Smallville: Season Eleven #34

Haunted Part Eight

Writer Bryan Q. Miller
Art Jorge Jimenez
Colors Carrie Strachan
Lettering Saida Temofonte
Cover Art Cat Staggs
Assistant Editor Sarah Gaydos
Editor Kristy Quinn
Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster

At Jay Garrick's hermit cabin in Utah, Superman is arguing with the retired Flash about his statement that Bart has to die in order to stop the fatal speed storms. Jay refers directly to the Speed Force, saying it burns you up, one way or another, and the Black Flash is just its messenger. Clark argues that Bart didn't choose to owe anyone anything, and Jay says none of the speedsters do, but once the lightning hits you, your life isn't yours anymore.

Bart, however, is not participating in this conversation, being completely occupied with a dark cloud of lightning across the Salt Flats that only he seems able to see. Clark asks Jay why there weren't any speed storms before Bart, so Jay speculates that the Black Racer is hungry and desperate. At this point, Bart joins the conversation, and the three of them reason out that the speed storms are the Speed Force's way of trying to create more speedsters. But most people can't handle that speed and are killed.

Jay says he wasn't the first speedster and Bart won't be the last. Bart angrily asks why Jay didn't "close the circle" by racing the beast and preventing it from trying to make more speedsters. Jay calls their powers a curse, but Clark says a curse can become a blessing if you don't let your power own you. Jay's reminded of Carter Hall by that line, so Bart asks him when he last saw Hawkman. Bart says he didn't even know Hawkman, but he still went to the funeral. Jay admits he's not proud of his life since the JSA disbanded. Bart calls him a coward, and before he can get too worked up, Clark pulls him back and calms him down.

This tense moment is interrupted by Superman receiving a call from the Watchtower, reporting a "category five" speed storm in Las Vegas. This one isn't slowing down and the body count is increasing by the minute. Impulse starts to take off toward Vegas, but Clark catches him by the collar and ignores Bart's protests. He slings the speedster over his shoulder and tells the Watchtower they still haven't come up with a solution for the speed storms.

Luckily, Emil Hamilton of S.T.A.R. Labs has an idea. When Superman was irradiated, they considered launching him into the sun. That plan was scrapped, but they still have the containment suit they built for it. With a few quick modifications, the suit now should make Superman as fast as Impulse, giving him a chance to confront the Black Flash and save some lives. S.T.A.R. Labs sends the suit to the Salt Flats via rocket, and Superman throws it on, heading down to Vegas for round two against the Black Flash.




Not much to say about this one. It's still pretty good, and I still like the references to the show, like Bart admitting that he never did know Hawkman even though he attended his funeral. Jay kept referencing the idea that other speedsters are out there, but I still don't expect any sign of Barry or Wally.

Next time, we'll see how Clark's fight goes in issue #35.