Our month long coverage of the New DCU wraps up today with a look at the character who got everyone into this mess in the first place.
THE FLASH #1
Writers: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Artist: Francis Manapul
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Editor: Brian Cunningham
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price $2.99
Previously in The Flash: One day, young Barry Allen was reading one of his favorite Golden Age comic books featuring Jay Garrick, the Flash. Then amazingly, a rack of chemicals was struck by lightning, and soaked Barry Allen giving him the same speed powers that he had read about in the funny papers. He became The Flash! Then, by coincidence, fate, or a different version of himself traveling through the Speed Force, his nephew, Wally West was caught up in the same accident and he became The Flash, too. Then Jay Garrick and Barry Allen crossed into each other’s plane of existence and the multiverse was born.
Then it all went to hell. Barry had to sacrifice himself to save all of creation, leaving it up to Wally (and Jay Garrick, Bart Allen, Jesse Quick, Johnny Quick, and a plethora of other speedsters) to carry on his long proud tradition. Then someone thought it would be a good idea to bring Barry Allen back from beyond the beyond, and it all went to hell again.
This is the aftermath.
BARRY ALLEN USHERS IN A NEW AGE OF COMICS
When it became clear that the Wally West we knew was not coming back as The Flash, it gave creators a chance to try something all new, all different with the character that ushered in the Silver Age of comics. One would assume that Barry’s origin story has remained relatively intact, but everything else you knew about the character some refer to as “Saint Barry” has been thrown out the window.
For example, did you know he and Iris West were no longer married? In fact, in the New DCU, Barry and Iris aren’t even dating. Yes, Iris is still a reporter, and Barry is still a police scientist, but this time around, Barry is dating Patty Spivot, a fellow C.S.I. for the Central City Police Department. I know some people are upset that Iris and Barry aren’t married/dating in this new universe, but that is okay; there are plenty of people who weren’t even around when Barry sacrificed himself to the Speed Force some thirty years ago (give or take), so a dissolved marriage shouldn’t be that big of a deal. Without that baggage, Barry is free to do what ever he wants, with (presumably) anyone he wants, but that doesn’t mean Iris isn’t going to show up. And I really like how Manapul and Buccellato introduce Iris. She takes a very in your face approach to getting her news stories, and if I’m not mistaken, appears to have something for the young (de-aged, retconned, relaunched – FLASHPOINT!) Barry Allen. If the plans are for the two of them to eventually get back together, I’m liking how they are setting the stage right now.
The other thing you may not be aware of is that Barry had a really good friend in college who was always getting them in trouble, often forcing the two to flee a beating. We only learn about this because the Flash broke up a robbery, and his good friend from college was one of the burglars… or should I say one of the 57 clones who attempted to burgle a big posh science function Barry and Patty were attending. That’s the big cliffhanger/story for this book – who is doing the cloning? Why this friend from Barry’s past? And why does Iris look so good in a sweater?
I’ll admit, I wasn’t thrilled when Barry returned to his running ways. I barely read Flashpoint (Mystery Woman – page 12, panel 5), and I really wasn’t looking forward to a Geoff Johns love song to That One Guy that was forced on a writer or team. But Manapul and Buccellato have surprised me. The book I waited until the very end to read, I actually enjoyed. Sure the clone plot is a bit long in the tooth, but everything else flowed naturally. The character moments highlighted the strengths of each character we have been introduced to, and I think new readers aren’t going to have any problems jumping on board this book.
WE KNOW WHY IRIS LOOKS GOOD IN A SWEATER
Francis Manapul. I’ve said it before – when you can make each character look unique, and I can spot that character in a crowd regardless if they are wearing their superhero costume or not, then someone is doing a good job. Francis Manapul does a great job.
BOTTOM LINE: I’M PICKING THIS ONE UP, YOU SHOULD, TOO
I thought The Flash was going to be one of the continuity baggage titles for the DCU. Glad I was wrong. While this isn’t the Silver Age Flash, or the Wally West Flash, or even the shudder inducing Bart Allen aged Flash, Barry Allen is a new Flash for a new time, and I hope that the character can remain fresh and interesting for a long time to come. Barry still comes off as a little too goody-goody, but the story is paced well, the characters are interesting, and this book is one worth picking up. Flash #1 is a good way to end the first month of new number ones from DC Comics, earning 4 out of 5 Stars.
[rating:4/5]
10 Comments
I must say I rather enjoyed the issue myself!
Suprisingly good. Great art – as expected – and IMO Manupul & Buccellato nailed Barry Allen’s character MUCH better than Johns.
Never ever read a Flash book before… they’ve got me! This is one of the five titles I will be sticking with. Always been a casual fan/trade paperback reader, but DC has me excited about following these titles every month!
Close to one of my favorites of the new release. The pace was amazing as well, it was very…eloquent in flow.
I absolutely love love love Francis Manapul’s art.
Thinking about framing this issue and putting it on my wall. Such a gorgeous cover.
Barry comes off as a little too goody-goody?
Ha. There’s a redundant statement if ever there was one.
After reading Flash #1, I am hoping Manapul and Buccellato stay around a while. Their art fits the Flash perfectly and the writing got off to a /sfast/s good start.
Loved it. I liked how Barry’s costume comes out of the ring and “merges” on his body rather than the old way. The entire issue was very good at establishing Barry as a “CSI” type and leads into what the old Flash comics were famous for…a mystery. I don’t have as much heart-burn over Barry and Iris not being together as I did Clark n’ Lois primarily for the reasons stated in the review. It’s been a long time since Barry and Iris were a married couple (albeit one of the first in the Silver Age group to get hitched) and Iris was dead, went to the future, came back, Barry died…yada yada. Barry and Iris were not the iconic couple that Clark Kent and Lois Lane were for as long. Or Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor (Steve…Trevor? Anyone remember….no? OK.)
It was good to see the “super-speed vibration” powers again but kinda funny to see him “accidentally” blow a hole in the street and end up in the sewer with the “Remember not to vibrate at THAT frequency again” comment. It was a nice tip of the hat to Wally West who never really got the hang of the vibrating through matter stuff again after the first “Crisis” despite years of being able to do it as Kid Flash.
Another good thing (for me, anyway) is that Barry wasn’t boning the nerdy but hot CSI chick half-way through the book. I have no problem with Barry getting in a little action but let’s keep it in the context of the stories and not just for the shock value of the Roy/Cory/Jason menage a trois and Clark interrupting Lois’ “celebrating” in Superman #1. Yes, I did intentionally leave out Bruce and Selena in Catwoman #1 but let’s face it…that one was old news.
Good start for this issue and I’m looking forward to seeing which of my second favorite Rogue’s Gallery are still around in this reboot/relaunch/not-a-crisis.
Surprisingly, I did enjoy this comic. I’ve never really been a fan of Barry, but this issue is slowly bringing me around. Slowly, but steadily…
But (there had to be a “but”), I still miss Wally, and I can’t wait to see where he’s going to pop up in the DC New Universe. I started collecting comics with Wally’s run on The Flash, way back in the late 80’s.
Let’s have some Wally.
Mokin is confused…he never thought he’d like 2 Flashes…Flashers…Flashs…whatever…
I loved this issue too, but one thing that bugged me about the ring: it has the flash symbol on it! How long is it going to take for someone to notice it on Barry’s finger?