Some thoughts about The Flash #66

What is the Trickster's biggest trick?

James Jesse has been forgotten for a long time but now that he's back he's ready to do what he always wanted, impress others.

We're finally revisiting a plot-point that was teased a while ago. The return of James Jesse, the classic Trickster, was one of the best moments from The Flash last year and I'm happy to say that this doesn't disappoint.

The premise is just like one Geoff Johns' classic flashbacks featuring the Rogues. This time we learn about the past of the original Trickster and I must say that I was initially fearing that Williamson was telling a completely different version of what Johns originally teased around the end of his first Flash run, particularly the phrase where he described James: "Why does he have to hurt other people? Why can't he just make them laugh? Because he was born rotten. He doesn't trick his mother. He will never help anyone but himself" and yes Williamson is doing different things but at the same time, there's similar basis here.

James' past is pretty much a reverse Dick Grayson origin where his parents were con people who abused him to work as a performer while they robbed the audience. This differs from what Johns initially planned but is clear that Williamson is taking huge inspiration from it once that James' mother tells him "You were born rotten" which once again proves how much Williamson does his homework. Even the things that are changed are for the better I believe since it presents Trickster as a more sympathetic figure who only wants to impress people as a way to impress his parents. The way how the issue progress is an intense mirror to his suffering and struggles and serves as a way for his return.

Williamson even goes a little meta concerning the disappearance of James in this continuity. He never died in this timeline but he was imprisoned in Iron Heights for a long time and everyone around him forgot about his existence which is a reference to how modern comic fans don't even know about him.

Scott Kolins handles the art and he's perfect here not only considering his history with the series but also because he used to do the classic Rogues origins as well. Pretty detailed work overall.

Great stuff, one of my favorite reads this week.