The Flash: Rebirth
Encyclopedia
The Flash: Rebirth is a six issue monthly American comic book
limited series
written by Geoff Johns
and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver
. Published by DC Comics
, the series features characters from throughout the nearly seventy year history of Flash
comics. This is the creative team's second "rebirth" limited series, preceded by 2005's Green Lantern: Rebirth
. The first issue was released on April 1, 2009. The series was first solicited to last five issues, but was extended to six issues in May 2009.
The storyline follows the "rebirth" of the Silver Age
Flash Barry Allen, after an initial return in the pages of DC's 2008 crossover event Final Crisis
. The creative team, when asked which Flashes would appear in the series at Comic Con International 2008, replied, "All of them."
#3, the Rogues
are informed by Libra
that "the Flash the Rogues first battled" has come back to the land of the living. Regrouping in the basement of the Flash Museum
, the Rogues lament the possibility of Barry Allen having returned to life, saying, "He ain't like the kid
who took it up after him. He never gave us a break."
Captain Cold
ended the limited series by reflecting on and re-preparing for Barry Allen. "The Rogues can't outrun him. Once the skies are back to blue, the game's back on... and if the Flash is really back, there's no more rules in this universe to follow." The issue ends with a shot of Barry Allen in his Flash uniform running extremely fast, with the last line of the series being:
"Coming next year: The Flash: Rebirth."
Ethan Van Sciver redesigned Wally West's costume for this series. This was done so that Wally and Barry can be visually distinct, with Barry once again becoming the primary Flash in the mini-series' pages.
Bart Allen
, the second Kid Flash
and fourth Flash, was resurrected in the 31st Century in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 by Brainiac 5
to combat Superboy-Prime
and the Legion of Super-Villains
. Geoff Johns confirmed that Bart would return to the past and play a large role in The Flash: Rebirth.
are killed by a mysterious man wielding a spear with a lightning bolt-shaped tip. He rearranges several containers of chemicals on the shelves and, using the spear as a lightning rod, recreates the accident that first gave Barry Allen his powers. He escapes from arriving police officers with a dash of super-speed, his thoughts indicating he is somehow responsible for Barry Allen's return.
In Central City and Keystone City
, Linda Park-West
announces that a celebration will be held for the return of the Flash. Different members of the Flash family react to Barry's return: at Justice Society
headquarters, Jay Garrick recounts how Barry inspired him to return to superheroics; at Titans Tower
East, Wally West
remembers Barry with fondness and respect; at Titans Tower West, a newly returned Bart Allen
views his grandfather's return with skepticism, admitting a desire for things to "go back to the way it used to be", as well as feeling angry that Barry is the only one to escape the Speed Force
(referencing Max Mercury
); and Iris West Allen
waits happily for her husband to come home. However, Iris receives a phone call from police Captain Frye, who asks for Barry's help.
Barry Allen is visiting the Flash Museum
, where he meets with Hal Jordan
. Barry is studying the exhibits to catch up on everything that has occurred in his absence. He admits that his memory from his time spent in the Speed Force is fading. Barry also reveals that he feels he was not supposed to come back, and that the Speed Force is trying to draw him back in.
Barry tells Hal that he won't be attending the festivities in his honor, and runs off. In a flashback, it is revealed that when Barry was a child, his mother was murdered and his father was arrested for the crime, despite claiming innocence. Barry's thoughts are interrupted when the evil super-speedster Savitar
materializes out of the lightning symbol on his chest. As soon as Barry catches Savitar, he receives some sort of feedback from Savitar's energy and the villain crumbles into dust. At the same moment, all of the heroes connected to the Speed Force experience a sudden, painful discharge of energy.
After Green Lantern quarantines Savitar's remains, Barry hurries home to talk to Wally about the deceased villain. He sees a police car outside of Iris' house and remembers the day they first met (revealed to be the same day on which he would gain his powers) after the trial of Sam Scudder
. It is also revealed that, even after his father's death in prison, Barry never stopped investigating the murder of his mother in the hopes of proving his father's innocence.
