The Flash Volume 4: Reverse Review

Francis Manapul and Brian Bucellatto conclude their fantastic 25 issue run on fantastic the Fastest Man Alive – The Flash. The writer artist team reinvent one of the Flash’s best known villain’s in this murder mystery as The Flash chases down the deadly speedster who grows faster with each victim. The exciting story arc Reverse ends their run before a single issue crossover on the Batman origin event Zero Year. Collects issues: The Flash #20 – 25 and #23.2 The Reverse Flash.

Just when Barry Allen’s life seems to be settling down after the chaos that was his clashes with the Rouges and the invasion led by Gorilla Grodd on Central City. Barry’s life appears to be getting to a better place moving in with his girlfriend Patty Spivot and has rescued Iris West and the others who had been trapped inside the Speed Force. All appears to be good, until a super powered murderer starts killing those with a connection to the Speed Force. A new Flash epic stars here.

After the more fantastical elements have been dealt with in previous story arcs, the central conflict of Reverse is that of a murder mystery that’s a bit more grounded approach for a story. It’s a more compelling story than previous of the run so far, it exercises some restraint in its approach. The style of story and art by Manapul feels like the mystery stories that he worked with writer Geoff Johns on their 2010 series. The Flash can do almost anything but here he uses his scientist skills to help solve the grisly murders. With both Barry and Iris both targets of this killer, their proximity to each other may prove problematic for Barry’s relationship with Patty. With earlier Flash stories of the series having so much happen so fast, this story is slowly unraveled, just the way a murder mystery should. It has a greater emphasis on Barry’s police work and interpersonal relationships, adding more substance the world of the Flash. It also gives the core conflict a sense of urgency. The plot thickens at a slower pace than normal and it’s nice that the slow reveal gives the events ample room to breathe. Just as the killer's identity is revealed, the Villains Month issue steps back from current events and reveals the back story of the interesting villain, building anticipation and suspense for the overall story. The new take on the Reverse Flash is fantastic, his plan is a darker reflection of Barry Allen’s good intentions during the Flashpoint story by Geoff Johns in 2011.

The two year run by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato finishes on a high note, it’s a great ending story arc to their run on the Flash. Their Reverse story arc serves as a nice farewell to character that the creative team have handled so deftly. But before it can feel like a grand finale send off from the creative duo, they’ve one more story to tell. The Flash #25 is part of the Zero Year tie-in reveals Barry’s role during the Batman: Zero Year story. During Gotham’s blackout caused by The Riddler six years ago and before Barry Allen got the powers that made him The Flash. He responded to a call set out to Law Enforcement Agencies during their state of emergency, Barry is in Gotham helping out Harvey Bullock investigating a new drug on the streets of Gotham. In a surprising reveal it is the first meeting of he and Iris West. The two get on well and this flash back story sheds some more light on the chemistry between them, despite what is taking place in Barry’s relationship with Patty in present day continuity. The creator’s ability knack for characterisation carries the story through what would otherwise be a straightforward plot. It is an interesting tie to Zero Year with the focus on showcasing the kind of person Barry Allen is, with an eye on the hero man he’ll one day become.

The art thankfully remains one of the best parts of the series. Manapul and Buccellato fully perform art duties on their final story arc. In terms of art, the duo have been one of the most consistent on a comic series. Artist’s Scott Hepburn and Chris Sprouse pencil the Villain’s Month and Zero Year issues respectively, with original artists returning to their stunning art for the final few pages in Gotham. The art has always remained one of the greatest qualities of the stories, from the innovative layouts to the combination of soft tones and strong splashes of colour, everything about The Flash's visuals is executed with a level of sophistication that few superhero comics could match. In their final arc the two speedsters clash and produce incredible violent battles throughout the story that make the incredibly vibrant art alone makes this a Flash fight a standout of their run and one the Flash's greatest battles.

Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato wrapped up their epic Flash run by introducing Reverse-Flash in a big way.The final story arc Reverse, concludes the run by pair duo 25 issue run on the Scarlet Speedster. Reverse plays more to Barry Allen’s strengths as an Crime Scene Investigator while the events of the story further complicates Barry’s personal live with an ensuing love triangle between Barry Iris and Patty.While Buccellato would continue as a writer for the last few issues on the series collected is The Flash Volume 5: History Lessons before both creators brought their amazing talents to Batman Detective Comics with issue #30. The final story puts the Flash against a new version of an old enemy while returning the character to its stronger central theme of a murder mystery that Manapul started with previous Flash writer Geoff Johns. This was the story I was most looking forward to stars a new and interesting iteration of the Reverse Flash as well as a brilliant and fantastic end to the creative run of Manapul and Buccellto, concluding their stunning run of The Flash.

