The Flash #39 Review

Fallen.

Future Flash’s murderous attitude gains notice of both Iris West and Patty Spivot, leading to serious problems.

Robert Vendetti though doesn’t fall into the stereotypical traps and manages to keep the hero we know shine though in a damaged and violent version of the character.

The Speed Force section does take a decisive turn, but it’s predictability and mundane plot-line makes it a chore to read.

SPOILERS FOLLOW………..

In the present, Patty Spivot goes behind Barry’s back and investigates his recent ‘murderous streak’ alongside an aggressive Iris West, who is unusually one-tracked on the issue of Flash being a murderer.

The truth is more complex as Flash attempts to kill Overload before he manages to murder a crowd. Patty is able to stop him for just enough time for Overload to attack the Flash.

We also get Overload’s origin story here. Apparently, he’s been alive since the early 20^th century – and was born with an affliction where electronic signals gave him severe headaches. When the Crime Syndicate took over the planet, Central City was quieted with the city reduced to a ghost run.

With the Flash and the heroes returning though, his agony returned in full-force. Future Barry uses his knowledge about the future actions of Overload (who was able to escape the Flash because every recording device in the area was fired) to track him to the launch of wi-fi hotspots.

In the Speed-Force, the mountain trek leads to problems as one of the members is eaten by the predatory pterodactyls around the area. The Flash is almost a second victim but lives thanks to Selkirk’s timely intervention.

This all turns on its head though as Flash finds he’s the bait and sacrifice for Selkirk’s own machinations for the Speed Force – with the mountain peak revealing a Speed Force temple like in Gorilla City.

Both Present and Future Flashes are now in peril.            

I’m not sure how to take Iris West going from pro-Flash to anti-Flash so easily. Patty Spivot has been more of the moral compass of this book, and while I’m not saying that Iris should occupy the same role – she shouldn’t jump between extreme characterizations like this. She deserves better.

Selkirk was telegraphed to be the backstabber even since he saved the Flash – but Vendetti prolonged it quite effectively. Only problem is that somehow the wonderful Speed Force terrain feels mundane and rote.

SPOILERS END………………

The nuanced take on Future Barry redeems an otherwise predictable affair. Vendetti could have easily fallen into the stereotypical bad future version role, but Barry here is more complex than that.

The artwork though fails and Booth seems to be going through the motions.

So, I give it 6.0 out of 10.

+Nuanced character work on Future Barry

+Intriguing cliffhanger

-Under-whelming artwork

-Fairly predictable issue

-Some wonky character work on a particular person