My Buddy
Written by: Joshua WilliamsonArt by: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016
Well, now that we know who Godspeed is, we can get to the real story, right? Right?!? What story am I talking about? How the hell do I know...I'm not the writer of the book! Joshua Williamson is the writer and I have faith that he will now give us a more consistently good Flash book now that the "Who is Godspeed" nonsense is over. Am I right? Let's find out...
The issue starts with a rundown of the who and what that is Godspeed. It mirrors the usually, "I am Barry Allen..." beginning and really does a good job of getting even new readers up to speed on things. It continues with the beat down that a multiple Godspeed is giving Barry Allen while August (yes, Godspeed is August) tells Barry the origin of his powers.
Like I said, the beginning is a good recap of what we've gotten so far, but I'm not sure about the tone. August still calling Barry his "best friend" was a little off, but when he tells Barry that he didn't mean to kill the speedsters and did it all to bring Justice to Central City, I rolled my eyes a bit. It just all seemed like a whitewashing of what we've seen from Godspeed up until now.
We then see that Godspeed's power is not treating August well, but Barry is still there to be the concerned friend. I know that Barry is a good guy, but even this felt odd and a bit forced. At least it ends with Barry sucker punching August and running off!
While Barry regroups, Godspeed puts his new world order into effect and Central City will never be the same. It just so happens that a bunch of Black Hole thugs have taken prisoners and will execute them if Dr. Carver isn't released. August doesn't negotiate with terrorists...he straight up murders them...in very gruesome ways!!! Very Gruesome Ways!!!
We then get what I've been waiting for since before Rebirth...Wally West and the Flash team up! Actually, they talk a little first, find out a little about each other and then TEAM UP! I know this sets up more for Wally to leave this book and head off to the Teen Titans, but I hope we get a little new Flash/Kid Flash action first.
Things get a little hokey at this point when Barry figures out not only how to free the citizen speedsters of their speed force powers, but how that can help defeat Godspeed. Unfortunately, Godspeed didn't get the memo and shows up to break it all up. The issue then ends with Godspeed revealing his grand plan and it's not as evil as you'd think...unless your someone who care about justice, due process and silly things like that.
This issue was O.K. I was thrown off by the tone of it all and while I like the concept of Godspeed's plan, it seemed a bit forced and not really what Godspeed would do from what we've seen up until now.
I did really like the art in this issue. Carmine Di Giandomenico has been killing it every time he is on art for this book and this issue is no different. His style really fits the speedy nature of the Flash.
Bits and Pieces:
While I was hoping that the Godspeed reveal last issue would send this book up to another level, Joshua Williamson spends a good amount of time catching everyone up and then forces most of what pushes it forward. I liked the art in this issue, but the story just didn't do it for me. Godspeed has made it personal, but at the end of the day, I'm not sure I care.
6.0/10
Godspeed is one gruesome dude. I like to thank that some person was eating an ice-cream on the street right below where Godspeed Liquefied the black hole terrorist; and the goo just fell 30 stories to the poor guy eating his ice cream. That is the guy I feel sorry for in this issue. LOL.
ReplyDeleteNow I feel bad for that guys too
DeleteAhhhaa I don't know how I feel about this book ... maybe your right Jim now that the identity stuff is over it'll be better, I am interested to see what happens from here but I don't have faith it'll be good . Maybe if I just want it to be good it will be good by osmosis like how they gave up their speed
ReplyDeleteI actually liked this issue as just a good way of showing how brutal Godspeed is. Sure we saw before how he dealt with his brother's killer before, but that could have been emotionally fueled. This issue gave us what happened between him and the other speedsters and even saw it wasn't necessary with Barry dealing with it a different way. We also get him saying he didn't mean to kill them he just wanted to take it, but then we see him be brutal with a speedster saying if they were going to give it up they didn't deserve it. We even see him brutally kill 4 robbers. I think this was just a good issue of showing how fucked up Godspeed is. I could have used a little less Barry and Wally whining though.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm just being too forgiving of this book.
I'm glad they are continuing to build Godspeed's reputation as a ruthless killer. I look forward to seeing what he'll do next. I guess when you have the hero's setting their own cat on fire you have to step up your game to make a villain look bad these days.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta cut Jon some slack. At least he didn't put a hole through Bruce's chest when he shot him with his heat vision.
DeleteI liked this issue. Wasn’t perfect but I really liked Godspeed and his sudden shift to being a bad guy. Really makes the quote “...if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” by Abraham Lincoln stand out, especially when Godspeed kills all of those Black Hole agents. I think I’m most excited to see what happens in the next issue in Iron Heights
ReplyDelete