It’s The Flash vs. his rogues in “The Legion of Doom” part 2, out this week, and Barry is in big trouble. More specifically, his city is in trouble, as his most dangerous supervillains have all struck parts of the city that directly connect to Barry’s non-superhero life. Can he protect his family and the city at once? What about himself? Find out in this issue.
The last issue ended in an emphatic fashion with lots of drama and conflict spiraling into this issue where Barry tries to do damage control around the city. A theme writer Josh Williamson keeps using is the fact that Barry feels like he’s trapped and can’t escape Reverse-Flash’s clutches. He’s not wrong. This issue proceeds to keep Barry on edge, nervous, and stepping into trouble.
This issue does the heavy work to establish Barry’s plainclothes life is not only in danger, but actively being torn down. What makes the narrative function so well is how Reverse-Flash isn’t bombarding Barry with attacks, but instead leading him on in order to enact a plan. There’s a scene with the villains all hiding underground and they’re pissed about it, but again, Reverse-Flash is using them to hit Barry harder than ever. By the end of the issue, you’ll be shocked at the cliffhanger and the level of danger Barry is under, especially if you’re a longtime Flash fan.
Really, Barry, pizza?! Credit: DC Comics
Christian Duce and Scott Kolins take over art duties this week, splitting the book between them. It’s a decent job, compared to Rafa Sandoval’s work last issue it’s strikingly simpler and less dynamic, but it gets the job done. Kolins draws the final two pages which are dramatic and highly stylized compared to the rest of the book, giving the cliffhanger a scarier feel. It further puts in perspective how Duce’s art throughout is very clean.
The issue suffers a bit since much of the narrative is biding its time until it can get to the big twist. The twist should be a lot of fun next issue, but once again I found myself taken aback by Barry’s nervousness and lack of confidence throughout it all. I know he’s being pushed more than ever, but it seems unbecoming of the character to act this way. The dude has fought gods, after all!
Overall, this is a good, but not great table setting issue. I’m excited about the clever idea Williamson has set up and I can wait to see Sandoval execute on it next issue.
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