FLASH #31

[ OCK! THAT SALE STINKS ] 

Many years from now the planet as we currently know it will be changed forever more. Dogs will be the dominant force, and they will impose their will by getting us to read the following comic book Created by Robert Venditti, and Brett Booth, Published by DC Comics, in June, 2014. The b*tches, ha!

To QUOTE Roseanne Barr: 'I love children. But I couldn't eat a whole one'.

THE STORY:

This installment of the Flash is a two stranded story-line. With one strand set in the present era, involving Barry Allen figuring out how a crook is killing his past accomplices with some stolen super-villain weaponry. Whilst the other strand is set 16 years in the future, and concentrates on 'Future Flash' stopping a gala heist helmed by the Mirror Master.   

Also, in another part of this peachy-keen parable, we learn that 'current Barry' has a nice ass, 'Future Barry' is a bad ass, Wally West is a brat, and that Iris West knows f*ck all about children.

THE GOOD:

Compared to last issue's installment of the 'Flash', I'd say this issue's installment was a far-far better read. Of course, this was greatly aided by a very intriguing two-toned story-line that was very easy to follow. Plus on occasion, Brett Booth's artwork was so dazzling upon the page, I wouldn't mind if some of his panels were printed into a full-length poster. 

But what I enjoyed most about this adventure were all those questions it kept on throwing up into the air. Like, does Iris still have some feelings for Barry? Will Wally and Barry ever get along? Who is that power-gunned super-killer? Plus will rectifying all of his past mistakes, make 'Future Flash' a very happy hero?

Hmmm. Let's see, shall we?

THE BAD:

The only thing about this tale I was slightly confused by was how it portrayed Iris West. Well, if it wasn't bad enough she came across 'borderline spinster' with her lack of parental knowledge. What's more, it kind of insinuated that she's actually trying to use Wally to get closer to Barry.

Tut-Tut-Tut! Bad girl.

THE MUSIC:

OK. So maybe this is the nostalgic side of me speaking. Yet simply put, this adventure reminds me of Bob Dylan's 1964 classic, 'The Times They Are A Changin', because... well... they are.

THE COMPARISON:

As so many people kept on flirting with Barry throughout this comic book, I thought to myself that I might as well pair it up with another right flirt -- Christina Hendricks -- the very nice lady with the very nice... errr... frontal assets.

THE CONCLUSION:

Now I really wanted to steer clear from any controversy surrounding Wally West's current ethnicity, because at face value, I wasn't quite certain about this 'cosmetic update' myself

Like many of you, I'm sure, when I first noticed he became a mixed-raced character, obviously I was rather shocked about this strange development. At the same time, though, I still had some hope that Robert and Brett would be able to use this 'new take' to their advantage somehow. Hoping they could eventually justify this cosmetic nudging.

However, one day while I was skimming the boards, I read an article posted by a mate of mine as to why DC has suddenly decided to change Wally's race. Partly attributing this to the up and coming 'Flash TV series', which showcases a mixed-raced character called Wally West.

Now if this is true -- and Wally's recent 'tanning' is to make the book more like the TV series -- then I feel DC should be bloody ashamed with themselves. If they truly wanted to make a racial statement by changing the color of one of their heroes, I'd dare them to do it to Superman, Wonder Woman, or even Batman. But no. They wouldn't do that. Because they know it would cost them in the long haul. Plus -- apparently -- it's in their best interests to do this to a character like Wally, because his following isn't as great or as lucrative.

Anyway. I just wanted to get that off of my chest, dear reader. Sorry for the rant.

Nuff said.