Barry arrives and meets with police captain Frye. Thanks to Wonder Woman
and her government connections, the outside world believes that Barry has been in witness protection during the years he was missing. It is then that Barry receives a phone call from Wally and learns of the "speed seizures" the other super-speedsters experienced.
Barry and Wally investigate a mysterious lightning storm taking place in Fallville, Iowa, and discover the remains of the Black Flash. The pair are attacked by Lady Flash, but as soon as Barry touches her, she disintegrates in the same fashion as Savitar. After Lady Flash dies, Barry's costume begins to transform into that of the Black Flash.
At the Justice Society's headquarters, Jesse Chambers is contemplating a statue of her parents, Johnny Quick
and the original Liberty Belle. While being comforted by her husband Rick Tyler, an explosion occurs in front of the pair. An image of Johnny Quick materializes and begs Barry Allen not to hurt Jesse before vanishing.
Back in Fallville, the Justice League, the Justice Society, and other heroes have built a containment chamber for Barry, whose personal energy field has become tainted with a black aura that burns through speed energy. The heroes plan to disconnect Barry from the Speed Force to save his life. Iris is brought in order to act as Barry's "lightning rod" to help keep him from being reabsorbed into the Speed Force. However, after remembering their first date, Barry's energy field overloads and destroys the chamber. Green Lantern creates a new chamber with his ring and carries Barry away from the other Flashes. Barry breaks out after achieving a safe distance from the other speedsters and begins to run. He reveals that he plans to run back into the Speed Force to spare his friends and family. Despite Superman
attempting to stop him, Barry achieves the speed he needs to escape the material plane.
As he begins to reenter the Speed Force, Barry witnesses past events of his life in reverse, but begins to lose his memories and his individuality. With help from a mysterious voice, Barry regains his memories and fully enters the Speed Force. Barry discovers Max Mercury and Johnny Quick, both imprisoned within the Speed Force. Johnny grabs Barry's wrist and pleads with him not to "let it" hurt Jesse (the full version of the message Jesse witnessed) before Barry's energy kills him in the same way as Savitar and Lady Flash. Before the two are pulled even deeper into a red area of the Speed Force, Max manages to tell Barry that he is not responsible for the deaths of the speedsters. The true villain reveals himself: Professor Zoom
, the Reverse Flash, boasting that he's "shifted [Barry] into reverse."
When Barry questions Zoom's return, the villain acknowledges that he will be resurrected soon, thanks to a "good friend
" of Barry's, as his corpse is still buried in the present. As Zoom beats Barry and Max, he reveals that the red energy field is a "negative Speed Force" created by Thawne's kinetic energy. Zoom's negative Speed Force is poisoning the normal Speed Force like a cancer. Zoom goes on to reveal his plan: after Barry briefly returned to aid Kid Flash against Superboy-Prime
during the Infinite Crisis
, Zoom was able to send a subliminal pulse into the Speed Force to draw back what was left of Barry's self-awareness. This led to the hero's reappearance during the Final Crisis
. Afterward, Zoom transformed himself into "a new kind of speedster", (revealing himself to be the mysterious murderer from the beginning of the story), and created his negative Speed Force to contaminate Barry and the other heroic speedsters. Before Barry can fight any further, Zoom fades away.
In Fallville, Wally decides to enter the Speed Force and retrieve his uncle. When cautioned by Jay and Bart, Wally cites his previous escapes from the Speed Force and maintains he will be fine as long as he has Linda. At the Wests' home, Wally's daughter Irey wants to help in the effort to save Barry. After an argument with her brother Jai, she runs downstairs and encounters the reappearing Zoom.
At the Justice Society's headquarters, Hourman is tending to Jesse, who (since seeing her father) has begun repeating her father's Speed Formula over and over.
As Wally ventures deeper into the Speed Force, Max reveals to Barry that it was Allen himself who created the speedsters' source of power. Just as Zoom created his negative Speed Force with his kinetic energy, Barry unknowingly did the same throughout his career to create the normal Speed Force.
