Well, it only took DC Comics 24 years to get around to bringing back one of my favorite heroes - Barry (The Flash) Allen!Well, to be fair it only took 23 years, since he first reappeared in last year's Final Crisis - but it's still great to see him back again.
I suppose every generation has their own Flash. For those who started reading in the Golden Age (the '40s and '50s), it's Jay Garrick. For those who started reading in the late '80s and after, it's Wally West. For me (and those in the '60s and '70s), it's Barry Allen.
It was the early appearances of The Flash, with art by the amazing Carmine Infantino, that helped hook me on comic books in the first place.
I was stunned back in 1985 when Barry was "killed" as part of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, though I had faith that they'd eventually bring him back - though I never thought it would take this long.
And he's back in style, with two of DC's top talents at the wheel - Geoff Johns is writing the story, and Ethan Van Sciver is supplying some amazingly detailed and energetic artwork - he really seems to be channeling George Perez here.
This first issue has a lot of ground to cover. It sets up a deadly new menace (though we don't learn much about him/her/it here), reintroduces the family and friends of Barry's, and sets in motion a high-speed mystery.
The story is a bit darker than I might have expected, but it's very good, and leaves you anxious to see the next chapter.
All this adds up to one thing: lots and lots of happy Flash-fans!
Welcome back, Barry!
Grade: A
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