front page  ·  comicbook reviews  ·  interviews  ·  comics  ·  merchandise  ·  contact us  ·  newsfeed: rss xml

Flash 214 is largely comprised of exposition and back story. Geoff Johns is guessing that there must be somebody in the world who reads The Flash but who isn’t reading Identity Crisis, so the exposition is for those one or two souls. (Indeed, those same souls are probably just waiting for the trade paperback version of Identity Crisis so they can read it all at once.) Despite the exposition and only very little forward motion of the plot, this issue is a good read. Johns gives us a reminder of just how tough Wally’s life is right now, even without the staggering events in IC. The dialogue is very strong and realistic, efficiently revealing the characters and their attitudes. Porter and the art team continue to give us a solid interpretation of DC Universe characters. The best piece of art in the book is the cover, expertly crafted by Ethan Van Sciver. It shows a confused and concerned Wally West/Flash in the foreground with a bowtie-clad Barry Allen looming in the background. Between the two figures is a ghostly image of Barry’s empty Flash costume holding a gloved finger to the empty mask, miming "Shhh! Don’t tell!"

Although this issue at first reads like another Identity Crisis chapter, "The Secret of Barry Allen" promises as much change for Flash as we saw over a year ago in issue 200. At that time the whole world had magically forgotten that Wally West was actually the Flash, an event that gets a few references in this issue as well. The most telling and enticing notice of coming events comes from Green Arrow when he passes a long-held letter from Barry to Wally. "It’s going to change things, Wally," he says of the letter. "Especially if you do what he asks."