The Good
There's always something to be said about a self-contained story. This series has seen some ongoing arcs from time to time but this is an issue that can be picked up with a resolution contained within.
Christos Gage takes over the reigns for this issue and does a nice job getting into Barry Allen's head. If there's one thing we expect from a Flash comic, it's the inner monologue from Barry. Gage touches on some topics such as the comparison between Flash and Superman in terms of speed. All this goes on as Barry is hot on the heels of a killer that also has the potential to harm several others. Instead of a typical Flash running really fast story, Gage gives us one where Barry has to think on his feet. The main problem for him here is he can't fly.
Neil Googe's art captures the vibe of the story. Even though this is a New 52 story, it almost has a timeless feel to it. This again works with the self-contained story. Spitfire felt a little cheesy but Googe's take on her and her accessories really works.
The Bad
The occasional problem with the self-contained story is you're left with a feeling of does it matter in the big picture of the character. Barry is after a villain that killed someone close to him, someone we hadn't heard of before. This is, by no means, a bad story. It just feels like a filler issue. This feeling is compounded by the announcement of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato leaving the series and later it being announced that Buccellato would be returning for a few issues. This was a good story but, unfortunately, you won't feel as if you missed anything if you don't catch the issue.
A tiny thing that bothered me was Flash running on a helicopter blade. This was a really grand moment in an issue of the Geoff Johns/Francis Manapul series and didn't have the same effect from when we first saw it.
The Verdict
What can the Flash do when a villain gets away and takes to the skies? Christos Gage puts Barry Allen in a situation we don't often see where running fast isn't always the answer. Gage and Neil Googe give us a self-contained story that can be enjoyed without needing to worry about any previous baggage from any New 52 stories. Unfortunately, at the same time, it feels like if you skipped this issue, you wouldn't miss any major developments in Barry Allen's life. Not all issues need to be huge game-changers and Gage shows us there isn't a case or battle too small for the Flash as a hero.
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