The Flash’s life continues to become more complicated as part 2 of the Negative arc continues!
After the defeat of Reverse Flash and surviving the Negative Speed Force, Barry Allen has developed some strange new abilities that are more destructive than realized. Utilizing these fatal abilities against a rogue motorcycle gang, and facing off against Shrapnel, his powers have done more damage to the citizens of Central City in addition to his healing factor. Barry will have to pace himself if he is able to put a stop to the shadowy forces at play. The questions remain: Who sent Shrapnel to kill the Motorcycle gang? Who is the inside mole within the CCPD? Will Barry be able to control his newfound powers of the Negative Speed Force? Or will his new abilities control him?
Joshua Williamson is making history during his run on the Flash and this arc is most definitely gonna be a bench mark story arc. I feel that readers will come to cite this arc in the near future as an essential read for anyone who will read The Flash. Williamson presents an interesting situation for Barry (now with new abilities due to the negative speed force) has to slow his pace and make adjustments. With each action taken, causes fatal consequences for himself and those around him, making Barry more reflective and careful. There is some humorous commentary that Williamson provides when Barry reflects on Batman’s ability to get through tough situations, only to remember that Batman has a butler, and that he himself does not. It’s funny but a true statement since Barry has no one to rely on but himself, which makes an interesting contrast between himself and Batman. But that’s not the real focus of this issue. The real focus is Barry trying to juggle his new found powers and a conspiracy that is happening within the Central City Police Department. How can Barry stay focus on a case that involves a traitor in the midst while struggling to not blow up places with the use of his new found abilities?
Williamson does a good job at displaying the side effects of the negative speed force, and how it affects Barry’s powers and his own health. Things are more difficult, Barry even mentions that usually, he’d speed read through a paper, but with his newfound powers, he forces himself to slow down or he would end up accidentally burning the paper up due to his new powers being amplified to the extreme. It’s good details like that that make Williamson’s writing consistently entertaining. I only hope that Williamson can give more details about the Negative Speed Force and it’s origins a bit.
In terms of the art, Pop Mhan and Christian Duce do a fantastic job at displaying the physical condition of Barry Allen and how it affects him as The Flash. Seeing some his skin turn a little gang green/ pale, and looking more sickly is a nice detail that shows how serious the negative speed force effects Barry. The action is drawn beautifully, and the interactions between Barry, his co-workers , and his introspective moments are all handled well by both illustrators.
I definitely recommend picking this issue up. It’s a worthwhile issue that gives a little more insight into the negative speed force, and is worth the read. Also, who doesn’t love a little mystery thrown into the mix of all the action!?
Newsdesk