COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

Hello again, friends!  Once again, we head into the historic comic bin and pull out another one of the classics from our library of comics.  This week, we wrap up our celebration of The Scarlet Speedster's 80 years of history by focusing on the FOURTH man to don the uniform of the Monarch of Motion, Bart Allen.  Bart took the role of The Flash from his first cousin, Wally West, as Wally had disappeared with his family during the events of Infinite Crisis.  This 13 issue run gave us a bit more mature Bart, as he tries to navigate college, and fulfilling a legacy of Jay Garrick, his grandfather, Barry Allen, and of course, Wally West.  So, without further ado, let's peek into the debut issue of Bart's run as The Flash...

THE FLASH:  THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #1

COVER ART: Ken Lashley, Greg Parkin, Marvin Mariano

WRITER: Danny Bilson & Paul DeMeo

ARTIST: Ken Lashley

INKS: KWL Studio, Norm Rampund, Mario Alquiza, Jay Leisten

LETTERS: Pat Brosseau

COLORS: Carrie Strachan

EDITOR: Joan Hilty, Rachel Gluckstern

COVER DATE: August 2006

PUBLISHER: DC Comics

STORY TITLE: "Lightning In A Bottle, Part One:  Flashback"

The Flash:  The Fastest Man Alive #1 was the new series to feature the Flash after Wally West's story was apparently finished in FLASH #230.  Then, Wally West disappeared in Infinite Crisis, and that left a more grown Bart Allen, who had taken over Wally's shoes as Kid Flash in the pages of Teen Titans, and after his run in Impulse.  Bart is now a college student, studying Criminal Science, while balancing work at the auto plant in Keystone City.  Jay Garrick is trying to hold down the fort as the only Flash between two cities.  Bart has a roommate, Griffin Grey,  However, after Infinite Crisis, Bart's powers seem to be out of control, so he tries not to use them.  He's supposed to be working with Dr. Tina McGee of STAR Labs, and her assistant, Valerie Perez.  Bart's series was written by the creators of the 1990's TV series of The Flash that aired on CBS:  Danny Bilson & Paul DeMeo.  They came back to the Scarlet Speedster to breath a new chapter into Bart's life.  However, Bart's series only lasted 13 issues before he was killed off by the Rogues Gallery, who had been manipulated by his arch enemy, Inertia.  Wally's series would pick up again after a Flash special with issue #231, and would run another near 20 issues before HIS series was cancelled yet again, as Geoff Johns set up the REAL return of Barry Allen with Flash: Rebirth.  Bart would return in the events of that series as his younger version, and would reclaim his role as Kid Flash.  

THE STORY:  Bart Allen and his roommate, Griffin Grey, work for Keystone Motors, which had just laid off some employees, and they were picketing outside the plant as they go to work.  A man in a ski mask and explosives goes to destroy the plant but is caught by Jay Garrick, the Flash.  Meanwhile, Tina McGee of STAR Labs, and her assistant, Valerie Perez, have wondered why Bart hasn't shown up for their tests, in order to talk about his altered speed.  Bart is having flashbacks about his part in the legacy of being The Flash.  The man who tried to destroy the plant returns, and sets off an explosion that both Bart and Griffin get caught in.  Griffin is saved by Jay, and Bart manages to save himself using his powers.

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I was skeptical when this series first dropped, because after Infinite Crisis, and Wally had disappeared, I knew Bart would be next in line.  I wasn't too thrilled with it, but it turned out to be a pretty decent book.  It gave us a more grown up Bart, who had struggled with finding his place in the legacy that is The Flash.  Ken Lashley's artwork was beautiful, and I credit Bilson and DeMeo with their spin on Bart.  For historical sake, it's a short series read, but not a bad one.  Honestly, by the end of the book, I was actually getting more interested in seeing what new adventures Bart could have as the new Flash.  

NEXT WEEK:  A new issue we'll spotlight.  What it is...you'll have to wait and see!

STARGIRL - SEASON 1.10

REVIEW:  STARGIRL - SEASON 1.10:  "Brainwave Jr."

Lotta happenings in Blue Valley last week, as Courtney did her best to try and recruit Henry King, Jr. to the JSA to help them battle the ISA.  Hank, however, is just getting used to his powers, and after watching his father's video journals, he felt his dad was right.  He could read everyone's minds - including Courtney's - that he found out about both the JSA, ISA, and Courtney's identity of Stargirl.  She did this WITHOUT the approval of Pat and the team, especially Yolanda, who still has a legit grudge against Hank for what he did to her.  On top of THAT, with Hank's powers active, Dragon King now feels he's got the final piece to Jordan's puzzle for his "New America" plan.  We also see Jordan and his family meet the Dugan family, with lots of awkwardness.  To make things MORE awkward, Wilcat threatened Hank, and Barbara finally stumbles upon Pat and Courtney's secret.  

