Flash 12 review

The Road to Flashpoint Part IV Out of Time

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Scott Kolins and Francis Manapul(p.14-18)
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh and Brain Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover: Manapul and Buccellato
Variant Cover: Francis Portela w/Javier Mena
Assistant Editor: Darren Shan
Editor: Brian Cunningham

Geoff Johns’ Barry Allen series finale picks up directly where the previous issue left off but is more action packed. Professor Zooms claims to have contacted abilities that Barry did not bother to look at. With these new powers he will cause Barry even more pain than just murdering his mom Anyone else noticed that Barry has not checked in with Justice League in the series? It seems like Professor Zoom has been changing history one piece at a time and waiting for the changes to take effect.
Now when that is implied I first thought that is when Barry crossover to the Flashpoint world. My biggest question with the first part of the book is how did they know to go to Barry’s Lab? Once Barry, with Bart got on the same page with Hot Pursiut. The most interesting panel to me was Professor Zoom looking at Hot Pursuit without his motorcycle helmet implying he needs Barry Allen around to give him purpose. I just noticed the red around Professor Zoom’s word bubbles could represent energy from the negative speed force.
The art in this issue knocked it out of the park for me. Kolins in some panels draws Professor Zoom ghostly evil especially in the lab. I would however question why Professor Zoom costume shows and light yellow white when he zapped by Hot Pursuit. Did there need to be drastic temporary color change? Manapul’s art ‘(non-action)felt right in its place in the issue. Also it helped set up the final two pages. I couldn’t even picked out a favorite panel or page because of the art it was that good overall.
On page 19 who was that in the bottom two panels my first instinct is to say Professor Zoom because Barry was just shown normally at his mother’s tombstone. This is probably where Barry entered Flashpoint with “changes” mentioned. If Flashpoint has similar visual effects to this issue it will be awesome.
8(out of 10)

Flash 11 review

The Road to Flashpoint Part III

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Scott Kolins
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover: Manapul and Buccellato
Variant Cover: Kolins w/ Atiyeh
Assistant Editor: Darren Shan
Editor: Brian Cunningham

Geoff Johns picks up the Road to Flashpoint storyline right where the last issue left off with Barry Allen and an ex colleague looking after a young boy. Barry is investigating a potential crime by Hot Pursuit, his doppelganger. After rereading the issue today I have a problem with the number of pages given to a particular angle and even though it did its job it could have been condense.
This issue flows well with the previous one but the intervention coming from the Bart interaction in issue #10 took up forty percent of the issue. (8 out of 20)This part of issue#11 could have been done in five pages in my opinion. It spends three pages on why Barry needs a so called intervention with the Flash family. The last three pages shows Bart getting angry with Barry. That could have been a page less. The introduction to the scene lasted three pages as well and would probably have done better shorten. I am ok with one page each for Jay Garrick and Wally West.
The eight page family scene took away from the action part of the book. Barry’s conversation with Hot Pursuit felt quick. Speaking of Hot Pursuit, his stubbornness to focus on Bart as the time anomaly does nothing to help convince Barry that he is on the up and up. That young boy from the beginning of this issue turns out to be Professor Zoom. I had to do a double take to make sure it was not Bart at Barry’s lab. If it was not for the age difference between Bart and Professor Zoom disguise as a young boy they could be mistaken for each other. Bart is drawn very evil on the bottom panel of page 12
If Kolins had remained the artist from issue #7 onward the book probably would not have been canceled. Professor Zoom claims to be changing history to set up Flashpoint which would leave us to believe it has to be the real DCU.

7(out of 10)

Flash 10 review

The Road to Flashpoint – Who is Hot Pursuit?

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Francis Manapul

Colorist: Brian Buccellato

Letterer: Sal Cipriano

Cover: Manapul and Buccellato

Variant Cover: Ed Benes, Rob Hunter w/Buccellato

Assistant Editor: Darren Shan

Editor: Brian Cunningham

First off I am sorry for this and my next review coming out very late. I have become addicted to DCUO. The second part of this arc helps the story comes to focus with the help of Bart Allen. This issues I feel leaves the reader with one burning question What exactly is Hot Pursuit’s role?
The writing by Johns I felt was very good my favorite was the discussion between Barry and Bart about Barry ignoring the family and specifically Bart. If this book was going to continue I could see it becoming an equal theme in the Green Lantern books of Hal taking the ring off. The second part of the book has Barry catching up with an ex coworker and she helps determine a motorcycle is at a crime scene that Barry was sent to investigate which calls into question Hot Pursuit motives?
The art was more vibrant when Barry was in costume. I listen to Flashback issue 10 episode while writing this and the two halves of the book are drawn completely different with the second part more laid back. Perhaps the best parts were of Bart Allen speeding around Barry. I can imagine Wally fans would complain because Wally is on this cover and not in the actual book. Even with the cover switch from Flash #9 Wally was not even in costume for his cameo then. I feel like covers should actually depict a panel from that issue.
Flash #10 did move us closer to Flashpoint and was perfectly drawn to fit the mood of each half of the book. It hints at something to Bart as he struggles to find a relationship with Barry. Almost to say, if I am gone then you will miss me. I really hope Flashpoint doesn’t happen on another Earth or Universe. .It is just sad to see that no Flash book will accompany Flashpoint.

8(out of 10)

Flash 9 review

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Francis Manapul

Colorist: Brian Buccellato

Letterer: Sal Cipriano

Cover: Manapul and Buccellato

Variant cover: Tyler Kirkhqm, Batt, and Nei Ruffino

Editors: Adam Schlagman & Eddie Berganza

Geoff Johns' second arc in his Barry Allen series has a good but not perfect beginning. There is continuity shown with the first arc and a very interesting twist at the end of the issue,

The story begins with a crack of lightning and Allen reporting to work. This marks my major problem with the issue I was hoping they would show Allen a little dazed after coming off being affected by Parralax. It would have built continuity with Johns' other ongoing title Green Lantern. Despite that little problem this was a solid start to a new arc. Allen has a new case which involves a dead costumed person. The costumed identity of this individual could make one believe they were related to another superhero. However to add to this mystery the dead corpse is that of a senior citizen and not befitting the costumed identity.

The art by Francis Manapul was good, but again not worthy of the two week delay this issue was given after Flash #8 came out. The use of light watercolor to show a panel beforehand is really good. I am talking about the zoo panel but I also notice watercolor in the panel above that one even though it is a present time panel. Iris appears to be her youthful self. I appreciate that DC switch covers to the more iconic one fitting the monthly theme. It also works because Wally West and Bart Allen appear in only one panel and they are in normal clothes to boot. I also enjoy the bottom panel of page 17 where Barry off camera says STOP because in the next instant he will catch up to his target.

The one page spread cliffhanger reveals the man on the motorcycle from the end of #6. It was not who I was expecting but even more shocked to find out his name. He is there to stop the biggest time anomaly to ever threaten realty.
8(out of)10

Blackest Night Series 6 Blue Lantern Flash Action Figure Toy Review

Blackest Night Series 6 Blue Lantern Flash Action Figure Toy Review

Creator: DC Direct
Price: 18
Size: 6.75”
Articulation Points: atleast 9

Eric’s review: 3.5 out of 5.














Positives
Head easily moveable.
Wrist articulation was a nice to have.
Rotation below shoulder an even better find.
Quality of sculpt (except for head) and paint job was good


Negatives
Design of sculpt very questionable, head looks very slender, Flash logo on chest off center.
Figure can’t hold lantern accessory in hand.
Said lantern accessory already came apart.
Package difficult to open.

Flash 8 review

Reverse Flash: Rebirth

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Scott Kolins

Colorist: Brian Buccellato

Letterer: Sal Cipriano

Cover: Kolins w/ Michael Atiyeh

Variant cover: Stanley Lau

Editors: Adam Schlagman & Eddie Berganza

Well Eobard Thawne (a.k.a. Professor Zoom) is one really bad dude isn't he? Flash #8picks up seemingly where #7 left off with Professor Zoom running around. However this time he says he is free to change it all as he narrates his origin story.

The 25th century, where Thawne is from, is depicted as a scitenfic-social utopia where every task has to be done at an assigned time sometimes even to the second. Thawne stats were predetermined as it is the custom by genetic scientists and his parents. Thawne had a little brother. This is where the reader is given the reason for the story. Thawne goes back in his own time line and murders everyone he percieves from stopping him from his ultimate goal learning about the speed force. For the murders shown in the art he is in his uniform but some murders are only hinted at. My only problem with the writing is one page where Thawne is shown as the Flash of the 25th century. Could this be a single page retcon?

The art is really good in this issue but even great when Thawne shows up as Professor Zoom. Kolins use of red around the eyes really gives Thawne the look of do not (bleep) with me. Out of costume you can see Thawne becoming more evil with each betrayal from his viewpoint. Pages 12 and 13 are where this happens he looks real stern. Even the regular cover is intimidating with him grinding his teeth.

I also like that Barry does not show up in real time in this issue making the events of Green Lantern 59 and 60 correspond well to Flash 7 and 8. This issue would have been better had Thawne described how Barry ruined his future?
9(out of)10

Flash #7 review

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Scott Kolins

Colorist: Brian Buccellato

Letter: Sal Cipriano

Cover: Manapul w/Buccellato

Variant cover: Darwyn Cooke

Editors: Adam Schlagman and Eddie Berganza

This Captain Boomerang issue by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins was good but did not feel complete. The first half was a recap of Digger Harkness' life while the second half in present time was a talk with Professor Zoom seeking answers about his future.
The writing in the recap felt forced. HIs first job did not work out and because the Flash was more popular he decided to become an arch enemy of the Scarlet Speedster. The last part about him killing the man who raised him. Why include that in the issue? it did not relate to anything else in the book. When this issue took place as it relates to the just concluded Flash arc could also come into question. Digger indicates he is NOT escaping from Iron Heights. Then why do the rogues show up at the end. The art was good my favorite panel was the retake with the rogues aiming their weapons at a fallen Flash.
The conversation with Professor Zoom led me to ask only one question. Does Digger have to kill Dove to get hiss life back. Before I have only read that he has to throw the boomerang at her to complete his mission. Boomerang wants to know what his future holds so go visit a villian from the future at the same prison. Professor Zooms' taunts at first don't phase Digger but leave him confused at the end saying he knows enough that Digger will never amount to anything. Kolins art on Professor Zoom is fantastic. Zoom really looks evil especially with those red eyes. Professor Zoom just has nasty written all over him.
This issue was good but not great. The art was better than the writing as now I am confused as how to Captain Boomerang Brightest Day mission is suppose to be fulfilled is he meant to kill?
8(out of)10