The Flash #35 Review

Dr. Fix-It.

Vendetti closes up his first major arc, though not without some big problems as an intriguing concept became an class of how not to do a time travel story.

Wally West has been one of the more problematic aspects of this arc as he was introduced as a stereotype, devolved into plot device and ultimately remained that way till the end.

Booth has been excellent in the art department, though Vendetti gives him no breathing space and the amazing visuals feel cluttered and jumbled up, rendering the action incoherent.

SPOILERS FOLLOW………….

Future Flash has managed to reach the current timeline as after a brief confrontation with an irate driver who finds the hero in his way, he kidnaps the present Flash.

This starts an exposition overload as paragraphs after paragraphs are given where Future Flash explains that the time travel that Daniel did (and Barry tagged along for) created a rupture in the Speed Force, which was exacerbated by Grodd and himself in the future.

The present day Flash is the sacrifice that can repair the currently nascent Speed Force tear, and despite putting up a fight, Future Flash’s experience shows as he plummels him into the ground.

Only for a new speedster to appear on the screen – Wally West.

The design is excellent and refreshing (though still not getting the Wally vibe. Needs more yellow!), but the lack of development shows as we are told that he spent years learning everything he could about his abilities, and his newfound love for what Barry does.

Future Flash is still too much for him and is able to overpower him. He directs an attack at the barely conscious Barry, but Wally steps in his way. Dying, Wally siphons off the excess Speed Force energy coursing through the present Flash and is meshed into the Speed Force, essentially dying and repairing the bleed.

In a side-effect, the present Flash finds himself in an unknown time period, with dinosaurs and killer robots present. Also, he’s lost his speedster abilities.

This issue had a lot of problems. First, time travel stories, if not explained properly, are a headache in itself. I was glad Future Barry clarified that his time period is now non-existent (meaning it is a parallel time-line and universe now) and he cannot return to it. But how many timelines were created to juggle this trip? One Barry died in the meantime, so that must be another time-line? Head-scratching, right?

Next up is Wally West. Started out as a stereotypical rebellious kid, and just when he started to develop into a more rounded character, he was dragged into this battle and went through the dues-ex-machina training. We never saw him grow, become a successor to the Flash and establish a relationship with Barry.

In the end, he was just plot device for Barry’s growth, and I’m not sure that worked or was deserved.

SPOILERS END…………….

Despite an excellent premise, a mishmash of half-baked ideas and plot devices galore instead of real interaction conspired to devolve this story into a truly grueling read.

The conclusion failed to serve any real ending, and while it does establish a clever change in status quo, I don’t agree with how Vendetti reached that stage.

So, I give it 5.0 out of 10.

+Intriguing new status quo

+Excellent artwork….

-That got crowded out by too much exposition!

-Wally West stays plot device

-Too many relationships are thinly developed yet crucial for the plot to work

-Pacing is all over the place

-Time travel concept needed more fleshing out