The Flash #67 Review and *SPOILERS*

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Written By: Joshua Williamson
Art By: Scott Kolins, Luis Guerrero
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 27, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

While I may have been a little harsh on the previous issue, I still will say that I didn’t particularly enjoy it all that much. However, readers that aren’t that familiar with the character of James Jesse probably enjoyed it and in the end, that’s who the issue was for. However, now we are going to be officially starting a new arc for The Flash and I’m actually excited. I wasn’t too fond of the Force Quest arc that we got and now that we are done with The Price crossover, we can begin a new Flash story. Obviously, the Trickster will play a big part of this book but honestly, the possibilities are endless. So, let’s just jump into it and see where it takes us.

Our issue begins with the Trickster, setting up his newest trick. Monologuing to whomever is off panel. He then uses his magic cane and begins to beat someone with it. We see blood splatter and then we move on. We catch up with The Flash in Opal City. He is fighting a death cult just outside of a crypt in a graveyard. Barry’s inner dialogue lets the audience know what he’s been up to. He’s been trying to find Hunter Zoloman to no avail and his relationship with Iris has ended and he is giving her space even though he wants to see her. Flash easily handles the death cult followers and is able to save a group of children that had been taken hostage. He then races into the crypt and saves the final child from being sacrificed by the cult leader. During this time, Barry also reveals that his speed is slowing down. He decides he needs a case to take his mind off of things.

Barry remembers that Commander Cold had told him he was needed at Iron Heights. Barry races off to drop off the death cult leader and finds that the guards are treating him particularly well. They seem even happy to see him. Even when he talks to Warden Wolfe, he is met with a smile. The next morning Barry heads into the Central City Police Department and everyone there welcomes him warmly. Barry offers to help Kristen in the lab and as they head there, Barry asks why everyone is so happy. Kristen reveals that there has been absolutely no crime in Central City at all lately and hence, everyone is in a good mood. Even Director Singh, who interrupts their conversation, is in a great mood and even jokes around with Barry. At this moment, Kristen gets a text. Her boyfriend has arrived and she takes the opportunity to introduce him to everyone. Her boyfriend is none other than James Jesse. Now, we as the audience know that he is the Trickster, but he is a remnant of a past that few remember, so Barry doesn’t recognize him

As Barry makes his way into the city, he realizes that it’s not only the police but all of Central City is unnaturally happy. Barry goes to Cold’s apartment and finds that it hasn’t been lived in for a couple weeks. He begins to worry. He dawns his costume and uses the antenna to follow Cold’s trail. He finds some of Cold’s future technology around but loses the trail. He goes to Iron Heights and Wolfe assures him that Cold isn’t there. The death cult leader that he brought in earlier, is even happy now. He thanks Flash for bringing him in. Flash, frustrated, turns to the last lead her has; Detective Burns. He approaches her as Barry Allen and asks about their mutual friend Henry. Burns avoids the question but eventually gets physical with Barry. She has tears filling her eyes as she tells him that he must be happy. We get a quick scene where we see Trickster is torturing Cold for future information. We quickly return to the CCPD where Burns and all of the surrounding officers have cornered Barry and tell him that they want him to be happy too. This is where the issue leaves us.

So, not a whole lot happens in this issue. It’s mostly just Barry running around and talking to different people. That being said, I didn’t hate this. This is pretty much the very beginning of this new story and we have to set up what’s to come later. This book presents a mystery to the reader and while we know that Trickster has to be behind it, we aren’t exactly sure how. We get a lot of information in this issue and most of it is through Barry’s inner dialogue. It kind of felt like a recap of where we are and a set up for the next few issues. As I said, I didn’t hate, but I’m not sure of how much I really liked it. I’m intrigued by the mystery, but at times I felt like we were just going back and forth between a couple places, having the same conversations.

Bits and Pieces

This issue is puzzling. On one hand, I like the mystery that is set up in this issue. I hope it leads to an interesting story. However, a lot of the story is Barry going between the same couple of locations and wondering the same thing at each of them. It’s a good start, but not a great one.

5.5/10