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The Flash by Mark Waid
The Flash by Mark Waid, Book Two
Superstar writer Mark Waid's run on THE FLASH is now re-collected in a new series of graphic novels, continuing in THE FLASH BY MARK WAID BOOK TWO!
Once Wally West was just Kid Flash, sidekick to his mentor and friend the Flash, a.k.a. Barry Allen. The death of Barry left Wally the fastest man alive--and the new Flash. Now, somehow, Barry has returned--as a violent and paranoid speedster determined to eliminate what he's created! Is Barry really back?
THE FLASH BY MARK WAID BOOK TWO looks back at Wally's earliest days as the Kid Flash and explores the gamut of his emotions and experiences from his first day as a child hero to his succession of Barry Allen as the new Flash. A journey full of humor and drama, this story shows just how much Wally West loves being the fastest man alive. Collects GREEN LANTERN #30-31 & 40, THE FLASH #69-79, THE FLASH ANNUAL #6, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY #10.
Once Wally West was just Kid Flash, sidekick to his mentor and friend the Flash, a.k.a. Barry Allen. The death of Barry left Wally the fastest man alive--and the new Flash. Now, somehow, Barry has returned--as a violent and paranoid speedster determined to eliminate what he's created! Is Barry really back?
THE FLASH BY MARK WAID BOOK TWO looks back at Wally's earliest days as the Kid Flash and explores the gamut of his emotions and experiences from his first day as a child hero to his succession of Barry Allen as the new Flash. A journey full of humor and drama, this story shows just how much Wally West loves being the fastest man alive. Collects GREEN LANTERN #30-31 & 40, THE FLASH #69-79, THE FLASH ANNUAL #6, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY #10.
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1993
31 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,195 books1,284 followersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 30, 2022
This one took me quite a while to finish omg!
Wow this felt like a long read but then again I kind of read a few pages every day but still such a great experience reading it!
So here we have Wally teaming up with Hal to stop the threat of Gorilla Grodd and Hector Hammond and some weird brain alterations and I love it, the friendship of Hal and Wally is just awesome and I freaking love it!
Then we have a story focusing on the return of Dr alchemy a new one basically and how Wally fights against him is the big story and its so good, the way Wally uses his powers to defeat this new foe and then teaming up with Jay and yeah that was awesome!
But the big story being "the return of barry allen" and its so good omg! This one hits all the right spots and its emotional for sure and we see how WALLY reacts to his mentor being back and all but he is behaving off and how Hal reacts to seeing his friend back but what they see is that something big maybe happening to which they are all oblivious and the massive change and shock and awe of it makes the story so much more compelling as we have Jay, Max and Johnny alongside Wally battling the REVERSE FLASH and its epic the twists and turns and the crazy fight! Its one of the finest Wally stories easily and how he defeats him is just so good!
I loved this one definitely and it does a good job of getting Wally under the shadow of Barry and also shows how instrumental he was in Wally's life but now it feels like he is his own character and his romance with Linda is legendary and I love it! Also involving other speedsters was awesome! Definitely one of the finest flash stories!
Wow this felt like a long read but then again I kind of read a few pages every day but still such a great experience reading it!
So here we have Wally teaming up with Hal to stop the threat of Gorilla Grodd and Hector Hammond and some weird brain alterations and I love it, the friendship of Hal and Wally is just awesome and I freaking love it!
Then we have a story focusing on the return of Dr alchemy a new one basically and how Wally fights against him is the big story and its so good, the way Wally uses his powers to defeat this new foe and then teaming up with Jay and yeah that was awesome!
But the big story being "the return of barry allen" and its so good omg! This one hits all the right spots and its emotional for sure and we see how WALLY reacts to his mentor being back and all but he is behaving off and how Hal reacts to seeing his friend back but what they see is that something big maybe happening to which they are all oblivious and the massive change and shock and awe of it makes the story so much more compelling as we have Jay, Max and Johnny alongside Wally battling the REVERSE FLASH and its epic the twists and turns and the crazy fight! Its one of the finest Wally stories easily and how he defeats him is just so good!
I loved this one definitely and it does a good job of getting Wally under the shadow of Barry and also shows how instrumental he was in Wally's life but now it feels like he is his own character and his romance with Linda is legendary and I love it! Also involving other speedsters was awesome! Definitely one of the finest flash stories!
June 22, 2018
It's about time DC celebrated Mark Waid's run on the Flash! The Flash was the first character Mark Waid really got to put his stamp on writing the book for almost 10 years. Volume 2 is where Waid really starts to define the character. Here is where Waid begins Wally West's journey on the prototypical hero's quest where with each major arc he gets better and better, leveling up in video game parlance.
The book begins with a Golden Age style crossover with Barry Allen's best friend Hal Jordan. It's not bad but filled with some goofiness like this.
Then comes a short story from Justice League Quarterly that should be a throw away story but is one of the best stories in the book. The Flash witnesses an assassination while trapped in a glass elevator between floors. Now he has to figure a way out before the bullet reaches its target. Next up is a revamp of the old character Dr. Alchemy.
Then comes The Return of Barry Allen. This is where Waid really begins to establish The Flash mythos. Several years after Barry's sacrifice in Crisis, Waid seemingly brings back Barry in a story many Barry loyalists wanted even as Wally West supporters and those who wanted his sacrifice to mean something dreaded it. This is where Wally FINALLY steps out from under Barry's shadow, growing into to an adult and fully taking on the Flash mantle. He begins to establish the speedster lineage and during this run lays the groundwork Geoff Johns continues to run with in his JSA book, extending that lineage throughout the DC universe.
