We are in the second issue of a very different kind of FLASH story – one of cosmic horror. Wally West is dealing with all sorts of strange happenings, and seems to be developing new powers while Rogues are also moving up the high-tech scale. It’s a mystery inside an enigma, and a whole new approach that redefines the Speed Force and almost everything you think you know about The Flash. Wanna know more? Follow us after the jump!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
I usually wait until later in a review to talk about the artwork. But, the approach to the illustrations in this new chapter of THE FLASH (issue 1 and here in issue 2) is powerful and unsettling – exactly what it should be for this type of story. The page layouts spill out to the edges. The colors set a dark and dangerous tone, and even the lettering adds to the unsettled tone of the story. The splash page that features the writing and art credits looks nearly hallucinogenic. It’s perfect for this new direction for the title. That’s thanks to artist Mike Deodato, Jr., colorist Trish Mulvihill, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
The story has me spinning…and I think that was the intent. It’s more than just saying that Wally West’s world has been turned inside-out and upside-down. We are now left to question the very nature of the Speed Force. We are left wondering what Wally’s power set will look like when all this is over. And we are introduced to some of the most enigmatic characters the DCU has given us in quite some time – the Stillness. And while all that is going on, a newly high-tech Gorilla Grodd has plans for Central City that Wally has been unable to stop.
SUMMARY: At the end of this issue there are far more questions than answers. Hopefully some of those items will become a little clearer soon, but for now I get the same feeling I’ve had when reading a Stephen King novel…lots of questions early on in the book, waiting for a long time for the threads to come together…and hopefully finding a truly outstanding story as those threads merge. For now I’ll give this issue an 8/10 – of course, that’s just my opinion. What do YOU think? Leave your comments below!
I’m really really hoping we don’t go back to the other forces stuff. IMO that was a horrible story. Im so excited to see where they take Wally in this story and I just hope they give him the story he deserves.