Comic Info
Comic Name: The Flash (Volume 4)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Brian Buccellato/Christos N. Gage/Nicole Dubuc
Artist: Patrick Zircher/Sami Basri/Neil Googe/Agustin Padilla/Cully Hamner
# of Issues: 5
Release Date: 2015
The Flash (4) #26
Reprints The Flash (4) #26-29 and Annual #2 (September 2013-May 2014). The Flash is the fastest man alive but sometimes he needs help. Teamed with Green Lantern, he travels to Arena World to battle to the death and uses his powers to help stop deaths on Earth. When a potential lead arises on the killer of his mother, Barry actions unleash a serial killer on Keystone City…and only the Flash and Deadman can stop him!
Written by Brian Buccellato, Christos N. Gage, and Nicole Dubuc, The Flash Volume 5: History Lessons picks up after the leaving of Francis Manapul. Following The Flash Volume 4: Reverse, the collection features art by Patrick Zircher, Sami Basri, Neil Googe, Agustin Padilla, and Cully Hamner and contains three standalone stories and the three part “History Lesson” story.
The Flash was always one of my favorite DC characters. Though Barry Allen was my Flash when I was young, I’ve always been a Wally West fan so the transition back to Barry hasn’t always been easy. I really enjoyed Manapul’s run on the storyline and wanted to see where the character went.
The Flash (4) #28
The first part of the book is a little rough. Annuals are always tough but at least including Green Lantern (another DC favorite), eased the pain of a rather dull story. The two follow-up one-shots were also ok, but I prefer the larger reaching stories with this character. His powers are almost limitless and that has already been shown so getting back to some of the stories major themes are more important.
The three part “History Lesson” was more along the lines of what I wanted. It was a little shoved together at points, but for the most part it was a fun little story. I like Deadman stories and it was fun to see a team-up between Flash and Deadman. Plus, it was nice to get back to the “who killed Barry’s mother” story though it is starting to wear thin.
The Flash continues to be one of those books that is fun because it has a lot working against it. Many see the character as “someone who can run fast”, but he is more than that. It also has to win over the legions of Wally fans that feel that character got slighted by the New 52. The book seems to be doing both in my opinion and it continues to be one of the brighter spots of the New 52 relaunch despite some stumbles. The Flash 5: History Lessons is followed by The Flash 6: Out of Time.
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