Greg LaRocque handles most of the art. I'd forgotten just how good of an artist he'd grown into during this run. He's one of the unsung artists of the 90's, never quite getting his due while providing really solid work.
The book begins with a Golden Age style crossover with Barry Allen's best friend Hal Jordan. It's not bad but filled with some goofiness like this.
Then comes a short story from Justice League Quarterly that should be a throw away story but is one of the best stories in the book. The Flash witnesses an assassination while trapped in a glass elevator between floors. Now he has to figure a way out before the bullet reaches its target. Next up is a revamp of the old character Dr. Alchemy.
Then comes The Return of Barry Allen. This is where Waid really begins to establish The Flash mythos. Several years after Barry's sacrifice in Crisis, Waid seemingly brings back Barry in a story many Barry loyalists wanted even as Wally West supporters and those who wanted his sacrifice to mean something dreaded it. This is where Wally FINALLY steps out from under Barry's shadow, growing into to an adult and fully taking on the Flash mantle. He begins to establish the speedster lineage and during this run lays the groundwork Geoff Johns continues to run with in his JSA book, extending that lineage throughout the DC universe.
Greg LaRocque handles most of the art. I'd forgotten just how good of an artist he'd grown into during this run. He's one of the unsung artists of the 90's, never quite getting his due while providing really solid work.
June 21, 2021
The Flash Book 2 really improves on one and I was invested 90% of the time.
First let us talk about the bad, which is really just the first few issues here. A crossover with Green Lantern and oh my is it poorly done. The villains suck (Grodd, why you look so awful?) and the storyline does nothing for either Wally or Hal. In fact, it makes them both kind of jerks. And sure they settle it in the end but really it was a boring arc.
Luckily quickly after that, we're lead into much better events. Watching Wally be his own person. Focusing on being with Linda, learning how he uses his speed in new ways, and even reintroducing Barry. Which yes, back then it was a big deal. The guy was still dead. But we soon learn how and why it happens and the reveal is a lot of fun. Watching Wally learn to be his own Flash really is a fun process.
Overall, besides the start this was great. Wally's growth even just now is really working for me and I wonder how we can improve going forward.
A 4 out of 5.
First let us talk about the bad, which is really just the first few issues here. A crossover with Green Lantern and oh my is it poorly done. The villains suck (Grodd, why you look so awful?) and the storyline does nothing for either Wally or Hal. In fact, it makes them both kind of jerks. And sure they settle it in the end but really it was a boring arc.
Luckily quickly after that, we're lead into much better events. Watching Wally be his own person. Focusing on being with Linda, learning how he uses his speed in new ways, and even reintroducing Barry. Which yes, back then it was a big deal. The guy was still dead. But we soon learn how and why it happens and the reveal is a lot of fun. Watching Wally learn to be his own Flash really is a fun process.
Overall, besides the start this was great. Wally's growth even just now is really working for me and I wonder how we can improve going forward.
A 4 out of 5.
August 2, 2019
Nothing like a super speedster teaming up with a space cop and a detective chimpanzee to stop a guy with an enormous head and another guy who's a psychic gorilla from finding a space rock that will give them more superpowers.
May 12, 2017
The first volume was a little bit of a let down after reading Mark Waid's Flash is generally considered the best run of all time on the character. This volume though is simply incredible and now I can see why that is the general opinion.
I really don't think there is a better writer of superhero's currently alive, and while they're better comic book writers, Mark Waid is the best in this genre with only Geoff Johns running him close.
I really don't think there is a better writer of superhero's currently alive, and while they're better comic book writers, Mark Waid is the best in this genre with only Geoff Johns running him close.
November 2, 2017
Gorilla Warfare (69-70+GL). A crossover with Green Lantern, which was then undergoing a good, well-characterized run by the now-disgraced Gerard Jones. Unfortunately, this cross-over isn't the best for Jones or Waid, as it spends too much time in fisticuffs (and menticuffs) with the antagonists, a very non-scary Grodd and Hector Hammond. Still, there's some nice characterization for the two heroes, some nice continuity connecting together the two brainiacs, and nice plotting in the first two issues, which only sort of crossover. It's also good to see connections to the JLE comic of the time [6/10].
Assassination (JLQ10). A nice little short that highlights the advantages and especially the limitations of Wally's speed [8/10].
Alchemy (71-72). A dark and gritty reinvention of Dr. Alchemy? Yeah, that's very '90s. Still, he's OK, even if his battle with Wally drags. Instead, the real heart of this arc is about the relationship between Wally and Linda [6/10].
The Return of Barry Allen (73-79). When this arc originally ran, I think many of us were horrified that Barry might be back, and that he'd replace Wally, the star of The Flash now for more than half a decade. Unlike some folks, Mark Waid knew better than that and so used the story as a way to grow Wally as a hero. This story also offer Waid's first attempt to really extend the speedster mythology. So, we have Jay and Johnny back and we also see the introduction of Max Mercury. The presence of Thawne plays into that — and generally Waid does a great job here of presenting a new type of Thawne, with his timey-wimey backstory. Ground-breaking at the time, The Return of Barry Allen is still pretty good [7+/10].
Bloodlines Annual. Like most in The Bloodline annual event, this is a pointless fight and gore fest. Argus was interesting enough to stick around for a while, but he's not really worthwhile here.
Assassination (JLQ10). A nice little short that highlights the advantages and especially the limitations of Wally's speed [8/10].
