The Flash #78 // Review
The Black Flash is on the rampage, and only Barry Allen can stop it, in The Flash #78, written by Joshua Williamson, with pencils by Rafa Sandoval, inks by Jordi Tarragona, and colors by Arif Prianto. Previously, Allen returned from a trip to the past just in time to find out that the Speed Force is dying, essentially being choked out by the mere existence of three new Forces (Sage, Still, and Strength). With Flash’s powers on the wane, the Black Flash (a physical manifestation of the Speed Force) showed up, attempting to kill the avatars of the other Forces, Steadfast, Fuerza, and Psych. Can Barry Allen save the new Force users from the Black Flash, and if he succeeds, does that mean the end of the Speed Force? Only time and Joshua Williamson know for sure.
Williamson is at his best when dealing with the new Forces he introduced into this book back in the Flash War arc, and this story is no exception. Continuing the excitement from the last issue, Flash and the new Force users are united for the first time, and it’s the story the readers have been waiting for. After slowly teasing these concepts over the last few arcs, Williamson is finally putting the pedal to the metal and unleashing the full potential of the new Forces upon the Flash’s corner of the DC universe. All of that, plus the return of the Black Flash makes for the most entertaining arc this book has seen in months.
Also returning to form this issue, is Barry Allen. No longer is he mopey, sad, or just plain acting like a jerk to his family and friends. After his trip to the past, he’s reinvigorated, and actually smiling again. Some might place Barry in the same category as Superman: boring boy scout. But the truth is, his undying optimism is what any writer should lean into with him, because it’s, at the core of the character, what makes him tick. Williamson has taken the long way around to get there, by tearing Allen down to build him back up. But it has made people miss the old Flash all the more. Now, seeing him return to his former self, it feels great to have him back.
Sandoval continues to improve his already-dazzling pencils each issue, quickly becoming an excellent Flash artist, which puts him in rare company. Similarly, the inks and colors of Tarragona and Prianto lend themselves well to the necessarily-flashy (pun intended) style of this book. Together, this art team is a breath of fresh air for a title that often goes back to its time-honored artists over and over again to tell a good story.
As stated above, if you’ve been a fan of Williamson’s ongoing “Forces” storyline, then this is the arc for you. It seems everything he’s been setting up has been leading here. And, if you’re behind, or have been thinking about jumping onto The Flash, then now is an exciting time to do so. Especially, given the shocking conclusion to this issue that will leave you wondering what’s coming next.
