Review: THE FLASH #44
Writers: Robert Venditti & Van Jensen
Penciller: Brett Booth
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Publisher: DC Comics
Speedster villain Professor Zoom is back and terrorizing Barry Allen and his family again. Professor Zoom has framed Barry’s father, Henry Allen, for another murder. Zoom doesn’t just want to kill The Flash – Zoom wants to tear down what The Flash stands for, so he can’t be propped up as a martyr. And Zoom has assembled a team to help him do it.
What I Liked
There was an impressive opening splash page by Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund and Andrew Dalhouse. It shows Flash sinking underwater, as bubbles emerge all around him. Panels are set up in a scattered formation, to mirror the sinking that The Flash is suffering from. You can see the terror in Barry’s eyes at being teleported two thousand feet beneath the Pacific Ocean.
Professor Zoom has an interesting crew to help him take down The Flash. I believe they are all brand new characters, but I could be wrong. They all possess some power over time or speed. The most intriguing of the group is Block. We get to see her powers on display near the end of the issue, as she traps Flash and others in a dome field.
There was a nice fake-out moment between Director David Singh and his boyfriend Hartley, the former Pied Piper. We see the couple in an argument, where Hartley accuses David of being embarrassed to be seen with him. One would make the assumption this is because they are gay. However, David tells Barry that the real reason is because as the head of the Central City Police Department, it’s a bad look to be dating a former costumed criminal.
Wally West makes a quick appearance, and we see him rocking a Flash t-shirt while reading a “Hawkmans” magazine/comic. He’s a DC fan too!
Even if you haven’t been reading the story up until now, Robert Venditti and Van Jensen feed readers enough information throughout the book to know what is going on, and what has happened prior.
What I Didn’t Like
I wish there were more Wally West. On the cover it shows Wally standing up to Professor Zoom and his crew. One would think a confrontation similar would happen in the interior, but alas. At least we did get a tease for potential Speed Force powers from Wally.
This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network. They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/
Timdogg
#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE
