Flash #4 review

Flash #4
“Case One: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues”
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Manapul w/Buccellato
Variant Cover: Scott Kolins w/Michael Atiyeh
Published by DC Comics

Flash #4 is by far the most informative issue as far as storyline details. Top (Renegade version of The Top), decides to go rogue and tell Barry Allen about future events. Barry’s wife is caught in the middle of this thus connecting the dots from Flash #3. The entire issue is filled with action with the writing and art good but each having rough points.
The writing by Geoff Johns was good as we can now see the storyline starting to come into focus. Through Top Flash learns he simply mistakes the Renegade version for the Rogue version. So that could be his defense at trial mistaken identity. That is the writing weakest point of the issue as far as mapping out the story. For just this issue the writing is also pretty weak by how Barry gets rid of the black energy boomerangs (even though Manapul draws it amazingly). John’s makes up for this by telling us about Iris’s involvement with the Rogues.
The art seems to be good even though most of the splash pages do not grab my attention. I had to do a double take to appreciate the two page splash with the police helicopter. The other splash pages got nothing out of me. In the scene where Barry grabs the boomerangs Manapul takes one big panel and divides it into four equal sections. I just found that very interesting and outweighs the single splash pages getting no reaction. The cover for this issue would have been better had it been use for Flash #3.
As the story turns into another gear I initially thought the issue was bad but Johns and Manapul save it with fascinating story telling and art techniques. Now I am pumped for Flash #5 to see if we get the evil Iris. Also the one word “Possesion” for me indicates a spiritual force gets released.
8(out of 10)

Flash #3 review

Flash #3

“Case One: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues”
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Manapul w/Buccellato
Variant Cover: Greg Horn
Published by DC Comics

Flash #3 continues the good story that Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul are putting together. Barry has multiple things on his mind while the Renegades reappear more determined than ever to apprehend the Flash for a future crime. This issue finally connects the book in some way to Brightest Day through Captain Boomerang. Also the Renegades hint at some crime being committed against Iris West.
The writing by Geoff Johns, was good, not great but at the same time not bad. Captain Boomerang gets boomerangs made out of black energy. This is further evidence that those brought back at the end of Blackest Night for Brightest Day have retained some semblance of their Black Lantern forms. At first when Top Top version of the Renegades mentions Iris West I found it a bit odd. However what if the Flash didn’t really commit a crime and the Renegades just need him in their time to make sure Iris is safe in the future. Also to me it is obvious there is a bigger mystery surrounding the Renegades.
The art by Francis Manapul was once again solid with perhaps the two single splash pages featuring Captain Boomerang stand out especially with his weapons. It makes this timid guy look like a force to be wrecking with. The splash page with the Renegades cover by blue light is fantastic. The cover I don’t like when it has nothing to do with this issue inside. You can say that is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to comic books no matter how awesome the cover looks.
This issue has me really excited for #4 as I feel this is just one big mystery with the Renegades at the center of it all. Now we know that Iris play a bigger part than other for someone for Barry to talk with. I am very interested in seeing Manapul’s interpretation of Professor Zoom.
8(out of 10)

Flash #2 review

Review by Eric Ridgeway

“Case One: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues”

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul w/ Joel Gomez
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Manapul w/Buccellato
Variant Cover: Ryan Sook
Published by DC Comics

Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul continue their new look at The Flash with a minority report twist. This issue picks up where the fist one left off with the Flash (Barry Allen) encountering future looking rogues serving as cops known as the Renegades. The big mystery after Flash #1 was who are the Renegades and what is their real purpose? Sadly that is one thing about this issue I did not like.

Geoff Johns does a good job of describing one of Barry’s other uses of super speed. Short term memory acquired at the rate of super speed but it goes away just as fast. The panels with Barry and his wife, Iris West, discussing Flash business out in the open is quickly becoming a pet peeve of mine. Wouldn't that make them easy targets for the Rogues and other criminals? The cliffhanger in this issue did not seem to be as climatic as the first issue but I must say there has to be a logical explanation to this last page.

For as good as John’s writing is Manapul’s art is really carrying this book. When there are no word bubbles on a page the art has to be tremendous. In this case it was when Flash was racing through the falling building. The art is not only clean but simple as well and there are no lightning bolts emerging from the Flash as he is running. In these panels Flash doesn’t use his powers to fight super villains but rather to help humanity. It is also nice to see some sunlight after everything that was Blackest Night.

Overall this was a good comic book but my biggest problem is that I hoped to see more of the Renegades. Even just one panel at their home base would have satisified my curiousity. As it stands right now we really don’t know if they have a hidden agenda and the suspense is killing me!

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10 (On Its Way to Greatness!)

Flash #1 review

Review by Eric Ridgeway
“The Dastardly Death of the Rogues.”
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Nick J. Napolitano
Cover: Manapul & Buccellato
Variant Cover: Tony Harris
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza


Flash #1(vol. #3) hits the ground running fast as Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul tell a good introductory tale on Barry Allen. This is a very good comic book for the novice comic book reader who knows nothing about the history of the Flash. We get to know Barry Allen, his wife and his job(s) in the simplest of terms.

Johns breaks down Barry Allen to his core while showing Barry adjusting to life in the 21st centuty. Barry has already picked up texting to keep in contact with Iris during the day, yet complaining about adjustable work chairs. The mystery in this story begins with the death of Mirror Monarch, a Mirror Master look alike. When the other rogue doppelgangers show up at the end of this issue my first thought was of Justice League Crisis on Two Earths DVD.

