In devasting blows, but it ended with Barry determined to use science to defeat his enemy. Armed with his greatest enemy's weapons with some major alterations, the Scarlet Speedster confronts Wally West, whose body is still being used by the villain Famine.
In the latest issue, which is part of DC's two-month Future State event, Barry writes a journal stating his thoughts on the utilizing his host's powers and body. The killer speedster has been busy taking out of Intergang, Syndicate operatives, and of Leviathan.
In Future State: The Flash #2 by Brandon Vietti, Brandon Peterson, Will Conrad, Mike Atiyeh, and Steve Wands, The Flash is able to split Wally from Famine by using Captain Cold's gun that he had modified. Barry's altered fuel renders Wally's body useless and Famine bursts out of his body revealing his true demonic form. It's at this point that Famine reveals a shocking truth. That the Flash-Family's sacrifices had been in vain as he reveals that it's the "famine of hope itself" that powers him. Barry realizes that he had been strengthening him the whole time. But the greatest and most detrimental realization Barry has is that when they were in Wally's mind it wasn't Famine that broke Jay Garrick, he just fed on his loss of hope in Barry. Essentially, in this dystopic future, Jay died because of Barry and his failed leadership.
This moment shakes Barry to his core, as emphasized by the artwork which showcases blurred fragments of traumatic memories. Not only did he fail as a friend, but also as a hero. His 'heroic' efforts to save Wally were a waste and they would've been better off not even trying. But the hero in Barry made him ask for the team's help. He unknowingly caused the death of friends as Famine led him into his trap, killing Jay. If Barry had been a better leader, Jay perhaps would be still standing. However, luckily for the Flash Family, the future they experience in this issue is just one of the many possible outcomes. Hopefully, as the characters return to DC's main timeline they will see a brighter future ahead.
Ultimately, his heroic drive caused much damage, but he may still be the hero we know him to be. As he is turned into a ghost, Famine uses the speed force to push Barry to the edge of time. But what he leaves behind may just be the key to saving the world from the Four Horsemen Rider's. His Flash ring is picked up by Cybeast, a member of the Teen Titans. The inside of his ring contains all of his intel on the Riders and as Cybeast says "Barry's given us a fighting chance for a better tomorrow." Make sure to read Future State: Teen Titans to see what happens to Barry Allen and if his data turns out to be the answer to their Famine problem.
