Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Flash #238
DC Comics
Peyer & Williams II
Flash is broke. Well, Wally West is broke and with comes a whole lot of problems. This issue introduces an interesting villain and backs off a little bit on the whole kids in action theme we’ve seen the last few issues. This issue is more about Flash and the new villain and how money mixes in with being a super hero. It’s an above average issue. It has some promising points, but it doesn’t really grab your attention. At least not the way an opening part of an arc should. There is also one big problem with the overall plot. It’s not believable, even for a comic book.
The issue opens with West’s cable going out. This is only a problem because this is the method that they are using to entertain their kids. While this going on Keystone city is feeling some earthquakes. Enter the new villain.
The dude’s name is Spin. With that you might think he spins like a top, but no. Spin as in spinning the news to serve his interests. Kind of lame, but not the worst thing ever either. He is apparently the cause of the earthquakes as he uses one to steal a Faberge egg.
Jay Garrick and Wally race off to the scene. They save some people and do some good. They don’t realize the egg is missing or that a new villain is on the scene. The news happens to catch a cop telling the Flash that it was man made and that he stole the egg. With that Wally makes a statement about being worried about money and how super heroes aren’t paid. Whoops.
Jay tries to talk some sense into Wally. He offers money and Wally says no. He tries to tell Wally that the Flash emblem has to come first, before whining about money, before complaining about being a super hero. Wally’s dumb comments remind me of Bart. This, to me, is further proof that no one really knows what to do with the character of the Flash.
Jay catches the news and talk shows later while watching TV about Wally’s comments and he is furious. He is also wearing some sweet white tube socks. Later, the reporter feels some remorse for making the Flash look bad. Oh sure, that’s believable.
Then the bizarre happens. It turns out Spin has a slave he is using to source his power. This is really, really twisted.
Wally tries to get talked off the ledge by Linda, but she isn’t getting through to him. Instead, Wally goes to a stadium and gets confronted by the spin and ends up stealing everyone’s money. Yes, that’s right. Wally is a mass pick-pocketer. And by the way, who brings a passport to a football game anyway?
Okay, so the issue is entertaining. I liked the interaction between Linda and Wally and Jay and Wally. They both add a lot to the issue. I liked the new villain, although we don’t know much. I liked the limited role the kids have in the issue as opposed to a major role that they had previously had. All good so far. The premise about being broke is very, very Spider-Man and the idea that Wally wouldn’t be able to find a job is flat out ridiculous.
Seriously, both he and Linda have skills. Both used to be employed. Why couldn’t Wally hold down a job now? A more realistic out of work super hero would be Superman what with newspapers going under nowadays. Also, as said in the previous review, how could their fragile financial state hold their house in order while they were away for an entire year? I ain’t buying any of this. I’d only believe this if we found out that the Flash was actually a Skrull. Oh wait….
The artwork isn’t my speed. The kids look awkward. I realize they are supposed to be. But I did like the art on the new bad guy and the action scenes, so it’s not like I hated it.
So I liked a lot of the issue and didn’t like the overall plot. How do I score this then? I’d say its slightly above average.
3 out of 5 geek goggles.
 Flash #238 |
