Death of the Justice League Has Already Broken The Flash | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Justice League Incarnate #5, now on sale from DC Comics

The Flash is one of DC's most important heroes, with his powers even shattering lines across the multiverse (such as in his upcoming DC Extended Universe appearance in The Flash). But his comics counterpart has been caught in a trap that he can't -- and won't -- escape.

The Flash's appearance in Justice League Incarnate #5 by Joshua Williamson, Dennis Culver, Andrei Bressan, Jesus Merino, Hi-Fi, and Tom Napolitano confirms he's still trapped in his own personal "paradise" reality by Pariah -- and that he's willing to fight his former allies to stay there, suggesting the hero has been truly broken ahead of the upcoming Dark Crisis.

In the ruins of Earth-7, the beginnings of the upcoming Dark Crisis come to light. While the battle between Darkseid and the Empty Hand drags them into the realm of the Great Darkness, the remnants of Justice Incarnate decide to venture in and rescue the Barry Allen of Earth-0. But they don't find him in a mysterious prison or some dark hell, but rather suburbia. Found by the Wallace West of this world, they're brought over to the Flash as he mows the lawn. When the heroes try to explain to Barry that he's in a prison, he responds that he's in paradise. Even when Calvin Ellis tries to reveal the truth to Barry, the Flash's eyes crackle with energy, and he attacks Superman before fleeing into his simple home with this world's version of his family.

Before the heroes can try again, though, the arrival of Pariah forces Doctor Multiverse to pull them from the Oblivion Machine long enough to return to the multiverse proper. As Avery and Captain Carrot note, this means that they've been forced to leave Flash in a prison that he's come to see as heaven. What's notable is that, in the past, the Flash has resisted similar deceptions and temptations. A major element of Barry Allen in the present is that he's overcome the drive to save his family above all else, which had resulted in the dark timeline of Flashpoint. Since the events of that multiverse shaking event, Barry has been trying to juggle his own desires and his heroic duties. But it seems that Pariah has been able to break Barry of any remaining resolve he had in resisting those temptations.

It's an especially troubling development, considering the importance Barry has in the current DC Universe. On top of being an ally to the Totality, his powers make him a powerful conduit for forces like Darkseid or the Great Darkness to control. Even just not being on the battlefield might leave the heroes at a disadvantage. There's even the chance that Barry could be convinced to fight against the rest of the multiverse's heroes in an attempt to keep Earth-Flash.1. alive. There's also the seemingly fated fall of the Justice League to the armies of the Great Darkness -- which apparently comes about because of Pariah and the Great Darkness using Barry Allen as bait for the Justice League,

It's an especially dour direction for the Flash to go, especially in light of his past actions. Flashpoint was a horrifying experience for the multiverse, with ripples from that event still coursing through the multiverse. The Flash being trapped in an idyllic world akin to what he likely wanted Flashpoint to result in is a diabolical move by Pariah. But what makes matters worse is Barry's refusal to see the truth and the speed by which he attacks his former allies to remain trapped there. It's truly a heartbreaking development, an indication that the Fastest Man Alive doesn't have the patience to be the hero he's supposed to be. It's a sign that the Flash has been broken on a fundamental level, leaving one of DC's most powerful and important heroes more or less sidelined going into a massive conflict.

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Brandon Zachary (4585 Articles Published)

Brandon Zachary is an Associate Writer with Comic Book Resources and has written for CBR since 2018. He covers breakouts on comics, film, television, video games, and anime. He also conducts industry interviews, is a Rotten Tomatoes certified film critic, and knows SO MUCH about the X-Men. For requests, comments, or to hear his pitch for a third Avatar series that incorporates robots, you can contact him through bs.zachary@gmail.com.