Let the FUN begin....

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Intense!  As they build to the climax, we're getting some REALLY good stuff out of these characters.  NOW the kids finally have a harsh dose of reality thrown in their faces about the hero business, and it especially hits Courtney's family.  We also got some revelations about Brainwave and Hank, as well as for Courtney herself.  

First off...we get a little flashback once again to Blue Valley a few years back, as Pat was in the diner looking through Hourman's journals, trying to figure out what the JSA was up to, while Barbara was also there, selling her mother's house.  Both realize they live in California after striking up a conversation, and the journey begins for the two.  Now, present day, the cat is out of the bag, as Barbara has caught Pat and Courtney with the Staff.  Her natural instinct is to react with shock when she sees it.  And Courtney continues to try to keep the lie, but Pat won't let her.  They then spill the beans about the Staff, Starman, the JSA, and Pat's former life as Stripsey.  Courtney also tries to tell her mother that Jordan Mahkent is the villain the Icicle, and that he killed Starman, whom she STILL thinks is her dad, despite Barbara telling her he isn't.  Barbara reacts in a way you'd expect a parent and wife to react when she finds out her husband and daughter have been lying to her about their secret superhero life---she gets pissed off.  She orders Courtney to her room, and then let's Pat have it.  He fesses up to everything, and had told her he intended to keep ALL of his former JSA life in the past, and NEVER expose the familty to it.  Barbara isn't having it...especially after she finds out the REAL reason Courtney got hurt.  She throws Pat out of the house.  He wants to work it out, but she's too upset right now.  He let's her be, and talks to Mike about it, who's wondering what's going on.  Both go to the garage to crash until he can talk to Barbara when she's more calm.  

Meanwhile, Hank is with his dad, who is now fully out of his coma.  There's just ONE THING, however:  he can't remember the last 10 years of his life.  He has no idea WHY they are in Blue Valley, and Hank fills him in on the details.  Henry realizes his son has the same powers has him, and says he'll help him develop them.  He also finds out that his wife Mary had died.  She had drowned, and when he found her, she was ice cold.  This stirs Hank to go home, and rummage through his old man's video journals to find out what happened to his mother.  After he has left, Henry gets a visit from Jordan, who's glad he's awake.

Hank is at home, looking at the video footage, and his father describes how he and Hank's mother met.  She was apparently a superhero who foiled his robbery, and he fell for her.  He tried to be an upstanding guy, and said that he began to question Jordan's master plan.  He put it on Jordan as the culprit for Mary's death, which angers Hank all the more, so he goes to put an end to Jordan.  He heads to the hospital, only to see Jordan and his father talking.  While this is happening, the Staff awakes and goes to Courtney's room to get her out of bed, but she says she can't go out heroing, because her mother refused.  Pat had also told her that it was over, that all the superhero stuff is done for them.  The Staff takes off, and goes to the hospital, and tries to attack both men, but Brainwave stops the Staff, and Jordan freezes it, and captures it.  Hank witnesses his father and Jordan leave with the Staff.  Jordan is VERY interested in where it came from.  Henry believes he feels his son's presence, and Hank does what he can to block his mind from his own father.  Once they leave, Hank takes off...knowing he has to talk to Courtney.  One other bit of info he managed to get out of his father's journals was the fact that Mary was Sylvester Pemberton's sister....and that possibly makes Hank and Courtney cousins.

Courtney wakes up the next day, and can't find the Staff.  When she asks her mother about it, Barbara can care less, and she tells her that they're leaving Blue Valley, so pack up. She's going to her job to hand in her resignation.  Courtney, desperate, goes to Pat, and tells him the Staff is gone, but also to let him know that her mother said they're packing up and moving.  Pat then goes to see Barbara, to try and stop her from going.  Mike asks Courtney what's going on, but Courtney still feels the need to shield Mike from the truth, and he misconstrues it has her never liking him OR Pat.  She says that's not true, but he's upset and takes off.  She then bumps into Hank, and all is revealed between the two as Hank touches her, and she's able to read his thoughts...including the truth about Starman and his mother.  She feels they're cousins (which we STILL don't know), and Hank tells her about the fact that his dad doesn't remember the last 10 years of his life.  But as far as Icicle, they need to tell the team.