Alchemy (71-72). A dark and gritty reinvention of Dr. Alchemy? Yeah, that's very '90s. Still, he's OK, even if his battle with Wally drags. Instead, the real heart of this arc is about the relationship between Wally and Linda [6/10].
The Return of Barry Allen (73-79). When this arc originally ran, I think many of us were horrified that Barry might be back, and that he'd replace Wally, the star of The Flash now for more than half a decade. Unlike some folks, Mark Waid knew better than that and so used the story as a way to grow Wally as a hero. This story also offer Waid's first attempt to really extend the speedster mythology. So, we have Jay and Johnny back and we also see the introduction of Max Mercury. The presence of Thawne plays into that — and generally Waid does a great job here of presenting a new type of Thawne, with his timey-wimey backstory. Ground-breaking at the time, The Return of Barry Allen is still pretty good [7+/10].
Bloodlines Annual. Like most in The Bloodline annual event, this is a pointless fight and gore fest. Argus was interesting enough to stick around for a while, but he's not really worthwhile here.
August 7, 2017
The good news: this collection includes The Return of Barry Allen, which is one of the all-time great Flash stories.
The not-so-good news: this collection also has several other stories that I'd classify as passable. Entertaining, but nothing I'd slap down good money for.
I'm a big fan of Mark Waid and his run on The Flash is where I think he really started making his mark on superhero comics. In the last collection, Born to Run was a great story-line surrounded by okay material. The same thing happens here, but I think he was able to hold the higher level of quality going forward (which we'll see in Volume 3).
I'd tell anyone this collection is worth their money for The Return of Barry Allen. If the intent of the story was to shake off the ghost of Barry Allen and make Wally the definitive Flash of his era, it accomplished its mission. Going forward, through stories like Terminal Velocity, Waid was able to deepen the Flash mythology (with concepts like the speed force) while also adding layers to the Flash and his supporting cast of characters in a way that really stood out in its era. The Big 2 publishers seemed unsure how to take their characters past the 90s bubble popping, and Waid helped point the way. He understands, and embraces, what makes these characters timeless.
The not-so-good news: this collection also has several other stories that I'd classify as passable. Entertaining, but nothing I'd slap down good money for.
I'm a big fan of Mark Waid and his run on The Flash is where I think he really started making his mark on superhero comics. In the last collection, Born to Run was a great story-line surrounded by okay material. The same thing happens here, but I think he was able to hold the higher level of quality going forward (which we'll see in Volume 3).
I'd tell anyone this collection is worth their money for The Return of Barry Allen. If the intent of the story was to shake off the ghost of Barry Allen and make Wally the definitive Flash of his era, it accomplished its mission. Going forward, through stories like Terminal Velocity, Waid was able to deepen the Flash mythology (with concepts like the speed force) while also adding layers to the Flash and his supporting cast of characters in a way that really stood out in its era. The Big 2 publishers seemed unsure how to take their characters past the 90s bubble popping, and Waid helped point the way. He understands, and embraces, what makes these characters timeless.
April 2, 2018
This collection starts off with a 4-part crossover with Green Lantern where Wally and Hal team up against Hector Hammond and Gorilla Grodd. It's a fun story, full of Silver Age goofiness (The Bureau of Amplified Animals, for example) and takes place during the time when Hal was sporting white hair on the sides, which I love unreservedly. We get a story that takes the Wally/Linda Park relationship to a whole new level. Most importantly, the bulk of the collection is taken up with the "Return of Barry Allen" storyline, which is considered by many to be the high point of Waid's tenure on the book. I think there are better stories, but this one really tunes into the legacy of the Flash while also being a great character study and bringing in new ideas. I think the story is the incredibly solid foundation on which Waid builds his reputation. Greg LaRocque does great work here as well, finishing his stint on the book with panache. These comics are from my lost period and while I've read much of what's here before, I hadn't read them all. Revisiting and discovering these issues of Flash over the past month has been great fun. I've got Book Three on my TBR shelf, so it won't be too long before I dive in for some more.
July 25, 2023
The Flash by Mark Waid Book Two collects DC Comics issues The Flash 69-79, The Flash Annual 6, Justice League Quarterly 10, and Green Lantern 30-31 and 40. These issues are written by Mark Waid and Gerard Jones with art by Greg LaRoque, M.D. Bright, Phil Hester, Claude St. Aubin, Sal Vellutto, and Patrick Zircher.
This collection of The Flash starts with a crossover series with Green Lantern where the duo teams up against Gorilla Grodd and Hector Hammond. We then get a short arc introducing a new Dr. Alchemy. And to top it off, we get a classic: “The Return of Barry Allen” which see the hero return from the dead, but not all seems right with the Scarlet Speedster.
The first arc in the book with Green Lantern is a campy Silver Age-like team-up but it’s solid fun. The second arc involving Dr. Alchemy is standard fair - nothing to complain about, but nothing really fantastic either. But then we get the “Return of Barry Allen” which is pure comic book greatness. Feeling like the third wheel of The Flashes, Wally West is stunned on Christmas night when Barry Allen shows up at the door, back from the dead! In this arc we see Wally truly find his place as a hero as he steps out from Barry’s shadow and we get a really classic villain showdown. If this volume was only the “Return of Barry Allen” arc, it would be an easy five stars, but the other material brings it down just a notch.
This volume see the end of LaRoque’s pencils. His art will definitely be missed as he consistently drew a a fluid and detailed book. I don’t know how Mark Waid will top himself after this volume but I have heard his whole run in fantastic so it is time to dive in to the next volume and see where the adventure takes me!
