Today
takes a new Tack
Today we start a Six Part series that examines
in-depth
Now after all this time you’d think i’d have done this story already (given it’s importance to Wally’s development as the Flash.) and while I have mentioned many times how it was the storyline that made me a full-time Flash fan it’s been the storyline that I’ve only run around the edges of in terms of examination.
Now, the story of course starts with the famous closing page of Flash 73 which I went into detail on in a previous installment.* Wally and Linda Park have just started to become a serious couple. Jay Garrick is recently returned from Limbo, and Wally and Jay have just had their first real shared adventure. It’s Christmas Eve and everyone’s about to call it a night. The doorbell rings and..
By now I’m assuming everyone has either read this story in either single issue form or Trade-paperback so we’ll assume that the truth of Barry’s return is well known to everyone.
Now that
that’s taken care of we move on to
which finds Wally reminiscing on the day of Barry’s Death as “Barry” is reunited with Hal Jordan
Hal has to cut the reunion short as he’s been chartered to fly a party for New Year.
It’s then that none other than the Pied Piper himself comes waltzing down the street.
“Barry” doesn’t take too well to seeing one of his rogues out and about and ….reacts as one might expect
and of course Barry learns the hard way that secret identities aren’t what they used to be…..
of course Piper’s not just dropping by for a social visit,. He’s got news. Woprd’s out that a New Criminal operation is in town and the head of the group wants to take out Keystone’s leading Crime Boss. Wally dashes inside to suit up and suddenly realizes he’s breaking the “I’m not Kid Flash” news to “Barry” a little less subtlety than he he had intended
( OK!! I had my fun with this one!)
“Barry” takes it well enough but as they race side by side his comments carry a slight twinge of…..condescension to them.
The Flashes arrive at the amusement park to find that it was the targeted Crime Lord himself who put the word out that a rival was gunning for him.
They immediately start canvasing the park and find two of the snipers making short work of them. the third gunmen is harder to find having hidden himself in the Hall of Mirrors
Wally finds his solution to the maze and together both Flashes manage to get the job done as a team.
of course Wally takes a moment to needle the Mob Boss.
Barry meanwhile is suddenly very quiet and rather than assisting Wally in taking the snipers to the police he takes off on his own leaving Wally to wonder….
It’s then that we see Barry at Iris’ grave. Barry is clearly mourning his wife all over again. and he speaks to her memory explaining that it was the Ferris wheel he proposed to her that made him remember what he had lost.
Wally arrives confessing to the doubts and fears he had about Barry’s return it’s then that Barry and Wally race off, ready to face whatever comes their way.
Closing thoughts.
Having read the entire storyline several times over the last twenty plus years I have to say that this is really the issue that made me dig in and make Flash my number one priority read every month. You might have noticed I quotation marked “Barry’s” name throughout the post. largely that’s because when this story first was printed I was sure (right from the start really) that Barry wasn’t really himself. I think it was his condescending attitude towards Wally’s taking on the Flash name that tipped me off. Now, I had never read any of Barry’s adventures at that point.(
My Barry Allen was John Wesley Shipp in the 1990 TV series at
that point!) So I didn’t know Barry Allen as well as many other fans had. In my mind Barry was “The Flash that died in the Crisis” Like Jason Todd, (Robin Number !!) Barry’s memory would always be venerated and honored but his successor would ultimately prove to surpass him in almost every way imaginable. Despite my aforementioned unfamiliararity with Barry however, I instinctively knew that the real Barry Allen would never be so condescending towards Wally’s Ascension in identity.
Well that’s all for this month see you all next time!
*As seen here:
thefastestforumalive.proboards.com/post/1728/thread
