The Flash #67: 53rd and 3rd

Where to begin, where to begin? Let’s set aside the fact that Barry doesn’t have time to be “bored and contemplative.” Let’s even set aside the fact that 50% of the stories over the past year have been essentially filler arcs with tangential ties to the larger narrative. Hell, let’s even push the notion that the wedge driven between Iris and Barry is absolutely a ridiculously forced concept stemming from mostly bad set-up driven by editorial and a completely different writer. In a vacuum, in the modern era of comics, this story is not compelling. It isn’t a fresh new take on an old character. It’s a completely regular take on an old character. Trickster tricks. It’s what he does. How he’s doing it? I don’t know and frankly, I don’t even care. There are so many great directions Williamson could be taking this book with the storylines that he himself has established (future Iron Heights, Commander Cold and his mysterious identity, Zolomon on the loose, the return of Bart, Iris’ pre-Flashpoint memories, the list goes ON AND ON) but sure. Let’s do a Jesse James story. Seems like a great idea. It’s not that it isn’t an okay Jesse James story– it is simply that there are more pressing concerns, more interesting stories that would be a better way to spend my time and money on than… this.

PS: Barry is one of the DCU’s top detectives. James Jesse didn’t set off any alarms? Come on.