The Flash Volume 3: Gorilla Warfare Review

Gorilla Warfare is the third volume in the series featuring the Fastest Man Alive; the Flash, Central City has been invaded by Gorilla Grodd and his army as he sets out to conquer Central City and possess the powers of the Flash. It’ll take more than the Scarlet Speedster to stop them as the Rouges join the fight in protecting Central City. Collects issues #13 – 19 by writers and artists Francis Manapul and Brian Beccellato with guest artist Marcus To and Marcio Takara.

Gorrilla Warfare is an big and all out action story with the Flash and the Rouges take on Gorrila Grodd and his army of apes taking over Central City. For the third volume in the series its more straightforward and a simpler story while tying up existing plot elements making it a satisfying story. It brings a lot of elements of Barry Allen’s personal life to a conclusion while setting up a complicated love triangle in the near future.

The talking gorilla invasion element is a bit out there but the characters of the story acknowledge it which makes easier to accept by the readers if you’re not into that part of the Flash universe. Grodd is a long time villain of the speedster and since has been lightly featured in this New 52 series since it began. This story arc is the culmination of Grood’s earliest appearances in the series, and seeing as Volume 2 Rouges Revolution opened and closed with the simian it is a worthy inclusion that made for a great story.

While the stories and always developing one thing that stays consist is the amazing and stunning art from Manapul and Beccellato. Their art always continues to astound. They always employ an inventive layout and different elements of the setting to conjure up an impressive title page. The standout example of their art is during a nine page display of the Flash’s mind envisioning different outcomes of the big conflict. The lighting-shaped panels making their way across the pages building to a wonderful visual crescendo where the lighting becoming the end title page for the issue.

In the aftermath of the Gorilla Warfare arc, the volume concludes in a two part story with a story ex-Rouge member The Trickster who’s been accused of murder. The Flash sets out to prove his innocence and becoming more difficult when he loses his powers. The story with guest artist Marcio Takara is a nice way to wrap up a good book while teasing the next big villain for the next collection.

Gorilla Warfare is the third big action story that capitalises on many of the plot elements introduced since the series began while giving way to establishing new plot threads to cumulate in Manapul and Beccellato’s final volume of the series where they introduce their new version on a quintessential Flash villain The Reverse Flash.

The Flash Volume 2: Rogue's Revolution Review

The second collection on The New 52 series by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato co writers and artists of this collection off issues joined by other guest artists Marcus To, Scott Kolins and more. The Flash has escaped the speed force and made it back to a very different Central City, where the citizens have turned on the Flash. Meanwhile The Rouges are getting back together with their new powers and a new leader. Collects issues #9 -12, #0 and The Flash Annual #1.

This volume kicks off where the last book cliff-hanger left us. The Flash escaping the speed force and landing in the midst of Gorilla City and the recently crowned King Grood. Arriving in the secret civilization of talking gorillas with the Flash taking on Grood and learning about the prophecy about the speedster. This is my least favourite aspect of the Flash universe, but the creators acknowledge it by Barry referring to it like something out of a sci-fi movie. After Barry returns home he discovers he’s not the loved hero he once was. It brings a nice change to the story as Barry is hiding out in a rougher part of town. Barry’s life as the Flash is turned upside down and keeps his death a secret from his friends and girlfriend while he figures out what to do next. For a character that has always been so positive it’s interesting to see what he does next with his life in disarray.

The second volume of the Flash is heavy focus on the Rouges, the group haven’t always been the most imposing threat to the Flash or Central City but now has changed, it works brilliantly in tandem with Barry’s personal life in the state that it’s in.

The Rouges, the Flash’s great adversaries, this supervillain team make their debut in the series relaunch. No longer with weapons they now have the abilities of their weapons. So it’s not as easy for the Flash to just stop them by quickly disarming them. The Flash comes up against each member of the Rogues in a before they are recruited by their new leader for a big showdown with the Flash. The story building to an exciting clash between the Rouges and the Flash. The Flash Annual #1, keeps the suspense going after the thrilling issue that preceded it. The double length annual issue does some exposition into the history of the Rouges and how they got their new powers before returning the story to the big showdown.

