The Flash #12

Issue Twelve: "Until Time Stands Still"

Written by Simon Spurrier

Art by Ramón Pérez & Vasco Georgiev

Colors by Matt Herms

Lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Cover by Ramón Pérez

Variant covers by Rafael Grassetti and Matt Taylor

DC Super Powers variant cover by Jason Geyer & Alex Saviuk

DC Swimsuit variant cover by Mirka Andolfo

Editor Chris Rosa

Group Editor Paul Kaminski

Our cover is an appallingly bad representation of the Flash family. This was supposed to be a triumphant celebration, the penultimate chapter in Spurrier's yearlong opening Flash run. But instead, we get a lazy, hodgepodge grouping of the speedsters, where everyone is off model and kind of freaky looking. This artwork is far below Pérez's normal standard — much worse than his work on the interior pages of this issue. I highly suspect (and really hope) that this cover was a last-minute rush job because DC rejected the original design, because this is just awful. Anyway, none of the variants feature Impulse, so let's jump right into the story.

We pick up with all our favorite speedsters debating the complicated situation they've found themselves in. As soon as the adults realize all the kids have gone missing, they come zooming back in. But instead of telling anyone that they discovered all the various villains involved in this plot have been incapacitated, Wally's children report they can feel their father's presence in the Speed Force. Specifically at the point where "the highest vibration elides with infinity." Everyone agrees they need to try to rescue Wally immediately, but Bart, still snacking on donuts, asks if anyone knows how to transcend that high. Everybody looks at Max, and he simply tells them to embrace the barrier instead of breaking it. And so all the speedsters just ... disappear in a flash of light.

Jai reaches his dad first, but he can't break through this odd bubble he's in. But a spectral version of Linda shows up right behind him, explaining that Abra Kadabra had somehow stripped her of her curiosity, pride and love. But all those parts remained floating around through the various areas of the Speed Force and are now able to connect with Wally and break him out of the bubble.

Meanwhile, all the other speedsters are battling the Arc Angles. Irey somehow had previously obtained some concentrated "Speed Force juice," which she randomly decided to give to Gorilla Grodd, the Folded Man, Abra Kadabra and Mirror Master, temporarily granting them super speed. The villains do serve to distract the Arc Angles long enough for the speedsters to help provide Wally a boost to try to catch "the weapon" from destroying all time. Bart, Avery and Ace are the first to boost Wally, with Bart oddly calling him "Mr. West."

The three teen speedsters quickly disappear from the Speed Force after giving Wally their energy. Up next is Jesse Quick, Circuit Breaker and Inspector Pilgrim, followed by Jay and Max. The Arc Angles finally manage to defeat the four villains, sending three of them back to the real world without any memory of this event. The Mirror Master isn't quite so lucky, as he was randomly erased from all time and history. Evan McCulloch now has never existed.

Jai and Irey give Wally his final boost before he's joined by Barry. Together, Wally and Barry destroy the "weapon" — a nonsensical "crown of Thawnes" representation. Or something like that. I don't really care at this point.

This is so incredibly, unbearably dumb. Every single aspect of it. No, Bart would never, EVER call Wally "Mr. West." Even to make a dumb rhyme. Everything with Linda was phenomenally stupid. And what did poor Mirror Master do to Simon Spurrier to warrant being completely erased from existence?

But from a narrative standpoint, my biggest complaint is how easy everything was for everybody. After spending all last issue worrying about Wally and wondering where he is, they suddenly knew exactly where he was and were able to instantly teleport right to his side without any effort whatsoever. And Irey was able to track down those four villains by herself and bring them all to the Speed Force's upper limits OFF PANEL. The story feels incredibly rushed, even though so little is actually happening. And I think that's because Spurrier is too busy describing his abstract concepts in the loftiest, most poetic way possible to bother himself with actually telling a story. This has been such a frustrating experience.

Next time, before concluding this awful story, I'll take a quick peek at Wonder Woman #13.