This collection of The Flash starts with a crossover series with Green Lantern where the duo teams up against Gorilla Grodd and Hector Hammond. We then get a short arc introducing a new Dr. Alchemy. And to top it off, we get a classic: “The Return of Barry Allen” which see the hero return from the dead, but not all seems right with the Scarlet Speedster.
The first arc in the book with Green Lantern is a campy Silver Age-like team-up but it’s solid fun. The second arc involving Dr. Alchemy is standard fair - nothing to complain about, but nothing really fantastic either. But then we get the “Return of Barry Allen” which is pure comic book greatness. Feeling like the third wheel of The Flashes, Wally West is stunned on Christmas night when Barry Allen shows up at the door, back from the dead! In this arc we see Wally truly find his place as a hero as he steps out from Barry’s shadow and we get a really classic villain showdown. If this volume was only the “Return of Barry Allen” arc, it would be an easy five stars, but the other material brings it down just a notch.
This volume see the end of LaRoque’s pencils. His art will definitely be missed as he consistently drew a a fluid and detailed book. I don’t know how Mark Waid will top himself after this volume but I have heard his whole run in fantastic so it is time to dive in to the next volume and see where the adventure takes me!
March 10, 2023
Great to reread after thirty years: Waid started in this run of The Flash as a primo crafter of mainstream superhero sagas. Greg LaRoque drew wonderfully, here wonderfully inked by Atlanta's Roy Richardson. I really enjoyed the Ty Templeton covers that appear. As far as the story, it has wonderful pacing. [See what I did there..] Johnny Quick appears! Golden Age Quicksilver reappears as Max Mercury! And, Linda Park takes on more importance in Wally West's life.
Recommended.
Thanks, Fulton County Public Library for the loan.
Recommended.
Thanks, Fulton County Public Library for the loan.
September 17, 2018
Ok now I'm starting to see the appeal of Mark Waid's run!
So while there are some throwaway stories in this volume, the main story, which deals with the return of "Barry Allen", was great. I really got into the mindset of Wally and how he felt not only having a friend return from the grave, but to then reassert his position in the world as the flash. Is he THE flash, or just a copy of the original? Wasnt his whole deal that he was wearing the colors as a tribute to Barry Allen? So when he returns, where does that leave Wally?
Great character work and the turn is really good. The art compliments the story well.
Looking forward to the next volume!
So while there are some throwaway stories in this volume, the main story, which deals with the return of "Barry Allen", was great. I really got into the mindset of Wally and how he felt not only having a friend return from the grave, but to then reassert his position in the world as the flash. Is he THE flash, or just a copy of the original? Wasnt his whole deal that he was wearing the colors as a tribute to Barry Allen? So when he returns, where does that leave Wally?
Great character work and the turn is really good. The art compliments the story well.
Looking forward to the next volume!
October 13, 2021
The Return of Barry Allen, A.K.A. the only thing worth saving of the entire Mark Waid run on the Flash. This time the gimmick worked thanks also to some creepy art that suggests who might be behind the impostor Barry Allen, and even if the ending seems a bit tackled on it still works. After this one, the good Mark Waid had already lost all the interesting ideas he had for the character and he went on writing 90's tropes after 90's tropes in all his Flash run.
November 8, 2024
This is one of those fun collections that has three pretty fun filler stories and two great main stories.
The first filler was Wally in an elevator, seeing a sniper shoot at the mayor, then has to figure out how to get out of the elevator and stop the bullet and save the mayor all within the time the bullet fires. Very cool use of his speed that we need to see more of. The second was Dr. Alchemy, which had some really cool uses of both Dr. Alchemy and Flash's powers. The last one was a Bloodlines story, which if you know what Bloodlines is, then you already have an opinion of this story. Very 90s.
Now for the two main stories: Gorilla Warfare and the Return of Barry Allen. Gorilla Warfare was straight up fun. Green Lantern and Flash team up to fight Grodd and Hammond, who both want to take over the world using an army of gorillas (yes, it's goofy and the characters know it)! Green Lantern can't take Grodd seriously because he is a gorilla and Flash can't take Hammond seriously because... well, look up a picture of Hector Hammond DC and you will know why. It was hilarious and fun how both Flash and GL made fun of each other's villains while also struggling to fight them. Plus we got an early Detective Chimp, who Green Lantern really had a hard time taking seriously.
Lastly, the main event: The Return of Barry Allen! We get a couple prologue stories before Barry returns and immediately begins resuming his duties as Flash... except we learn that this isn't Barry Allen. I won't spoil it, but let us just say this would be the perfect arc for a season of the Flash show or a movie adaptation. Not to mention the best use of this particular character/villain. In short: Read it! It hits the feels, we get some amazing growth from Wally, and we get some spectacular action sequences. This is what a Speedster Fight should look like! My only complaint is the timey-wimey stuff, because time travel.
In short, fun filler, a goofy team up story, then an emotionally heavy and critical story for Wally's character growth. One of the top 1o Flash stories that needs an adaptation is here and you should totally read it!
The first filler was Wally in an elevator, seeing a sniper shoot at the mayor, then has to figure out how to get out of the elevator and stop the bullet and save the mayor all within the time the bullet fires. Very cool use of his speed that we need to see more of. The second was Dr. Alchemy, which had some really cool uses of both Dr. Alchemy and Flash's powers. The last one was a Bloodlines story, which if you know what Bloodlines is, then you already have an opinion of this story. Very 90s.
