Comic Book Review: Flash: Rebirth #1

The Revolution has been anxiously waiting for Flash: Rebirth #1 since the moment that DC revealed that Johns was bringing back Barry Allen. To be sure, this is a move much like the revival of Hal Jordan that has sparked heated debate between comic book readers. Now, for me, Barry’s return is totally different from Hal’s return. I hated how Hal’s character was royally screwed with before he was killed off. And I loathed and despised the character in Kyle Rayner that was selected to replace Hal.

Now it is different with the Flash. I grew up with Wally West as the Flash. I was a little kid when DC killed off Barry Allen. So, I had a much smaller amount of exposure to Barry compared with Wally. Of course, I did go back and read all of the back-issues starring Barry Allen. Still, the fact remains that Wally has been wearing the Flash outfit for majority of my life.

And unlike the situation with Kyle Rayner, I absolutely love Wally. He is a great character. And Wally has grown so much since his days as Kid Flash with the Wolfman/Perez Teen Titans. However, to me Wally is Wally. I never viewed him as the Flash. To me Barry Allen was the Flash. And I am thrilled that the iconic Flash is back.

I fully recognize and understand that I am in the minority with regard to DC’s decision to bring back their icons. But, I do think it is a smart decision. Marvel has routinely beaten DC in the sales charts for many reasons. And one of them is that readers know what they are getting when they purchase a Marvel title.

Readers know that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. Iron Man is Tony Stark. Captain America is Steve Rogers. (We all know that Bucky as Cap is temporary just like DC’s replacing Wayne as Batman.) Daredevil is Matt Murdock. Wolverine is Logan. The Hulk is Bruce Banner. And it goes on and on. Readers do not have to worry about picking up an issue of Spider-Man and wonder who the hell is Spider-Man now or how many different Spider-Men have we gotten over the years.

When a reader picks up an issue of DC they have no idea what version of that character they are going to get. There is no stability in DC’s main characters. And it is this stability that helps Marvel’s titles remain more accessible to readers both new and old since the reader knows what they are going to get when they purchase the title.

Also, by not constantly switching the identities of their characters, Marvel is able to create a better brand name with the public that is more marketable. DC needs to have their iconic characters firmly in place so they can do what Marvel is currently doing with their iconic characters.

So, at any rate, I am very excited to read The Flash: Rebirth #1 and I don’t care if I am in the minority. I am glad that my boy is back. Let’s hit this review.

Creative Team
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ethan Van Sciver

Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: We begin with two police forensic scientists checking the DNA of a man charged with the murder of a college girl. One of the scientists says that the DNA does not match. The other scientist says that the Chief of Police is under a lot of pressure to close this case. The scientist barks that the suspect has a long rap sheet and for the other scientist to make the DNA match.

A voice narrates about how Barry Allen ushered in a new age for speedsters that would shatter the barrier of sound, light and time. That Barry refused to believe that the line between good and evil was blurred. That Barry believed a person is guilty or they are not guilty.

We see a figure from off panel come into the police lab. The figure uses a staff with a sharp lightning bolt on the end of it to brutally kill the two scientists. The figure then grabs several containers of chemicals from the shelf. (Maybe the chemicals that gave Barry his powers?) The voice narrates that Barry was wrong about many things. Guilt or not guilty? The voice says that everyone is guilty. The voice says that death is never the end. And that lightning always strikes twice.

The police then enter the lab and tell the figure to stop. We see the figure. He has see-through skin which allows us to see his skeleton. There is energy crackling around him. (I do not recognize this character.) The figure narrates that Barry does not know what he knows. That Barry never stopped running to find out. The figure says that he brought back Barry and that it is the worst thing that he could do to Barry.

We shift to Gorilla City where they are cheering Barry’s return. We cut to the Rogues reading the news of Barry’s return. The Rogues state that they are going to need more Rogues. We cut to Abra Kadabra dusting off his Barry Allen marionette. We shift to Pied Piper reading the news of Barry’s return. Piper wonders if Barry remembers him and if Barry is still angry at Piper for what Piper did to “her.”

We see that Keystone City is setting up a huge “Welcome Back” parade for Barry outside of the Flash museum. We see Barry Allen buying a ticket to enter the Flash Museum.

