Put on Your Recap
Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Hi-Fi and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 9, 2017
Here we go, Barry Allen has Negative Speed Force powers...or does he? I know one guy who wears an eye patch and a headband that wasn't so sure and while I usually would blame him for being a dummy, I kind of blame Williamson a bit more. It did seem like Barry's Negative Powers may have dissipated, but it now looks like that isn't the case. So, I am excited to see what it all means to Barry and everyone else. Is it good? Let's find out...
The issue starts with a little recap about Barry and Reverse Flash's complicated relationship before showing the reader what they came to see...Negative Speed Force Barry! Okay, it actually wasn't as exciting as I was hoping it would be, but we do get a little taste of his new powers and they are setting Central City on fire...literally!
We then get more recap with Barry's personally and work life before finally getting to the story at hand. Someone is stealing evidence from the Central City crime lab and it looks like an inside job.
It leads to Director Singh telling Barry how great a CSI he is, but also that his head hasn't been in the game lately. Barry gets a bit mopey until the Road Reapers fly on by the police department and Barry powers up (down) the negative powers.
It's a mad race, but while Barry thinks the Reapers are running from him, they are running from Shrapnel. It's another one of those situations where Barry thinks he's doing good, but is actually doing the exact opposite.
The issue ends with Barry watching the Reapers go down hard and it looks like he is going to blame himself for what happens...and maybe others will as well. I guess time will tell.
Okay, nothing really happens in this issue besides a bunch of recap and a couple villains I care nothing about. I wanted to learn more about the Negative Speed Force, but instead find out Barry is still trying to figure them out. I wanted to see Iris, but she's only mentioned and that is 100% more than what we get with Wally West. I was really hoping for a big issue and by the end, I would have settled for anything...anything!
The art was okay. There was nothing wrong with it per se, just nothing that knocked my socks off. With all the other artists that have jumped on the book, I actually found myself not liking Carmine Di Giandomenico's art as much as I did before.
Bits and Pieces:
While I was hoping for the start of a big arc here, this issue fell flat. If you are new to the book, you may appreciate the recap, but longtime readers can probably skip this and catch up next issue.
4.8/10
God damnit I'm done with this book and I mean it this time, needs new blood
ReplyDeletei know what you mean
DeleteI may be going crazy, but I actually really liked this issue. May have went in with really low expectations and it was easy to impress from that point, but I think this was the first time I actually liked the down time or set up parts before getting to the story. The set up had me interested.
ReplyDeleteSo, I haven't kept up with The Flash book. Not because I dislike it, but I just haven't had time. This was a great issue to jump back in with. While there are things that aren't explained well, like the negative powers and where's Wally, I felt that it added to the overall mystery of the book. The big mystery being, who's stealing evidence and why? It has me wanting more. Carmine Di Giandomenico's art is a bit wonky at times, but I like it on this book. It gives the illusion of constant motion. 7/10
ReplyDeleteIdk, flash downtime just doesn't compare to superman downtime. The stories all feel plain, nothing special ever happens, standard gimmicks from Williamson (reverse, speed city, etc.), and tbh, weird science, you guys are the only review sites who I feel actually reviews a book with high expectations rather than simple expectations always giving books a 9 or 10.
ReplyDeleteI'm about to switch my subscription issues to nightwing
Yea, flash is my second favorite character (behind Nightwing) and I just want a good book! Downtown flash is not good here
Delete