Now for the two main stories: Gorilla Warfare and the Return of Barry Allen. Gorilla Warfare was straight up fun. Green Lantern and Flash team up to fight Grodd and Hammond, who both want to take over the world using an army of gorillas (yes, it's goofy and the characters know it)! Green Lantern can't take Grodd seriously because he is a gorilla and Flash can't take Hammond seriously because... well, look up a picture of Hector Hammond DC and you will know why. It was hilarious and fun how both Flash and GL made fun of each other's villains while also struggling to fight them. Plus we got an early Detective Chimp, who Green Lantern really had a hard time taking seriously.
Lastly, the main event: The Return of Barry Allen! We get a couple prologue stories before Barry returns and immediately begins resuming his duties as Flash... except we learn that this isn't Barry Allen. I won't spoil it, but let us just say this would be the perfect arc for a season of the Flash show or a movie adaptation. Not to mention the best use of this particular character/villain. In short: Read it! It hits the feels, we get some amazing growth from Wally, and we get some spectacular action sequences. This is what a Speedster Fight should look like! My only complaint is the timey-wimey stuff, because time travel.
In short, fun filler, a goofy team up story, then an emotionally heavy and critical story for Wally's character growth. One of the top 1o Flash stories that needs an adaptation is here and you should totally read it!
July 9, 2018
While not every story is a winner. I appreaciate DC giving us Waid's run in full.
This volume contains the gem that is "Return of Barry Allen" and a nice JLQ story focusing on Wally, but nothing else of note.
This volume contains the gem that is "Return of Barry Allen" and a nice JLQ story focusing on Wally, but nothing else of note.
April 21, 2019
I loved this collection so damn much. I thought it can’t top the first one with glimpses at Wally’s childhood and his first steps as Kid Flash but this second book was just incredible. So many heartfelt and amazing moments with Wally, seeing him humble and witty and cocky and overconfident and insecure - it makes you love him even more if it is possible.
And if it wasn’t enough, we can look into his deepening relationship with Linda, three veterans show up and a legendary foe, plus even Barry guest star. It’s a crazily wonderful ride.
And if it wasn’t enough, we can look into his deepening relationship with Linda, three veterans show up and a legendary foe, plus even Barry guest star. It’s a crazily wonderful ride.
August 28, 2023
It's so much better than Book 1, I really like Linda and Wally relationship.
August 12, 2025
Funny how in the 90s Wally is considered the weakest flash compared to now where he’s like the fastest guy ever written ever
May 15, 2022
I've gone into reading Mark Waid's "The Flash" without really having encountered many Wally West stories, apart from the early Teen Titan stories. I've chosen to buy and then read it because I trust Waid as a writer. I know there are going to be Flash tropes that I don't enjoy, but I have my fingers crossed that Waid is going to be able to make those tropes interesting. And, so far, he has.
The beginning of this book is Silver Age Trash (which is probably Silver Age Treasure if you enjoy that era). It's a stupid conceit of a crossover between Waid's Flash, and Gerard Jones's Green Lantern: The Road Back. While not a very interesting, to me, story, it shows just how much stronger a writer Waid is. The Green Lantern portions of the story seem like they were written ten or fifteen years before Waid's Flash issues. Jones's dialog clangs, the plot skids around. It's messy and its attempts to be funny fall very flat. Waid picks the story up, dusts it off, and tries to turn it into something sensical in modern comics, and is mostly successful.
This is followed by an update to Dr. Alchemy story intertwined with a changing of the mob guard of Keystone City. It doesn't seem like anything groundbreaking but, again, judged against its comic peers of the time, it's fucken Shakespeare.
Most of the volume focuses on The Return Of Barry Allen. This is essentially the story that evry season of the Flash TV show is based on. Its plot doesn't align with them, but the story beats and the reveal are So The TV Show. I should hate it. It does many of the things that have kept me from reading Flash stories for years. Yet, it's mostly charming and fun.
I do thik the monologuing of the villain in the final issue is creakingly bad compared to the rest of this volume, and the two page spread Zinger Line is a woefully dated pop culture reference, but it makes up for it with a fun but simple resolution that doesn't seem forced, and it sets in motion a classic plot from the 1980s (wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey shenanigans). It worked for me, even though I dreaded one of the plot twists. It's also a nice conclusion to the story in The Flash, Book One. Sure, there are six more volumes of Waid's run to go, but if it had stopped here, I wouldn't be mad.
The beginning of this book is Silver Age Trash (which is probably Silver Age Treasure if you enjoy that era). It's a stupid conceit of a crossover between Waid's Flash, and Gerard Jones's Green Lantern: The Road Back. While not a very interesting, to me, story, it shows just how much stronger a writer Waid is. The Green Lantern portions of the story seem like they were written ten or fifteen years before Waid's Flash issues. Jones's dialog clangs, the plot skids around. It's messy and its attempts to be funny fall very flat. Waid picks the story up, dusts it off, and tries to turn it into something sensical in modern comics, and is mostly successful.
This is followed by an update to Dr. Alchemy story intertwined with a changing of the mob guard of Keystone City. It doesn't seem like anything groundbreaking but, again, judged against its comic peers of the time, it's fucken Shakespeare.
Most of the volume focuses on The Return Of Barry Allen. This is essentially the story that evry season of the Flash TV show is based on. Its plot doesn't align with them, but the story beats and the reveal are So The TV Show. I should hate it. It does many of the things that have kept me from reading Flash stories for years. Yet, it's mostly charming and fun.
