- For the titular character, see Nathan Bliss.
"The Talented Mr. Bliss" is the fifth chapter of the comic book series The Flash: Season Zero, and the fifth chapter in the Freak Show arc. It was released digitally on November 3, 2014.
Synopsis[]
Held captive by a band of circus freaks, the Flash's attempt to contact S.T.A.R. Labs is thwarted—and the origin of the dastardly Mr. Bliss is revealed![1]
Plot[]
Mr. Bliss described his childhood, having come from a family who didn't love him. After the circus came to town one day, he ran away with it. It was filled with a number of performers such as clowns, a snake lady, a strongman, a sword-swallower and a man who could lift the boy up with "his mind".
The Flash interrupted the story, claiming it to be boring. Mr. Bliss, on the other hand, believed that Barry had to understand his circumstances. The Flash attempted to contact Caitlin and Cisco, but Mr. Bliss had disabled his communications, before placing him in a cage.
Getting back to his story, Mr. Bliss reminisced of the day he'd become ringmaster. He was proud of his former ability to awe the audience, to make them feel something, however eventually the audience began to turn on them; rather than being fascinated, they were freaked out, one by one not returning to the circus, gradually thinning out the audience. Eventually the circus' deed was taken, forcing them to close down. However, soon their luck was changed by a "bright light", some of them being affected by it: for example some became stronger, and some could control animals.
The Flash was amazed at the extent to which they had gone to get their lease back, though Bliss claimed to have far bigger plans. The Flash attempted to explain how he used his powers for good, though they were determined to amuse themselves over the misery of the city, rather than vice versa. Suddenly, not wanting it to happen, The Flash vibrated his hands so fast that he broke out of his cage. However, before he could do anything, Mr. Bliss revealed his powers: the ability to control how people felt, both mentally and physically. He caused Barry to writhe on the ground in pain before letting him get up, only to cause a hallucination of his mother, who soon turned in to a fiery monster.
Gallery[]
References[]
The Flash: Season Zero | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | "The Strongman Cometh" • "Who Let the Chimps Out?" | |||
#2 | "A Goodnight Hiss" • "Big Top Brawl" | |||
#3 | "The Talented Mr. Bliss" • "A Captive Audience" | |||
#4 | "Showtime" • "The Big Finale" | |||
#5 | Smoak Signals #9 • Smoak Signals #10 | |||
#6 | "Bite Marks" • "Shark Bait" | |||
#7 | "Fish Fry" • "Blood Loss" | |||
#8 | "A Little Help from Some Friends" • "The Impossible Mission" | |||
#9 | "A Minor Setback" • "A New Home" | |||
#10 | "Black Star" • "Day in the Life" | |||
#11 | "Of Fire and Ice" • "Of Ice and Fire" | |||
#12 | Mentors and Meltdown #23 • Mentors and Meltdown #24 |