They meet the team at lunch in school, and Yolanda is IMMEDIATELY angry with Courtney for siding with Hank, as well has Rick, who feels Courtney blew their secret ID's.  Courtney does her best to stick up for Hank, and tell the team what's going on.  Rick isn't buying it, and goads Hank into fighting him.  Hank uses his powers to push Rick away, and a fight almost breaks out, which Beth tries to downplay.  Courtney says that the Staff is gone, and that she's being forced to move.  They agree to check things out, but Yolanda says that any team that Hank is on, she won't, and won't be friends with Courtney anymore, either.  Rick doesn't trust him, either.

Pat catches up at Barbara's office as she is sending an email out in regards to Courtney.  He tries to talk to her, but they are interrupted by Jordan and his family, who have brought goodies for her.  They all have a nice chat, and the family wishes them well, as they leave.  After the Mahkent family is gone, Pat tries to tell her that he never meant for any of this to happen, but it's dangerous for them here, but also informs her about Jordan being the Icicle.  She shows him that she had recorded the entire conversation, including everything that was said between the Mahkent family in Norweigian.  

The team makes it into the tunnels, and Dr. Mid-Nite can get the goggles to function, because, as we had seen a couple of episodes ago, Chuck can't work because something disrupting him.  Stargirl has the team split up---Mid-Nite and Hourman going one way, Stargirl, Wildcat, and Hank going another to try and find the staff and his father.  Mid-Nite and Hourman end up finding Solomon Grundy in his cell, and Hank is dead set on taking him out once and for all for killing his parents.  He powers up, as Mid-Nite tries to reason with him, saying that's NOT what they're there for.  Hourman, however, won't listen, and begins pulling on the cell door to beak it off.  Meanwhile, Stargirl, Wildcat, and Hank manage to stumble into Ito's lab, where they see the Staff, and Brainwave hooked up to machines.  They are soon discovered, thanks to Cindy blabbing to her father that Stargirl is there.  She wants him to let her out, so that she can kill her herself.  Dragon King sends his hooded goons to fight the team, and he ends up going after Stargirl herself.

Stargirl uses a staff like weapon to hold off Dragon King's attacks, and holds her own for a bit, while Wildcat and Hank use their abilities to take down the goons.  Wildcat soon gets through the hooded henchmen to grab Stargirl's staff, and get it to her, just as Dragon King is about to slay her.  She manages to blast him away, and now she's truly ready for battle.  Hank gets to his father, and it turns out, that Brainwave now has his full memory back.  He then tells Hank that this is who he truly is, and that HE was responsible for killing his mother.....because she got in the way of the plan.  Hank is sad, and feels that his father is truly lost, so he blasts his father, and the team makes a break for it to get out of the ISA headquarters.  

Barbara and Pat, meanwhile, are at the diner, listening to the recording she made, and come to find out that while they LIKE Barbara, it won't make much of a difference soon...which is what her phone translated from Norweigian.  At this moment, Jordan walks into Barbara's office looking for her, only to find the plate of cookies his parents brought left on the desk.  He leaves, wondering where she is.  Then, we see that the email she sent out, has gotten a response.

The team tries to escape, but Brainwave catches up to them, as they reach a cell wall.  Hank tries to reason with his father, but Brainwave says that he wants his son to join him.  Hank refuses, knowing his father killed his own mother.  Hank goes to fight off his father, allowing the team to escape.  Hourman pulls the bars apart enough for Wildcat, Dr. Mid-Nite, and himself through.  Stargirl offers to stay behind to hold off Brainwave, but he's blocking the Staff's cosmic blasts.  Hank then uses his powers to levitate Stargirl to the other side of the bars.  The team watches as Hank battles his father.  As powerful has Hank has become, he his no match for his father, who uses the walls to fall in on his son.  Hank does what he can to hold his father off, and looks to Stargirl, and says she was right...there IS good in people.  He also apologies to Wilcat for what he did to her...saying he truly was sorry.  He then falls prey to Brainwave, as he collapses the concrete ceiling on Hank...killing him right in front of the team. They couldn't break through Brainwave's shield to get to Hank and save him. The team has now faced death in the harshest of circumstances, as we leave ourselves a cliffhanger from there.

