This week sees the release of TWO Flash comic books (how often does that happen?), the final issues written by Brian Buccellato. The first issue of the Francis Manapul/Brian Buccellato run on Detective Comics has also arrived in stores today ships next week. (Oops – I saw a preview and didn’t check the date on it.)
The Flash #29: Written by Brian Buccellato, art by Agustin Padilla. Flash and Deadman team up to find the supernatural Keystone Killer before he strikes again. It’s a mystery that may — or may not — answer the question of who really killed Barry Allen’s mother in the post-Flashpoint timeline. Preview at Hero Complex.
Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #6 (of 6): The Rogues battle Gorilla Grodd, Parasite and a slew of the Crime Syndicate’s co-opted thugs in the ruins of the Gem Cities. The outcome doesn’t look good for the Rogues, but these blue-collar opportunists never back away from a fight! Written by Brian Buccellato, art by Scott Hepburn. Preview at DC Comics.
And in digital backissues…
The Flash #184: Crossfire Part One. His allies have been taken out of play one by one, and now Wally West is caught between the New Rogues in Central City and the Thinker’s total control of Keystone City. Written by Geoff Johns, art by Scott Kolins and Doug Hazlewood.
Who’se the witch doctor character and the living cheetah? (Please tell me that isn’t Cheetah.)
Is Weather Wizard actually considered the strongest or is that just because it looks like everyone else save Trickster is not up to snuff just now. Mirror Master being master of not much at the moment.
I like WW best after Piper, but never considered him to be the strongest. Wouldn’t that be Mirror Master?
Piper! Well there’s a nice sight. Or is he a full-blown criminal again? Probably lost his social consciousness too. And the rats. I hope they didn’t lose the rats.
“Crossfire” remains one of my favorite stories from the Wally run.
In retrospect, it’s one of those great early examples of Johns’ long-term planning and execution. The Network, Blacksmith, and the New Rogues had been quietly set up over a 2-year period.
It’s also interesting how this arc was in many ways a (heh) forerunner (I pun!) to “Rogue War”, with Wally having to duke it out with 2 factions of his villains.
I don’t much care one way or the other for Geoff Johns’ work, but Crossfire was one of my favorite stories along with the two arcs that followed. It was a nice surprise to see Chunk again too.