We cut to the members of the JSA setting up a big “Welcome Back” party for Barry at the JSA Brownstone. Jay explains how Barry Allen made Jay the Flash. Stargirl retorts that Jay is making no sense since Jay is the original Flash. Jay explains that he had put his helmet away and retired like the rest of the members of the JSA. Then Barry showed up and Barry’s sense of wonder and joy and his unbreakable sense of right from wrong were absolutely infectious.

Jay reveals that prior to Barry appearing, that Jay had only been able to run at the speed of sound. However, after Barry and Jay’s first adventure together, which reunited Keystone and Central cities, Barry asked Jay to race with him. That day, Jay ran twenty times the speed of sound. And that Jay has not stopped running since then. Jay continues that Barry always called Jay “Mr. Garrick” up until Wally began running with them. Jay points out that Wally always called Jay “Jay” from the start.

We shift to Wally and the rest of the Titans setting up a “Welcome Back” party for Barry at the Titans’ headquarters. Wally goes on about how Barry was the best mentor. That Barry was incredibly patient with Wally. And that Barry never yelled and never said that he was disappointed. Roy, Dick and Donna all conclude that Wally got the best mentor of the four of them. Wally agrees that he was lucky.

Wally then has to break up his two kids fighting. Wally comments that it would be easier to raise them if they had his super speed powers so that he could better identify with them. Wally retorts that he never thought he would look back on training Bart and call that easy.

We then zip over to Bart and the rest of the Teen Titans setting up a “Welcome Back” party for Barry at the Teen Titans’ Tower. Bart quips “So Barry is back. Big deal.” (And I am already annoyed with Bart. It is great to have the little irritant back and better than ever.)

Bart pouts and says that Wally West is the Flash. Wonder Girl points out that Bart was also the Flash for a while. Bart responds that he was and it was not fun at all. (Yeah, getting killed is rarely enjoyable.) Bart says he came back from the future so that everything could go back to the way it used to be. (Oh yeah, what is the name of that title again? Legion of something? Three universes? Three realities? I honestly cannot remember since it has been so long. I know it tied into some big Crisis event or other.)

Bart says that he is Kid Flash and Wally is the Flash. Robin points out that Bart used to be Wally’s biggest detractor. Bart responds that Wally has earned being the Flash. Bart says that he knows that Barry Allen “was the messiah to everyone. Whatever. I barely know Barry Allen.” Bart asks now that Barry is back what exactly did Barry sacrifice. Bart says that all of this just is not fair. Bart asks why Barry is the only one who has escaped the Speed Force? (Because he is Barry fucking Allen, baby. The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.)

We slide over to Iris at her home and happy that Barry is back. Joan is over the house helping Iris make dinner. Joan points out that Barry has been gone a long time. Joan asks Iris what is Barry going to do? Iris answers that she and Barry have not had much time to talk. That Barry has not stopped moving since he came back to life.

Captain Frye from the Central City police department calls the house and tells Iris that there has been a murder. Captain Frye says that he knows that Barry is back and that they need Barry’s help.

We shift to Barry inside the Flash museum. Barry is learning everything that has happened since his “death.” Barry is nudged and bumped by people walking around talking and texting and downloading stuff on their cell phones. Hal Jordan appears on the scene and asks Barry if the world has gotten too fast for Barry. Barry smirks and replies that the world is finally catching up.

Barry says that everyone is doing six things at once. Hal replies that it is annoying. Barry says that it is exciting. Barry jokes Hal for his flight jacket and then Hal ribs Barry about the bowties he used to wear. Barry thinks how he did not like Hal when he first met him. That Barry found Hal to be too reckless and that Hal stared at Wonder Woman a little too long. (Yeah, who wouldn’t?) However, Barry then heard Hal use the word “perp” and Barry figured out that Hal was a cop. From then on everything changed between the two men.

Hal jokes that he is glad that Barry was not around to see Hal as Parallax. Barry asks how many more kids did Green Arrow lead astray while Barry was gone. Hal laughs and says only one. Hal then says that he hopes that Barry and Ollie can start over. Barry answers that he is not here to start over.

Hal says that so many people are planning different “Welcome Back” parties for Barry. Hal asks Barry why he is here at the museum. Barry answers that he is catching up on what happened after he left. Barry explains that after he “died” that he became a part of the extra dimensional lighting that powers all speedsters. Barry says that it was like being caught in a storm of never ending lightning.

