The Flash #69 Review and *SPOILERS*

And Now… For My Greatest Trick…

Written By: Joshua Williamson

Art By: Scott Kolins, Luis Guerrero

Letters By: Steve Wands

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 24, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It’s been a while since I was really invested in a Flash storyline but low and behold, we are at this issue and I couldn’t be more excited. We had a really satisfying lead up to this story, introduced great villains, properly motivated our hero, and the last issue left us on one hell of a cliffhanger. This is the kind of work that I know Williamson is able to do which is why the last few storylines have been a little disappointing. However, I cannot wait to jump into this new issue and see where the story leads us. So let’s just jump right into it.

We begin with Trickster reveling in his supposed victory as Central City is now in chaos as riots have broken out all over the city. In the midst of all this chaos, the Rogues break into banks and steal enormous sums of cash. They collect it all and place it on their boats before informing Trickster that the deed is done. With everything seeming to be in place for Trickster, we catch up with The Flash who has had both of his legs removed. He seems to be in shock, grasping for his legs, convinced that it is simply an illusion. Commander Cold is watching him and tries to reason with The Flash. Of course, his reasoning is a little flawed considered Trickster is in his head. However, after talking with The Flash, he remembers his friends, the Renegades in the future, and something inside of him changes.

Trickster, meanwhile, prepares his finale. It is revealed that he has brought is mother and father to the top of Iron Heights. Meanwhile, Commander Cold, having regained his senses, speaks with Flash and gives him advice. He is sure that Flash’s missing legs are a result of the Sage Force. Flash focuses on all the emotions he’s been burying inside himself. It has made him incredibly pessimistic but knowing what the issue is, he realizes he can handle it and that feeling makes him happy. Meanwhile, Trickster faces his parents, asking them if they are proud of him now. He did everything they ever wanted. However, he knows that they are only here thanks to his happiness machine. In a rage, Trickster throws his parents off the roof of Iron Heights. However, The Flash has regained his powers by overcoming the Sage Force, proving his missing legs were all in his head.

Face to face with Trickster, Flash realizes the situation that he is in. He has to leave Trickster in order to either save the citizens of Central City or go after the villains with the money. Trickster disappears in a bunch of bright lights. Flash reunites with Cold who is trying to change his equipment which Trickster is using to spread the Sage Force. They construct some kind of rig that the Flash wears. He then runs across the city as fast as he can to assuming change the Sage Force storm. He is successful but as he runs back to Iron Heights in order to try and catch Trickster, the prison explodes. No bodies are found, making people assume that it was just to cover his tracks. The Trickster got what he wanted, he is being talked about like a true celebrity. Barry gets his job back at the CCPD and as he walks to his lab, he finds someone in there. It is a hooded man who’s eyes suddenly glow green. He tells Barry that in order to solve what is coming from the multiverse, Flash must go back to something he cannot remember. Barry is hit with the green light and we see Bartholomew Henry Allen reading comics before being called down by his mother. This is where the issue leaves us.

This was a really satisfying end to a great storyline. I admit I was a little harsh on the early issues of this series but the way that this story played out, elevates those issues and frankly, I had a great time reading them. Now, the issue wasn’t perfect. We kind of just wrapped everything up at the end without proper explanation but it left it open for Trickster to return in a later storyline considering he got away with the crime. It brings legitimacy whenever he shows up again, because we know he beat the Flash. Considering 99% of comic storylines end the way you think they will, this was a real breath of fresh air. Let’s hope this type of storytelling continues in the book rather than what we’ve been getting for the past couple of months.

Bits and Pieces

Williamson was able to bring this storyline to a satisfying end. This story turned out to be really fantastic and it makes me wonder where this quality of storytelling has been for the past few months. It just goes to show that Williamson can really shine when he wants to. Here’s hoping that he continues with this quality instead of what we’ve been getting recently.

9.0/10