The Flash Annual #3 is a pretty good continuation from last week's Flash issue and kicks off several interesting storylines for the new run. Outside of some questionable choices in areas, this was a good issue and you may want to give it a look. Though if you are one of those fans that refuses to read this book because of Wally West's change, then you probably will be skipping this, even though the comic is solid. Read Full Review

The Flash Annual #3 does a good job of showing readers where and how Venditti and Jensen want to take the book.  The reader gets to see a little more of Wally West and his brief interaction with Barry.  The art is good overall, but it's Brett Booth's future scenes that impress and show how bad it gets for Barry.  The Future of the book is in good hands. Read Full Review

A strong start to what looks to be a very exciting time travel story, The Flash Annual #3 does suffer from multiple artists, if only because the regular series artist far overshadows the guest. And in a sense, the drama behind the re-introduction of Wally West at such a young age and with a different physical appearance also overshadows whats just a really great story. But thats, at least, something the reader can control if he or she will see past any pre-conceived notions. The future is literally now. Lets see where it takes us. Read Full Review

Brett Booth draws the darker future timeline, and it provides a great dichotomy with the Central City of the present. Booth just wrapped up an extended run on "Nightwing" so he knows exactly how to draw angry, night-based heroes, which strangely applies to future Barry. Booth's style is very realistic, and is apt for the grim timeline, and for making a potentially comical villain like Gorilla Grood seem pretty terrifying. Flash himself has new costume/look, which manages to seem like a gritty version of Flash's duds without going all '90's on it. The bulk of the action scenes are found in the future timeline, and Booth renders the brutal fight to a visceral level of detail. This is a far more ruthless version of Barry, and Booth's art greatly adds to the feeling of wrongness in the future. Read Full Review

Part 2 of this gripping yet heartfelt Flash story has definitely left me wanting more. Wally has still yet to play any role, but who cares, we have the incredibly bad ass future Flash and I can't wait to see what his and Wally's role is going to be as the story moves forward. And oh yeah, did I mention that blue suit? Please DC lets keep that suit around in some fashion, I don't think I'm the only one who will enjoy the change. Read Full Review

I liked the previous creative team on the series, but while the art was spectacular and the individual issues were solid enough, the direction of the over-arching storyline didnt grab me. This does. Theres a huge amount of mystery set up here, with enough conflict and intriguing plot points set up to make the reader excited to see where its all going. The idea of showing a future Barry so devastated, so changed, serves to make the present-day Barry more interesting as a counter-point. It retroactively applies depth to the character. The introduction of Wally is a nice touch, and the close of this issue does leave me eager to see this arc in full. In short, if the annual was intended to whet the readers appetite for the new direction of the book, its a resounding success. Read Full Review

But rough edges aside, The Flash Annual #3 is definitely ramping up the stakes for the Scarlet Speedster, making this one of the best issues that Barry Allen has been in since his post-Crisis resurrection. It's not enough to find new wrinkles to the Speed Force, or put Barry Allen through his action paces. You need an emotional throughline, and that's where Wally West comes in. It might not be the most explosive reintroduction to the character, and given his age, he's not likely to follow in the hallowed footsteps of his pre-Flashpoint incarnation. But what he means to Barry - and what he can bring to this franchise - is more than enough to keep me interested in this time-traveling thriller. Read Full Review

Though bleak on the page, the future of The Flash is promising for fans of the Scarlett (and Electric Blue) Speedster. This oversized annual is equal parts world building and superhero action. Fans of both should definitely check this out. Read Full Review

There are some changes coming to Flash's world. With the New 52 introduction of Wally West, we are starting to see the beginning of the next chapter for Barry Allen. With a glimpse into the future, we know things get bad but it'll be up to Future Flash to try to fix things. Robert Venditti and Van Jensen are laying out the groundwork for some crazy things. The art is split between Brett Booth and Ron Frenz. The contrast between the two art styles is a little jarring but it does separate the feel of the two time periods. Fans should be patient as we find out who Wally West will be in the New 52. This is the opportunity to tell new stories instead of repeating past ones. Read Full Review

