What has happened to this title?  Last issue, I wrote a review that filled the page with my disappointment at its ho-hummery, but this week’s issue takes the series in a direction that just isn’t for me.  Let’s start with the biggest sticking point, which happens to be the relationship between Barry and Bart.   So, in last issue, we got hints of a pissed off Bart at how Barry’s’ ignoring him.  It seemed like it came out of left field.  Well, in this issue, we have that take center stage.   And it’s completely out of place with the rest of series.  I don’t think I’m spoiling anything when I say that Barry is called to an intervention in which each member of the Flash family brings up their issues with him.  What happened to the joy in this series?  Why is his family giving him a hard time while he’s in the middle of a murder investigation?  This just doesn’t make sense to me, especially since being a forensic scientist is intrinsic to the character.  Wouldn’t those close to him know he’s going to be a busy guy busting criminals?  There’s been no indication that he’s been ignoring his family beyond the fact that he missed one family picnic a few issues back.  He’s a super hero.  He’s Barry Allen.  He’s going to miss stuff.  I guess I’m just missing the big furry deal. 

The other point that’s disappointing about this issue is the revelation at the end of the issue.  We finally learn just who the time anomaly that Hot Pursuit is after, and it left me wondering WTF rather than Holy Cow.  What’s weird is how this revelation takes place, and I’m left wondering whether this is the actual character, another version of the character, or something happened to the character that I missed in another issue.  There’s just not enough context for me to make the moment have impact.

My third, and final gripe, has to do with Bart’s fate.  He’s attacked in this issue right in front of Barry. What bothers me is that he’s hit by a guy that has no super speed while Barry watches.  If we’re talking about a guy who stops bullets, why can’t he stop this villain from hitting Bart?  It’s not like Barry was even incapacitated.  The moment of Bart’s attack happened and instead of gasping, I was left rolling my eyes.  If this is going to be a moment of importance for the coming event, then I’m missing its impact because of how lamely it happens.

So, I haven’t been to down on Kolins new style, but I feel like his art just falls flat in this issue.  It’s just sort of visually boring.  There’s a lot of talking in the issue, which is normally fine when balanced by dynamic layouts or great action.  But there’s very little action in the issue, and the few scenes  where Kolins could cut loose, there just isn’t much there on the page.  I was a little bored with the art, which sucks to write.  His stint on JSA has been really good as the pages felt more full, more lush, and certainly more dynamic.  Here it just seems merely ok. 

With one issue left, I’m going to stick with it, only so I can have the whole run.  And Johns may write a stellar issue 12, which will tie everything together and really bring the series around.  But at this point, I am mired with disappointment.