The Flash #0 is collected at the end of the volume and is a welcome return to wonderful art of Manapul and Beccellato. A loose origin story, this issue details how Barry got his powers and motivation for becoming a hero. It’s less of a superhero story and more of an emotional story, the tender subject of his relationship to his parents and the murder of his mother forms the heart of the story. It introduces an intriguing new mystery and history to the death of Barry’s mother Nora and what his father had in connection with his wife’s murder/death. It’s a new twist on a familiar story but it’s ambiguous and left up to the readers interpretation of what happened? Is the reboot relying on the most recent retcon to Barry Allen’s history by Geoff Johns in the Flash Rebirth series or is this New 52 Flash setting up a new change to this element of The Flash?

Again the team of Manpul and Beccellato create some beautiful art for their story, doing art for the majority of the issue while artist Marcus To fills into for two issues before we return to the original and elegant art the series is known for. The Annual issue features several guest artists for the double length issue.

Rouges Revolution is a solid follow up focusing on one of the best elements of the Flash, his Rouges. The Flash takes on each member of the group individually before as they all band back together to take down the Flash. Along with Gorilla Grood at the start of the book setting up the next story arc Gorilla Warfare which I’m sure is to also include the Rouges in the third volume of the series.

The Flash Volume 1 Move Forward Review

The Flash Volume 1 – Move Forward is the first collection of The New 52 series. The Scarlet Speedster is back in this new series from DC Comics reboot offering a fresh start to many of its characters. Central City police scientist struck by a bolt of lightning and doused in chemicals making him the Fastest Man Alive. Writer and artist Francis Manapul with colourist create the most beautiful comic book series. Move Forward collects issues #1 – 8 of the series. 

The Flash is back in this exciting and thrilling collection of the first eight issues of this series. I’ve recently become a huge fan of the character and this new 2011 series is a great place to enjoy new Flash stories. Barry Allen had a brief comics return since his return after a 20 year absence, he starred again as the main Flash in the 12 issue series by Geoff Johns before the DC Universe was rebooted. The Flash is one character that greatly benefits from this relaunch, no longer tied down to the occurrence of his own death, the series can run afresh into a new and exciting series for the Flash.

In this new continuity Barry is no longer married to Iris West, their marriage new happened and instead has recently started dating co-worker Patty Spivot. It’s during their first date that our story begins at a Tech Symposium where a masked gang break in looking to steal a piece of technology. Barry gives chase but the gang get away in their plane, Barry saves one from the fall but learns that he died and not only that, but the unmasked dead man is someone Barry knows, an old friend, Manual Lago. Knowing that something doesn’t add up related to his friend’s death Barry carries out his own investigation at home an intruder enters and it’s an alive and well Manual.

The mystery deepens to what’s going on with his old friend who is being chased by the gang known as Mob Rule that leads to a city wide blackout. The Flash gains a new power set as he develops his mind to function with his Speed Force and the rest of his powers which he doesn’t have full control over yet. The Mob Rule story arc is great and gives the character a new villain to contend with. The Flash later comes face to face with a classic villain Captain Cold. The Flash isn’t the only character to gain a new power set, the new and improved powers of Captain Cold make for an exciting story. The way the plot jumps back and forth through time helps simulate the quick-moving nature of the book's titular character and makes the read far more engaging than it otherwise would have been if it chronologically moved from one beat to the next.

It’s a fantastic opening collection of issues to this new Flash series and I haven’t even mentioned the art yet. The art is amazing , it’s some of the most beautiful, dynamic and wonderful art ever created. It has a retro feel with water paints style of colouring. The layouts are wonderfully presented and are so creative. It’s one of those occasions where full creativity is given to a creator who is both writer and artist on a comic series giving full creative control on the story and art. It’s a visual treat. The artistry was one of the main reason I got into the series as I had enjoyed Manpul’s art on the previous 2010 series by Geoff Johns. Manapul’s art and creativity knows no end, the opening of each issue cleverly displays “DC Comics Presents The Flash” incorporated into the background of the scenes. The art is incredible and makes this series so fantastic.

This new series is a fresh start with some of the most charming and beautiful art you will see on a comic book character that suits so well to the tone of the hero and the series. An adventure story with the bright red clad hero. Looking forward to the second volume and later series. The book is fun to read and the art comes first place seeing the creativity and imagination of its creators is stunning and a joy to read and a pure visual treat.