Recap
The Reverse-Flash is on the loose, and it's all Barry Allen's fault!
Barry can't slow down until his arch-nemesis is found... but eventually, he knows he must. Returning to work, he discovers a case that hits a little too close to home...
Putting a loose timeline together of how he missed such an important case, Barry realized he was justifiably distracted the night of the murder...
The loop begins to close as Barry realizes Reverse-Flash orchestrated the murder that night - but before he can act, his greatest foes all strike at once!
Review
Flash #757 definitely adheres to the old catchphrase, “Go big or go home.” After a bit of a stutter step last issue, this issue roars out of the gate in full crisis mode, with Barry Allen attacked on all fronts from his greatest foes. Is that the most original plot? No. Of course not. But is it well-executed and incredibly fun? Yes. Yes it is.
But – current crisis in which the Flash will inevitably prevail aside – the far more interesting subplot this issue stretches all the way back to DC: Rebirth #1, and the return of Wally West from Bad Continuity Purgatory. Suddenly, writer Josh Williamson is tying Reverse-Flash back to that seminal moment, and closing the loop started four (!) years ago with an age of renewed hope and promise that has slowly but surely cratered under its own expectations, shifting creative teams, and editorial miasma. (It’s worth noting that Williamson is the only writer from the original 2016 Rebirth lineup to still be writing where he started. That sort of longevity is increasingly uncommon in today’s comicscape.) Knowing that Williamson is nearing the end of his run on Flash with this bit of storytelling symmetry shows that even if he hasn’t had a plan all along, he’s certainly able to look back and come up with new and interesting ways to make connections. That in and of itself makes his run one that will be worth revisiting in years to come, even if it hasn’t been without its flaws along the way (ahem, the other forces that seem to have now been forgotten).
So, no, “Legion of Zoom” isn’t the most original story. The hero’s greatest villains teaming up to kick him/her in the head is a trope probably older than comics, but popularly can easily be traced back to the Golden Age. But… it’s fun! It’s fun to see the hero in panic mode, unsure of what to do or where to start. Reverse-Flash has successfully spun Barry’s world and effectively put him on his heels, playing defense while he awaits his foe’s next move. And it looks great, too, thanks to Rafa Sandoval and Jordi Terragona’s art. But I have a nagging feeling that the real story here is that DC Rebirth subplot… I’ve been saying for almost four years now that with regards to the post-Rebirth DCU tapestry, Flash is the book to watch. And it looks as though it’s just about time to see if my guess is right.
Final Thoughts
Flash #757 rips, roars, and races as Barry Allen is confronted by his greatest foes at once - but the real mystery is the one the one that goes all the way back to DC: Rebirth #1! If you've been waiting for answers to the fateful night when Wally West returned, DO NOT miss this series!
The Flash #757: Big-Time Old-School Supervillain Team-Up!
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9.5/109.5/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 8/108/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10