Zoom’s plan to destroy the image of the Flash before killing him continues. A large portion of Central City is trapped beneath a dome of the Flash’s own energy and it is up to him to find a way to get everyone out alive.

The story again builds on Zoom’s plan to kill the Flash by destroying his reputation. By having the Flash be the power source for the dome, he hopes that he can turn the city against him. It works too. Captain Frye of the police force instantly sees him as an enemy. But, it does not make much sense. The entire story is full of leaps of logic that take away from the narrative. The captain blames the Flash for the dome, even though, he witnessed the Flash trigger a trap that was plainly set for him by the villains. Even after saving people, the Captain still believes he cannot be trusted for no sound reason. The twist ending also leads to a leap of logic which makes the entire story before it pointless. The final reveal could have happened the exact same way without the dome ever being a part of Zoom’s master plan. On the more positive side, Wally West’s growth as a heroic figure continues to be the most interesting part of this comic. As all of the adults around him continue to lose their cool, he is the only one able to stay calm and find a solution to their predicament.

The artwork is strong throughout. The dome creates a background of scarlet and lightning which adds a layer of tension and movement to almost every panel. Facial expressions are well portrayed and match very well the large scope of feelings being presented by the characters. The panel layouts are also visually striking and add a sense of chaos to the rapid movements of the Flash and Zoom.

Overall, The Flash #45 is a letdown that does not build on the story of the last few issues. The ending panel makes the entire Zoom arc so far irrelevant and over complicated. What could have been a fun action survival story turns into a waste of time as the narrative shift makes the entire affair seem pointless.

Story: Van Jensen Art: Brett Booth, Vicente Cifuentes, Ale Garza
Story: 6 Art: 7.5 Overall: 6.75 Recommendation: Pass