The Flash Vol. 2 #73
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Summary
This issue is The Flash Vol. 2 #73, published in February 1993, written by Mark Waid with art by Greg LaRocque. It opens the celebrated arc "The Return of Barry Allen" (issues #73–79), and the story is titled "One Perfect Gift." On Christmas Eve, Wally West accompanies his girlfriend Linda Park to the home of the original Flash, Jay Garrick. Unable to sit still, Wally and Jay put on their costumes and run through the snowy city, doing small good deeds along the way. They rescue Maria, a pregnant woman about to give birth who nearly gets hit by a car, and learn that her husband Joey, having lost his job, plans to rob the department store where he works to support his family. Jay stays to look after Maria while Wally races off to stop him. Moved by a little boy's Christmas wish, Joey wants to return the money, but runs into his armed accomplice; Wally arrives in time to subdue the men and takes Joey to a church to reunite with his wife and child. Back home, just as Wally unwraps Linda's gift, the doorbell rings—and there stands Barry Allen. That moment sets the fuse for the turbulent arc to come.
Editor's review
这一册篇幅不长，却分量极重：它既是温馨的圣诞小品，又是马克·韦德闪电侠经典篇章的引爆点。前半部分是雪夜里两位闪电侠并肩奔跑、替普通人收拾生活残局的小故事：失业父亲、临产妻子、被枪口顶住的圣诞老人，把超级英雄漫画最动人的一面——英雄并不只打外星人，也替凡人挡下生活的意外——写得轻巧而暖。末页门铃响起、巴里·艾伦出现在门口的那一格，是整个九十年代闪电侠最重要反转的起点。对想从单期入手感受韦德笔下沃利·韦斯特的读者，这是一册短小却关键的样本；对系统追连载的读者，它是理解沃利如何从“替补”成长为真正闪电侠的必要起点。
Who it's for
A good fit for
- 正在系统追读《闪电侠》第二卷连载、想补齐第73期的读者
- 喜欢马克·韦德编剧风格、想看他笔下沃利·韦斯特的漫画迷
- 偏爱节日主题小故事、喜欢温馨日常向超级英雄漫画的读者
- 对「巴里·艾伦归来」经典篇章起源感兴趣的研究型读者
Not a good fit for
- 只读单册完整长故事、不愿从连载中间入手的读者
- 期待独立完整篇章、不打算继续读第74期以后内容的读者
Reading tips
- 建议先读第71、72期了解沃利与琳达的处境，再进入本期会更顺畅
- 读完本期务必接第74—79期，才能看到「巴里·艾伦归来」真正的故事全貌
- 读时留意末页门铃一幕，这是作者刻意埋下的钩子，不必急于翻查后续剧透
- 若手边有第二卷合订本，可对照合订本中该篇章的编排顺序一起阅读
FAQ
这一册是完整的独立故事吗？
不完全是。本期正文是相对独立的圣诞故事「One Perfect Gift」，但结尾巴里·艾伦出现那一幕，是「巴里·艾伦归来」篇章（第73—79期）的开篇钩子，建议继续读后续各期。
没读过前面几期能直接读第73册吗？
可以。本期主体是节日向小故事，主要人物关系（沃利、琳达、杰伊）交代清楚；但涉及沃利对前任闪电侠的复杂心理时，读过前面几期会理解更深。
这一册的主角是巴里·艾伦还是沃利·韦斯特？
主角是第三代闪电侠沃利·韦斯特。巴里·艾伦只在末页露面，作为整个篇章的引子；本期真正着墨的是沃利与杰伊·加里克的雪夜奔跑。
适合作为闪电侠漫画的入门读物吗？
作为入门可以，但并非首选。它更适合已对角色有基本认识、想深入九十年代连载的读者；完全新人建议从某一篇章的合订本开始读。
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