WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for The Flash #86, by Joshua Williamson, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Arif Prianto, Hi-Fi & Steve Wands, on sale now.
For quite some time now, the Speed Force -- the extra-dimensional force empowering speedsters like Barry Allen to become the Flash -- has been in complete disarray. After Zoom tricked Barry and Wally West into running so fast against each other that the invisible barriers between the Forces shattered, Hunter Zolomon become the new fastest man alive. While Zoom was successful in heroically sacrificing himself to restore the barriers to prevent widespread destruction, the process left the Speed Force erratic and super-charged, causing a volatile reaction whenever Flash tapped into it to use his powers.
Barry's lack of control over the Speed Force comes to a head in the latest issue of The Flash, as the Scarlet Speedster confronts the self-proclaimed King Cold in a furious fight. Using Mirror Master's upgraded technology, the Rogues created a pocket dimension of Central City that they conquered and divided amongst themselves. Ultimately, the other Rogues grew tired of Captain Cold's new title and vaunted hubris, including Cold's sister Golden Glider. The villainous ensemble sided with Barry, helping him as his speed was brought to controllable levels thanks to the cold field energy that permeated throughout the villain's region of the city. As Cold was defeated, Mirror Master and Golden Glider shattered the mirror powering the alternate dimension, restoring Central City to normal. However, the fight didn't end there, with Flash showing a frightening new transformation.
As the Flash and Golden Glider confronted Captain Cold in their restored hometown, the villain threatened to hunt down and kill Barry's entire family. Having grown up in the shadow of his mother's tragic murder by the Reverse-Flash and endured threats on his family ever since becoming a superhero, Barry snaps and fully taps into the Speed Force, resulting in him transforming from a Scarlet Speedster into a Golden one and beating Cold to within an inch of his life.
Before Barry can finish off Cold once and for all, a horrified Golden Glider intervenes and saves her older brother from the Flash's wrath. Glider's signature wraps restrain Barry long enough for the superhero to regain his senses and normal appearance. However, he's shaken by his own violent actions. Realizing that his strained, heightened connection to the Speed Force makes him just as big a threat to the entire DC Universe as the Rogues, Barry voluntarily surrenders himself to the authorities to presumably be incarcerated until he can control his powers.
Barry's newly discovered golden form is visibly reminiscent of the Dragon Ball franchise's Super Saiyans or, perhaps more aptly, Sonic the Hedgehog when he uses the Chaos Emeralds and his own raw speed to transform into Super Sonic. In this golden state, Barry's power and speed are significantly boosted at the expense of raised violent impulses and erratic behavior -- which is not dissimilar from the behavior changes associated with other franchises' golden transformations.
While Central City may be restored and saved from Captain Cold's oppressive rule, Barry Allen has much more personal things to worry about. The Speed Force is still visibly in flux and it's begun to affect the Flash's personality, making him more of a liability than a superhero. The full extent of Barry's golden transformation has yet to be seen, including if it will persist beyond the Speed Force getting repaired. But in the meantime, Flash needs to be reined in before he actually begins to irrevocably cross lines.
The Flash #87 releases Jan. 29 from DC Comics.