So the Flash recently concluded its first storyarc, featuring the debut of a new supervillain, insane new Flash powers and Central City. I'm still whirring from the five issues, so I thought I'd do a nice little wrap-up about the art, similar to
the post on J.H. Williams III and Batman.
Look at this.
Look at it. It looks amazing, it's beautiful. I saw this spread in the DC column of a New 52 #1, and I knew immediately to pick up this issue #1. The design is exciting and joyful: check out Barry's expression in that "H." It tells you that The Flash isn't on a slow burn: it's hitting the ground running.
This is still the first issue. It's not exactly a spread, but it
looks freaking nice. Look at Barry's body language in the first page: superheroes have emotions too, and he really cares about the murder case presented. From that page, there's a major color change, from hot to cool, and the second page is just mind-boggling. It's a single overhead shot with additional tiny panels as necessary. We can literally follow Barry's path across his room, with our eyes. Beautiful storytelling.
You best believe that the Flash don't mess around! The use of red is exciting in the first spread; it'll get your heart pumping for this issue (the second). Then, in the third, we follow Barry's race to save an airplane and the Gem City Bridge. Coupled with the cinematic credits and the stark symbols of the Flash, running has never looked so stylish.
In issue 4, Manapul and Buccellato just go buck wild on the pages. It's insane and beautiful at the same time. Since the main story of the issue is a flashback, an origin into Manny Lago's life, I think they executed it in an artistic way.
Just look at this. The panels are fists and hands, with some of their digits dismembered, representative of Manny's ability to regenerate from his severed limbs. Did you get that? Isn't it just amazing? They're playing with the idea of a comic book, the idea of rectangular panels, and it's paying off.
Home stretch now: here's a spread from the fifth issue, with the Flash gathering two ship barges from Gotham and slipstreaming them to help out the citizens stuck on Gem City Bridge. Note the Eisnerian presentation of the title: how creative is
that? Comics need more of these.
And here's the last spread I want to show you. Check out how the noise from the EM generator is, literally, surrounding Barry. It's an exciting, visual way to depict a non-visual effect.
That's all I have for you today. The trade paperback isn't out yet for the Flash -- they're going to wait for two more issues and
then release them in November. If there's enough demand, I'll do a similar review for these next two issues. In the meantime, head to your local shop and check out the title -- issue 6 is
in stores next week!
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