These last few episodes have given us a lot more action, and we've now seen the kids put in a situation where they have now finally realized that this superhero business is no game, and it has TRAGIC consequences.  They also now have found out just how truly powerful the ISA is, and they know just how sadisitic they are, seeing as how Brainwave just up and killed his son, because he defied him....just like his mother.  It gives this a truly personal feud now, what with Stargirl feeling she is tied to Hank courtesy of his mother and Starman, whom she feels IS her father, but Barbara has denied it, and that's probably WHY she sent the email out---to contact Courtney's TRUE father, to dispel the myth.  But either way, for whatever bad things Hank did to Yolanda, and how much of a jerk he was in the series up to this point...what we REALLY got is a troubled young man who took A LOT of verbal abuse at the hands of his father, dealing with having NO mother figure in his life to nurture, and his inappropriateness towards Yolanda, and ruining her rep in school...we got some redemption for him.  Sadly, we see that they rushed Hank along a little bit for the sake of moving the story into high gear with only about 3 episodes left of this season.

It WOULD'VE been nice to see a tad bit of a slow burn for Hank, as he began to master his powers, THEN see what side of the asile he fell on. Obviously, Rick and Yolanda had personal reasons for not wanting him around, and Yolanda already warned him that if he came across her friends, she'd kill him.  But I now must wonder HOW her relationship with Courtney will be, having been upset with her for siding WITH Hank, considering all he did to her, and that she felt like a jilted friend.  But in the end, I think she can see that Hank sacrificed himself for THEM...so that THEY can fight the fight against the ISA.  Yolanda DID feel some pain, having not only the apology from Hank, but to watch him die at the hands of his own father.  This whole incident is a HUGE splash of ice cold water (no pun intended) on their faces.  Hank wasn't what they thought he was, and found that he had a nobler side.  How this effects the team going forward will be interesting in and of itself.  But ONE thing is for sure:  They KNOW they're in for a fight, and they had BETTER improve and be ready---they're all at risk.  The ISA plans on using Brainwave's powers to channel into the satellite they stole, and have him control their minds.

Let's hear it for Barbara for NOT being a shrinking violet, and for taking some SERIOUS charge in this episode.  While it was a cute way her and Pat met, they sure as hell have issues to work out, now that she knows Pat and Courtney's secret.  Her emailing what possibly is Courtney's father will be interesting to see next episode, and for her to record the conversation between her, Pat, and the Mahkents is extremely great thinking.  When she listens to what they said, she now understands the brevity of the situation.  And, try as Pat might, he couldn't get away from his past, and now has dragged Barbara, Mike, and especially Courtney into it.  Now we see whether or not she and Pat pack the family and bail Blue Valley, or does she let them be the heroes they know they can be, and HELP them?  And when will Mike get wind of this?  He's bitter and Courtney, because HE thinks that SHE doesn't like Pat and him, which is totally untrue.  She's just trying to protect him, like all heroes do..but they have yet to make him understand that.

I also wonder, with Jordan having not only visitied Barbara's office not once, but TWICE....that MAYBE he's got a thing for her?  

Overall, it was a great episode, even if they rushed Hank's story a little bit to sacrifice him, going off script from official DC canon.  But it now gives the team the harsh reality it needed, as well as showing you that NO ONE is safe on this show.  His death will be a huge shadow that will be cast upon the team the rest of this season.  

Hey...now we finally see WHY Dr. Ito was called Dragon King---what a face!  Now we also understand WHY he has survived all these years.

What did YOU think?  Leave a comment below

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That's it for this week...apologize for the lateness, but had a family emergency.  But fret not, it's here for you to read, and I hope you enjoy it.  BTW, be sure to subscribe and tell your friends.  

Until next time...keep your eyes on the stars!

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

Here we are, once again, going into the historical comic rack, to find yet another treasure to discuss, and we've been going through the various books of the Monarch of Motion:  The Flash.  As we celebrate 80 years of The Fastest Man Alive, we've covered the original - Jay Garrick - to perhaps the most NOTABLE man to be called Flash:  Barry Allen.  Last week, we discussed the beginning of Wally West's run as the Scarlet Speedster, and THIS week...we introduce ONE more major character to the Flash Mythos:  Bart Allen.  

FLASH #92

COVER ART: Mike Wieringo

WRITER: Mark Waid

ARTIST: Mike Wieringo

INKS: Jose Marzan, Jr.

LETTERS: Gasper Saladino

COLORS: Gina Going

EDITOR: Ruben Diaz, Bryan Augustyn

COVER DATE: July 1994

PUBLISHER: DC Comics

TAGLINE: There's a new KID in town....and he'll RUN YOU DOWN!

