Friday, April 10, 2009

The Flash: Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver


Review by Chris Clow

The saga of the Flash has been in flux ever since the conclusion of Infinite Crisis in 2006. When Wally West, the Flash since 1986, was swept off into the Speed Force, all that was left was young Bart Allen. During the One Year Later event, Bart swallowed his pride and accepted that as the grandson to the greatest Flash that ever lived, it was his responsibility to continue the legacy of lightning. But after being the DCU's main speedster for only a short while, he was gone and Wally had returned.

Things were different now, though. He has children, a new level of responsibility, and an entirely new demeanor. Could he even BE the Flash anymore? And before that question could even happen, the onslaught of the Final Crisis rocked the DCU to it's core. The greatest evil of the DC Universe descended on our heroes, and all seemed lost...

...until the greatest hero returned.

The man that sacrificed his life for the shambled Multiverse ran back into our lives like sheer light, and when he didn't leave when the Crisis did, we knew: he was here to stay.

Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver's The Flash: Rebirth brings Barry Allen into the multiverse and the modern age of comics with the force of a summer event. The first issue shows us a deeper side to the legendary character. After coming back from death, Barry deeply questions his return. Why is he here? What purpose does he have? But beyond that, this issue creates some deep issues to be explained over the course of the series. One in particular, how does one of the DC Universe's manifestations of death, well, die? What's happening to the Speed Force, and why does Barry seem to be the only one unaffected?

Geoff Johns weaves a classic in the making, and Ethan Van Sciver's artwork surpasses the already high standards so many hold for him. If you like your comics action-packed, suspenseful, and dripping with character, then jump on board the rebirth of one of the DCU's greatest heroes!

Grade: A