The prevous parts of this review can be found here; PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, & PART 5.  And the next two parts are here; PART 7 & PART 8

The Flash 45: Thunderdome

I’d like to note that there are other pencillers on this comic and so the art is slightly different from the previous ones, though you can tell Booth’s work.

The downtown precinct is currently covered with a dome of frozen atoms thanks to Block, and everything is slowly being destroyed by a lightning spitting machine / bomb that was triggered by the Flash using his powers. Captain Darryl Frye of the CCPD is busy pointing his gun at the Flash (aka Barry Allen) because so far it looks like their predicament is all his fault. The Flash pushes Darryl out of the way of a lightning bolt, but it doesn’t make him any nicer. Luckily David Singh, head of the crime lab, steps in to defend the Flash, and they decide that the bomb squad could detonate the device. This isn’t going to work though cause of the atom dome, which is apparently at absolute zero, meaning that they don’t have anything hot enough to ignite the oxygen it is made of. Wally West has a great idea but no-one is willing to listen to him because he is just a kid.

Meanwhile outside the dome people are gathering. Hartley Rathaway (previously Pied Piper) is there concerned about his boyfriend David Singh. Iris West is also there for Wally. She hears her cameraman say about if a kid died then it would be a great story and so punches him in the face, threatening worse if he doesn’t shut up. She’s lucky the police are under a dome otherwise she might have been charged with assault.

But they aren’t the only ones watching events. Eobard Thawne aka Professor Zoom and his acolytes, Magali, Block, Roscoe Dillion and Xolani aka Folded Man, are also watching from a rooftop. Eobard says that the dome must remain until the whole precinct is destroyed. Magali shows concern for the innocents that may be trapped inside, but Eobard assures her that the sacrifice is nothing compared to the people they’ll save by destroying the Flash. She is still doubtful though as she has only seen the Flash try to help. Eobard explains it away, saying that they have seen enough evidence over their centuries together though I doubt that is true considering she has doubts.

Inside the dome, Wally is sick of being ignored. His friend Tim is hurt and in need of a doctor and so he resolves to put his plan into action even if no-one will help. So he sets off to the garage to do so. The Flash notices that Wally is missing and goes to try and find him. But Wally has attached one of the magnesium engine blocks to the front of a truck and set it alight, remembering that it burns so hot that a fire-crew can’t put it out. He announces over the tannoy his plan and Barry races to join him. The Flash saves Wally, letting the truck crash the dome. He’s about to give him a lecture about being reckless but then they realise that Wally’s plan is actually working.

The Flash quickly starts collecting people, including Darryl who protests, and putting them outside the dome. However, using his speed is still feeding the lighting machine/bomb and it explodes just as he gets the last person out. Hartley spots David and they reunite with a kiss. He pulls back, not wanting to embaress David considering their last argument was about David wanting to keep their relationship secret. But it turns out that the explosion was a wake-up call and David loves Hartley too much to care what others think. I find their whole relationship really sweet. Darryl finds the Flash and has a go at him, but Barry has finally reached the end of his rope and shouts back before dashing off in search of Professor Zoom.

Professor Zoom is in his tower watching as Henry finishes the device he kidnapped him to build. It turns out that it is a power stealing glove. You simply thrust the needle fingers into a powered person and it drains their power transferring it to the wearer. Obviously Henry tries to use it on Eobard, but he is far too fast and easily gets it off him.

Eobard then goes onto explain that the glove isn’t to stop the Flash but to take his power. Magali turns up and having overheard this is absolutely appalled. She vows to stop Eobard, reaching for him so that she can age him, but he grabs her with the glove and takes her power. He gloats, saying about how he hated relying on her power to keep him young and how he plans to take each of his acolyte’s powers. He leaves her for dead with Henry locked in that room.
And that is where this one ends. Next part tomorrow.