The Flash #23: Course Correction

The Flash #23 picks up after the events of last week’s, Bad Moon Rising Special #1. To say that this has been one of the weirdest story arcs in recent comic history would be an understatement. After three solid issues of story, the main creative team took a step to the side for an oversized issue entirely dedicated to The Shade, which is then recapped within the text and dialogue of this issue. Not only that, but then the issue proceeds to upend many of the plot elements that the special issue introduced, resulting in a singularly solid issue that seems wholly separate from what was done only one week prior. Clearly, there was some editorial interference here and it really makes for a very jarring read for anyone who has picked this up monthly thus far.

The saving grace of this issue is how Si Spurrier writes The Shade. Thankfully, he gives The Shade a very witty and pompous attitude that really makes him stand out as a character, especially for those who may be unfamiliar with him. Every line of dialogue has at least one or two “big” words that generally wouldn’t be featured in a mainstream comic book, but Spurrier is able to get away with it because that is just how The Shade is known to speak. This also acts as a good foil for the other lead of the issue, Jai West, who, although just a child, has a greater cosmic importance in the grand scheme of things.

More so than just how Spurrier writes The Shade is how well he characterizes the two different versions of Wally he has created. In the first arc of this series, post DC All-in, Spurrier played with the idea that Wally had split himself up so that part of him could spend time with his family, while the other part could handle the larger threats that the Justice League was taking care of. After the culmination of that arc, the idea of splitting Wally into multiples multiplied exponentially as he started sending copies of himself out to dies as soldiers while he became more grizzled and disheartened. Now, one of the Wally clones has taken up the more traditional role of Wally while the main Wally continues to go haywire. All of this seems wonky but is done well within the issue for a great effect while reading.

Vasco Georgiev also continues to do a fantastic job with this arc. One stand out page is when The Shade tells Jai to look up, revealing Eclipso’s godlike prowess through his depiction of the stars in the sky. This image is one that would look great as a poster on anyone’s wall, and hopefully will accompany Georgiev at any conventions he plans on attending in the future.