Growing up I was a DC guy, my friends were Marvel readers. My favorite characters were, or still are Batman, Green Arrow, The Flash, and Plastic Man. (seriously, look at the Jack Cole stuff)

I liked Flash a lot, I bought most of his original run. To me, those Carmine Infantino pages can stand side by side with Kirby, Steranko and Adams for great art of the 60’s. And, if you ever get a chance, look for those Elongated Man back ups he did in Detective back then. Some he inked himself and the line work is fantastic. When he came back to finish the original Barry Allen run felt appropriate, though his art didn’t have the snap it did in the 60’s it was nice seeing him return to the character.

Then Barry died in what “was” the most heroic death ever in comics, sacrificing himself, dyeing alone so billions would live. As much as I loved Barry, I didn’t think he should have come back. Wally was great as the Flash. He surpassed Barry by miles. But he’s back, and it is a whole lot of fun.

I had concerns before the monthly started because Rebirth was a misstep by Johns. Usually he’s solid, but the book was flat. Barry was back but I didn’t care. Then I got the monthly. And the story has snap, fantastic character moments with Barry and Iris, and boy has Johns turned the rouges into classic characters. Now, besides Batman, The Flash has the best villains in comics. And what can you say about Manapul’s art that already hasn’t, except that he really reminds me of Infantino. The line work, the compositions. They, Johns and Manapul are creating the finest book being published today.

Now though I like Captain Boomerang’s new power. I’m sick of Brightest Day already. Take the banner off the book, and off  Birds of Prey too.  They don’t really need them.

And I’ll finish with a minor request, leave out Iris’s past in the future. It is too convoluted for readers jumping on. Her being from the future, but living today, then dying, then her brain put into a male juror during Flash’s murder trail, and both of them living in the future before he dies. I’m glad Johns is glossing over her age. Because she is a grandmother, so is Barry, but Barry is youthful due to being stuck in the speed force since he died. She aged.