The Flash #23

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico

Colourist: Ivan Plascencia

Publisher: DC Comics

The Button successfully placed doubts in Batman's head. Thomas Wayne himself implored Bruce to take off the cowl and live a normal life. Thomas doesn't want to be avenged. Batman has been affected by these events.

Joshua Williamson has done an excellent job at switching it around completely, surprising me, and shows us that The Button also affected Barry in a huge way: Reverse-Flash can come back at any time, and what can Barry do to stop him from killing every single person in his life that he cares about?

Williamson and letterer Steve Wands do an excellent job at portraying Barry's anxiety. He's at his birthday party and is surrounded by those he loves. Wands placed the thought boxes strategically, emphasising the other things Barry is thinking about. Williamson portrays Thawne almost like a horror movie villain. He makes it seem like Thawne can pop out of any corner at any time. Hal Jordan, my favourite Green Lantern, also makes an appearance in this book and Williamson and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico do a good job at highlighting the similarities between Barry and Hal, in that they both use their rings to activate their costumes and so forth. Barry and Hal apparently new each other prior to the beginning of the New 52 Justice League series, so it's nice to see Williamson acknowledge continuity.

Carmine Di Giandomenico's art fits this book so well. The kinetic nature of Flash's powers are captured brilliantly and it provides a very unique look that separates it from the other DC titles.

Williamson provides the very best issue of this series yet, as he teases us with the presence of Reverse-Flash in a creepy and brilliant way. It's nice to have Di Giandomenico back on the book since his artwork is always sublime, and I'm so pumped for this summer's big arc.