Still not scanning Cobalt Blue, but oh well.

Well, yesterday's "Strange Adventures" post was supposed to be today, but I lucked out and found a book I was thinking of after last week's Impulse post: Speed Force #1, "Burning Secrets" Written by Mark Waid, pencils by Jim Aparo, inks by Bill Sienkiewicz.

The lead story is Wally narrating a flashback to his Kid Flash days, as he and Barry are having a hard time with the previously unseen Cobalt Blue. Armed with a mysterious flaming sword, Blue is somehow stealing their speed; worse, he knows who they are and their origin. As Blue monologues, Barry makes an educated guess: Blue's sword/flame can't steal their power, unless they use it. At which point, Blue fills a spare Flash costume with the flame, which chases the heroes around Central City.

As their speed is drained, Barry seems to realize something: he touches Wally, and they both regain control. Cobalt Blue is (seemingly) consumed by his own flame, and everything seems fine...except Barry is a bit freaked out. Barry never really knew what the Speed Force was (since it was a later addition to the Flash mythos, discovered by Wally) but realized there might be more to their speed than "electrified chemicals." He wonders if they're even human, and Wally, well:

Wally has no doubt in his mind.

Pretty solid, even though I'll call it a cheat for the new villain to know the hero's secret identity as a quick way to establish the villain's bad-assedness. OK, not even close to a word there, but you know what I mean. Hush and Conduit knew the hero's ID too, and look how great they turned out.