The “Zero Year” arc edition of The Flash finds a younger, pre-Flash Barry Allen on the streets of Gotham…and he isn’t the only citizen of the Gem Cities hanging around these mean streets. Manapul and Buccellato give us one last great story before their own move to Gotham City, complete with one “beginning” we see in this issue for the first time anywhere!
LIGHT SPOILERS ONLY
The call for help has gone out from Gotham to law enforcement agencies across the country, and new Central City Police Academy graduate Barry Allen is one of those who has answered the call! Barry has been assigned to Harvey Bullock and his partner Spencer. Together, they are tracking down a very dangerous street drug called Icarus, one that eventually causes it’s users to explode into flames! If you want a quick lesson on the differences between Gotham and Central City, just watch the ways Barry and Bullock approach the situation here. While investigating, they meet up with another Gem Cities native who is working as an intern with the Gotham Gazette…Iris West! Yes, in this issue we get the New 52 first meeting between Barry and Iris…and it is every bit as awesome as any Barry/Iris fan could ever wish.
This last issue for the team of M&B was a bit of an interesting choice in that Barry hasn’t had his lab accident “yet” and therefore can’t put on the familiar red and yellow uniform. Still, The Flash #25 provided a great back story for Barry himself, one well worth checking out even if it weren’t the last time Manapul and Buccellato are paired together on The Flash (Buccellato will script some additional issues before M&B take on Gotham in the pages of Detective Comics). And, just a note for fans looking for that familiar hidden “DC Comics Proudly Presents The Flash” on the title page…you won’t find it there (it features the main “Zero Year” format)…but you won’t be disappointed either, just keep looking.
I have been a fan of Francis Manapul’s and Brian Buccellato’s work from the beginning, and while I wish them both the very best for their run on Detective, I will miss what they have brought for the last 2+ years to my favorite superhero here in the pages of The Flash. The next team will have some rather large yellow boots to fill.
Nice review of a totally spiffy issue. I much prefer one-off stories to rambling ‘arcs’ and loved the focus on Barry, Iris and Bullock we got here. It strikes me that Barry and Iris could rival Ralph and Sue Dibny >choke< in the Thin Man stakes.
Speaking of Ralph and Sue Dibny, I hope they come back in the New 52. I think having them come back in the pages of Flash is the best choice. Maybe update Ralph to have gotten his powers from one of Dr. Elias’s genome recoders.
I’ve warmed up to Patty, but I’ve got to confess it was nice to see Barry and Iris together, even briefly.
Great issue. Barry and iris are awesome together.
I think I’d find this issue too depressing if only because we know that later on Barry and Iris are not still together (and with the current ban on marriages likely won’t be for a very long time if ever.
Something I’ve been wanting to know for a few years now: did Manupal ever draw Wally West? It seemed that in those last years prior to DC52 with Geoff Johns still writing the title that every time Wally did show up that a guest artist was doing the issue. Upshot: I wanted to see how Manupal would draw Wally and never got the chance.
Does anyone know of an artist sketch he might have made? I can’t find anything on Google Search.
He drew Wally on the variant cover for Blackest Night #2 and the covers for Flash #10 and #11 (Brightest Day). I think that’s about it.
Huh…I thought the Flash ones were by Kolins. BF2 variant….I can’t really….there’s only one other Flash cover in I’ve ever ‘seen’ that I can’t bear to look at even sidewise for the sheer macabre factor. That was one of them. *shudder* So if you say that was a Manapul cover I’ll just…take your word for it.
Kolins did the interiors on those issues. Manapul still did the covers.
Kinda moot anyway. I wanted to see “Wally” by Manupal; not “Part of Wally’s Jaw”. (The red-headed guy with the cheeky smile, not the costume he sometimes wore.)
Thanks though. It’s the thought that counts. 🙂