The Flash #30

Time travel and the character's relationship with the passage of the time have long bee staples of the Flash comic storylines over the years. Beginning with something as innocuous as a new watch, The Flash's new writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen begin to examine the idea for the first time in the New 52.

For those, like me, who have totally ignored DC's Forever Evil event the beginning of the issue, jumping us into a wrecked Central City, is more than a little confusing. The amount of damage to the city is extensive which leaves the Flash constantly needed. Although putting too much emphasis on those awful yellow streaks in the character's costume, new artist Brett Booth proves up to the task in showing off the Scarlet Speedster, particularly in a sequence where Barry uses his super-speed to keep cutting out of his psychological evaluation to save people.

Those expecting the first appearance of a blue-clad Wally West are going to be disappointed. Although the comic does end with a scene of a future Flash, it's Barry Allen not Wally who is consumed with past mistakes and obsessed with the passage of time.

A little awkward in spots, and sure to disappoint Wally fans who were expecting the hero's big introducing into the New 52, The Flash #30 may not be what some readers were expecting. That said, the ideas the issue begins playing with are fertile ground for the character and (other than those distracting yellow seams in the unnecessary New 52 redesign of the character's costume) the art of Booth fits the character well. I'll be interested to see where things go from here. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]