Back at the Wests' home, Zoom seizes Jai and Iris and begins to mainline the pair's distorted connections to the Speed Force. Linda manages to call for help, and Zoom is swiftly attacked by Jay Garrick and Bart Allen. Despite being caught by surprise, Zoom quickly overpowers the two speedsters. Meanwhile, in the Speed Force, Wally manages to reach Barry and Max. Max is unconvinced he can escape due to his lack of a "lightning rod". Barry manages to convince Max that he is family to them for acting as a father towards Bart, and the three begin their escape.
Jesse Chambers, now crackling with Speed Force energy, stops repeating the Speed Formula. She reveals that she has finally solved the equation: "Jesse Quick. Max Mercury. Jay Garrick. Wally West. Bart Allen. Barry Allen. The Speed Force". As the heroic speedsters are recharged with energy, Barry, Wally, Jay, Max, and Bart charge towards Thawne.
As the five speedsters battle Zoom, Irey and Jai West are painfully wracked with speed energy. Irey realizes that their powers are unstable because they have been sharing the same connection to the Speed Force. She manages to absorb all of her brother's speed energy into herself before passing out. Jesse Chambers arrives and revives Irey by reciting her Speed Formula. The two then join the battle against Zoom, Irey now displaying traditional super-speed.
Wally uses his connection to the Speed Force to rejuvenate the speedsters and, in the process, repair their suits: Barry, Jay, Max, and Bart retain their normal costumes, Wally gains a new version of the Flash uniform, Jesse wears a costume based on her father's, and Irey becomes the new Impulse
.
Despite being outnumbered, Zoom remains confident. He notes how the Speed Force affects the aging of the Flash family and hints that the Force "isn't simply fuel to amplify acceleration". He then boasts of having been responsible for all the tragedies of Barry's life, including the murder of Barry's mother Nora and then framing his father Henry of the deed. The villain mockingly reveals that Barry's parents had been happily together in the original timeline, causing him further agony. Thawne claims that his negative Speed Force gave him the ability to go back and change the past. Zoom begins to travel through time again, announcing his intention to kill Barry's wife Iris before her first date with Barry. By doing so, he hopes to wipe all memory of Iris from Barry's history.
As Barry chases after Thawne, he is joined by Wally, who tells Barry to push as hard as he can to break the time barrier. Doing so, they reach Thawne, becoming the lightning bolt that turns Barry into the Flash and stopping the madman from killing Iris. As the two Flashes chase Thawne, he attempts to dissuade Wally by saying that one of his kids will make his life miserable in the future. Barry and Wally push Thawne back through time. Returning to the present, the two Flashes see that the other superheroes have built a device specifically for Thawne. Barry tosses him in and Jay activates the device, severing his connection to the negative Speed Force. As the Flashes tie him up to stop him from running in the present, Iris discovers Thawne's weapon in the past and keeps it. With the threat ended, everyone celebrates by welcoming Barry back and the speedsters in general, though Jai seems despondent over the loss of powers.
In Iron Heights, as Dr. Alchemy escapes, Hunter Zolomon
talks to Thawne, hoping for the two to work together. In Gorilla City
, one of the apes warns that Thawne has done something horrible to their jungles, something even they don't know. Hidden elsewhere, another figure ominously says that Thawne should have made sure the person was dead. In Central City Police Precinct, Barry closes the case on his mother's death and opts to take all the other cold cases they had after his death. Elsewhere, the Rogues
prepare to deal with Barry, Captain Cold saying "In case the Flash returns: "break glass". Barry spends some time with Iris before racing to Washington to celebrate his return with the Justice League, telling them sorry he was late.
the first day of its release. A second printing with a variant cover was immediately commissioned to be released on April 29. A 3rd printing has also been announced, followed again by a 4th printing. The second issue has also had a second printing commissioned as well.
The first issue, and series as a whole to date, have received positive reviews. Newsarama
, in a positive review, pointed out Johns' take on Barry Allen as particularly interesting, saying, "Johns' main strength in Flash is the same he had with Green Lantern: he knows what makes Barry Allen tick. While Hal is a study in recklessness and charismatic defiance, Barry is a little more down to earth. 'This man refused to believe the line between good and evil blurred like the scarlet and gold he wore.' Methinks this might be a theme, one that may even be as resonant as overcoming fear."
