It’s a triple threat match between Flash, Zoom, and the Black Flash for all the money, in The Flash #80, written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Scott Kolins, and colors by Luis Guerrero. Previously, Barry Allen realized the Speed Force was being killed by the presence of the three new Forces (Strength, Sage, and Still). While searching for a way to save it, the Black Flash --the deathlike embodiment of the Speed Force--showed up, attempting to kill the avatars of the other Forces, and succeeded in murdering Psych, the young man empowered by the Sage Force. Barry, realizing that he must save the new Force users, even if it means giving up the Speed Force, launched into action against the Black Flash. Then, things got even more complicated when Zoom, the only person to have mastered all of the Forces, showed up out of nowhere and kidnapped the Still Force user, Steadfast. Now, the Flash must save Steadfast from Zoom, while also protecting him from the Black Flash, and his odds aren’t looking too good.

Williamson has done a spectacular job ratcheting up the threat level for Barry Allen in this arc, and that’s saying a lot, considering he started his story with the premise of the Speed Force dying. Adding in the Black Flash, and then pulling in Zoom as a secondary threat really makes it feel like this one is for all the marbles. The only thing that could have made matters even more dire actually happens at the end of this issue. Williamson has only improved over his time on this book, and this chapter is proof (80 issues into his run) that he’s not showing any signs of slowing down.

Another positive in this issue is the return of Iris West. Williamson has done wonders for making her an integral part of Barry’s life again. So much that the Flash just isn’t the same without her there to be his better half now. Hopefully, he’ll continue to find new ways to have Iris be the center of Barry’s life, much like Waid did with Linda in his legendary run on the Wally West Flash series.

Kolins returns to his old stomping grounds this issue, and he hasn’t missed a beat since his days as a regular Flash artist. Any other time, he is a welcome addition to the book, but five issues into a story where Rafa Sandoval has been killing it on art duties, his coming aboard just seems disruptive. Surely, it couldn’t be helped, and Sandoval just needed a break to catch up on his next issue, but the two artists’ styles are so different, it just can’t come across as anything but a stumble in storytelling with such a sudden switch up. Nevertheless, if you are going to switch to another artist, editorial made the best choice they could have in putting a tried and true Flash artist in as a pinch hitter. Combined with Guerrero on colors, these two artists make Zoom (a character Kolins co-created), and Black Flash comes to life, scarier than they’ve ever been.

If you haven’t been picking up the Flash, this story arc is a great jumping on point. Especially, considering how much of a fresh start Williamson seems to be giving Barry Allen, and how much he is doing to catch readers up to all of the fun, new additions he has been making to the Flash lore lately. Under Williamson, this book is experiencing a revival that can only be likened to the days of Johns and Waid. If you were a fan of those runs, now is the time to catch back up with an old favorite

Grade: A+