Overall, the issue is a great start for a promising arc. Hopefully we can get to see the more of Wally, and how Barry and him develop the friendship. Also, I would like to see Wally possibly becoming the new Flash, even though it means Barry might have to die… Read Full Review

The Flash Annual #3 hits fans with an interesting sci-fi premise that definitely feels worthy of our hero. While the story takes place in two different eras, it is told clearly with an easy to follow structure. That said, the story itself suffers from an emotional disconnect that makes it difficult to connect with our hero's future motivation. The annual also gives us a more fleshed out introduction to Wally West that could eventually give us the emotional attachment missing in this issue. Finally, the two artists of this issue both deliver with clear storytelling, though the final product suffers a bit from some busy designs. Read Full Review

So far the most interesting aspects of this story have been the missing time The Flash encounters every time he uses the speed force and Future Flash. Venditti and Jensen are going big with their run and putting a lot of pieces in place for whatever they have planned. While the art hasnt been particularly memorable, theres enough to keep me invested. As long as the duo can deliver on their promises, this should be the start of big things to come for The Flash. Read Full Review

With "The Flash Annual" #3 and "The Flash" #30 both under their belts, I feel like Venditti, Jensen and Booth are a good choice for the series. They've got a clear direction in mind, and so far it's playing out in a strong and pleasant manner. If you're looking to give "The Flash" a whirl, these two issues are good places to begin. Read Full Review

I can't be the only one who thinks Barry is about to be in for a huge change, right? I mean, after all, he's going back in time to kill himself! And I thought my life was complicated! Read Full Review

I think what makes Robert Venditti and Van Jensen's run on the Flash so far so compelling is that it isn't hampered by the baggage that the Green Lantern title has. Where Green Lantern has been involved in massive galaxy-sprawling storylines for years now, the Flash is a little more personal, and as a result it doesn't feel wrong for these stories to stick to that tone, as opposed to seriously shifting in tone like over in GL. With an issue and an annual under their belt, it seems the pair (along with artist Brett Booth and helpful hand Ron Frenz) have got off to a very good start. They have my attention at least " let's see if they can keep it. Read Full Review

Overall, this was a fun issue with a couple of cool fight sequences, slight revelations, two mysteries in need of solving and enough introductions to whet the appetite for more to come. Read Full Review

The annual is a wonderful chapter in Venditti and Jensens first story arc. Story threads are established nicely. Readers are given a chance to explore whats in store not only for the New 52 Wally West and the Flash but the supporting characters as well. Read Full Review

I was looking forward to the return of Wally. I didn't like what they did. Read Full Review

If you have even a passing care for any of the characters in the Flash mythology the Flash Annual #3 will probably upset you. Its full of names and (sometimes), faces we know so twisted that the recognition feels false. Everything else about the issue is so shoddily thrown together, and with such a lack of reverence for the material, that $4.99 is a ludicrous asking price. Read Full Review

I'm also going to continue complaining loudly about that awful, awful, awful yellow piping on the Flash's costume which is highlighted in every single panel of this issue whether the character is in motion or standing still. With a storyline that quickly goes off the rails and art that highlights the stupefying unnecessary shitty redesign of the character's costume (which previous artists have done their best to hide and/or ignore) there's almost nothing other than the few panels of the museum fight worth reading. Pass. Read Full Review

This comic is all over the place in terms of tone, plot and just general action. It's also incredibly hokey, whether it's Barry Allen's really terrible sense of humor or the uncertainty of what Barry's job actually entails. Read Full Review

Despite being a big fan of the Barry Allen version of the Flash, I'm about ready to drop this series - after more than two-and-a-half years, the story is going nowhere - and worse, it's dragging my hero through the mud. Hard to keep supporting that sort of thing, isn't it? Read Full Review