STORY TITLE: "Reckless Youth, Chapter One:  Speed Kills"

Flash #92 introduces us to the newest member of the Flash Family in Bart Allen.  Bart comes from the future, and is the grandson of Barry Allen and Iris West-Allen.  Bart grew up in VR, and has no real concept of the real world, and has incredible super speed powers, but he can't control them.  Iris brings him to Wally in the hopes that Wally can train him to control his powers before he possibly dies from them.  Wally isn't really ready to be a mentor, since not long ago, he managed to put the ghost of Barry Allen in the rearview mirror, got his speed back, and had really established himself as The Flash.  And because Bart is so quick to everything...because it's new to him, and he's just getting a taste of actual reality, he's extremely impulsive, which drives Wally nuts.  Thus, Bart ends up taking the name "Impulse".  Impulse would earn his stripes a bit...while tripping a long the way...to being a big part of this "Team Flash" they have with Jessie Quick, Max Mercury, and Jay Garrick.  Bart would eventually get his own series, where he was trained by Max Mercury in the use of his speed, and eventually wound up living with The Garricks in Colorado.  His story eventually takes place in the pages of his book, Impulse.

THE STORY: Linda Park is working on a story about a cult, and Wally inquires about it, until he sees something blur past him.  Racing home, he finds his Aunt Iris from the future, telling him about her grandson, Bart, who has superspeed, but is lost in the time stream, and his speed powers are out of control and aging him.  Wally goes in search of Bart around the world, and when he does find him, Bart attacks.  Meanwhile, the criminal organization KOBRA, is keeping tabs on Linda.

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This issue was really good, as Waid had definitely been in a serious groove writing for Wally.  Waid's love for the Flash was felt on every page he wrote, and introducing Bart to the mythos set up for the future, and it also kickstarted a major storyline of what would be called "Terminal Velocity", as the Flash would end up battling KOBRA and trying to save Linda's life before he ends up "seeing" his future where he's absorbed into the Speed Force.  Bart is raw here, and out of control, and we know immediately he's going to be a handful for Wally...and he was.  But Bart became a great addition to the Flash Family, and has been served pretty well over the years.  He's become a major player in books like Young Justice, Teen Titans, and a book we'll discuss next week.  

NEXT WEEK:  A new man fills the golden running boots of The Flash

STARGIRL - SEASON 1.9

REVIEW:  STARGIRL - SEASON 1.9:  "Brainwave"

Last week left us with some exciting action, and a brand new character on the JSA/ISA canvas:  Henry King, Jr.  Hank spent last episode (and a couple before that), dealing with these increasing headaches, and now his powers have come full boar.  However, he cannot control him.  Meanwhile, he's been by his father's bedside, as Brainwave continues to be comatose, despite the Fiddler's efforts to revive him.  Shiv wanted his help in killing Stargirl, when the two girls engaged in combat a 2nd time.  But Hank instead forced them apart from each other.  And while Shiv was taken by her father Dragon King, back into the tunnels, Hank learned the truth about both Cindy, Courtney, the ISA, and the JSA.  So, he takes a powder, and we pick up where we left off....digging more into the life of the Kings.  

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Hank King, Jr. was the center of attention this episode, as we delved into his father's past, and catch up to what is happening in the present.  Also, Courtney is putting forth an effort to try and recruit him to the JSA.  We got to delve into the background of Henry King, Sr., and his journey into becoming the villain known as Brainwave.  We start out  in the past, where Dr. King had been working on his experiments, and ended up leaving his lab, when he's approached by  a mugger.  He's been experiencing headaches, and can now read the mugger's mind.  Knowing what the criminal was up to all to well, Henry uses his powers, and kills the man.  He then goes back to his lab, and begins recording a journal of his experiences with his new powers.  

In the present day, we see Hank watching his father's video journal, learning as he goes about his newfound powers.  Henry's journal is like a confession to his crimes in a sense, but Hank is curious regardless....reaching for tape after tape that his father had stored away, and eventually beginning to find out about his powers.

