Review: Flash #1 through #3

By Don M. Ventura

In last year’s “Flash: Rebirth” Barry Allen mused, “There was no reason for my return.” He had a point.

I believe Geoff Johns, unsure of how to address the return of the Silver Age Flash after a near quarter century absence, attempted to follow a similar story model to his incredibly successful “Green Lantern: Rebirth”—he even reteamed with artist Ethan Van Sciver. But the return of Hal Jordan demanded an epic tale, because his story was going to be one of redemption—Green Lantern had gone insane, murdered countless former allies, and become one of DC’s greatest villains. Barry Allen sacrificed himself to save the universe—his story simply needed to be about his return and trying to find his way back into his life.

That said, I wasn’t sure how excited I was about the return of Barry Allen as the Scarlet Speedster. Thankfully Johns has left all that search for purpose stuff behind. We open with Barry Allen returning to his life as one of the Central City Police force’s top forensics investigators—albeit one who has a penchant for running late. He is also back with his true love: Iris Allen. Johns aptly demonstrates his knack for characterization here by breathing life into Iris. She is fiery and independent. Johns understands clearly that a romantic lead cannot be one dimensional and must be able to go toe-to-toe with our hero.

Johns also doesn’t disappoint with this strong opening arc—which deals with a team of 25th Century Rogue’s—here called the Renegades—a group of Rogue doppelgangers who have traveled through to the past to arrest the Flash for murdering the Mirror Monarch. Yeah, it all works. Simultaneously, the 21st Century Rogues have advised the recently revived Captain Boomerang that he may reclaim his position with the Rogues if he tries to take down the newly returned Flash. Boomerang soon learns he is well prepared for the challenge—it seems being resurrected during “Blackest Night” has awarded ol’ Digger Harkness with some pretty dangerous powers and made him a more formidable foe.

Not enough can be said for Francis Manapul’s artwork on this series. I am hopeful that he remains on this run, or at least makes repeated visits. Given his somewhat cartoon-style work, there is a great deal of expression to his character’s faces. Johns has several scenes with little dialogue, giving Manapul free reign to show off his work with spectacular splash pages of the Flash in action. In the first issue there’s a dramatic two-page shot of Flash pulling apart the Trickster’s car—Manapul’s is as able at conveying motion as he is emotion.

Manapul’s detailed work is well matched with colorist Brian Buccelato—they have created a radiant and lustrous Central City befitting the Flash’s scarlet duds.

The new Flash appears to have been given the star treatment—excellent writing and artwork to match. I will always be a fan of Johns’s work on the Wally West Flash series, but this book looks to have the legs to stand on its own. Based on this opener and the strong pacing, Johns seems to have more stories to tell.

Of special note, there is also a two-page teaser for a Flash-event titled “Flashpoint” coming in 2011 at the close of the first issue.