The series has not been without controversy from some fans, however. Some feel that the return of Barry Allen threatens the status of the current Flash (Wally West
) who still maintains a dedicated following, and do not want him to be displaced (or replaced) by the elder Flash. Another complaint some fans have made is that they believe the return of Barry Allen negates the significance of his death during Crisis on Infinite Earths
. In a partial acknowledgment of this common sentiment, Zoom openly claims, storywise, that his actions are intended to cheapen the martyr qualities the denizens of Earth have given to "their" hero in time.
The series has also been subject to criticism due to several extreme delays. While issues 1, 2 and 3 all came out on time as scheduled, issue #4 was subject to nearly a month of delays and was eventually released nearly 2 and a half months after issue #3. The fifth issue experienced similar delays, finally being released in late November. The final sixth issue was then re-scheduled for release in late December, then was pushed back to late January before again being delayed to March 24. Issue 6 was moved up in release, with a new scheduled release date of February 24.
American comic book
An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States and containing a narrative in the form of comics. Since 1975 the dimensions have standardized at 6 5/8" x 10 ¼" , down from 6 ¾" x 10 ¼" in the Silver Age, although larger formats appeared in the past...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
written by Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver
Ethan Van Sciver
Ethan Daniel Van Sciver is an American comic book artist, best known for illustrating a number of titles including Green Lantern, Superman/Batman, New X-Men, and The Flash: Rebirth...
. Published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, the series features characters from throughout the nearly seventy year history of Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
comics. This is the creative team's second "rebirth" limited series, preceded by 2005's Green Lantern: Rebirth
Green Lantern: Rebirth
Green Lantern: Rebirth was a six-issue monthly American comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver...
. The first issue was released on April 1, 2009. The series was first solicited to last five issues, but was extended to six issues in May 2009.
The storyline follows the "rebirth" of the Silver Age
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
Flash Barry Allen, after an initial return in the pages of DC's 2008 crossover event Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
. The creative team, when asked which Flashes would appear in the series at Comic Con International 2008, replied, "All of them."
Foreshadowing
In Final Crisis: Rogues' RevengeFinal Crisis: Rogues' Revenge
Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge is a three-issue 2008 mini-series produced by DC Comics. The series is a tie-in to Final Crisis, and is written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Scott Kolins. This reunites the creative team for the first time since their critically acclaimed run on The Flash Final...
#3, the Rogues
Rogues (comics)
Some of the enemies of the comic book superhero the Flash, led by Captain Cold, constitute a loose criminal association who refer to themselves as the Rogues, disdaining the use of the term "supervillain" or "super-criminal"....
are informed by Libra
Libra (DC Comics)
Libra is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America #111, published in June 1974, where he formed the first incarnation of the Injustice Gang...
that "the Flash the Rogues first battled" has come back to the land of the living. Regrouping in the basement of the Flash Museum
Flash Museum
The Flash Museum is a fictional museum that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The museum is dedicated to the superheroes sharing the alias of the Flash, with its primary focus on Barry Allen...
, the Rogues lament the possibility of Barry Allen having returned to life, saying, "He ain't like the kid
Wally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
who took it up after him. He never gave us a break."
Captain Cold
Captain Cold
Captain Cold, real name Leonard Snart, is a comic book villain created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino as one of the archenemies of Flash. He is a leader of the Rogues...
ended the limited series by reflecting on and re-preparing for Barry Allen. "The Rogues can't outrun him. Once the skies are back to blue, the game's back on... and if the Flash is really back, there's no more rules in this universe to follow." The issue ends with a shot of Barry Allen in his Flash uniform running extremely fast, with the last line of the series being:
"Coming next year: The Flash: Rebirth."
Ethan Van Sciver redesigned Wally West's costume for this series. This was done so that Wally and Barry can be visually distinct, with Barry once again becoming the primary Flash in the mini-series' pages.
Bart Allen
Bart Allen
Bartholomew "Bart" Allen is a superhero in the . Allen first appeared as the superhero Impulse. He would later go on to become the second Kid Flash and the fourth Flash. Allen's first cameo appearance was in The Flash #91, while his first full appearance was in issue #92...