Pat and Courtney talk, and she admits her mistake in going after Cindy, but she knows more is going on.  She discusses Cindy, and Dr. Ito, and Pat remains silent.  When he DOES speak, he talks about Dr. Ito, and how he was a war criminal, and that he performed a lot of experimental procedures, and he managed to prolong his life, and now goes by the name Dragon King.  Pat then pulls out another picture, with him and Sylvester in it when he was the Star Spangled Kid.  We see him, Sylvester, Green Arrow, Crimson Avenger, Shining Knight, Vigilante, Wing, and Speedy.  Pat says they stopped Ito from blowing up the world years ago, but  he ended up escaping.  He tells Courtney that he lost touch with them, but that he KNOWS that they need more help to battle the ISA.  Courtney is insistent on getting Hank.

At this time, we see the Janitor in the hallway of the high school mopping, when he then holds the mop like a weapon, and gets hallucinations about the mop being the Cosmic Staff.  He's remembering his days as the Shining Knight.  He drops the mop, and just kind of gazes off in a frightened trance.

Courtney talks to the team, and tells them she wants to recruit Hank, especially since he knows about her, and he could read her mind.  As she told Pat, that she can understand Henry's pain, and that he's not as bad as they think.  Yolanda is dead set against it, since she isn't over what happened to her at his hands.  Courtney says they need all the help they can get, and Yolanda holds firm, and Rick is with her on this one.  Beth tries to be the voice of reason, but Yolanda says that she refuses to be on a team that has Hank on it.

Back at the King mansion, Hank continues to watch his father's video journals, and his father is explaining on what he can do with his powers, and Hank begins to practice with them, and is amazed at what he can do.  His father also states that after all the times he's read people's minds, and how he had killed again because a man on the subway had impure thoughts about a woman...had determined that people are evil, and that he hates them.  The maid comes in, and he can hear HER thoughts, and gets angry, as she tells him his father's lawyer is there to see him.

Rick and Beth show up at the garage, and Pat says that from what info they gathered, there's a tunnel system underneath that allows the ISA to work in secret.  He wants Beth and Rick to gather more info about the tunnels, and Rick isn't so willing.  Pat tells him that this is part of the job...sometimes, gotta do some grunt work. He's gotta take off to handle some family matters.

While all of this is going down, we do check in on Dr. Ito, who has put his daughter Cindy in a cell, because she disobeyed him.  Beth had earlier tried to find her, but Chuck said that Cindy had left Blue Valley High, and is "studying overseas".  Beth knows better.  Ito is pleased that he now knows that Hank has the same powers as his father, and thus, can complete the plan the Icicle has laid out.  Cindy wants out, and threatens to kill her father just like she did her mother.  But ito just closes the peep hole on his daughter and goes back to work.  Has her gassed to quiet her.

Beth is doing research on the town, while Rick has been wracking his brain trying to figure out his father's formula in his journal.  He has no such luck, but Beth does.  She finds out that the town had been built in th 1800's, and that there was a tunnel system underneath.  They know that the ISA can run in the town, in disguise, and undetected.  Things just got serious.

Ito calls the ISA to a meeting, where he informs Jordan that Hank has his telepathic powers, and they can use him to complete his plan of New America.  They'll use Hank's telepathic abilities, and channel them through the satellite the pilfered, and take control of everyone's minds.  Jordan is extremely pleased that his plan is finally coming to fruition, but seems unsettled.  At his work office, he runs into Barbara, and explains to her his dream is coming to reality, but feels unfulfilled by it, because it cost him time from his family.  Barbara understands, but then invites him to dinner, and he accepts.

Hank goes to see his father again, and Courtney shows up.  As he can read her mind, she also tries to talk to him.   She admits that she was the one responsible for putting his father in the hospital.  He's angry, but she says that he believes what his father said...all people are evil. Courtney explains to him that not everyone is evil...but sometimes, when in pain, or when they are hurt, they can think of evil thoughts....but that doesn't mean people are evil.  That behavior comes out of love.  She knows that Hank's father has abused him his whole life, and says that while his father treated him so badly, he's there by his father's bedside, caring for him.  He wants her to leave, and as she does, she says that when he's ready, she'll be there to talk to him.  She doesn't feel he's as bad as people think he is.

Pat arrives home, and Barbara is trying to make dinner.  Pat goes to help, but wants to confess about his activities with Courtney, when she shows up, and tells him to stay silent about it.  The doorbell rings, and the Mahkent family shows up.  Cameron is along for the ride, as the two families sit down to dinner.  Courtney then goes to get more food in the kitchen, and delivers a hot plate of food in front of Jordan, who handles it with no problem or pain.  Courtney excuses herself and wants Pat to go with her.  She tells Pat she thinks Jordan is the Icicle, and tells Pat about how he handled the hot plate without any pain.  He gets her to cool it, and dinner goes on.  The parents of Jordan like Barbara,  but are NOT fond of Courtney.  They see her as trouble.  After dinner, the Mahkents go to leave, and Jordan talks to Courtney, asking her why he is there.  She is nervous, as she feels that he's going to tell her he knows she's Stargirl, but he says that he's there to meet the girl that Cameron has been talking about.  After that, Cam asks Courtney out on a date, and she nervously accepts, wondering if Cameron is anything like his father.

