DC’s Blackest Night mega-event is moving towards its finale. With the third and final installment of the Blackest Night: The Flash miniseries, we are finally seeing the literal light at the end of the tunnel. For the most part, the various Blackest Night miniseries and crossovers have done little to progress the overall meta-story forward. Instead, they have followed a predictable formula of pitting Black Lanterns against those with whom they share an emotional bond. Arguably, that is the entire premise of the Blackest Night, but these miniseries and crossovers have had minimal impact and were nonessential. This is not the case with Geoff Johns’ final issue of Blackest Night: The Flash.
This miniseries has followed two simultaneous storylines: the Rogues proactive battle against the Black Lantern Rogues and Barry Allen’s involvement with the Blackest Night, particularly his battle against the Reverse Flash and his induction into the Blue Lantern Corps. This issue brings together these divergent plot threads in a way that progresses the entire Blackest Night narrative forward. As with previous DCU Crises, it appears that the Speed Force will play a pivotal role in the climax of Blackest Night as will the time traveling Reverse Flash.
The Boomerang/Boomerang Jr. story is horrifying and full of the tragic emotion that the Black Lanterns lust for. Both Boomerangs (living and dead) are evil and devoid of any semblance of morals, thus making them the perfect enemies of Captain Cold and the rest of the Rogues.
Scott Kollins is at his best when he is exploring the darker side of Keystone City. His gritty style is a perfect match for the DCU’s blue-collar capital.
Geoff Johns has seamlessly integrated this title with the rest of his work on the Blackest Night. Pick up issue #51 of Green Lantern and you will see a panel featuring Barry Allen, Bart Allen, and Wally West rushing towards Central City to join the fight against Nekron. Unlike most Blackest Night miniseries and crossovers, Blackest Night: The Flash possesses a sense of importance. This miniseries is an essential read for fans of the Blackest Night, for fans of the Flash and the Rogues, and for fans of quality sequential art in general.
