The Flash: Rebirth

Once again, writer Geoff Johns proves himself as an immensely talented writer for DC Comics! I admit that I was skeptical about Barry Allen returning from the dead after he had been gone for so many years (especially since I had grown up with Wally West being the Flash in both the comics and on 'Justice League' and 'Justice League Unlimited '), but this story was just so exciting and enthralling...all my doubts were immediately thrown out the window! And when I saw how much influence this story had on 'The Flash' TV series, I got excited again (and was not dissapointed). I loved this one Flash story so much that I actually bought the digital copy for my Kindle so I could take it everywhere with me (and even though I own the original printed 6-issue series). That alone should tell you how great it is!

What happens when you've been dead for several years, and then come back to life? That is an odd question, but in comic books, that is a question that is worth asking. It is said that in comic books “death is cheap”. Most comic deaths, with the exception of Bruce Wayne's parents and Spider-Man's Uncle Ben, will eventually be reversed by a later storyline, if they haven't been reversed already. One of the characters who has stayed “dead” the longest is the second Flash, Barry Allen, at 23 years before his return. Eventually, even he came back. During the events of the “crisis crossover” *Final Crisis*, Barry suddenly appeared alive and well, and helped the heroes finish killing the evil god Darkseid. As *The Flash: Rebirth* begins, all of Barry's friends, family, and other heroes in the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America, are celebrating the second Flash's return. No one quite understands what happened, but they all accept it with joy. All of them except for Barry, of course. He can't shake this uneasy feeling that he should be dead still. That there is something wrong with the way that death has been so “cheap” for heroes in the DC Universe. Though much of Barry's struggle is spiritual and emotional, as he needs to accept his life with his wife Iris, and with his friends, he is not entirely unjustified in his paranoia. There is a sinister mind at work, using Barry to cement it's own power. A mind that needs Barry alive, but is obsessed with torturing him at the same time. If Barry does not defeat this villain, then his life will be destroyed, and every other speedster but himself and the villain will be dead. The art here is more difficult to judge than in other comic series. It is not vivid, but more understated. However, that more “understated” design is part of the charm of the series. This fight in the story is a battle that involves other characters, but it is mainly Barry's battle to accept coming back. This is revealed in the fact that his wife Iris is drawn very simply, but as a stunning character. Indeed, she is the only one besides Barry and other speedsters that gets any great detail. It's almost like we are seeing the story through Barry's eyes, and see the importance that his friends, family, and especially his beloved wife, have for him. The story was actually a plausible retcon of the previous mythos of the *Flash* comics. That is about all I can say without giving too much away. Then again, given how goofy some of these major comic book industry “events” can be *cough*CountdowntoFinalCrisis*cough*, that is meant as good praise. A great story for any Flash and comic book fan, but accessible enough for some new fans. Highly Recommended.

Geoff Johns, the same creator behind Green Lantern Rebirth and who rehabilitated Hal Jordan does it again with The Flash Rebirth. Here's what I think makes it so great: (1) Unlike most comic book resurrections, which are quick and cheap, Johns was very careful with how he treated Barry Allen. Barry stayed dead for much, much longer than other characters typically do (about two decades), and you can tell Johns was not going to bring him back on a whim without a story to tell. In the same way that Johns gave Hal a bit more gravitas in returning to his former self, Barry's return from death is not just simple triumph and fanfare. There's an unease and discomfort with being pulled back to life that is both more interesting and understandable then just a skip and a jump back into the hero life. (2) Johns' gift for rebooting characters, which continues on to this day, is that he's very deft and providing context, exposition, and background in light and organic ways so that new readers can understand what's going on. Each new story he takes on, including this one, performs a fine dance between retreading old information and introducing new elements which is really hard to pull off well. Johns does it. (3) Because of 1 and 2 above, I think this a great book for newcomers to learn more about Barry Allen, but also about the Speed Force and the legacy of the Flash on a more general level. It was one of the first full Flash stories I read, and it was a pretty smooth introduction. All in all this is a great Barry Allen/Flash story and I strongly recommend it to people interested in learning about the character.

As a reader of "Barry Allen era" Flash from the 1960's, I bought this as an exercise in nostalgia as much as anything, and I wanted to see how they would revive a long-dead and much loved character (is it really over 20 years since he was killed off?) What I found was a completely new approach to the characters and story-telling. Much more aimed at adults, without resorting to crudity, bad language or excessive and graphic violence (although elements of violence exist in the story). Characters die, villains are killers, not just thieves or megalomaniacs but true psychopaths. Heroes have wives, children and all the issues involved therein. They are three dimensional, rather than the cardboard cut-out goody-goodies of the past. Indeed, Barry Allen acknowledges than he had a black & white / no grey areas world view before his "death". Guilty or not guilty, good or bad, innocent or evil. He was, simply, too good to be true. Part of the story involves his journey towards a more enlightened, less naive attitude. For the most part, though, it is a fast moving, action packed exploration of the so-called "speed force", with some genre-altering exposition, and a really surprising twist affecting all those who wear / have worn the Flash costume, as well as forerunners (no pun intended) like Jay Garrick and Jonny Quick. With cameos from old villians like Captain Cold and Gorilla Grodd, as well as appearances of the Justice League stalwarts Superman, Green Arrow and Wonder Woman, this is one for old time geeks like me, as well as those new to the DC Universe. The Kindle edition was easy to read, even on my smaller, older basic version. Recommended.

basic story, good starting story for someone who wants to read about the flash

ファイナルクライシスにてとうとう現代へと帰還を果たしたバリー・アレン！ しかし、完全復活とはいかず、彼の体はいまだに不安定だった。 また、彼のいない間に世の中は大きく変わっており、彼は世界に一人取り残されたのではないのかと焦り始めるが……。 バリー・アレンのフラッシュが本作でいよいよ完全復活を果たします！ 本作を手掛けるのはウォリー・ウェストのフラッシュも手掛けたジェフ・ジョーンズなのでいつも通り安定して面白いです。 本作からフラッシュポイントに向けてシナリオは徐々に加速していくのでお楽しみに! 続きはこちらから！ Flash Vol. 1: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues (Flash (DC Comics))

First actual flash comic I have read in quite some time and it was amazing from beginning to end highly recommend

Got the book in great condition and on time. Haven’t read the book but heard awesome reviews about it and I trust it. Got it as a graduation gift for my brother and he’s a massive Flash fan.