The Flash #81

Death and the Speed Force Conclusion

Joshua Williamson Writer

Scott Kolins Artist

Luis Guerrero Colors

Steve Wands Letters

Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona & Tomeu Morey Cover

Guillem March Variant Cover

Rob Levin Associate Editor

Paul Kaminski Editor

Jamie S. Rich Group Editor

Our cover shows the newly revamped Rogues raising their fists triumphantly in the air because it's the Year of the Villain. And the Rogues all have new looks and/or new powers because it's apparently the New 52 again. Whatever. I don't really care. It's kind of a boring cover and, ironically, the Rogues really don't have that big a presence in this issue.

The bulk of this issue deals with Hunter Zolomon learning that Eobard Thawne secretly engineered the worst moment of his life, just as he had done with Barry Allen. Hunter then sacrifices himself to fix the Force Barrier. (The rupturing of the Force Barrier was apparently what allowed Bart Allen to return to the real world, although neither The Flash nor Young Justice has thoroughly explored that idea.)

Barry battles the Black Flash and Iris is hanging out at the Flash Museum with a guy named Steadfast, who can tap into the Still Force. He senses something is wrong with not only the Speed Force, but the whole Multiverse. And this is where we see a statue of Impulse in the background, although he still has not interacted with Barry or Wally or Wallace or Avery or anybody else involved in this issue.

It's really frustrating how Williamson was unwilling or unable to do anything with Bart Allen. We keep getting periodic reminders in the background that Bart really is part of the Flash family, but month after month and year after year passes without anything substantial. And, frankly, I'm tired of being teased. I'd almost prefer not to have anything over this torment. Well, let's check out the new ads while we wait for Bart to actually show up in The Flash.

Being a hero isn't all about having superpowers ... it's about having a voice, too. Black Canary Ignite.

Harley Quinn's Villain of the Year, accompanied with an online poll for the top villain (The Batman Who Laughs won).

A DC Nation interview with Joe Hill on Basketful of Heads.

Next time will be yet another brief look at an Impulse cameo in Action Comics #1016.