them are either strong titles that get bogged down with limited story structure, and many other titles contain plots that are surprisingly irrelevant to the events in the main book. A couple of Blackest Night tie-in minis that go “outside the box” are actually two of their latest ones: Wonder Woman and The Flash. In the latest Blackest Night: Wonder Woman, we actually saw continuation from Blackest Night #6 when Diana sported her Victoria Secret PINK-inspired new look. We get more of the same in this newest issue from Geoff Johns, as the transaction of Barry Allen sporting his new blues is further emphasized and elucidated. I guess it helps when the director of this event also writes the tie-in.
Unfortunately, when it comes to Barry’s Rogues facing off against their now dead, former teammates/family members, we get more of the same. Captain Cold and gang confront these now callously, wrathful figures, such as Golden Glider and the first Mirror Master, in an Iron Heights Penitentiary invasion. It’s not as epic or as impactful as I initially hoped. Even bad guy vs. bad guy battles do nothing to save Blackest Night’s now routine plot device. As a huge fan of the Final Crisis mini, Revenge of the Rogues, as well as Geoff Johns classic trade Rogue War, this couldn’t be more disappointing.
The other plot thread, showing off The Flash’s new shiney blue ring that makes him faster (really?), cooler looking for toy collectors (ahh!), and more boring during battles (“All will be well” is said over…and over), isn’t all that much better. But what makes this storyline stand out from the other is that it has direct influence from the main story. I couldn’t help but feel pure elation in seeing the splash page that shows off Barry’s new attire, maybe for no other reason than not having to see two similar-looking heroes work together, at least temporarily. Wally West fans should be thrilled. It should be interesting to see if Johns places Barry Allen with a situation that demands the utilization of these newly found tools.
Scott Kollins artwork in this issue is also sloppier than usual. His style is normally cartoony, and jagged, and that’s always worked to the extreme beneficiary of Flash’s deep roster of Rogues. It allowed for some larger-than-life personalities to shine second to only Batman’s most-feared crooks. These characters were so fun to watch, so heavily empathized, that I’m not sure whether most fans of the title were rooting for Wally and these hapless goons. I know from a personal standpoint that issues not featuring Captain Boomerang, Weather Wizard and friends were nowhere nearly as enjoyable. It’s unfortunate we’re stuck with an added level of serration in the inks, as it left for some rather forgettable panels.
There’s no doubt the pieces to this mini are present, as Geoff Johns is covering all the bases in the world of Flash. It’s just a matter of fact on whether we’re going to get some solidity in telling the distinct point to the new Blue and the roles the new Rogues have upon this status quo. How does Blackest Night impact the Rogues other than zombies cracking jokes and taking names? What are the Rogues going to do in response to this rebirth of Barry Allen? What do they have to say about Professor Zoom aka the Reverse Flash? Here’s to hoping all these pieces to the puzzle get put together, sooner than later.
3/5 Bags&Boards – Entertaining mini that has all the means of setting up a remarkable finale. Since Flash stories involving the Rogues in the past have been so great, it’s not easy to live up to.