Flash is in this book! Last issue the Scarlet Speedster appeared in only the last panel. Issue five has Barry dealing with the blackout in Gem City. Captain Cold continues to ice things down, and Dr. Elias and Manuel Lago deal with the clones from Mob Rule that have a short life span problem like those replicants from Blade Runner. Flash delivers some emergency equipment from Wayne Enterprises to the people stranded on the bridge. Then he rescues Iris at Iron Heights. One awkwardly funny moment comes from Barry releasing frozen cops from their icy state. One cop asks how The Flash managed to melt the ice imprisoning him it and gets a one-word answer: “Friction.” That’s good stuff.

Flash rushes off to fight a whole gang of clones. When he busts through to the generator that could provide hope to Mob Rule’s little premature death problem, The Flash is stopped my Manuel. As the generator goes critical, Barry funnels the explosion out. And he’s rewarded by having Manuel curb stomp his face. Manuel goes nuts when he believes himself to be one with the Mob Rule gestalt.

And Flash finds out that his Speed Force has been opening up tears in the fabric of space and time. That was a great teaser to end the issue.

This is a well-scripted book. The pacing moved as a Flash comic book ought to. With the action moving from one conflict to another, the story never felt dull or tired. I can’t tell you how much of an improvement this was over the previous issue. We had the Flash AND the build up of key plot points. You can do both, so don’t argue with me that some comics need to build story by not featuring the main character.

I like the new threat that the Speed Force poses, but I seem to be caught up on the Flash’s power in this ‘New 52’ version (how long do I have to call it that?)

Flash’s ability to tap into the speed force means he can do more than just run fast. He can “stop time and see practically every variable and calculate every course of action before it happened (page 6). Seems like Flash’s powers are getting pretty omnipotent if you ask me.

Anyway, this book won’t disappoint Flash fans.

Score: 3/5

Writers: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato Artist: Francis Manapul Publisher: DC Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 1/25/12