Barry continues that when he stopped the Anti-Monitor that he ran into the Speed Force and joined it. That it was like shedding his own identity. That Barry lost any concept of who he was. That he lost his individuality. That his connection to his family and friends was gone. Barry says that he saw glimpses of the world as it passed by but that is now fading. Barry says that he is back at the starting line and he does not know why.

Barry says that his coming back was not divine intervention. That it has nothing to do with Darkseid. That Barry’s coming back was accidental just like the lightning bolt that gave Barry his powers. Barry says that he can feel that the Speed Force wants to draw him back in. Barry says that he was not supposed to return.

Barry says that Wally has replaced him as the Flash. Hal counters that Wally has kids to look after and is focused on tomorrow. Barry says that Bart is back from the future. Hal counters that Bart is focused on the past and that Bart has years of running to do. Hal says that Barry is the present. That Barry is the now.

Hal says that Barry escaped a fate that no one ever thought that Barry could return from. Hal says who cares how or why Barry is back. Hal tells Barry to take a second and smile. Hal says that Barry outran Death.

We cut to a farm in Fallville, Iowa (Barry’s hometown.) We see two boys playing baseball outside in the fields. They race through the field on their way back to the house for dinner. There they stumble upon a line burned into the ground and at the end of it is the smoldering corpse of the Black Flash.

We slide back to Hal telling Barry that Barry beat the Grim Reaper and that it is now time to celebrate. Barry says that he can’t celebrate. That he needs to run. Barry says that there are new Rogues out there that must be dealt with. That there are villains like Savitar. Barry continues that Savitar got imprisoned in the Speed Force but the rest of the Rogues always seem to break out of jail. Barry says that he doesn’t have enough time.

Hal laughs and says that Barry is the fastest man alive. That Barry is going to hit four parties, a parade and a Flash family dinner all in one time. Hal says that Barry has plenty of time. Barry says that he does not have time. That he may be back but that time has not stopped. That the seconds are ticking.

Hal counters that the Speed Force is not going to use a giant electrical hand and pluck Barry back into it. Barry replies maybe not but that one day time will run out on him. That time will run out on everyone. That every second does matter.

Barry says that as much as he wants to that he cannot stop. Barry tells Hal to tell everyone that Barry is sorry and that he cannot make all the parties. Barry says that he can’t be late. Barry zips into his Flash outfit. Hal asks Barry what he is late for. Barry answers “For whatever the rest of the world needs him for.” Barry then blazes off.

We see Flash racing down the road and thinking “I can never be late again.” Barry thinks how other speedsters like Savitar, Max Mercury and Johnny Quick (Who I loved. Damn, I miss his character.) were taken by the Speed Force, but that they never broke free. But, for some reason, Barry did even though he has nothing here left to resolve. The fact is that there was only one open case Barry left unsolved and that one case only mattered to Barry.

We flashback to Barry as a little boy running down his street. Barry is quite slow. Suddenly, police cars arrive at Barry’s house. We see Barry’s mom dead. Barry’s father is arrested for the murder of Barry’s mom. Barry’s Dad sobs that he swears he would never hurt Barry’s mom. Barry cries. Barry’s dad is placed in a cop car. The cop car pulls off and Barry chases after the cop car. Barry thinks how he can still see the cop car in front of him and that he still cannot catch it.

We cut back to the present with the Flash running. Suddenly, lightning bolts crackle forth from his insignia on his chest. We see Savitar emerge from the lightning crackling from Barry’s chest. Savitar exclaims that he is free. Savitar then takes off running. Flash chases after Savitar. Flash thinks how Savitar was the leader of a speed cult. Flash thinks how Savitar is a murderer. That Savitar is guilty.

Savitar yells for Barry to say away from him. Flash catches up to Savitar and grabs Savitar’s shoulder. Savitar screams out in pain. Barry thinks how it is some type of feedback and that Barry cannot slow down. We see Savitar mutter “You were the beginning, Allen…and you’re the end.” We see Savitar crumble away into just a crumpled skeleton.

Barry Allen look stunned and wonders “What the hell did I just do?” We see panels of lighting blasting Jay, Wally, Bart, and Liberty Belle. We also see a panel of the Black Flash’s corpse. End of issue.

