Gutteratti Dimension Of Continuity writes with his own, thoroughly thought through Identity Crisis theory. And since last week's clearly wasn't, why not give him a go? Dimensions Of Continuity, take it away!
"The key to solving any great mystery is to connect together means, motive and opportunity. Brad Meltzer recently touched on this at the end of Identity Crisis #4. Who benefits? If I am correct, the answer to that question has an enormous twist to it.
"I believe the serial killer is Hunter Zolomon - a.k.a. Zoom. The answer has been there all along.
"Means - Hunter Zolomon made his career as a rogue profiler. He knows the various means and methods super villians use, and it would be incredibly easy for him to replicate their modus operandi as a means of misdirection (so Zolomon's work could move along with more ease). Zolomon is also now a super speedster. As a result, Zolomon can move faster than light; he can bend time. Subverting the intricate security systems would be very easy for him.
"Motive - When Zolomon went insane, he came to believe it was his duty to make heroes stronger through personal crisis. This is why Zolomon killed Wally and Linda's unborn children. However, when the Spectre mind-wiped every person on earth, Zolomon was suddenly left without his personal knowledge of the Flash. As a result, Zolomon began to carry out his original agenda with other heroes. Who benefits? In Zolomon's mind, it is the heroes who benefit. Zolomon killed Sue Dibny to make Elongated Man stronger. Zolomon attempted to kill Jean Loring to make Atom stronger. The threat to Lois? It's a little early to say, but would it truly be hard for Zolomon to determine even secret identities? Zolomon is a profiler, after all; he just never had a motive for profiling heroes until now.
"Opportunity - Just before Identity Crisis premiered, Ashley Zolomon was in a severe car wreck in the pages of Flash. The danger to Ashley awoke Zoom from his suspended state. This was highlighted by Zoom leaving yellow flowers for his wife in her hospital room. Zoom became active right as Identity Crisis started. He's been active through the entire series.
"The piece of the puzzle that allowed me to put this together is the recent release of Flash #214. Geoff Johns went to some pains to lay out the Identity Crisis timeline so that it could be proven Zoom was active in the right time frame. Johns also went to some pains near the end of the issue to lay out how greatly the revelation of the killer will affect both Wally and the Flash. Why? Well, Identity Crisis will have been Wally's fault in a way. But for Wally's request, the Spectre would have not wiped away the identity of the Flash. But for Wally's request, a mind wiped Zolomon may not have targeted the loved ones of unsuspecting heroes.
"So is that the solution to the Identity Crisis mystery? Only time will tell. However, it is a greatly compelling scenario; and the way I would have written it. If true, then DC, Meltzer and Johns have done an emormous job with this. The build up and the answers have been in the DC Universe for quite some time; but you would need to look at the big picture to see things before the final reveal in Identity Crisis. As DC has been telling us all along - Identity Crisis is not just a mini-series; it truly is an event."
