From the publisher: His name is Wally West-and he was the Fastest Man Alive. That is, until the Multiverse was rewritten without him or his family in it. Wally returned and tried to make it work, but the damage was done. Spinning out of the events of HEROES IN CRISIS, follow the man who called himself Flash on an adventure to find redemption in a cosmos that has fought so hard to destroy him.
When Heroes in Crisis ended, Wally West was a mess. He was responsible for the deaths of a number of heroes, including one of his best friends. He was ready to cover everything up by killing a future version of himself. And he was still heartbroken over the loss of his wife and kids due to the events of the New 52 (more on that later). Wally simply wanted to pay for his crimes, forget about being a hero, and wallow in self-pity.
When Scott Lobdell's Flash Forward #1 (of 6) begins, Wally is in Blackgate Prison, awaiting his trial. He has a power dampener collar on, and a bunch of angry, revenge seeking inmates after him. Meanwhile, someone or something known as Tempus Feuget realizes the multiverse is in danger from the dark multiverse, and that only the Flash can save it. Enter Wally West, who is recruited and given a mission he doesn't want. He must stop whatever it is that is corrupting the 52 alternate realities of the multiverse, and if he is successful, he just might find redemption and forgiveness along the way.
I like Wally West. I hate what has become of him during these continuity reboots. More than maybe any other hero, Wally West was changed/effected by the New 52. With the Rebirth event, I was hopeful that Wally would return and resume his familiar place as a hero who brings light and joy to balance his more cynical friends. However, it doesn't seem to be, at least for the present. Wally was basically forgotten by everyone, and even with Rebirth, his marriage to Linda Park never existed, which means that his children never existed, either. But, Wally remembers everything, and it's this knowledge that drives him to Sanctuary, where he accidentally kills a group of heroes (see Heroes in Crisis). What has happened to Wally is one of the sadder stories I've read in comics, and I really want to see him rebound and find his place in the superhero world. That's the reason I picked up Flash Forward #1, and so far, Lobdell has got him going in the right direction. This first issue is all set-up for what will follow, and it has hooked me sufficiently. In fact, the plot seems intriguing, but even if it's just "okay", I'm going to be reading and cheering for Wally. If anyone deserves a little redemption, it's Wally West.
I would recommend Flash Forward #1 by Scott Lobdell to anyone who is a fan of the Flash and Wally West in particular. If you wondered what the fallout from Heroes in Crisis would be, this story is the first step in showing that. I'm looking forward to seeing what Lobdell has in store for the Flash.
I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.
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