I do thik the monologuing of the villain in the final issue is creakingly bad compared to the rest of this volume, and the two page spread Zinger Line is a woefully dated pop culture reference, but it makes up for it with a fun but simple resolution that doesn't seem forced, and it sets in motion a classic plot from the 1980s (wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey shenanigans). It worked for me, even though I dreaded one of the plot twists. It's also a nice conclusion to the story in The Flash, Book One. Sure, there are six more volumes of Waid's run to go, but if it had stopped here, I wouldn't be mad.
February 11, 2019
I've been wanting to learn more about Wally West's time as the Flash here lately. I fell in love with his character in the "Young Justice" cartoon, and seeing him again in Rebirth has (so far) been just plain awesome. So I wanted to take a step back in time to when he was the main Flash. And this collection didn't disappoint. The first story arc, where he and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) are fighting Hector Hammond and Gorilla Grodd was just plain comic book fun, and it was also nice to see Hal realizing that Wally is a hero in his own right, not just a sidekick any more. And basically, that's what this collection was: About other heroes, and Wally himself, coming to terms with the boots he's filling. It was a coming-of-age story (even though Wally's already an adult). So maybe... a coming-of-hero story? Either way, the main story arc, about the Reverse Flash coming back in time and thinking he's Barry Allen (and everyone else thinking so, too), and then him tarnishing Barry's memory--and that being the fuel Wally needed to finally go as fast as possible, to finally let himself fill Barry's shoes--and to realize that he's not replacing him, he's honoring him and continuing his work--that was a powerful and emotional story that really dove into character motivation (plus had some pretty great time travel, too). Basically, there's not much else you could ask from a collection. Except... that a stupid annual about a completely different hero (who nobody really cared about) wasn't tossed in the middle. That was annoying, and I actually didn't pick this book up again for two weeks because I didn't want to slog through that first to get to the rest of the "Evil Barry Allen" story. But, if you take that out... this was a darn-near perfect collection. I'm excited to see what's next for Wally West and his adventures as the fastest man alive. (Also, the two-page panel of Wally punching Reverse Flash and saying, "You're no Barry Allen" was awesome. Just sayin'.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2022
✅76% 👍16 👎5
_________________________
THE GOOD:
Good use of time travel.
"Never mess around with time travel" is a basic rule in storytelling. Mark Waid does just that but he does it well and with great effect to utilize dead characters for his narrative without affecting established canon.
What happens if the Flash has to face himself?
Waid effectively explores what could happen if the Flash would be forced to battle another, more experienced Flash. It's not a beautiful sight, but boy is it epic.
Hints of what is to come.
The door is left open for future developments, especially making readers hooked to see where they are taken next.
Old Flashes with real purpose.
All three Flashes are put into good use; Jay and Barry have real narrative purpose and aren't included just for the sake of it.
Perfectly capturing the Wally/Barry relation.
We get a good feel for how these two feel for each other, which makes the eventual twist all the more effective.
Golden Age speedsters are given a lease of life.
The obscure speedsters Johnny Quick and Max Mercury help Waid to establish a bigger Flash family and use them for epic moments (Mercury vs. Flash!).
The glorious "Return of Barry Allen".
This focal part of Volume 2 is exciting, emotional, and action-packed in all the best ways - this is why Waid's run is so fondly remembered!
Twists and turns in an exciting atmosphere.
The ever-growing tension leading up to the shock reveal of the Reverse-Flash is all part of an effective, page-turner atmosphere!
LaRocque's beautiful art style.
Greg LaRocque once again captures every moment of Waid's writing with vivid colors and powerful imagery, particularly in splash images with action and weather.
---------------------
THE BAD:
A dull Green Lantern crossover.
With Hector Hammond and Gorilla Grodd as villains, this mini-crossover is a chore to sit through and very different in tone and style from the rest of the volume.
A revamped villain in filler issues.
Dr. Alchemy features in issues 91 and 92, but the story is very forgettable.
Another pointless annual.
The Rogues take center stage in a mostly Flash-lite annual that I couldn't finish because it felt too stretched out and pointless.
_________________________
THE GOOD:
Good use of time travel.
"Never mess around with time travel" is a basic rule in storytelling. Mark Waid does just that but he does it well and with great effect to utilize dead characters for his narrative without affecting established canon.
What happens if the Flash has to face himself?
Waid effectively explores what could happen if the Flash would be forced to battle another, more experienced Flash. It's not a beautiful sight, but boy is it epic.
Hints of what is to come.
The door is left open for future developments, especially making readers hooked to see where they are taken next.
Old Flashes with real purpose.
All three Flashes are put into good use; Jay and Barry have real narrative purpose and aren't included just for the sake of it.
Perfectly capturing the Wally/Barry relation.
We get a good feel for how these two feel for each other, which makes the eventual twist all the more effective.
Golden Age speedsters are given a lease of life.
The obscure speedsters Johnny Quick and Max Mercury help Waid to establish a bigger Flash family and use them for epic moments (Mercury vs. Flash!).
The glorious "Return of Barry Allen".
This focal part of Volume 2 is exciting, emotional, and action-packed in all the best ways - this is why Waid's run is so fondly remembered!
Twists and turns in an exciting atmosphere.
The ever-growing tension leading up to the shock reveal of the Reverse-Flash is all part of an effective, page-turner atmosphere!
LaRocque's beautiful art style.
Greg LaRocque once again captures every moment of Waid's writing with vivid colors and powerful imagery, particularly in splash images with action and weather.
---------------------
THE BAD:
A dull Green Lantern crossover.
With Hector Hammond and Gorilla Grodd as villains, this mini-crossover is a chore to sit through and very different in tone and style from the rest of the volume.
A revamped villain in filler issues.
Dr. Alchemy features in issues 91 and 92, but the story is very forgettable.
