So the second batch of Darkseid War tie-ins hit the shelves this week and the stars are Superman and The Flash. Last week, I was pretty pleased with Batman’s one shot story so I was excited to give these two new stories a chance. Rob Williams (Martian Manhunter) is on writing duties for this issue and Jesús Merino is on art duties. Francis Manapul delivers another beautiful cover to this issue, depicting Barry as the new Black Racer holding a woman in his arms, presumably his deceased mother, Nora Allen. I was pretty excited about this issue after Barry’s surprising transformation in the pages of Justice League #44 where the Anti-Monitor changed him and used him to kill Darkseid. This issue takes place directly after the death of Darkseid, where Barry has just become the Black Racer.
Barry asks the Justice League whether he was responsible for Darkseid’s death, a question that they explain was not his doing. Mister Miracle reminds Barry that it was the Black Racer who killed him and not Barry himself. Unlike the previous hosts of the Black Racer, Barry explains that he does not want to run from death but wishes to control it. Suddenly, the image of his deceased mother appears before him and Barry is momentarily freed from the Black Racer’s grip. He tries to outrun it while the Racer explains that he is not evil, that death is a natural part of living. He tells Barry that to complete his transformation into the Black Racer he must kill one person. The Black Racer brings up Barry’s mother, and it’s just enough to distract him long enough for the Racer to catch up to Flash. The Black Racer brings up an interesting point, explaining that out of the Justice League members, he was the one hero who was created by death. The murder of his mother was what drove him to be The Flash. The Black Racer explains that unless Barry accepts death, the universe will die. Without a host to bond to, death will ravage the universe.
After Barry listens to the Racer, he arrives at Iris’ place, telling her that he is now the grim reaper; he is the last one people will see before they die. Of course, Flash doesn’t want to be this person and Iris reminds him that he is a hero and that they can fight this together. While he was confused why he did not go to Patty, Iris believes that he thought she was the one that could truly help him. Just in time to break this great scene between Barry and Iris, the Black Racer takes over Barry again and is ready to kill Iris. Barry manages to break out of the Racer’s grasp, refusing to take Iris’s life to save the universe. The agitated Racer tells Barry that he must have a host and that if he doesn’t accept it, he will join some of Barry’s most powerful enemies such as Reverse-Flash or Grodd.
Barry finally accepts and names the one that he is going to kill: The Black Racer. The god is shocked but apparently it’s not off-limits. Barry chases the Racer with his own scythe, and finally is able to kill the being. Unfortunately, killing the Black Racer unleashed death, and without a host, death is able to travel around the universe freely, killing all in its way. It’s here that Barry knows that there is no escape from death, and he finally accepts his role as the Black Racer, and we go straight back to where we began in the beginning of the issue. Barry is now the Black Racer.
After Barry listens to the Racer, he arrives at Iris’ place, telling her that he is now the grim reaper; he is the last one people will see before they die. Of course, Flash doesn’t want to be this person and Iris reminds him that he is a hero and that they can fight this together. While he was confused why he did not go to Patty, Iris believes that he thought she was the one that could truly help him. Just in time to break this great scene between Barry and Iris, the Black Racer takes over Barry again and is ready to kill Iris. Barry manages to break out of the Racer’s grasp, refusing to take Iris’s life to save the universe. The agitated Racer tells Barry that he must have a host and that if he doesn’t accept it, he will join some of Barry’s most powerful enemies such as Reverse-Flash or Grodd.
Barry finally accepts and names the one that he is going to kill: The Black Racer. The god is shocked but apparently it’s not off-limits. Barry chases the Racer with his own scythe, and finally is able to kill the being. Unfortunately, killing the Black Racer unleashed death, and without a host, death is able to travel around the universe freely, killing all in its way. It’s here that Barry knows that there is no escape from death, and he finally accepts his role as the Black Racer, and we go straight back to where we began in the beginning of the issue. Barry is now the Black Racer.
This was a pretty enjoyable read for the most part. This issue deals a lot with the themes of the importance of life and the inevitability of death. Williams does a good job putting Barry, the newly minted God of Death, through the difficult choice of life and death and the morality of choosing whether one should die to save the universe. Unlike Batman, who has already accepted his role as the God of Wisdom, Barry initially refuses to give in to his new role as God of Death, even with the Black Racer explaining why he is necessary. If I had to point out one major flaw with it, it’s that the story is pretty weak. It’s really just an issue of Barry reflecting on whether or not he should kill or not, and while the dialogue and exchange between the characters was done beautifully, the plot itself was pretty thin. The art by Jesús Merino was also pretty good though his design for the Black Racer seemed to take away from the ominous nature of the Racer. Comparing it to Manapul’s cover, which shows a terrifying and menacing Flash, Merino’s Black Racer just doesn’t look right. Aside from the Racer’s look, Merino’s art is fairly strong throughout the issue.
Overall, it was a solid read and fans of The Flash and also those who have been keeping up with the Darkseid War storyline will want to give this one a shot. While I was expecting a little bit more out of this issue, it still managed to keep me entertained and really showed the struggle Barry is facing with being the new God of Death.
Overall Score: 7.5/10
Review by Ander L.