DC doesn’t need me to gush over this book. Hell, they probably don’t need any review to like this book or any other Rebirth titles. For the most part I accept that as a reviewer I’m affecting a very small percentage of comic readers out there and that’s okay. Hell, often times I wonder who these reviews are for? Creators hate them, most fans don’t want them unless the reviewer is saying, “everything is great, there’s no problems in comics” and publishers really just want something with the title broadcasted on said website. I know, I’m being all melodramatic, but it brings me to my point. Who is this review for?
The obvious answer is you. The person taking the time to read it. The person that’s on the fence wondering if you should bother with another Flash reboot/restart/relaunch/whatever we want to call it. This review is for you and the answer to that last question is, yeah maybe.
We all have different tastes, which was apparent on the group review we did on the site for The Flash: Rebirth #1. An issue I loved, but surprisingly to me, not a lot of other readers did. So if this reboot/relaunch/restart of The Flash is for you depends on what you want to get out of the series.
It’s going to tell you the Flash’s origin again, but this time there’s some retconning as we add someone to the event. Someone that was there that we didn’t know about or maybe they were already added in the last series. There’s very little that’s new in the world of the Flash in this issue. Hell, there’s even one painful scene that’s practically ripped from the TV show, which made me cringe.
But the reason the story works for me and is enjoyable… is because of the art.
Don’t get me wrong, Joshua Williamson is doing a great job on the writing, but this issue is everything a typical superhero comic first issue is. To the “T”. It’s just that he gets it right and uses the formula in a successful way. But the only reason it works is because of Carmine Di Giandomenico’s artwork.
Giandomenico’s artwork is by far the best art I’ve seen on The Flash since Manapul (who really petered out at the end of his art run). It reminds me of studio that did Aeon Flux and Phantom 2040 and something about that really fucking works. And it’s not just the Flash stuff, it’s the Barry Allen parts as well and that’s always been my problem with Flash books. When it’s not all Flash, it’s usually boring and out of place visually. Giandomenico’s art is a great fit for the Flash because it makes it look a little like the future. It’s not the Flash in our world, it’s us in his. We’re visiting the Flash and it’s great.
The art is dynamic and the coloring is vibrant and beautiful. This is a beautiful book to look at. Ivan Plascencia is wearing the belt for the best colorist at DC Comics. His coloring makes the Flash and Giandomenico’s artwork look amazing. Especially the transformation scene… I can’t tell you how much I loved that and if it came from Williamson’s head then it just shows how perfect this creative team is together.
And I feel the need to mention that letterer Steve Wands makes the story work. The lettering is perfect for this story and how much it bounces around. I was never lost and it was never distracting. Not a lot to say, but good lettering should be praised!
What do you want out of the first issue of a new Flash series? Do you want it to skip the origin? It’s going to. Do you want it to not mention Rebirth and live in a bubble? It’s going to do that too. Do you want it to make The Flash feel new and exciting and create a city with personality for the first time since Rebirth that brought Barry Allen back? It’s going to do that.
Just as a reminder: DC doesn’t need this review. The fans that have already decided don’t need this review. If you follow the site, though, you need my review. You need more score. That’s why you’re here and so when you see the score… well just know that this creative team got me to continue reading one superhero book. One book from an entire publisher that I haven’t consistently read it three years. I’m still not reading the other guys so if anything, that’s an amazing feat in and of itself.
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