DCAU #229: Not Always to the Swift

IN THIS ONE... Superboy challenges Flash to a race; Nightwing goes up against a more violent vigilante.

CREDITS: Written by Steve Vance; art by John Delaney, Ron Boyd and Ray Kryssing.

REVIEW:
While Vance's 2-story issues continue to be word-intensive, cramming perhaps too much story and backstory into each installment, he produces a real comedy winner in this Flash/Superboy team-up that harks back to all those Flash-Superman racing issues. And I think it may just be one of my favorite Flash races!

It's the comedy, really. Flash vacationing with a hard-put-upon Linda as the media keeps hounding them to find out the REAL reason he's in Hawaii is fun enough. Now through a jealous and cocky Superboy into the mix wanting to prove he's still #1 even when a bigger hero - one he nevertheless has plenty in common with; I love the bit where Wally acknowledges that he once had that personality - is in town. Once the challenge is accepted, it becomes very clear that Superboy isn't even in Wally's class, and gets trolled for it. It's delightful. Usually, these races kind of end because of some threat that must be dealt with, so we never find out who won. That's fine when you're trying to make Superman save face, but since Superboy isn't a real contender, the heroes can deal with the threat, gain an appreciation for each other, and still make it to the finish line with a clear winner. EXCEPT Wally arranges it so it's so close as to be indeterminate. The cameras can't even do a proper photo-finish. It's his gift to Superboy, and he proves, at the same time, the maturity Linda questioned earlier when she told him not to humiliate the kid. I love it.
Continuing with the legacy hero theme, the back-up features Nightwing in "Bats", which is a more serious story to balance out the previous tale's humor. But it's no less a showcase for the hero's values and personality. In Blüdhaven, he bristles at the notion that crooks think he's not as scary as the other guy, and finds himself in the shadow, not of Batman, but of "Bats", a violet dishonored cop who wears the cowl and beats up bad guys with a bat, sometimes to death. It's a bit of action, with cool moody art from Delaney and Kryssing, with a strong meditative side about the use of necessary force. Superhero scribes sometimes forget the lessons Vance seems intent on teaching in these comics.

IN THE MAINSTREAM COMICS: While we saw Superboy in his mainstream DCU set-up in the Adventures Annual, we get more of his back story here, including first DCAU-style cameos for Guardian, the Newsboy Legion, and the Ravers. While Nightwing is established in the DCAU proper, they wink at his mainstream DCU title by setting his story in Blüdhaven, to which he's been "sent" rather than lives.

REREADABILITY: High - Wordiness aside, a strong issue that balances comedy and drama. Lots of fun.

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