Another pointless annual.
The Rogues take center stage in a mostly Flash-lite annual that I couldn't finish because it felt too stretched out and pointless.
February 14, 2020
Flash wasn't a character that really appealed to me when I was younger. He was kind of bland. And when Wally first took over as Flash I tried the book but it didn't hook me. This was a very different Wally than the one from the New Teen Titans. Over the past couple of years I read the Geoff Johns issues and Grant Morrison issues and really liked the Morrison issues and mostly enjoyed the Johns issues. He really created and explored the idea of Speed Force and it was a welcome addition to the mythos - as well as building the sense of family in the speedsters of the DC universe.
I saw "The Return of Barry Allen" on someone's "top ten DC stories" so I thought I'd give the Mark Waid version a try, and while it wasn't horrid it didn't hook me. The first story with Green Lantern isn't that clever or interesting - just Gorilla Grodd and Hector Hammond teaming up.
Then the Return of Barry Allen. It was a pretty frustrating read knowing it WASN'T Barry so I was curious to see how the mystery would resolve itself and it was kind of stupid. Although - I will say the very last issue of the 6 part story did have some great character development for Wally.
I don't want to spoil the reveal but I said "stupid" because it is an example of a writer bending over backwards to make the story fit the concept. Hal Jordan says early on "Barry isn't lying when he says he's Barry" and to make that work out is an eye roller. I felt like George from Seinfeld was saying "It isn't a lie if you believe the lie".
I feel Waid laid the ground work for what was to follow but Morrison and especially Johns pulled it off so much better. So, for me, these weaker stories suffered in comparison.
I saw "The Return of Barry Allen" on someone's "top ten DC stories" so I thought I'd give the Mark Waid version a try, and while it wasn't horrid it didn't hook me. The first story with Green Lantern isn't that clever or interesting - just Gorilla Grodd and Hector Hammond teaming up.
Then the Return of Barry Allen. It was a pretty frustrating read knowing it WASN'T Barry so I was curious to see how the mystery would resolve itself and it was kind of stupid. Although - I will say the very last issue of the 6 part story did have some great character development for Wally.
I don't want to spoil the reveal but I said "stupid" because it is an example of a writer bending over backwards to make the story fit the concept. Hal Jordan says early on "Barry isn't lying when he says he's Barry" and to make that work out is an eye roller. I felt like George from Seinfeld was saying "It isn't a lie if you believe the lie".
I feel Waid laid the ground work for what was to follow but Morrison and especially Johns pulled it off so much better. So, for me, these weaker stories suffered in comparison.
June 14, 2020
Well, I finally finished it! After the incredibly boring Gorilla Grodd story that started this collection (I really, really hate Gorilla Grodd) I put this book down and kept forgetting to pick it back up. I'm glad I did, though! The two-part Dr. Alchemy story is a great one - not because of the villain or fighting. - but for finally putting an end to the will-they-won't-they dynamic with Wally and Linda. Wally realizes he wants to give up his playboy ways to be with Linda and proves to her he has what it takes to be a good boyfriend. The last scene - A+ romance! After that, though, is where it really gets interesting with the long story arc involving the supposed return of Barry Allen - Wally's deceased uncle and mentor. Waid hits it out of the park here with Wally's personal journey and reflection on his time with Barry, his hero worship of him and his fear of surpassing his beloved uncle's ability and place in the heart of the people. The mystery surrounding Barry's return is just okay and the final battle a little lackluster but that's okay because the story was really about letting Wally finally move out from under Barry's shadow and it succeeds there. For so many people, Wally West IS the Flash, regardless of current DC canon. LaRoque's art is fine - not nearly the worst of the 90s but not the best either. I'm excited to see where Wally's story goes next!
July 1, 2023
This book is basically perfect. The gorilla warfare story at the beginning is just fun and I liked seeing Wally team up with Hal Jordan. Then he has some cool fights with Doctor Alchemy. Then we get a really good issue where he teams up with Jay Garrick to go on patrol on Christmas Eve which was so much fun. But the end of that issue is where it really starts. Barry Allen returns from the dead. What follows is one of the best storylines ever put in comics. We see Wally struggle with his identity and living in Barry’s shadow. We see a bunch of golden age speedsters team up. And ultimately we see Barry cause problems, his return was not without its price. Ultimately here, Wally comes into his own. He finally gets out of Barry’s shadow, not just in the mind of the public but in his own as well. It’s a really inspiring story about legacy and growing up. Mark Waid is a master storyteller. He perfectly understands how to get the emotion across and give us something really heartfelt and real. Greg LaRocque is an amazing artist. This volume shows the end of his five year run on the Flash. He captures speed and agility so well. Flash really feels alive in these pages. I love this book.
Read
December 2, 2019“The Return of Barry Allen” is one of Waid’s most famous Flash storylines. I already knew what happened, but it’s still thrilling in hindsight. This seems like the turning point for Wally, as he steps out of Barry’s shadow, comes into his own as The Flash, and matures as an adult. Waid gives Wally more personality here than before. I’ve never been a fan of the Flash, and I realize now it’s because I haven’t read stories like this one. It’s a great character study for Wally and a great read overall, with a complex villain to boot.
The rest of the stories aren’t as earth-shattering, but none of them are bad. I like the Silver Agey throwback with Green Lantern in Gorilla City, and the Justice League Quarterly short is one the best stories in the book. I didn’t care as much for the Doctor Alchemy and Bloodlines ones, though they have their moments for Wally and others. I can tell Waid is setting up a lot for Wally and his supporting cast. Side note: no disrespect to Wally and Barry, but Jay’s Flash costume is easily my favorite.