Commentary

The Good: The Flash: Rebirth #1 was a strong debut issue for this five issue mini-series. Johns cranks out a technically well written issue. The Flash: Rebirth #1 delivered a good blue print for an effective debut issue. Johns wastes no time in showing the reader how Barry’s return impacts the other members of the Flash family. Johns also gives the reader some information on what happened to Barry after he “died” in Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Johns then sets up the present day threat in the mysterious villain from the beginning of the story. Johns then gives the reader the mystery surrounding why Barry has returned and caps it all off with a surprise hook ending that gets the reader ready to come back for more with the next issue. Johns certainly packs plenty of material into this issue.

The Flash: Rebirth #1 was a well plotted story. Johns quickly establishes several plotlines including a couple of mysteries. The story is very focused and moves with a clear purpose. I liked the way that Johns structured this issue. This was such a well framed story and the scene transitions were seamless as we shifted back and forth between the various members of the Flash family.

Johns also displays a wonderful attention to detail in this issue. Johns makes sure to try and pull in all of the various supporting characters and the various settings that are important to the Flash universe. Johns shows the reader the various Rogues, Abra Kadabra and the Pied Piper. We also see Gorilla City. Johns also emphasizes the history and importance of Central City and Keystone City as the Twin Cities. And Johns even takes the reader to Barry’s home town of Fallville, Iowa. There are plenty of Easter Eggs in this issue that will keep longtime Flash fans entertained.

Johns whips up plenty of excellent dialogue. And The Flash: Rebirth #1 is most definitely dialogue heavy. Still, even though there is tons of dialogue, there is no extraneous dialogue at all. I appreciate how there is no wasted dialogue at all in this issue. This is not a case of unnecessary rambling dialogue full of witty quips about belly button link and other pointless topics. Johns does not waste a panel and each sentence of dialogue serves a desired purpose and helps to plant the seeds for the various plotlines, give necessary background information, further flesh out the various characters and to help to establish Barry’s personality.

Johns pulls off plenty of nice character work. It is obvious that Johns loves and understands the various members of the Flash family. In just a manner of a few pages, Johns is able to quickly convey to the reader the basic personalities of the various members of the Flash family. This helps newer readers who may not be familiar with the different Flashes and their personalities.

I like how Johns handled Barry’s role as the central Flash in the Flash family. And Johns immediately engrained in the reader the fact that Barry is the greatest Flash by having the most respected Flash, Jay Garrick, state that Barry is who made Jay the Flash. By having Jay give Barry such high praise, it helps to win over readers who might be resistant to Barry’s return.

And Johns actually pulled it off in a logical fashion. That prior to Barry becoming the Flash that Jay never ran faster than the speed of sound. And that Jay had retired like the rest of the JSA members. However, once Barry became the Flash, Jay was able to run twenty times faster than the speed of sound. And that Barry inspired Jay to resume his career as the Flash and he has not stopped since then.

At first I was extremely put off by the original Flash saying that Barry made him the Flash. But, Johns succeeded in getting me to buy into the logic of how Barry inspired Jay to resume his career as the Flash and to attain even greater heights than he ever had before. This scene also was effective in showing readers who are unfamiliar with Barry the infectious optimism and enthusiasm that Barry had when he first became the Flash.

Johns does a fine job with Wally talking about Barry as his mentor. Having Wally give such high praise to Barry and mentioning what a wonderful man and amazing mentor Barry was to him was a smart move. This was also designed to help win over Wally fans and to get them to accept Barry’s return. Since Wally loves and respects Barry so much, Johns is hoping that Wally’s fans will be inclined to follow their character’s lead and gain a love and respect for Barry as well.

I liked how Donna, Roy and Dick all chimed in how lucky Wally was to have a mentor like Barry Allen. And there is no doubt that I would take Barry as a mentor over Diana, Ollie or Bruce. This scene with Wally was effective in showing newer readers what a patient, principled and kind hero Barry was during the prime of his career as the Flash.

The scene with Bart was also important and achieved the purpose of giving the other side of the debate concerning Barry’s return. Clearly, Johns is playing out the debate that rages online in comic book forums between Barry fans and Wally fans. It seems to me that Johns uses Hal to speak for the Barry fans and that Johns uses Bart to speak the position of the Wally fans. While it is a bit strange to see an online debate take form in a comic book, but I thought it was still a smart move by Johns to go this route.