While the writing was good, the art may have been even better. Manapul’s art was easy on the eyes and very clean. It seems like Manapul was born to draw the Flash but that maybe too bold a statement to make after only the first issue. My favorite art piece was the panel with the Flash running up the side of the building. Also there seems to be less focus on the lightning coming from the Flash. I hope Manapul stays with this book for a long time.

This was such a good story on Barry Allen without the bothersome details of his death twenty-five years ago or the scientific mumbo-jumbo from Rebirth. About my only problem with the book is that I wanted more after the futuristic rogues show up. I have become such a big Flash comic fan over the past two years that I think I will never stop picking up the title after a fresh beginning.

9(out of 10)

2/10 comics

Adventure Comics #7 featured Black Lantern Superboy and Wonder Girl Cassie. Difficult comic to understand in the begging with the art and writing around Superboy. When he says "I mean, why spare your feelings if I'm gonna eat your heart anyway." doesn't match the art. Then at the Fortress f Soltitude the Ring gets confused. Story was better than the art.

Secret Six #18 Part three of their Blackest Night story involving the Suicide Squad. A temporary alliance is formed between the two groups to battle Black Lanterns. I finally understood which person was on which team. Amanda Waller (I don't like her jumpsuit) ends the battle with a Green Light Gernade Art was ok and story became clearer.

Batman & Robin #8 Dick Grayson in London trying to bring back Bruce in a Lazarus pit. I wasa expecting a Black Lantern version of "Batman." Don't know why saince it is not a tie-in. "Batman" rises, Dick realises its not Bruce Batwoman(I think her name is Kate) dies. Cameron Stewart draws Damein a little chubby compared to other artists an OK book.

2/3 comics

Blackest Night Wonder Woman #3 Definitely the weakest issue of miniseries. Diana joins up with Carol and they find a group of Black Lanterns to battle. Carol leaves to finbd Hal. Read Lantern Mera is nearby and picklss a fight with Star Sapphire Wonder Woman. I just didn't like that fight it seem to rehash stuff from #2. Wonder WWoman vs. Mera was the biggest theme in this miniseries when they are suppose to working together. I know Johns is pushing Mera as a top woman in the DC Universe but the fight was way overdone. The regular cover was amazing but on the last page the Flash looks horrible with black in the costume. Oy!

Red Tornado #6 I guess the biggest question about this issue was which side of the fight would Red Inferno join. At the end of #5 after the eearthquake at Tornado's home. Inferno took Tornado's daughter then dissappeared. Turned out he took her to their school where he transformed into Inferno. So while Tornado and Torpedo take care of Volcano. Inferno keeps Tornado's daughter safe while wanting nothing to do with his android family war. This last issue I felt had more to do with Inferno as he has to find the meaning of life as an android. Was this miniseries going lead to an ongoing?

The Question #37 was the last ressurected one shot title featuring Renee Montoya taking on Black Lantern Victor Szasz. The story was decent but anytime the artist draws rain it makes the art look sloppy. Futhermore the color is way off in this book when dealing with the emotionial spectrum they make compassion a light blue not indigo they make green the background and one time they ignore yellow. They seem to hint Renee Montoya will appear in the blackest night main book but this is an awful issue.

1/27 comics

Green Lantern #50 totally awesome. If I have one complaint its the amount of screen time given to Larfleeze and Luthor. You have Green, Yellow, Violet and Red all battling the Spectre while BN Flash #2 had the blue lanterns and the Atom and Hawkman had the Indigo stuff. Even though Luthor's one line was great it was like okay where did those two go. Like Hal comment about not being thrilled to team up wiith Luthor and Scarecrow. One line by Artrocius seemed to hint more about Spectre being the red entity. The kiss so are we now to assume they are back together or was it just for good luck. When the batteries got teleported I thought we would get atleast one panel of Kyle.

BN:JSA #2 More Black Lantern trickey with a very misleading cover heartbreaking for a Flash fan. There was no sight of Jay Garrick in this issue. Black Lantern Damage revives Black Lantern Superman and did Jessie change her outfit in front of her Black Lantern father. That scene was way too short two pages. The story was good but nothing spectacular and the art was fine except for the cover which has to rate second to Teen Titans #77 as misleading for Blackest Night.

Superman Secret Origin #4 Superman vs. Parasite. I thought Luthor was going to transform Rudy Jones on purpose. I als found the mention of General Lane a bit odd. I did not realize that was Jimmy Olsen with Superman and that the fight would last the whole issue from when it started. The covers of this miniseries have the same look but give us people in the issue besides Superman.

Batman and Robin #7 I thought that was a female Robin but it turns out to the Robin version of Dick's British counterpart. The story was good. and it actually got my attention away from the art which I thought was absolutely terrible in the beginning the way Batman looked while running and also in front. An unexpected visit from Batwoman who I know nothing about in the comic world.

Atom and Hawkman #46 Disappointed this didn't open with a nok After a quick battle with the Hawks. Indigo-1 tells Ray in order to contact her tribe she will basically be vunerable to any attack. Its up to Ray to keep her alive. Indigo-1 ring is infected by Jean Loring. After returning and restoring Indigo-1 ring he says to her help me find a way to bring the Hawks back to life. The various Lantern homeworlds are contacted. So with this ending and the GL #50 ending you can see the setup for Blackest night #7. Love the you crazy b*tch comment.