by Tony Rhea, Reporter

Gorillas? Check. New speedsters? Check. Interesting storyline featuring a threat from outside our world? Check. There is so much to see in The Flash #1, and plenty to talk about.

Official Description:
WALLY WEST RACES TOWARD THE FUTURE WITH ALL-STAR NEW CREATIVE TEAM SI SPURRIER AND MIKE DEODATO JR.! Wally West has never been quicker, more fulfilled, more heroic. His loving family is around him. And yet something is off. Very off. His evolving understanding of his powers has opened Wally to new avenues of sci-fi adventure and attuned his senses to strange new ideas. Something whispers from the dark vibrations beyond the Speed Force, and as Wally experiments with creative new approaches to his powers he encounters new realms, mysterious allies, and mind-shattering terrors. A new era for the Scarlet Speedster begins now from the team of Si Spurrier (Coda, Damn Them All) and Mike Deodato Jr. (Avengers).

Creative Team:
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Mike Deodato Jr.
Colorist: Trish Mulvhill
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Wally continue his run as the Scarlet Speedster… but why does it hurt? Gorillas keep attacking the city, but are also concerned about an “Indigo Streak”. With trouble brewing in the city, and at home, can Wally rise to the occasion and be the Flash that’s needed in the face of what’s to come? Meanwhile, Max Mercury and Impulse train together with unexpected results.

Si Spurrier brings a smartly-written Flash story that provides ample proof of the narrative strength he brings to the genre. Need proof? Check out the entire section of the issue pondering the plight of Linda Park-West. They are some of the best pages I’ve read in comics in recent memory. This isn’t to say the rest of the issue isn’t equally well-written. It’s also a funny and well-crafted first issue that delivers some depth not only to it’s lead, but to it’s supporting characters as well. 

Perhaps an excellent pairing with Si Spurrier on writing is Mike Deodato Jr. on art. Every character is beautifully and stunnigly realized on the page. Grodd and his Guerilla Gorillas look incredible, as does every other character in the issue. Deodato’s tremendous skill shines through on every panel, showing not only tremendous ability, but also a cinematic flair. It may sound like a small thing, but one of the touches that I really appreciated was that characters in the background or in further away positions don’t just have dots and a squiggly line for a face. This occasionally detracts from other comic issues I have read where the art was otherwise very good. It’s a small, but important touch that highlights his ability. The other thing that stood out was the way the characters were drawn in realistic ways, holding realistic poses or even the small details in facial expressions. Mike Deodato Jr. is a true asset to every book he’s involved in, and this issue is no exception.

This is easily one of the best first issues I’ve read in quite some time. I expected good, but got outstanding. DC has really tapped into something special with this team, and even if you haven’t read a Flash book in a while, this issue serves as an excellent (and excellent looking) jumping on point. Do yourself a favor and spend your hard-earned money on this issue this week. You won’t be sorry.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives The Flash #1 -5 out of 5 doppler blurs of old light!

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