While the Dugan family is busy entertaining the Mahkents, Hank is still with his father at the hospital when Wildcat shows up, threatening Hank to stay away from Courtney and her friends.  Hank realizes it's Yolanda, and he says she really thinks the worst of her because of what happened, and reads her mind, hearing her thoughts.  In her thoughts, she admits that she's hurt because of his betrayal, and that she loved him.  She makes her threat final, and says she'll cut him to ribbons if he comes near her friends, and leaves.

Later on, Hank is still with his father when the lawyer shows up in the hospital room, with papers for Hank to sign.  These are papers that the lawyer wants signed so he can get at Henry's money.  Hank realizes that the lawyer is trying to cheat them, and ends up killing him with his powers.  He stands in disbelief at what he had done, but then, he hears his father (who he'd heard earlier in the episode, and tried to mentall communicate with, but was unable to), wakes up, and wonders what is going on.

After the Mahkents leave, Courtney is down in the basement, grabbing the staff, and Pat says that they need to tell her mother about what's up.  Courtney says she wants to use the Staff to prove that Jordan is the Icicle.  Just as they're chatting, Barbara comes down into the basement, and screams when she sees the Cosmic Staff.  It shuts off, and falls to the ground.  Courtney and Pat's secret isn't a secret no more.

We packed a bit in this episode, which was terrific.  We got into Henry King, Sr.'s past, and how he became Brainwave.  A nervous man, who gained confidence as he explored his powers, but it has twisted his own mind, making him more sinister and spiteful towards the human race.  He's not even good to his own son, and Courtney senses the hurt Hank has suffered at his father's hands.  She gets him, and sees the good in him, while Courtney, Rick, and many others do not.  Especially Yolanda.  Her moment with him was brief, and adversarial, but even he can see the pain he caused her, as she had admitted that she loved him.  Hank killing the lawyer is one step in the wrong direction, and now that his father is awake, it's going to spell trouble for the JSA, because now Henry will work his son into a lather about how bad people are, and keep preying upon Hank's feelings, in order to help the ISA with their plan.  

Jordan visiting Courtney and her family, now gives him an edge, for when he finds out Courtney is Stargirl, he will be able to threaten her with Mike and Barbara.  Cameron is still an innocent (as far as we know), and we'll see how complicated his relationship with Courtney gets before the end of the season, and whether or not he'll join his family in their evil plan.

We get more info about Blue Valley, and what the ISA had been trying to do.  Pat pieced togetgher that they came to Blue Valley after disposing of the JSA to hide out and disappear until they could plot their next move.  Beth and Rick find out about the tunnels being there from the beginning, and know that the ISA can do whatever they want undetected.  Beth also continues to be the voice of reason on the team, and is doing her best to keep them cohesive.  Rick is still gung ho and hotheaded, and is determined to figure out the formula in his father's journal.  But the rest of the team had minor parts to play this episode to help the plot along, and did a great job.  But I am glad the even Pat knows they need more help.  

Speaking of Pat, how great was it that we got the picture of the Seven Soldiers of Victory?  It gives us more about the Shining Knight as well, as he is now hallucinating about the Cosmic Staff, beginning to remember his old days.  He seems to be the only member of the Seven Soldiers still around, and it won't be long before he gets involved in this conflict.  I honestly still think he's been there in hiding the whole time, keeping tabs on the ISA.  

I guess we won't be seeing Cindy for a little bit, as Ito has put his daughter in a cell to keep her from screwing up the plan of the ISA.  

This is the first episode since the pilot, where Courtney has NOT gone out as Stargirl.  There was literally no superhero action this week.  It was more backfill story, and prepping for the final push towards the season finale.  Only Yolanda suited up as Wildcat to threaten Hank about staying away from the team.  But I am NOW curious as to how Pat and Courtney explain to Barbara about her role as Stargirl and him telling her about the old JSA, and being a part of it.  Barbara knowing might help, but it might also hinder as well.  Things will fall into place for her, and we are not sure how she'll take it all.  So, we'll have to be prepared for the fallout of that.  

