The Flash #27: Caught in the Omega Force

The Flash #27 picks up with Impulse’s journey to stop Darkseid before the events of DC KO can begin, finding himself trapped in the past with a young, Darkseid-corrupted Max Mercury hunting him down. This all ties back into the larger DC KO storyline, which features a group of the DC Universe’s heroes and villains battling through a gauntlet for the title of King Omega, a power that could rival Darkseid, who has come to destroy the Earth. Wally has been smart enough to read between the lines and accept that this gauntlet may be the only way to win, but that doesn’t stop Impulse from taking off and causing problems, leading to a past far different from the one the heroes remember.

Seeing Mark Waid return to The Flash for this tie-in series not only showcases his love for these characters, but also reminds readers why Impulse was so important to Wally’s story. In this issue, there’s a key moment where bystanders are caught in the battle between the speedsters and the villainous Legion of Darkseid, and Impulse teaches this now-veteran Flash an important lesson about situational awareness while running. In this case, Impulse notices that they’ve landed in Siberia, meaning the citizens on the train won’t understand English and therefore won’t respond to Wally’s warnings. It’s a touching moment that highlights the dynamic between the two heroes, one that hasn’t been explored much in recent years.

This issue not only showcases the bickering between the two speedsters, but also introduces the concept of Omega Speed, seemingly Darkseid’s replacement for, or competition with, the Speed Force. While not much is revealed about this mysterious new power, aside from the fact that the Legion of Darkseid’s Xs has been imbued with it, the idea of this opposing force opens up an excellent storytelling opportunity for future issues, creating adversaries unlike any fans have seen before.

Just theorizing here, but many fans are speculating about who will take over The Flash after DC KO concludes. While many hope that Waid will stick around, he’s been extremely busy with other series and has already left a major mark on the character. What some fans seem to be overlooking is that this series is being co-written by Christopher Cantwell. While the extent of Cantwell’s involvement hasn’t been specified, it would make sense for him to take over the ongoing series after issue #30.