The Flash #798 Review

   

    

Written by: Jeremy AdamsArt by: Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Will Robson
Colors by: Matt Herms
Letters by: Rob Leigh
Cover art by: Taurin Clarke
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: May 2, 2023

The Flash #798 welcomes a new addition to the West family, but Granny Goodness spoils the good vibes, forcing Wally, Mr. Terrific, and a team of eclectic heroes to break the bounds of Hypertime to get little Wade back.
Is It Good?

The Flash #798 is a little weird but a lot of fun. Issue #798 marks the beginning of the end for Jeremy Adams's run, and it appears Adams is capitalizing on all the writing hallmarks that made his run well-received.

When last we left the Flash family, Ace teamed up with Irey, Jai, and the Super Sons from an alternate universe to stop a group of amalgam villains who possessed a wishing machine. The villains were ultimately defeated, but we saw the wishing machine fall into the hands of Granny Goodness, foreshadowing dark days ahead.

Now, the blessed day arrives as Linda gives birth to the next West child, Wade West. With good family feelings and a renewed sense of hope in the air, it isn't long before Granny Goodness shows up, disguised as a nurse, to kidnap Wade for some nefarious purpose. Wally gathers the help of Mr. Terrific, Gold Beetle, Hourman, and others to kick off a rescue adventure for the ages.

Again, Adams capitalizes on the elements of this run that work so well. The family interactions between husband and wife, siblings, parents and children, and erstwhile and future hero partners is a hoot. The tone and care within the relationships have been a consistent bright spot in Adams's tenure, and he slathers on those loving feelings here.

On top of the genuine heart is a strong plot with good pacing and urgency (a key element), amusing character moments (bonus: a bit of dialog between Wally and Mr. Terrific appears to throw shade on Tom King's Strange Adventures mini-series, and rightfully so), and big wow moments.

What's not so great? Nothing major stands out as an issue. As a minor down point, the setup happens very quickly when the kidnapping coincides with an explosion that matches the moment a Mr. Terrific experiment goes awry. In other words, a few explosive moments happen simultaneously, but it's unclear how they're connected, and it comes off as slightly confusing.

Despite the higher-than-average number of artists working on the issue, the art looks great. A fun, whimsical style comes across clearly during the action moments, and the facial acting is first-rate.


About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces:

The Flash #798 marks the beginning of the end for Jeremy Adams's run on The Flash, and this last arc kicks off a new adventure in style, with a big heart, big explosions, and an adventure that's all about family.

8/10