So this is the final issue of “Flash War” apart from the epilogue next issue. I was wary going into this issue after the reveal of the Strength and Sage Forces at the end of last issue, however Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter knocked this final issue out of the park, so far that it’s gone around the world and only stopped short at the next city over. Howard Porter’s artwork makes parts of the issue look absolutely amazing and emotional as it portrays the raw emotion of the characters so well that it made me tear up reading it. Meanwhile Williamson’s writing is the rock of the emotional moments and only really slightly trips in one area of the issue. However, it really wouldn’t have worked without Porter’s stellar artwork.
So what’s it about?
The official summary reads:
The lightning-fueled finale of “Flash War”! Zoom adapts two new Speed Force powers into his arsenal against both Barry Allen and Wally West. What are these strange new powers? What can they do? And how will this haunt the Scarlet Speedster long after “Flash War” is over? It’s the power of two Flashes pitted against the seemingly unstoppable Hunter Zolomon!
Tell me about it!
For the most part, I love this issue. My only main problems are the various Forces, which are just stupid as hell, and some of the writing for Hunter — granted, there are some great moments with the character though! The almost anime levels of trying to collect the ultimate Forces in order to become super powerful isn’t something that really fits his character, however Williamson does write some really good interactions between him and Wally which makes this all the more baffling.
Again in this issue the interactions between Barry and Wally are fantastic and they really do feel like family, which is something that the Flash franchise has been missing for the past seven/eight years.
SPOILER WARNING FOR THE BELOW PARAGRAPH!
This feeling of family also links back to the reveal towards the end where it’s revealed that breaking the Force Wall means that Bart Allen aka Impulse is back! I’d had a sneaking suspicion that Bart would be back thanks to the many cameos related to him that were in the event. Also this issue has cameos of Impulse Bart Allen, Jay Garrick (last seen in The Button, probably won’t be seen until after Doomsday Clock), Jesse Quick, Max Mercury and I guess a version of Kid Flash Bart Allen. This issue is just overall fantastic and brought me to happy tears with the reveal of Bart being back. The epilogue also sets up a new plot point going forward as it’s revealed who Eobard Thawne locked away in Iron Heights. The only clues to the identity are a cell door marked “Prisoner: Crisis” and the fact that the Renegades get disintegrated from what seems to be anti-matter which implies that it might be the Anti-Monitor (or less likely but I totally wish, Superboy Prime.)
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