FLASH #40

[ A SHOCKING SALE ]

Now you listen to me, DC Comics. I'm an advertising man, not a red herring. I've got a job, a secretary, an artist, a writer, and several bartenders that depend upon me, and I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself "slightly" killed. So you leave me alone, OK? Leave me alone Robert Venditti and Brett Booth! Especially in March, 2015!

To QUOTE Seneca: 'Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end'.

THE STORY:

Now to bring you up to speed on what's been happening in this comic book (pun intended), I want you to imagine two versions of the Flash, a good version and a bad version, fighting off two very different villains, in two very different locations and styles.

You see, whilst one of these versions has to repel a shamanistic nomad from another dimension siphoning off his power, the other version, on the other hand, has to stop a bad man who hates mobile technology.

OK. You got that? Good. What I want you to do next is to try and imagine how happenstance and know-how allows these two Flashes to save face, before paradoxically joining forces and... and... and... errrr... dying and surviving?

Yeah. That sound's about right. Although not for long, Hahahahahaaaa!

THE GOOD:

Ops! I just thought of something. How can I mention what I liked about this concluding chapter without spoiling it in the process? I don't think I can, can I? So how about saying something like how I enjoyed Brett's crisp looking artwork (Yeah. That's always something well worth praising). Plus how I also liked the way that Robert's tale kind of gave this book an enema of sorts. Flushing out certain thing's that definitely deserved flushing, whilst giving the whole God damn series a bright new future once Convergence plays out.  

Now please don't get me wrong. I will be sorry to see some characters go: Especially that very pretty one who I've grown fond of over the last couple of years. Yet, having said that, in many ways I do feel that this title needs a slightly newer direction: Mainly because of the flack it keeps on getting over Wally, Barry's characterisation, as well as it's general vibe and tone.

What with it being so new, new and old Flash fans alike can't seem to click one hundred percent with this new take, in spite of this great creative team's erstwhile efforts in producing a value for your money book each and every month.

From my point of view, I really do love Robert and Brett as a creative team. It's just that sometimes Robert's story-line's don't seem to give Barry an associative personality we all can connect to. And I feel that if he can do to Barry what he's been doing to Hal, boy oh boy, then this title really will be out of this world.   

THE BAD:

As much as I did like reading this concluding part of 'The battling Barry's' saga, in the same breath, there were two aspects about it that never really gelled for yours truly. 

Firstly, I'd say I'm not what you would call a big fan of the Speed Force being directly linked to the occult. In the past, characters such as Max Mercury have tried to explain how 'The Force' is some sort of spiritual well in which a chosen few can tap into -- as if it were a type of refuelling station. Yet to me, personally speaking, I see the Speed Force as a science fiction based principle -- like a combination of chemicals that can strangely produce an end result bordering on the fantastical.

Now the second thing I wasn't too keen on was how this final instalment appeared a bit too rushed, fragmented, and coincidental on the page. It was almost as if those on high told Brett and Robert to hurry up with telling their story-line, so that they could then kick start Convergence next month.

Primarily I say this because once 'Bad Barry' overpowered his combatant, Mister I hate mobile phones, the overall tale then quickly joined the dots when 'Good Barry' lucked himself out of his situation, and, blah-blah-blah.

THE MUSIC:

The only song I can think of to match up with this comic would have to be that song sung by Fat Larry's Band called 'Zoom'. I'm not sure why though! Can you? Ha!

THE COMPARISON:

You know how a television aerial has the ability to attract signals to broadcast their wares? Well, to me, dear reader, this comic book acted like a television aerial because it attracted two Flashes to come together, repelled two villains to fall apart, and finally, set-up a great master-villain for the foreseeable future.

Nudge-Nudge! Wink-Wink!

THE CONCLUSION:

As I've alluded to up above, at the very end of this issue a singular name was mentioned and a villain appeared who will cause the Flash a lot of problems soon.

Now I'm sure from my musical comparison alone, you can most probably second-guess who this vile villain truly is, plus how this mannered miscreant also ties in with Barry himself, his dearly departed mother, as well as a lot of other things I don't really want to allude to. So, how about for the meantime, see if you can guess who this person is? Go on. Take a punt. And if you succeed, treat yourself to a well deserved pat on the back.

1. Didio: As in the Co-Publisher of DC Comics.
2. Manilow: As in my musical-mate Barry who I keep on mentioning again, and again, and again.
3. Kanjar-Ro: As in that bug-eyed villain who reminds me off...  
4. Dido: As in that doe-eyed singer-songwriter who sung that poxy song about a 'White Flag' and gang-bangs.
5. Buffalo: As in that breed of bovine, that town in Alberta, as well as that soldier Bob Marley knows.
6. Columbo: As in that TV detective who always wants to mention one last thing before he leaves the room.
7. Despero: As in that purple faced brute that constantly looks constipated.
8. Thawne: As in the one time Flash villain, the Reverse Flash.
9. We suggest Episodate to countdown Flash air dates or your favorite TV Shows.

 Hmmm. Nuff said.