, the second Kid Flash
Kid Flash
Kid Flash is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero The Flash. The first incarnation of the character, Wally West, debuted in The Flash #110...
and fourth Flash, was resurrected in the 31st Century in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 by Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
to combat Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime, or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain, and one of several alternate Supermen. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 , and was created by Elliot S...
and the Legion of Super-Villains
Legion of Super-Villains
The Legion of Super-Villains is a team of fictional supervillains that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. They are adversaries of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future...
. Geoff Johns confirmed that Bart would return to the past and play a large role in The Flash: Rebirth.
Plot
Two forensics scientists in Central CityCentral City (DC Comics)
Central City is a fictional city that appears in stories published by DC Comics, and is the home of the Silver Age version of the Flash, Barry Allen. It first appeared in Showcase #4 in September-October 1956.-Location:...
are killed by a mysterious man wielding a spear with a lightning bolt-shaped tip. He rearranges several containers of chemicals on the shelves and, using the spear as a lightning rod, recreates the accident that first gave Barry Allen his powers. He escapes from arriving police officers with a dash of super-speed, his thoughts indicating he is somehow responsible for Barry Allen's return.
In Central City and Keystone City
Keystone City
Keystone City is a fictional city in the . Specifically, it is the home of both the original Flash, Jay Garrick, and the third Flash, Wally West...
, Linda Park-West
Linda Park (comics)
Linda Park is a fictional character in the DC Universe. She first appeared in Flash #28. Linda is Korean-American...
announces that a celebration will be held for the return of the Flash. Different members of the Flash family react to Barry's return: at Justice Society
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
headquarters, Jay Garrick recounts how Barry inspired him to return to superheroics; at Titans Tower
Titans Tower
Titans Tower is a fictional building in the DC Comics universe. Its various incarnations have been home to the superhero team called the Titans...
East, Wally West
Wally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
remembers Barry with fondness and respect; at Titans Tower West, a newly returned Bart Allen
Bart Allen
Bartholomew "Bart" Allen is a superhero in the . Allen first appeared as the superhero Impulse. He would later go on to become the second Kid Flash and the fourth Flash. Allen's first cameo appearance was in The Flash #91, while his first full appearance was in issue #92...
views his grandfather's return with skepticism, admitting a desire for things to "go back to the way it used to be", as well as feeling angry that Barry is the only one to escape the Speed Force
Speed Force
The Speed Force is a concept presented in various comic books published by DC Comics, primarily in relation to the various speedsters in the DC Universe.-Empowered:...
(referencing Max Mercury
Max Mercury
Max Mercury is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero based on Quality Comics' Quicksilver.- Publication history :He first appeared in Quality's National Comics #5, cover dated November 1940, as Quicksilver...
); and Iris West Allen
Iris West Allen
Iris West Allen is a fictional character who appears in various DC Comics publications. She is a one-time wife of the second Flash , Barry Allen, the aunt of the third Flash, Wally West, and the grandmother of the fourth Flash, Bart Allen...
waits happily for her husband to come home. However, Iris receives a phone call from police Captain Frye, who asks for Barry's help.
Barry Allen is visiting the Flash Museum
Flash Museum
The Flash Museum is a fictional museum that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The museum is dedicated to the superheroes sharing the alias of the Flash, with its primary focus on Barry Allen...
, where he meets with Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
. Barry is studying the exhibits to catch up on everything that has occurred in his absence. He admits that his memory from his time spent in the Speed Force is fading. Barry also reveals that he feels he was not supposed to come back, and that the Speed Force is trying to draw him back in.
Barry tells Hal that he won't be attending the festivities in his honor, and runs off. In a flashback, it is revealed that when Barry was a child, his mother was murdered and his father was arrested for the crime, despite claiming innocence. Barry's thoughts are interrupted when the evil super-speedster Savitar
Savitar (comics)
Savitar is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Flash #108 , and was created by Mark Waid and Oscar Jimenez.- Fictional character biography :...
materializes out of the lightning symbol on his chest. As soon as Barry catches Savitar, he receives some sort of feedback from Savitar's energy and the villain crumbles into dust. At the same moment, all of the heroes connected to the Speed Force experience a sudden, painful discharge of energy.
