The Flash #66 Plays A Trick On Us
by Tony Thornley
One of the best things about The Flash is his villains. The Rogues are probably the greatest group of villains in the DC universe (sorry Batman). That means any of them getting a spotlight is a welcome breather from the normal action of the series, and that’s exactly what The Flash #66 is.
Joshua Williamson, Scott Kolins, Luis Guerrero, and Steve Wands put the spotlight this issue on one of the more underrated Rogues, Trickster!
James Jesse narrates his upbringing, focusing on his childhood as a Dick Grayson wannabe and his later career as a Rogue. He draws multiple parallels between the two eras, as he was a studious child afraid of heights. But in both eras, not everything is as it appears…
Williamson introduces Trickster as a con man in the third line of dialogue in the issue. It’s a fantastic narrative choice, because the entire issue is actually a con by an unreliable narrator. Jesse tries to paint himself as a put-upon outcast, and you start to sympathize with him for that, then the issue suddenly twists and reveals the character for what he truly is. You the reader were being conned and it’s actually incredibly satisfying.
Kolins’ expressive and cartoony style looks great here. He’s a little bit looser than normal in this issue, and it helps the chaotic tone of the character and the tale he’s telling. Guerrero’s colors add to this, using bright colors and light to help the carnival style that Kolin’s art evokes.
After a mythology heavy story and the emotional arc of the last two arcs, this standalone was a welcome change of pace, and a great return for an underappreciated villain.
The Flash #66 is available now from DC Comics.