The rest of the stories aren’t as earth-shattering, but none of them are bad. I like the Silver Agey throwback with Green Lantern in Gorilla City, and the Justice League Quarterly short is one the best stories in the book. I didn’t care as much for the Doctor Alchemy and Bloodlines ones, though they have their moments for Wally and others. I can tell Waid is setting up a lot for Wally and his supporting cast. Side note: no disrespect to Wally and Barry, but Jay’s Flash costume is easily my favorite.
February 3, 2018
Mark Waid's time on the Flash put Wally West through his paces, to say the least. This volume covered a battle against Grodd and Hector Hammond (alongside Hal Jordan's Green Lantern, Detective Chimp and Rex the Wonder Dog), time well spent with various older speedsters (Johnny Quick, Jay Garrick the original Flash and Max Mercury) and the return of Barry Allen?!?
Wally is glad to see his uncle/mentor inexplicably back from the dead, but something's not quite right. The other speedsters feel it too- Jay and Johnny Quick pulled Max out of retirement to ensure they'd have enough firepower to deal with anything that might happen. All this and Wally has to find a way to tell Linda Park he loves her :-).
A good read for any Flash fan wanting to fill in the gaps eventually leading to Rebirth.
Wally is glad to see his uncle/mentor inexplicably back from the dead, but something's not quite right. The other speedsters feel it too- Jay and Johnny Quick pulled Max out of retirement to ensure they'd have enough firepower to deal with anything that might happen. All this and Wally has to find a way to tell Linda Park he loves her :-).
A good read for any Flash fan wanting to fill in the gaps eventually leading to Rebirth.
December 20, 2020
Its never easy to fill in the shoes of the fastest man alive - Barry Allen. In this volume, one of the best written work coming from Mark Waid arc story was 'The Return of Barry Allen'. Barry Allen was loved by many and it was a shocked to fans when he was killed in Crisis on Infinite Earths. It wasn't easy for Wally West, was known as Kid Flash, took the mantle as The Flash to carry on his memory. So when Barry made a surprise return in the last page of issue 73, it was an arc-story that was worthy of a read that also made Mark Waid one of the best writers for this series. I love how it was written and Book Two not only brings out the best in Waid's stories, it also sealed him as one of the best comic book writers in the industry. Book Two is worth a read to me that I can't wait to see what else he writes that made Wally West a character worth rooting for.
March 1, 2021
This run was why you put Mark Waid on this book. It's not flawless, but it's pretty damn good. The plot doesn't go on too long, hits all the right beats, and pays off of all the "Wally's insecurity about his powers (and the unreliability of same) is his big weakness" plots of the last 70 issues in grand fashion. It's as good a place as Greg LaRoque to exit the book and he comes through in grand fashion.
You can see the strong shift in the supporting cast as almost everyone from the Messner-Loebs run is gone (saving Linda Park) and Wally's closest associates are other speedsters. As a character Wally is shifting gears to being more professional, more adult, more willing to take advice, more willing to commit. While i missed the broad supporting cast of the prior run, these things happen with new creative teams and Wally's growth never feels forced.
You can see the strong shift in the supporting cast as almost everyone from the Messner-Loebs run is gone (saving Linda Park) and Wally's closest associates are other speedsters. As a character Wally is shifting gears to being more professional, more adult, more willing to take advice, more willing to commit. While i missed the broad supporting cast of the prior run, these things happen with new creative teams and Wally's growth never feels forced.
October 5, 2018
The stand-out story in this collection is "The Return of Barry Allen", which I really enjoyed. Equally fascinating was Waid's afterward where he explained why he wrote the story of Barry Allen returning.
Overall, a great collection. Mark Waid makes Wally West/Flash so much fun to read. I've never been a fan of Greg LaRocque's art. Some of his panels look fantastic, but then you'll hit a page an wonder what happened to the anatomy of everyone on the page. Luckily, it doesn't ruin the story for me.
Overall, a great collection. Mark Waid makes Wally West/Flash so much fun to read. I've never been a fan of Greg LaRocque's art. Some of his panels look fantastic, but then you'll hit a page an wonder what happened to the anatomy of everyone on the page. Luckily, it doesn't ruin the story for me.
September 5, 2019
I am so glad I went into this blind, really enjoyed this volume with the return of Barry!
However, I really did not like the opening arc featuring GL. I am a GL Fan, but I didn't care for this particular era of him and much prefer Geoff Johns, and hell even Vendetti. IF you can flip-and-skip or slof through those issues, the rest of the volume is stellar and features the return of some great characters and story elements!
5 for rest of volume, cause I really am enjoying Waid's flash, but 4 for the awful team-up arc.
However, I really did not like the opening arc featuring GL. I am a GL Fan, but I didn't care for this particular era of him and much prefer Geoff Johns, and hell even Vendetti. IF you can flip-and-skip or slof through those issues, the rest of the volume is stellar and features the return of some great characters and story elements!
5 for rest of volume, cause I really am enjoying Waid's flash, but 4 for the awful team-up arc.
September 26, 2020
Mark Waid's run on the Flash is (like his run on many titles) the high point of the title's run. These stories are all excellent, and the only reason they're not five stars is because there's too many issues of Gerard Jones' Green Lantern run included (which aren't bad, but they're not five star) and because Waid hadn't yet created the supporting cast for this book which really made it soar. That being said, the supporting cast is being assembled in these issues, and these are the basis for the truly amazing stories to come.
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