Geoff Johns has been building to this storyline pretty much since he took over the title, and fortunately, it was not much ado about nothing. There's a real tension and a sense that something big and important is happening in the world of the Flash. The plotting is multi-faceted. This isn't about hero versus villain. There are more than two sides to this coin. We have two teams of Rogues, the Flash, Zoom and the cops. On top of that, despite the long buildup and the large cast of characters, Johns offers an accessible jumping-on point for new readers. One needn't be up on Flash history in order to follow along. This is shaping up to be a classic Flash storyline.
Captain Cold's Rogues launch an assault on the F.B.I. facility in Chicago that serves as the headquarters of James Jesse's Rogues team, but Cold's men are out to do more than rustle their former colleagues' feathers. They're looking for the original Capt. Boomerang's body, but they fail, as it's been squirreled away someplace safe. Meanwhile, Wally West and Linda Park anxiously await some important news while their thoughts also drift to the whereabouts and unknown plans of Zoom, who has rained tragedy down on the couple in the past.
Porter's exaggerated, angular style suits the tone of the story quite well. There's a harshness here, as the story focuses on the Rogues and the darker, deadlier tone that's enveloped the characters lately. Porter brings out that harshness and the characters' brutality quite well. The "good" group of Rogues boasts almost alien looks, for the most part, and that's in keeping with the emotional disconnect some of the characters feel. The hockey scene is far too sketchy in terms of detail, and that rough, vague quality means the scene doesn't seem as realistic and down to earth as what is called for.
Speaking of the hockey scene, Johns needs to watch a little more ESPN. That way, he'd know there's no pro NHL hockey season this year due to a dispute between players and management. That's a minor point, though. One scene that does detract from the story is the full-page recap of Gotham Central characters' recent visit to Keystone. I realize that Johns is trying to demonstrate that Keystone's super-villains are powerful and unlike most of the DC Universe's other villains. But ultimately, it comes off as unneeded, as a marketing ploy to get readers to pick up another title.
The narration is what makes the story work so well. Cold's anger shines through, and it makes his cruelty easier to understand. I like that the "heroic" Rogues really don't seem all that heroic. Their use for Capt. Boomerang's body is a travesty, and their methods make it clear that their reformations aren't nearly as complete or permanent as we were led to believe. I like that Zoom is a wild card in the mix here. I have no idea where this storyline is going, and I can't wait to find out. 8/10
