It’s a post Flashpoint world, it’s time to start anew with the man who caused it all…The Flash.
What They Say:
The Fastest Man Alive returns to his own monthly series from the writer/artist team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato! The Flash knows he can’t be everywhere at once, but what happens when he faces an all-new villain who really can? As if that’s not bad enough, this villain is a close friend!
The Review:
I like the Flash, I like Barry Allen as the Flash too. Sure ever since his re-introduction a couple of years ago his stories have been good but his character slightly lacking, but they were still good stories. The New 52 is a perfect reason to start from scratch with Barry again. That is just what this issue does. The Flash’s history is quite different in a post Flashpoint world and while it might upset some fanboys, it gives new readers something to jump onto and a character they can like.
We are introduced to Barry Allen, the current state of his love life, and his identity as the Flash. What makes Barry Allen a good character in this new series is that he comes across as a humble, intelligent man with a strong sense of justice, he’s a cop for crying out loud. He is sympathetic yet likable. As the Flash he is a confident version of himself without an air of arrogance or negativity. He is just a good guy and a true hero. But this series doesn’t present Barry as a Boy Scout, he is more tangible than that. He is flawed but honest; hard-working yet fallible. That is why the new Flash series is great for the new 52 and old and new readers alike. All the continuity of the Flash has been wiped away (at least in this issue it appears that way) which alleviates all the baggage the previous DCU Flash had to carry.
The actual story started in this book is really good too. It has the Flash foiling a robbery only to find that he may or may not have accidentally killed one of the robbers, an old friend. This is what makes the stories of the Flash so interesting to me. It isn’t all superhero insanity, it is also part police procedural and character drama. The different facets of Barry’s life allow for there to be interesting scenes and some sort of action at all times. It doesn’t have to be high octane all the time to be exciting, it just has to be good. That is the new Flash in a nutshell, good.
Release Notes:
I also picked up the variant cover of The Flash #1. The variant is a great piece of artwork. It shows Barry Allen transforming into the Flash in three detailed, ‘electrifying’ stages. With a more polished tone, this cover represents the artwork of the actual book better as well as the tone of the book. The standard cover is a high intensity action piece, but the variant is more human and therefore more appealing and relatable.
In Summary:
The new Flash seemed like it would be the trickiest series to handle simply because of Flashpoint. This book could’ve gone wrong as a number one by focusing on and addressing events from Flashpoint and spending too much time on just how different Barry’s world is. Instead this first issue handles everything perfectly; by ignoring Flashpoint entirely…for now. It’s focus is introducing us to the characters, getting us to like the character, and having us see the Flash in action while setting up a cliffhanger that is definitely interesting and peculiar. The Flash is a must pickup for anyone interested in a good story and/or the Flash.
Grade: A
