Many of the Knight Terrors tie-ins are wrapping up, and this week it’s Flash’s turn. Alex Paknadel and Daniel Bayliss got psychological with the first issue, and it’s time for Barry to save everyone while losing himself entirely. Things get quite weird in a body-horror way in the wrap-up this week.
Knight Terrors: The Flash #2 picks up where we left off as Barry tries to save Wally repeatedly. The opening page is extremely exciting as Barry changes before our eyes as the Speed Force physically changes him. His greatest nightmare seems to be unable to save his friend and letting his stubbornness affect him physically while destroying his entire life.
Bayliss draws a heck of monstrous Barry, who seems to be changing as the issue goes on into some kind of animal. He’s more hunched over, and his neck is nearly absent. When faced with a classic villain, Bayliss draws him in a more conventional superhero style, juxtaposing well with the tattered and gnarly-looking Barry.
Meanwhile, the people that love him hardly notice and continue to push him to save Wally and never give up. Essentially Barry is in a constant loop, and he’s incapable of truly seeing he’s in a nightmare.
That nightmare takes him to some violent places, like knocking the head off of a fellow Justice League member. This scene is glorious, with cool lightning effects and a fuzzy look at the head being exploded. It’s funny to think Barry isn’t ever scared but simply determined not to quit, even when horrors occur right before him.
Yo Barry, stand up straight!
Credit: DC Comics
This issue takes things into a time-hopping adventure, which suits the character. The bizarre moments that permeated the last issue are a bit missing here, including a visit from his mother. For some reason, it’s not as unnerving, making this issue more of a violent action frenzy.
Still, the adventure takes Barry to places he could or would never want to go. While Barry is never afraid, it’s sad to see how far things go from murdering folks without batting an eye or messing with the time stream to ruining everything.
As far as satisfying conclusions, unfortunately, there’s a bit of deus ex machina to right the ship in time for the issue to end. With little time for Barry to recover, there’s also little chance for him to reflect on the nightmare he just lived through. We’ll see if he reflects in “Knights End,” but I was hoping for more delving into the psychological horror.
Knight Terrors: The Flash #2 takes the horror Barry is living in up to eleven, and while he’s never genuinely aware he’s in a nightmare, you’ll feel his spiral. A little less unnerving and weird than the first issue, this second issue delivers significant action that suits a climax as you’ll ponder how he’ll get out of this one.
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