By using Bart to espouse the beliefs of Wally fans that are upset with Barry’s return, Johns is hopeful that he can address the concerns that Wally’s fans have and attempt to win them over with the decision to bring back Barry. I would imagine that by the end of this mini-series that Bart will change his opinion about Barry and Johns will be hoping that Wally’s fans will follow Bart’s lead and change their opinion about Barry returning.

It was understandable that Bart would be upset with Barry returning and knocking Wally to the sidelines. Bart is focused solely on the past and simply wants things to go back to how they were before Bart prematurely aged and became the Flash. Unfortunately, the fact is that in life you can never go back to the way things were before. Johns effectively uses this scene with Bart to show the reader how since his death, Barry has been viewed as a messiah and the greatest hero of all time.

I like how the scenes with Jay, Wally and Bart effectively conveyed to the reader the full spectrum of Barry’s career from his beginning to his pinnacle and to his death and beyond. This is a creative and interesting way to convey back-story on a character and to get across that character’s core personality without ever showing that character himself on panel. Often the best way to learn about a person is through the impressions that they leave upon those around them.

Johns reveals several mysteries in this issue. First, there is the mysterious villain that we see killing the police scientists and then stealing the chemicals that gave Barry his powers when he was hit by the lightning bolt. I am curious to learn if this villain is a brand new one or an old one that I simply cannot recognize. Johns then teases the reader concerning the villain’s goals by having the villain claim that he brought Barry back to life and that it was the worst thing that he could do to Barry.

This mysterious villain and his claims fold nicely into the mystery surrounding Barry’s return. Barry himself has no idea how or why he managed to escape the Speed Force. And Barry cannot shake this ominous feeling that time is running out for him and everyone else. Johns wisely gives the reader just enough information about what happened to Barry after he “died” while holding back enough information to get the reader yearning for more. We learn that Barry was absorbed into Speed Force when he “died” during Crisis on Infinite Earths. Johns hints to the fact that the Speed Force wants Barry back.

Then there is the mystery surrounding the dead Black Flash. We know that the Black Flash is the Grim Reaper for speedsters. Obviously, Barry’s breaking free from the Speed Force was a victory over the Grim Reaper and has apparently led to Black Flash’s death. I liked the fact that Black Flash’s corpse is found in Barry’s hometown of Fallville, Iowa. I am curious to see where Johns goes with this plotline and how it fits into the larger story.

Johns teases the reader with the concept that Barry is not only the central Flash, but that he also has a special relationship with the Speed Force that the other speedsters lack. This is hammered home in the stunning hook ending to this issue. Right before Savitar dies he whispers that Barry was the beginning and now he is the end. This cryptic line certainly piqued my interest.

Savitar’s line could mean that Barry was the beginning of the Speed Force by accessing it first and that Barry will be the end of the Speed Force. It is possible that the Speed Force is going to end up trying to claim all of the other speedsters. After all, when Barry’s touches Savitar and causes him to crumble to bones and ash we see the other members of the Flash family being blasted by lightning. This is an incredibly effective hook ending that has the reader’s mind racing with many questions.

Johns does a solid job handling Barry’s character in this issue. Johns gives readers unfamiliar with Barry Allen the core elements of Barry’s personality. Johns strongly re-affirms Barry’s police background and his simple view of life in terms of guilty or not guilty. Now, Johns does give Barry’s personality more of an edge than he ever had before. And Barry does come off more intense than he used to be.

However, I have no real problem with these tweaks in Barry’s personality. It is unrealistic just to expect Barry to come back from death exactly like he was before. It makes sense that Barry’s experience with “death” and being one with the Speed Force might change his personality and outlook on like a bit.

Johns does a good job playing with the themes of time and speed and how obsessed Barry has become with time. Barry has a new sense of urgency to his view of what his role as the Flash should be. That Barry believes that every second counts and that he cannot be late for whatever the rest of the world needs from him. Barry emphasizes that he can never be late again. The concept of a speedster being obsessed with time and viewing seconds the way that we view hours makes sense. And Barry’s drive to always be there for whatever the world needs from him emphasizes that Barry is a classic and selfless hero.

Johns also wisely has Barry weigh in on the debate concerning his return to the DCU as the main Flash. Barry comments that he is not supposed to be here. Barry also states that Wally is now the Flash. This was a smart move by Johns to ingratiate Barry to Wally fans by having Barry give tremendous props to Wally. This should help prevent Barry from looking like the usurper to the Flash mantle that Wally has been carrying since Barry’s death.

