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.