Rambling About the Flash!

You know, I really really am enjoying the Flash comic right now. I think it's actually starting to tie GLC and JSA as my favorite comic series at the moment.

I think it's neat. And the current approach is fairly original as superhero comics go. I always like seeing comics that try to balance a family life with superheroing, especially balancing being a responsible parent with being a superhero. I've always been a bit disappointed with how Catwoman handled it, though I think the problem there may be more that Helena's not really old enough to be more than a plot device or millstone around her mother's neck. Manhunter's great, but since Kate doesn't have primary custody of Ramsey, parenting is a plot point only when Andreyko wants it to be.

The less said about the Dinah Lance and Sin fiasco, the better. And as fond as I am of Roy and Lian, they've been on the back burner for freaking ever.

But Wally. Wally's married now. He has kids. Full time custody of the kids. He's got to balance being a good, attentive husband, being a responsible and caring father (of hyperaged superpowered children, egads!) and being a superhero. And it's neat!

I also like how the kids are incorporated into the story. They're there and they're cute and they have exciting things happen, but they don't get in the way of exciting grown-up things happening either. There's still action and danger!

I am mildly weirded out by the comic book tendancy to have children take after one parent or the other. But I am kind of amused that little Iris is the one who looks like Wally while Jai looks like Linda. (I also appreciate that the kids aren't named Barry and Iris. Then again, considering that Bart was still alive when they were born, and is already Barry's namesake, it would be unnecessary for Wally to name his own son after him.)

The new solicit perplexes me a little, since there's talk of "supporting the family". I'm reading that as financially. Though really, of the two of them, I'd always thought Wally would be a better stay at home dad. He really doesn't tend toward steady jobs, police station gig aside, and Linda's always been more career-oriented.

Then again, I suppose feeding a family of speedsters would require two incomes at least.

Anyway, I'm just really really enjoying the series! How about you?