After Green Lantern quarantines Savitar's remains, Barry hurries home to talk to Wally about the deceased villain. He sees a police car outside of Iris' house and remembers the day they first met (revealed to be the same day on which he would gain his powers) after the trial of Sam Scudder
Mirror Master
Mirror Master is a fictional character and a supervillain in the DC Universe. He is a recurring foe of the Flash with considerable technical expertise and skills involving the use of mirrors. Four individuals have donned the guise of Mirror Master...
. It is also revealed that, even after his father's death in prison, Barry never stopped investigating the murder of his mother in the hopes of proving his father's innocence.
Barry arrives and meets with police captain Frye. Thanks to Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
and her government connections, the outside world believes that Barry has been in witness protection during the years he was missing. It is then that Barry receives a phone call from Wally and learns of the "speed seizures" the other super-speedsters experienced.
Barry and Wally investigate a mysterious lightning storm taking place in Fallville, Iowa, and discover the remains of the Black Flash. The pair are attacked by Lady Flash, but as soon as Barry touches her, she disintegrates in the same fashion as Savitar. After Lady Flash dies, Barry's costume begins to transform into that of the Black Flash.
At the Justice Society's headquarters, Jesse Chambers is contemplating a statue of her parents, Johnny Quick
Johnny Quick
Johnny Quick is the name of two DC Comics characters, each with the power of superhuman speed. The first was a superhero who appeared mostly in More Fun Comics during the Golden Age...
and the original Liberty Belle. While being comforted by her husband Rick Tyler, an explosion occurs in front of the pair. An image of Johnny Quick materializes and begs Barry Allen not to hurt Jesse before vanishing.
Back in Fallville, the Justice League, the Justice Society, and other heroes have built a containment chamber for Barry, whose personal energy field has become tainted with a black aura that burns through speed energy. The heroes plan to disconnect Barry from the Speed Force to save his life. Iris is brought in order to act as Barry's "lightning rod" to help keep him from being reabsorbed into the Speed Force. However, after remembering their first date, Barry's energy field overloads and destroys the chamber. Green Lantern creates a new chamber with his ring and carries Barry away from the other Flashes. Barry breaks out after achieving a safe distance from the other speedsters and begins to run. He reveals that he plans to run back into the Speed Force to spare his friends and family. Despite Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
attempting to stop him, Barry achieves the speed he needs to escape the material plane.
As he begins to reenter the Speed Force, Barry witnesses past events of his life in reverse, but begins to lose his memories and his individuality. With help from a mysterious voice, Barry regains his memories and fully enters the Speed Force. Barry discovers Max Mercury and Johnny Quick, both imprisoned within the Speed Force. Johnny grabs Barry's wrist and pleads with him not to "let it" hurt Jesse (the full version of the message Jesse witnessed) before Barry's energy kills him in the same way as Savitar and Lady Flash. Before the two are pulled even deeper into a red area of the Speed Force, Max manages to tell Barry that he is not responsible for the deaths of the speedsters. The true villain reveals himself: Professor Zoom
Professor Zoom
Eobard Thawne, who has gone by the codenames "Professor Zoom" and "Reverse-Flash", is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the DC Universe. Thawne is the Arch enemy of the superhero Barry Allen, the second hero to be called the Flash...
, the Reverse Flash, boasting that he's "shifted [Barry] into reverse."
When Barry questions Zoom's return, the villain acknowledges that he will be resurrected soon, thanks to a "good friend
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
" of Barry's, as his corpse is still buried in the present. As Zoom beats Barry and Max, he reveals that the red energy field is a "negative Speed Force" created by Thawne's kinetic energy. Zoom's negative Speed Force is poisoning the normal Speed Force like a cancer. Zoom goes on to reveal his plan: after Barry briefly returned to aid Kid Flash against Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime, or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain, and one of several alternate Supermen. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 , and was created by Elliot S...
during the Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
, Zoom was able to send a subliminal pulse into the Speed Force to draw back what was left of Barry's self-awareness. This led to the hero's reappearance during the Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
. Afterward, Zoom transformed himself into "a new kind of speedster", (revealing himself to be the mysterious murderer from the beginning of the story), and created his negative Speed Force to contaminate Barry and the other heroic speedsters. Before Barry can fight any further, Zoom fades away.
