Art by: Brett Booth
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 24, 2014
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The Quick and the Dead
Okay, we finally get to the Futures End issue that I've been waiting for. Robert Venditti and Van Jensen must have read the writing on the wall (or have a crystal ball) and prepared for this Event for months. The fact that we are used to time hoping Flash makes so much sense for Futures End, but is also it's biggest drawback. In the end, we get an overcrowded book that looks great, but falls a bit short of it's potential.
This one gets a bit confusing, but I'll do my best to set the scene. It's five years ahead and Flash is busy saving lives in Pakistan. Meanwhile in Central City, Reverse Flash is up to no good. Little does he know, but his actions are destined to cause the accident that kills Wally West and cripples Iris. Oh no! Luckily, Future Flash continues trying to make things right and shows up to fight Reverse Flash and save Iris and Wally. Man, the Speed Force isn't the only thing messed up.
If you've been reading the normal run of Flash, you know when Future Blue Flash shows up, bad things happen. Yes, they happen to bad people, but still... This issue is no different. While (regular) Flash rushes home, Future Flash takes care of business and it looks like everything will be fine. I guess looks are deceiving.
This is where the issue goes off the rails a bit. Flash and Future Flash confront each other and Future Flash explains the sitch...and then starts fighting his younger self. I may have missed something, but the fight didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Yes, Flash is not happy with his future self's actions, but it seemed misplaced, rushed and forced. And also quick. A little too quick to make any real impact. However, how it ends and it's repercussions are huge. Look at the cover huge. How this continues is going to be so interesting for every Flash fan out there.
I liked this issue as a Flash issue, but it comes off as a weak Futures End one. Time travel has become old hat to Flash readers so the shock of seeing Barry five years in the future is just not there. Also, for all the setup readers have read through, the results just happen too quick or barely at all. However, things look real interesting going forward.
I love Brett Booth's art. It has such a great sense of speed and his action scenes are second to none. Every panel just pops off the page. I wish I had more to say, but I'm no expert when it comes to art. I go with my gut and eyes and both tell me that Brett Booth is awesome.
Bits and Pieces:
Venditti and Jensen have set up this issue to fit perfectly into the Futures end Event, but because of that, the shock and awe are not there. It is still a good issue that pushes the regular run forward more than any other book this month, but felt too much like a regular issue of the Flash than a book in the big September Event. I can easily recommend this issue to Flash readers, but those grabbing it as a Futures End issue will be lost and confused. Figure out where you are on that scale and buy or don't buy accordingly.
7.8/10
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