DC released part of the lenticular cover to “The Flash” #22, the final part of their four-part crossover event ‘The Button’ today which showcases none other than the return of the original Flash, Jay Garrick. The crossover between “The Flash” and “Batman” begins in April with “Batman” #21 and will center around the Rebirth mystery of the bloodstained button Batman found in the Batcave in “DC Universe: Rebirth” #1.
The smiley face button in question is of course The Comedian’s symbol from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s “Watchmen,” which somehow made its way over to the DCU. ‘The Button’ promises to elucidate the answers to some of the ongoing Watchmen related mystery and is the next chapter in the ongoing Rebirth saga following the recently wrapped up “Justice League vs Suicide Squad” event.
This raises the question though, what is Jay Garrick’s role in this crossover? And does this mark the return of the rest of the Justice Society of America?
Garrick, whose Flash debut began in the Golden Age in the 1940s, has been a founding member of the JSA and ongoing mentor for Barry Allen and Wally West among others. His return was teased in “The Flash” #9 back in October as Barry had a vision of his helmet in the Speed Force.
The return of the JSA, meanwhile, has been teased since as early as “DC Universe: Rebirth” #1 in May 2016. Since The New 52 began the group has been absent, and de-aged versions of those have appeared in “Earth 2” and “Earth 2: Society” respectively. The latter of those series will wrap in March and it is unclear if it will lead directly into a new JSA.
Plotted by Geoff Johns, and written by Tom King and Joshua Williamson with art from Jason Fabok and Howard Porter, ;The Button’ is shaping up to be a must-read series. Between this cover, the “Batman” #22 cover teasing a “Flashpoint” related issue, and the ongoing mystery of the blood-stained button, there’s no telling where this series is headed. Also what will be on the other half of the lenticular cover?
“The Flash” #22 comes out May 10.
