Review: Flash #21

Quick Summary

Pros: Explanations as to what is going on are given and readers are caught up to speed. The turn that this issue takes is really interesting and has a lot of potential. Fantastic references are made to the history of DC Comics.

Cons: Not much happens in this issue because a lot of it is recap.

Overall: The last issue of this crossover event left readers on the edge of a massive cliffhanger. This issue gives some great resolution while still managing to save plenty of action for later issues. The only problem with this issue is that it does not do much on its own, as it primarily focuses on providing exposition. Hopefully this is just because the creative team is saving all the best moments for the event’s completion.

Story

The Flash #21 picks up right where Batman #21 (Review) left off. However, instead of picking up the pace, like many fans wanted, this issue begins by pumping the breaks a little bit and taking some time to look at everything. Some will like this because of how it explains the story, while others will be a little bored by it. It is the second half of the issue where everyone will be blown away. Overall this issue is definitely a lull in “The Button” crossover, yet it ties in enough mystery and presents enough potential that it holds its own and gets me very excited to read the next issue.

(spoilers start here)

This issue spends its first half offering a nice rundown of the information that Batman, Flash, and readers have about this mystery so far. Something like this is really neat to see because it continues the “mystery” motif that has followed these two detectives since The Button was first found. This motif becomes especially apparent through Barry’s narration as he describes the connection he and Bruce share through their mutual passion for solving crimes. This aspect of both characters is something which is heavily undercut by their fighting prowess in nearly every story they are in, so it is just nice to see it being acknowledged as important again. Plus it is a unique way to explore what makes these two heroes tick.

This information rundown is not just to develop Bruce and Barry as detectives though, it also provides readers with a quick summary of every “clue” which has appeared about this event, so far. For some, this will be great as not everyone has read Flashpoint, The Flash: Rebirth, and DC Universe: Rebirth, and thus will not understand where some of this story comes from. Others, myself included, would have preferred this first half of the issue to be spent doing something rather than just feeling like a “Previously on The Button…” moment. Overall, this is something which will come across differently depending on who is reading.

The second half of this issue though, gets right back into the action. Flash and Batman jump on the Cosmic Treadmill, determined to gather more evidence to solve their case. However, they end up landing in what appears to be the Flashpoint universe once again. This is a huge twist and it will be interesting to see where Williamson and King take this. I didn’t think this issue could top the cliffhanger left by the first issue, but I would say that an ending like this puts up a really good fight.

In addition to the actual plotline of this story, this issue does a great job of fulfilling one of Rebirth’s biggest promises: to honor the legacy of DC Comics. This story makes numerous references to big events in DC history and positions them in a way that indicates they may still be relevant. Just the acknowledgement that they happened is great but seeing them in a way that ties into the mythos of the universe is so much better. DC doing this is a clear nod to their longtime fans and shows that they are not trying to alienate them (something many believed the New 52 was doing).

(spoilers end here)

Art

Howard Porter’s art in this issue is great visually and is a nice improvement on some of the past few issues of The Flash. Everything is well polished and detailed in a way that gives it a more “true to life” feeling than the past few issues. This was probably done in order to make the art throughout “The Button” crossover more consistent, as it looks closer to Jason Fabok’s work in Batman #21 (Review). Overall it looks very good and I appreciate DC’s commitment to consistency of style in this event.

Continuity

This comic is a direct follow-up to the events of Batman #21 (Review). It will then be continued in Batman #22.

The storyline as a whole mostly flows out of the events of DC Universe: Rebirth and Flashpoint  (Review) and does not rely much on what has happened in the previous few issues of The Flash. Thus, new readers will be able to jump into “The Button” crossover without having read the previous Batman and The Flash stories.

However, this story does reference other comics. Readers should make sure to have read Watchmen, Flashpoint, and DC Universe: Rebirth before reading this. Specifically this issue makes references to the following events and stories:

•   Multiple references are made to DC: Universe: Rebirth as it plays a huge part in this story.
  • The Flash has been investigating The Button since its appearance in this event.
  • Wally West played a large role in this event.
  • This event is the first time we learn that time has been manipulated by an outside force.
  • Johnny Thunder’s current situation is somewhat explained in this event.
• Barry makes multiple references to the role that Reverse-Flash played in his mother’s death and his father’s arrest. This story comes from The Flash: Rebirth.
• There are also a number of references to Barry altering the timeline in the Flashpoint event. This event can be found in Flashpoint (Review).
• Barry tells Bruce that he has been seeing visions from the Speed Force. This happens at the beginning of The Flash Vol. 2: Speed of Darkness.
• Bruce claims to have traveled through time before. This is most likely a reference to the end of Final Crisis and the events of Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne.
• During the time travel sequence, three separate events in DC Comics history are referenced.
  • The first is the formation of the Justice League from Justice League of America #9, currently collected in either Justice League of America: The Silver Age Vol. 1 or Justice League of America Omnibus Vol. 1.
  • The second is Batman facing off against the rest of the league in Identity Crisis #6, collected in Identity Crisis (New Edition).
  • The last is Flash delivering a message to Batman in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2, collected in Crisis on Infinite Earths.
• In addition, “The Hall of Lost and Found” features a plethora of Easter eggs for longtime fans of DC Comics. However, most of these are just references to heroes and objects in the DC Universe rather than actual stories themselves, meaning nothing here is provides additional information about the story itself. It is just something cool for fans to see. Interested readers can find a great article breaking down what each item is on ComicBook.com (this can be found right here).