The Flash #38 Review

Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Art by: Brett Booth
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 28, 2015

Savage Fun

I love the Flash and yes, I'm talking about both of them.  I'm also a sucker for time travel stories so I guess I'm getting the best of multiple worlds with what Venditti, Jensen and Booth are dishing out.  This book has the awkward, identity switching with the Future Flash and a Lost Worlds type story with Barry stuck in the Savage Lands of the Speed Force and I love both.  Depending on how you look at it, Future Flash may be up to no good, but it's a nice little gray area and if Barry can't find a way out of his predicament, we'll all have to get used to him being the Scarlet Speedster.  Of course, I don't expect that to happen, but the fun is watching it all unfold and waiting for the inevitable showdown.  That doesn't happen just yet, but it's okay because I'm having such a good time right now.


This issue deals mainly with Future Flash and it starts in style.  What I'm talking about is the little blurb on the Title Page.  I wish every DC book had a summary page, but this is the next best thing.  It reminded me of the intro to the Six Million Dollar Man or the A-Team and I loved it.  From there, we go to...Future Barry working overtime.  Last issue, Iris West's article about the unidentified bodies left in Central City after the events of Forever Evil caused a stir and Future Barry volunteered to make things right.  He's the best man to make this a speedy job, especially since he leaked the story to Iris in the first place.  It's a cool scene because we get to see Barry doing his day job which I always enjoy, but also because we get a roll call of Central City villains and a look at their handiwork.  It kind of puts into perspective the mindset of what Future Barry wants to accomplish.

The big reveal is that Future Barry finds Overkill's first kill.  While Iris has no idea who that is, we already know that Future Barry does.  Readers of this book have also heard mention of him and get to see him again this issue.  However that seems to be a villain for another day when the Police Scanner alerts Barry to Mirror Master up to no good.

We then travel to the Savage Lands of the Speed Force.  I have heard grumblings from people who don't like the Savage Lands, but I say, "Pish Posh"...I love it.  I guess I'm just a sucker for a Land of the Lost setting with robots, dinosaurs and robot dinosaurs.  I know that Barry can't stay there forever, but a guy can dream, can't he?  Venditti and Jensen do a great job expanding the Speedster mythos when Selkirk explains his life's work and how he got caught in the Speed Force.  He also tells Barry he can get him home, but that has to wait at least one more issue.

Back in Central City, Future Barry is dealing with Mirror Master and new recruit, Nepalm.  It's obvious form the get go, Nepalm doesn't have what it takes when it comes to following the "no kill" policy and Future Barry makes sure his Rogue days are over before they barely begin.  Future Barry has proven again and again that he has an unusual moral code and that's the case this issue as well.  Mirror Master is shocked and so is Iris.  She watches as Future Barry goes about his business with no mercy and suddenly has a new headline for tomorrows copy...Flash is a killer!  It's obvious that when the real Barry gets home, home is going to be a little less Flash friendly.  That continues when we see Patty doing a little investigation into one of Future Flash's victims.  Barry better get home real quick before someone near and dear to him gets hurt.

I had another fun time with The Flash this month.  I said it already, but I love time travel stories and this is becoming a doozy. Future Barry is really pushing the issue and I'm really concerned with what is going to happen when the truth is found out.  I have to take some points off of my final score because the story treads water a bit while we get a bunch of setup for next month, but I still enjoyed this issue.

As far as the art goes this month, Brett Booth nails it again.  I love his Future Flash, but his character work on Mirror master and Napalm is the best of this issue.  I only wish we got more Savage Lands this month, but the roasted Terror Bird was a really nice touch.

Bits and Pieces:

I have really enjoyed this time traveling Flash story and even with this setup heavy issue, the trend continues.  Venditti and Jensen expand the Speedster mythos even as Future Flash drags his good name through the mud.  There's a chance that Barry is going to get out of the Savage Lands soon (can it be that easy?) and I can't wait to see what happens when two Flashes collide...again.

8.8/10