All Flash #1

I grew up with the Barry Allen Flash. His death in "Crisis on Infinite Earths" was poignant moment for me. At the time I was upset with DC for taking away one of my favorite characters but, with the introduction of Wally West (formerly Kid Flash) as the Flash, and the subsequent development of the Speed Force, I grew to admire DC's handling of the Flash mythos. The torch was passed to a Flash for a new generation and writers like William Messner-Loebs, Mark Waid, and Geoff Johns, Wally became the Flash for a new generation. A new Kid Flash was also introduced. Coming from the future, Bart Allen, grandson of Barry, would start off in the DC Universe as the aptly named Impulse and would move onto inherit the mantel as Kid Flash.

DC decided to see if lightening would strike twice by having Wally disappear during the "Infinite Crisis" saga. Bart would assume the role of the Flash in the Flash: The Fastest Man Alive comic book series. Having lived through the original crisis and death of Barry Allen, I was all for Wally going away and Bart becoming this generation's Flash. However, sadly, the transition was woefully mishandled by DC and its writers. By issue 13, interest in the Flash had dwindled and DC decided to kill off Bart Allen. Bart died at the hands of the Flash's original rogues gallery of criminals. Over in the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America titles, "The Lightning Saga" crossover was playing out. In the end, after a confusing appearance by the Legion of Superheroes, Wally and his family returned back to the DC Universe.

In All Flash #1, we get a story that provides a setup for the further adventures for Wally West as the Flash. Some things are not quite right as his kids, who were new born just a year ago are now 10-12 years old. Superman ponders this and Wally gives a quick "lets talk about it later" answer. Wally then sets off against the rogues to attempt to set up that story line for future issues.

I was happy to see Mark Waid back in the writing chair for the Flash. He knows Wally West best and can return the Flash back to a best selling comic with great stories. I though the one shot did a good job of returning Wally to the fold and setting up the future story arc. I hope Flash 231 brings tighter art direction as the team art displayed in All Flash #1 did not provide a cohesive picture of this version of Flash. All in all I'm pretty excited about the direction of the Flash. I'm hoping at some point Bart is brought back to serve as Kid Flash. However, with the addition of Wally's older kids I don't see that happening.

-Matt