Flash #65

Will we finally get real conflict between Batman and Flash?

SPOILERS AHEAD

Yes and no. While the two of them do get heated it doesn't feel like it will really factor in other titles unless King decides to reference this in HIC. Likewise the connection to Kings' Bane plot is hinted at but Batman doesn't know who made Gotham Girl attack. She can't remember and she's put into a healing tank until King decides to do something with her. 

Williamson does continue his plot with Iris with a familiar twist that while done to death in superhero comics genuinely caught me off guard. She decides to leave Barry after overhearing his conversation with Gotham Girl. At this point it seemed like their relationship was too solid to be destroyed making her choice to leave shocking. Despite not being a fan of this trope I think it was done in a way that doesn't feel cheap or obvious. Mostly because Iris was been the rock for this family and it's understandable that she's finally reached her breaking point. Her smack to Batmans' face does feel well earned although it's a little odd that he wasn't among the people that actually took Wally to Sanctuary. Not that Bruce hasn't earned it for building the place, it's security. etc. I'm just curious how Iris would react to Clark and Diana in his stead. 

I don't really have a strong connection to Gotham Girl's story so her only importance, to me as a reader, is solely on how she effects Bruce and Barry. She's a strong parallel of their mutual losses with children they have trained and failed. Which is what drives the wedge further between them.

Barry actually gets a lot of good moments in his verbal hits against Bruce. I especially like the rephrasing of the greatest trick the devil ever pulled line being turned into a dig about Batman fooling people into believing he always has a plan. Barry thinks the price their loved ones pay isn't worth it and it gets a little petty by bringing up dead Robins. It's familiar ground, sure it's a big dig to Bruce but I would have been more impressed if Barry brought up recent screw ups. Because Bruce hasn't been a good mentor or father to most of his Robins lately.

Besides Wally already did the bad mentor/father dig better back when he had kids and called out Bruce for trying to tell him how to raise kids when Bruce already went through four Robins. And Barry showing Bruce that he would kick his ass with ease? Yeah, I'm not even into all of Wallys' old issues yet but I remember a similar moment with Wally that I think was executed better. Wally managed to get out of Bruces' grip, change into his Flash costume and return. He told Bruce that the only reason he could touch him was because Wally allowed it.

Don't get me wrong, I like to see others show that Bruce isn't perfect. That he can't plan for everything or beat everyone. It's just easy to see why Flash fans--Wally West fans--are so frustrated with Barry. It feels like he's using similar story beats without having the same impact. As for Bruce, his reply to the Robin dig is pretty petty.

Barry couldn't help the fact he forgot about Wally, everyone did. And Bruce really doesn't have much of a leg to stand on given his treatment of his Robins. He's ignoring three of them that need him. While he acted nicer to Jason last time they met he has done nothing to fix their estrangement. He hasn't tried to figure out why Jason "broke" their deal much less help with his trauma. Damian has made it clear that he disagrees with how the Justice League handles things and Bruce is letting him do whatever he wants?

We flashforward to see Batman talking about someone he supposedly knows better than anyone else that could have other supporters among their allies. Another plotline to worry about for a later time although it's curious that it's brought up in an issue where their talking about failing their loved ones.

This arc was uneven in tone and I would have appreciated more tension than we got. Iris was one of the strongest points for this story. The other was the moments connected to Wally and the characters grief. I don't care about Kings' Bane plot and Gotham Girls' mental state was extreme--then it wasn't? I'm glad I read this but at the same time I don't think it was nearly as strong as it could be. The limitations for what Williamson was allowed to do feel pretty clear.

Did You Notice?: I don't think it was intentional (maybe it was?) but the tank Gotham Girl ends up in does remind me of the Jason Todd case.