Ethan Van Sciver dishes out some gorgeous artwork. The Flash: Rebirth #1 is a wonderful looking issue. Van Sciver definitely knows how to draw speedsters and the scenes with Barry running practically explode off the page at the reader. But, what was most impressive was how Van Sciver drew the dialogue heavy scenes. Van Sciver is able to pack so much emotion and detail into every panel.

The Bad: There were a couple of flaws to The Flash: Rebirth #1. This was a slow issue. And the slow pacing, dialogue heavy scenes and relative lack of action may turn off some readers. Johns definitely performs tons of set-up in this issue and that usually results in a slower paced issue that often lacks dynamic and riveting action scenes. It was certainly strange to read an issue about speedsters with the central theme that time is quickly running out and have the story move so slowly.

I found the scene with Bart to be a bit awkward and Bart’s apathy toward Barry did not come across properly. Barry is Bart’s grandfather and it was odd that Bart would act so hateful toward Barry. I do not think that Johns meant for the reader to get the impression that Bart does not like his grandfather. But, that was the impression I got. Instead, I think that Johns was trying to show that Bart is more upset that Max Mercury was not able to escape the Speed Force like Barry Allen was able to do. It just seemed that Bart came off more of a brat and a bit more hateful than maybe Johns was intending.

And speaking for Bart, the pathetic and unprofessional shipping problems with Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds make Bart’s appearance in this issue a bit awkward. I would much rather have read Bart’s introduction back into the present day DCU before having read this issue.

Johns’ decision to integrate the internet debate that rages between Barry fans and Wally fans on various forums into this story via Hal and Bart will probably not sit well with some readers. I would imagine that some readers will find it simply awkward or strange to see forum debates appearing as dialogue in this issue. And I have to agree that it did seem weird. And usually, I prefer that writers ignore the vocal minority known as the internet forum crowd and simply focus on writing well crafted quality stories based on what they feel are interesting and creative directions.

I really did not enjoy Johns’ needless retcon to Barry’s origin with Barry’s mother getting murdered and Barry’s father getting arrested for the murder. This was such a stereotypical and uncreative retcon designed to “darken” Barry’s character and make him “grim” and more “modern.” It seems that every character in modern comics has to have some type of trauma in their life. It seems that every hero has to lose either one or both of their parents in order to give them pathos and make their character more brooding and darker. And Johns in particular has a weakness in his writing for always making his characters darker.

This retcon by Johns does not make Barry any more interesting or original at all. Instead, it actually has the effect of making Barry less original and more like every other hero being published by Marvel and DC. The fact that Barry was a positive and bright character who actually did have both of his parents alive made him incredibly unique. Almost no super hero has that kind of personality and background. And when I read the Flash I am not looking for dark, brooding and grim hero. I want a more positive hero who is a bright shining beacon of hope in the darkness known as the modern DCU.

Overall: The Flash: Rebirth #1 was a solid debut issue. Johns delivers a technically sound issue that performs all the necessary tasks of a debut issue and in fine fashion. Now, I probably would not recommend The Flash: Rebirth #1 to rabid Wally West fans who hate Barry and will never warm up Barry returning as the main Flash. It will not matter how technically well done this issue is. Those fans will probably not like this issue simply due to emotional reasons.

And I can get with that. I totally understand. I am the same way when it comes to The Question and Blue Beetle. No matter how technically well written their co-feature stories on Detective Comics and Booster Gold may be, the fact remains that I will never want to read them simply due to my emotional and irrational attachment to Ted Kord and Vic Sage which completely prevents me from liking and enjoying these new versions of Blue Beetle and The Question.

Now, I would definitely recommend The Flash: Rebirth #1 to Flash fans who are not adamantly opposed to Barry’s return. I think the average Flash fan will enjoy this story. And I would also recommend The Flash: Rebirth #1 to readers who have never read The Flash before. Johns has made this issue new reader friendly by giving all the necessary back ground information needed in order to enjoy this story.

The Flash: Rebirth #1 is comprised of all the basic story elements that make for an exciting action and adventure super hero tale. Johns gives an enjoyable mix of strong character work, well crafted dialogue, several mysteries and a dash of action. Definitely give The Flash: Rebirth #1 a try. It is worth the cover price and I think we are in store for one hell of a ride.