Flash #18 and #19 Review – Reverse Flash to End All Reverse Flashes

I totally dropped the ball on writing up Flash #18. However, issue #19 has wrapped up one storyline, so it’s as good of a time as any to discuss both issues at once. Flash learned that Daniel West, a/k/a the New 52 Reverse Flash was transferred out of Iron Heights to Belle Reve. He had a feeling that it meant Amanda Waller recruited him for her Suicide Squad, because why else would a super villain go to Belle Reve other than to be inducted into the Suicide Squad? The two break into Belle Reve to look for him, but he isn’t there. Waller tells them outright that Daniel was never there, but Flash knows better. To determine if Daniel was ever a member, he sets out to find Digger Harkness a/k/a Captain Boomerang.

Digger is in the Outback, hunting down the Weaver Clan as an SS assignment. Naturally, his strategy goes south, and he leans on Flash for help. Flash only agrees to so he can learn about Daniel’s involvement with the SS, and well, it helps him too, because he and Wally were also caught by the Weaver Clan. 

The long and short of it is that they do get out of this sticky jam, and Boomerang holds up his end of the bargain. West was indeed a member of the Suicide Squad, very briefly. He fell into the suicide part of their missions. As one can imagine, Wally did not take it very well.

In issue #18, Wally and Iris had breakfast with Barry and his father. Wally wasn’t too receptive to Mr. Allen, and Iris soothed him by saying Wally has had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that Daniel West was his father. Daniel had always visited him, but it was always under the guise as his uncle. When Flash asks if Wally wants to visit Daniel in Iron Heights, Wally responds that he doesn’t want to see him because he’s a liar. All those years, he never told Wally who he was. All those years, Wally’s father abandoned him. Now he knows that Daniel really was his father, he’s experiencing a different type of abandonment.

Mr. Allen even cautions Barry about lying to Wally and Iris about Flash. He warns him about the blowback it could have when they do find out, but Flash believes what he is doing is the right course of business. Flash also believed that going back in time to save his mom was the right thing, and we all know how that turned out.

Fast-forward to issue #19, Wally is torn up about his father’s death. Now he can never asked him why he abandoned him by lying. My heart just broke for Kid Flash. He feels like no one loves him, no one trusts him, and no one is honest with him. A small tear welled up upon seeing the following panels.

It’s a beautiful moment, and yet it’s a fleeting one. After Wally listens to Barry’s side of the story, he tells Barry that he’s a liar too, for keeping this from him and Iris. Now that Barry and Iris are dating, Wally sees no reason why Barry can’t come clean.

The issue would have ended beautifully there, and I would have written a review on how sweet this whole issue was. But no, Rebirth has to rear its ugly head, and it does with Eobard Thawne.

Hoo boy.

Our Rating: Yep

Author: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Jesus Merino, Andy Owens, and Chris Sotomayor
Publisher: DC Comics
Publish Date: March 22, 2017
Acquired via Purchase