Flash 12 review

The Road to Flashpoint Part IV Out of Time

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Scott Kolins and Francis Manapul(p.14-18)
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh and Brain Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover: Manapul and Buccellato
Variant Cover: Francis Portela w/Javier Mena
Assistant Editor: Darren Shan
Editor: Brian Cunningham

Geoff Johns’ Barry Allen series finale picks up directly where the previous issue left off but is more action packed. Professor Zooms claims to have contacted abilities that Barry did not bother to look at. With these new powers he will cause Barry even more pain than just murdering his mom Anyone else noticed that Barry has not checked in with Justice League in the series? It seems like Professor Zoom has been changing history one piece at a time and waiting for the changes to take effect.
Now when that is implied I first thought that is when Barry crossover to the Flashpoint world. My biggest question with the first part of the book is how did they know to go to Barry’s Lab? Once Barry, with Bart got on the same page with Hot Pursiut. The most interesting panel to me was Professor Zoom looking at Hot Pursuit without his motorcycle helmet implying he needs Barry Allen around to give him purpose. I just noticed the red around Professor Zoom’s word bubbles could represent energy from the negative speed force.
The art in this issue knocked it out of the park for me. Kolins in some panels draws Professor Zoom ghostly evil especially in the lab. I would however question why Professor Zoom costume shows and light yellow white when he zapped by Hot Pursuit. Did there need to be drastic temporary color change? Manapul’s art ‘(non-action)felt right in its place in the issue. Also it helped set up the final two pages. I couldn’t even picked out a favorite panel or page because of the art it was that good overall.
On page 19 who was that in the bottom two panels my first instinct is to say Professor Zoom because Barry was just shown normally at his mother’s tombstone. This is probably where Barry entered Flashpoint with “changes” mentioned. If Flashpoint has similar visual effects to this issue it will be awesome.
8(out of 10)