In Fallville, Wally decides to enter the Speed Force and retrieve his uncle. When cautioned by Jay and Bart, Wally cites his previous escapes from the Speed Force and maintains he will be fine as long as he has Linda. At the Wests' home, Wally's daughter Irey wants to help in the effort to save Barry. After an argument with her brother Jai, she runs downstairs and encounters the reappearing Zoom.
At the Justice Society's headquarters, Hourman is tending to Jesse, who (since seeing her father) has begun repeating her father's Speed Formula over and over.
As Wally ventures deeper into the Speed Force, Max reveals to Barry that it was Allen himself who created the speedsters' source of power. Just as Zoom created his negative Speed Force with his kinetic energy, Barry unknowingly did the same throughout his career to create the normal Speed Force.
Back at the Wests' home, Zoom seizes Jai and Iris and begins to mainline the pair's distorted connections to the Speed Force. Linda manages to call for help, and Zoom is swiftly attacked by Jay Garrick and Bart Allen. Despite being caught by surprise, Zoom quickly overpowers the two speedsters. Meanwhile, in the Speed Force, Wally manages to reach Barry and Max. Max is unconvinced he can escape due to his lack of a "lightning rod". Barry manages to convince Max that he is family to them for acting as a father towards Bart, and the three begin their escape.
Jesse Chambers, now crackling with Speed Force energy, stops repeating the Speed Formula. She reveals that she has finally solved the equation: "Jesse Quick. Max Mercury. Jay Garrick. Wally West. Bart Allen. Barry Allen. The Speed Force". As the heroic speedsters are recharged with energy, Barry, Wally, Jay, Max, and Bart charge towards Thawne.
As the five speedsters battle Zoom, Irey and Jai West are painfully wracked with speed energy. Irey realizes that their powers are unstable because they have been sharing the same connection to the Speed Force. She manages to absorb all of her brother's speed energy into herself before passing out. Jesse Chambers arrives and revives Irey by reciting her Speed Formula. The two then join the battle against Zoom, Irey now displaying traditional super-speed.
Wally uses his connection to the Speed Force to rejuvenate the speedsters and, in the process, repair their suits: Barry, Jay, Max, and Bart retain their normal costumes, Wally gains a new version of the Flash uniform, Jesse wears a costume based on her father's, and Irey becomes the new Impulse
Impulse (DC Comics)
Impulse is an identity shared by three comic book superheroes published by DC Comics.-Publication history:Kent Shakespeare was the first DC Comics superhero known as Impulse, he debuted in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #12 . Bart Allen is the second DC Comics superhero known as Impulse, he debuted...
.
Despite being outnumbered, Zoom remains confident. He notes how the Speed Force affects the aging of the Flash family and hints that the Force "isn't simply fuel to amplify acceleration". He then boasts of having been responsible for all the tragedies of Barry's life, including the murder of Barry's mother Nora and then framing his father Henry of the deed. The villain mockingly reveals that Barry's parents had been happily together in the original timeline, causing him further agony. Thawne claims that his negative Speed Force gave him the ability to go back and change the past. Zoom begins to travel through time again, announcing his intention to kill Barry's wife Iris before her first date with Barry. By doing so, he hopes to wipe all memory of Iris from Barry's history.
As Barry chases after Thawne, he is joined by Wally, who tells Barry to push as hard as he can to break the time barrier. Doing so, they reach Thawne, becoming the lightning bolt that turns Barry into the Flash and stopping the madman from killing Iris. As the two Flashes chase Thawne, he attempts to dissuade Wally by saying that one of his kids will make his life miserable in the future. Barry and Wally push Thawne back through time. Returning to the present, the two Flashes see that the other superheroes have built a device specifically for Thawne. Barry tosses him in and Jay activates the device, severing his connection to the negative Speed Force. As the Flashes tie him up to stop him from running in the present, Iris discovers Thawne's weapon in the past and keeps it. With the threat ended, everyone celebrates by welcoming Barry back and the speedsters in general, though Jai seems despondent over the loss of powers.
