Flash: The Return of Barry Allen #1

You know, when I'm doing these reviews, mostly I will review a movie. If I review a comic book, I would review it either because it is extremely good or extremely bad. Based on the title, you know what I think of this story. I will try to be as realistic as a can and hopefully my review will be easy to follow. Now, before you read this review, I want you to know two this. First of, there is an entire wiki page full of information about this story here, so there is no reason for me to go over the plot of this story. Second, I won't reveal any spoilers in this review. Simply because I don't think that people who actually read the story are interested to hear my thoughts about it, but I want to talk to people who did not read the story and tell them why I think they should read it without having to worry about spoilers. They can still have an idea on how awesome this story is (at least in my personal opinion, obviously someone is not gonna agree with me). Without further delay, let's get into it...

Non Spoiler Overview

I read this story 6 months ago, and I wanted to make a review about it since then. I just never had enough time to do so. It was one of the best stories I have ever read. It is 8 issue story, with the last issue being 60 pages long instead of 20 (look it up). It was very entertaining. I wasn't bored even for a second. Every panel had my full attention. The story was written by Mark Waid so what else could you expect. I enjoyed the story so much, I reread it the day after I was done with it.

If there is someone out there who wants to get into the Flash comics, either Barry Allen or Wally West, this story is for him. Now, the main character is Wally West himself. But, Barry Allen is the main part of this story. If you read this, you will know almost everything about Barry and Wally. If you are a Flash fan, you have to read this story. It is a huge part of Barry's and Wally's continuity/history.

I don't have a problem with this story at all, besides one thing at the end which is kinda out of character, but besides that, everything is awesome. Characters are portrayed and written without PIS, CIS and/or WIS (character wise and power wise), plot is entertaining and interesting, it's not boring at all, fight scenes are cool, action, drama, relationship and most importantly, character development. After the events of this story, Wally's character was developed in a big way at the end.

There is also a good variety of characters in this story, and not a single character is there just because he has to be. Every single character serves it's purpose in the story. Now, if you are new to Flash comics, and you read this story, you won't be confused. Everything you have to know about the main characters (most of them) and the story is explained in the story itself. Everything will make sense as long as you are focused on what you are reading.

There are only three things that might confuse you if you did not read older Flash comics. Two of them are characters that appear in the story. I don't want to reveal their identities but if you don't know who they are, that won't ruin the story for you, especially because one of those characters never made an appearance before, so that is actually his first appearance. The third thing that might confuse you won't affect your view of the story either. It is a key factor of the story and it will make perfect sense. The only thing you wouldn't understand is how or when that thing happened, unless you read Pre-Crisis Flash comics which are still canon to Post-Crisis/Pre-Flashpoint continuity.

The first issue of the story (Flash Vol. 2 #73) has nothing to do with the story itself until you get to last 2 panels. Besides that, the only thing left to read is Flash Vol. 2 #74-79. Another part of the story is Green Lantern Vol. 3 #40 which takes place between Flash Vol. 2 #75 and #76. If you are a fan of both Barry Allen and Hal Jordan, you might find this issue entertaining (it is written by Gerard Jones), but if you want to focus on the story it self, you might as well pass on this one, especially because the entire plot of the issue relevant to the story is explained in two sentences during Flash Vol. 2 #76.

That's mostly what I have to say about the story overall. When it comes to the art, it is standard thing you can see during this time (the story came out during earlier 90s). I got to give Greg LaRocque credit for being able to make characters's faces look different without just giving them different hair styles and some of them having more wrinkles than the other ones just to make them look older. At least I noticed a minor difference myself. Try to find the story in high quality. It's way easier for the eyes. The speedsters don't have lightning while they are running. Instead, they are leaving after images only. If you are well versed in Flash comics you will know why that's so. For the most part, the art looked cool, but it is still generic type of art you can see in every comic published during first 5-8 years of modern age of comics.

I know I said how the story is awesome and is one of the best I have ever read, but when I think about, people who are not a huge fan of these characters won't like it as much as I did. However, that doesn't mean they won't like it. The art is pretty generic so I can't rank it extremely high, but like I said, I have to give Greg credit.

==============================================================

Story/Plot: 9.5

Art/Art Style: 8

==============================================================

That's it for this review. Hope you enjoyed it. If some of you guys read the story and you want to talk about it PM me.