The Flash Vol. 4: Reverse
DC
Oct 21, 2014 Issue #51 - September/October 2014 - alt-J
Since relaunching its entire superhero line a few years ago, DC Comics has had mixed results in trying to walk that line between serving up nostalgic goodness and reinventing its worlds to re-engage former readers and attract new audiences. Francis Manapul (art, co-author) and Brian Buccellato (co-author) seem to walk that line better than most in this latest volume of The Flash.
A super-speed killer—basically the new version of The Reverse Flash (aka Professor Zoom, at least in the “Old DC”)—is introduced, and the fact that even The Flash can’t seem to figure out who he is, despite his police-trained forensic mind, nor catch him, despite being the “fastest man alive,” is a great tension. The relationships in this book are also handled in a nice way; Iris West pines for Barry Allen (The Flash) even as his relationship with a fellow lab rat progresses. Yet the villain’s actual identity and backstory are sort of cliché, not to mention his real identity’s two degrees of separation from The Flash is the kind of comic coincidence that belongs firmly back in the silver age.
The art is the best part. Super-speed special effects seem kinetic and astonishing under Manapul’s slick pencils. The layouts are original and incorporate text and graphic elements into a fine overall aesthetic package.
The final chapter at the end is a flashback to a pre-Flash Allen encountering West during some sort of crisis in Gotham City. It feels shoehorned in and, frankly, could have been left out of this volume. Better to finish on a satisfying high note. (www.dccomics.com)
Author rating: 6/10
Current Issue
Issue #72
Apr 19, 2024 Issue #72 - The ‘90s Issue with The Cardigans and Thurston Moore
Most Recent
- Under the Radar Announces The ’90s Issue with The Cardigans and Thurston Moore on the Covers (News) — The Cardigans, Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth, Garbage, The Cranberries, Pavement, Lisa Loeb, Supergrass, Spiritualized, Lush, Miki Berenyi, Miki Berenyi Trio, Emma Anderson, Hatchie, Ride, Slowdive, Velocity Girl, Penelope Spheeris, Terry Gilliam, Gus Van Sant, Ron Underwood, Kula Shaker, Salad, Foals, Semisonic, The Boo Radleys, Stereo MC’s, Pale Saints, Blonde Redhead, Sleater-Kinney, Cocteau Twins, Lucy Dacus, Alex Lahey, Horsegirl, Grandaddy, alt-J, Squid, The Natvral, Wolf Alice, Jess Williamson, Sunflower Bean, Orville Peck, Joel McHale
- 10 Best Songs of the Week: Fontaines D.C., Cassandra Jenkins, Loma, John Grant, and More (News) — Songs of the Week, Fontaines D.C., Cassandra Jenkins, Loma, John Grant, Good Looks, Hana Vu, Belle and Sebastian, Yannis & The Yaw, Strand of Oaks, Home Counties
- Fresh Shares New EP ‘Merch Girl’ (News) — Fresh
- Premiere: LOVECOLOR Shares New Video for “Crazy Love” (News) — LOVECOLOR
- Final Summer (Review) — Cloud Nothings
Comments
Submit your comment
There are no comments for this entry yet.