This series has just been steallar, and I'm really loving the ride.  Smooth storytelling, great characters, and a great build towards the season finale..which I'm hoping for an epic battle in the season finale.  

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That's it for this installment, kids.  But besure to leave a comment about what YOU thought of this episode, and please subscribe to the blog, and pass along the good word...I'd be grateful.

Until next time....keep your eyes to the stars.

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

Welcome back to our Anniversary edition of the most important covers in the history of The Flash.  This week, we jump ahead to 1987, and we debut a brand new FLASH series.  But before we do, we have to make sure we take a moment to remember the life of Barry Allen, whom at this time, had sacrificed his life to save the universe during Crisis on Infinite Earths #8.  In Crisis #12, in the wake of the new singular universe being created, and the new DC Universe now streamlined, Kid Flash...who had been out of action since New Teen Titans #39 when he gave up the hero gig, was wrangled into Crisis, decided to take over the mantle of his Uncle, and became the third man to call himself The Flash.  After dealing with Darkseid looking to destroy the heroes in the Legends mini-series, Wally West was given his own series.  We take a look at the debut issue of that series.  

FLASH #1

COVER ART: Jackson Guice & Larry Mahlstedt

WRITER: Mike Baron

ARTIST: Jackson Guice

LETTERS:  Steve Haynie

INKS: Larry Mahlstedt

COLORS: Carl Gafford

EDITOR: Mike Gold

COVER DATE: June 1987

PUBLISHER: DC Comics

TAGLINE:  PRESENTING....THE NEW FLASH!

STORY TITLE: "Happy Birthday, Wally"

Flash #1 debuted in 1987 just after the min-series Legends.  This series was all about Wally West, and his quest to live up to the legend of his mentor and uncle, Barry Allen, who had died saving the universe.  Wally had quit the hero biz with the Titans, after the HIVE affair, and finding out that continuing to use his super speed was killing him.  After being called back into action during Crisis, Wally, searching for Barry, was blasted by the Anti-Monitor, and was cured of his disease.  However, it seriously dampened his powers, and he now could only go just above the speed of sound.  

This series focuses on a now 20 year old Wally, who feels the burden of not only the hero gig, but mostly living up to everything Barry taught him.  But he's also NOT Barry.  He doesn't lead a double life, and everyone knows he's the Flash.  Mike Baron broke new ground as a writer, showing a very capable, if not still somewhat immature, Wally trying to navigate early adulthood, and having to keep the legacy of a man who's heroic deeds gained him legendary status.  The entire 247 issues during it's run (including a brief halt from issue #230-231, and issues #0 for Zero Hour, and #1,000,000).  The series ended in 2007, and made way for Barry's eventual return after Flash: Rebirth.

THE STORY:  It's Wally West's 20th birthday, and as he celebrates with his friends, he gets a call from a hospital, asking if he could deliver a new heart to sci-fi writer Eugenie Hedstrom.  He needs to travel from New York to Seattle, and he asks them for health insurance along the way.  He gets through to Wyoming before he crosses paths briefly with the immortal villain, Vandal Savage.  He successfully delivers the heart, and stops a hijacking on a plane ride back home to New York.  He also finds out that he has won the New York State Lottery.  

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This was a great way for everyone who had not known who Wally West was to get introduced.  Not that there was too much backstory, but they give you enough details, including why he jumped back into the hero game, and why he took up the mantle of The Flash.  We see that he isn't anywhere near as fast as he used to be, and we see the pure human struggle of a young man who just turned 20, still trying to step into the real world.  We also see the return of an old Flash villain in Vandal Savage, and Baron sets up the next few issues of his first arc nicely.  Jackson Guice was the book's artist, giving us a new interpretation of our hero.  His art was different, and seemed to have an okay style, though I didn't care much for how he drew Flash in action with his superspeed, but when you've grown up on Carmine Infantino, you have high standards.  But it worked for the time in 1987, though he didn't last with the book too long...only about a year before he left.  Baron would also leave eventually for William Messner-Loebs, who took Wally into a completely different direction.  But for fans who wanted a new Flash comic...we certainly got one, and I was eager for it, and happy when I got it.  The series as a whole is worth a look-see...just to witness the maturation of Wally West.

One thing of note:  It became common practice for comic books to list the writer, artist, and inker's names on the front of the books.

NEXT WEEK:  We are introduced to a new member of the Flash Family...