In Iron Heights, as Dr. Alchemy escapes, Hunter Zolomon
Zoom (comics)
Zoom is a fictional comic book supervillain from the DC Comics universe. He is primarily associated with the superhero Wally West, the third Flash and is the third of the Reverse-Flashes...
talks to Thawne, hoping for the two to work together. In Gorilla City
Gorilla City
Gorilla City is a fictional city in the DC Comics Universe. The city, hidden in the jungles of Africa, is home to a race of super-intelligent gorillas, that gained their powers from a meteorite. The supervillain Gorilla Grodd is also from the city. Gorilla City first appears in The Flash vol...
, one of the apes warns that Thawne has done something horrible to their jungles, something even they don't know. Hidden elsewhere, another figure ominously says that Thawne should have made sure the person was dead. In Central City Police Precinct, Barry closes the case on his mother's death and opts to take all the other cold cases they had after his death. Elsewhere, the Rogues
Rogues (comics)
Some of the enemies of the comic book superhero the Flash, led by Captain Cold, constitute a loose criminal association who refer to themselves as the Rogues, disdaining the use of the term "supervillain" or "super-criminal"....
prepare to deal with Barry, Captain Cold saying "In case the Flash returns: "break glass". Barry spends some time with Iris before racing to Washington to celebrate his return with the Justice League, telling them sorry he was late.
Reception
The first printing of The Flash: Rebirth #1 sold out completely at Diamond Comic DistributorsDiamond Comic Distributors
Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. is the largest comic book distributor serving North America. They transport comic books from both big and small comic book publishers, or suppliers, to the retailers. Diamond dominates the direct market in the United States, and has exclusive arrangements with most...
the first day of its release. A second printing with a variant cover was immediately commissioned to be released on April 29. A 3rd printing has also been announced, followed again by a 4th printing. The second issue has also had a second printing commissioned as well.
The first issue, and series as a whole to date, have received positive reviews. Newsarama
Newsarama
Newsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry.-History:Newsarama began in Summer 1995 as a series of Internet forum postings on the Prodigy comic-book message boards by fan Mike Doran. In these short messages. Doran shared...
, in a positive review, pointed out Johns' take on Barry Allen as particularly interesting, saying, "Johns' main strength in Flash is the same he had with Green Lantern: he knows what makes Barry Allen tick. While Hal is a study in recklessness and charismatic defiance, Barry is a little more down to earth. 'This man refused to believe the line between good and evil blurred like the scarlet and gold he wore.' Methinks this might be a theme, one that may even be as resonant as overcoming fear."
The series has not been without controversy from some fans, however. Some feel that the return of Barry Allen threatens the status of the current Flash (Wally West
Wally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
) who still maintains a dedicated following, and do not want him to be displaced (or replaced) by the elder Flash. Another complaint some fans have made is that they believe the return of Barry Allen negates the significance of his death during Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
. In a partial acknowledgment of this common sentiment, Zoom openly claims, storywise, that his actions are intended to cheapen the martyr qualities the denizens of Earth have given to "their" hero in time.
The series has also been subject to criticism due to several extreme delays. While issues 1, 2 and 3 all came out on time as scheduled, issue #4 was subject to nearly a month of delays and was eventually released nearly 2 and a half months after issue #3. The fifth issue experienced similar delays, finally being released in late November. The final sixth issue was then re-scheduled for release in late December, then was pushed back to late January before again being delayed to March 24. Issue 6 was moved up in release, with a new scheduled release date of February 24.
External links
- Silver Age Flash at heart of miniseries, Colorado Springs GazetteThe Gazette (Colorado Springs)The Gazette is a newspaper based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It is published daily by Irvine, California-based Freedom Communications...
, March 27, 2009 - Geoff Johns on Barry Allen's Rebirth, Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
, April 2, 2009