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mysteriousmre 's review for:
The Flash Vol. 14: The Flash Age
by Joshua Williamson
Now that I have some time to myself I can actually write about what makes this volume of Williamson's Flash so great!
Those of you who have been following me on Goodreads this past year know I've been working through Joshua Williamson's Flash stories and I've been less than positive about them. A question Williamson has teased throughout his run is "What makes Barry Allen so special?", a question that feels pretty meta when you consider most Flash readers prefer Wally West spearheading the book instead of Barry, who has had less time as The Flash and less development as a character than Wally. The way he answers it here though feels meaningful and powerful, with Iris and Wallace detailing the quality of his character and how, even though Barry can't see it, they see it every day through the way he conducts his work and the example he's set for his nephews and multiple generations of heroes afterwards. It's particularly great hearing it come from Iris, as it helps highlight why Iris sees Barry as a strong romantic partner and helps their relationship feel more developed than it has been the past few volumes. It also fun to see Barry's optimism infect even his opponents Godspeed and Reverse-Flash, inspiring them to work on becoming better people as well. Now why Williamson needed +12 volumes to say this when he proves here he can do so succinctly is beyond me (I blame the power struggles up at the top during DC's Rebirth era) but its a good payoff for readers who've put with his mopey Barry for almost 100 issues. There's also some great lore sprinkled in for Flash fans curious about the Negative Speed Force, particularly Eobard's "lightning rod" and just how else things Thawne has manipulated in the timestream.
I'm not sure I'd say the destination was worth the journey, but all the good things about Williamson's Flash start to culminate here. We get to see his definitive take on Barry Allen as a character, what sets him apart from the other speedsters of the DC Universe, and what he means to those around him. It's a great book and if you're curious about what makes Williamson's Flash so great I'd honestly skip everything else and jump here. Recommended.
Those of you who have been following me on Goodreads this past year know I've been working through Joshua Williamson's Flash stories and I've been less than positive about them. A question Williamson has teased throughout his run is "What makes Barry Allen so special?", a question that feels pretty meta when you consider most Flash readers prefer Wally West spearheading the book instead of Barry, who has had less time as The Flash and less development as a character than Wally. The way he answers it here though feels meaningful and powerful, with Iris and Wallace detailing the quality of his character and how, even though Barry can't see it, they see it every day through the way he conducts his work and the example he's set for his nephews and multiple generations of heroes afterwards. It's particularly great hearing it come from Iris, as it helps highlight why Iris sees Barry as a strong romantic partner and helps their relationship feel more developed than it has been the past few volumes. It also fun to see Barry's optimism infect even his opponents Godspeed and Reverse-Flash, inspiring them to work on becoming better people as well. Now why Williamson needed +12 volumes to say this when he proves here he can do so succinctly is beyond me (I blame the power struggles up at the top during DC's Rebirth era) but its a good payoff for readers who've put with his mopey Barry for almost 100 issues. There's also some great lore sprinkled in for Flash fans curious about the Negative Speed Force, particularly Eobard's "lightning rod" and just how else things Thawne has manipulated in the timestream.
I'm not sure I'd say the destination was worth the journey, but all the good things about Williamson's Flash start to culminate here. We get to see his definitive take on Barry Allen as a character, what sets him apart from the other speedsters of the DC Universe, and what he means to those around him. It's a great book and if you're curious about what makes Williamson's Flash so great I'd honestly skip everything else and jump here. Recommended.