FLASH #8

[ CATCH THAT BARGAIN ] 

The speed force is full of power. It's as big as the Eiffel Tower. The Flash knows this to be true. Though he does sniff a lot of glue. Which makes him think that he looks like Jack Bauer. Or maybe it's the creative team of Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato, plus Publisher: DC Comics in May 2012. Maybe.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

In this chapter entitled 'The Speed Force', we see the fasted red-man alive since the battle of the Alamo, do his thing in the otherworldly dimension called... err... the speed force.

You see, all the Flash wanted to do, was to zip off over to this strange looking lo-cal, find Iris and the other passengers who went missing two issue ago, and then bring then all back home again. But no. Instead he find some World War Two pilot named Roscoe Hynes (AKA Turbine), who explains to him that: (1) Flash's speed is saving the speed force. (2) He isn't. And (3) That he's a nut.

So what do you do with all good nuts? Correct, like Flash, take him through time.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Patty and Forrest gets introduced to David new 'friend' Hartley Rathaway. Whereas in Gorilla City, Gorilla God introduces his fists to his papa's face.

Shame that the Flash just missed this monkey-induced introduction by a second, huh?

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

Would it be silly of me to say that the best piece of grammar written in this issue was a yelp? Well, when Roscoe screamed 'Wooo Hooo' before being sucked into the speed force, it did remind me of the battle cry for Easy Company, Black Hawks, and all of those other great war-time creations.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

This issue is a great issue. Though if I have to be honest with you, what I liked about it the most, was that I was right 'last review' concerning my presumption.

Hartley Rathaway is back and he is David's 'boyfriend'.

Talk about playing my own instrument, huh? Pied-Piper beware.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

The only slight nag I have with this tale is that structurally is does zip from one story strand to another story strand a mite too much. Just a mite though.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: I liked the idea that the speed force is an actual habitable location, in which you can view time through. In someway this reminded me of the Liner-men 'Time-Point' abode, though with a more imaginative slant.

Something else that reminded me of something that has come before is Turbine's origin as well. Savitar anyone?

ART: I really did get a kick out of the look of this book when Barry and that nut-job were walking around the speed-force, and their perspective changed per step. Also, you have to love the look of two monkeys fighting each other. Even if it is Father and Son.  

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

TURBINE: For this type of a role, you need an actor who is both likable and mannered at the same time. What about one time 'Greys Anatomy' doctor, Isaiah Washington? He seems both cleaver and crazy at the same time.

GRODD'S DAD: Now before he became known as the voice of 'Darth Vader', James Earl Jones had the movie panache for being the wise doomsayer of all things to come. Like he did in 'Conan the Barbarian'. So I can not see why he couldn't do the same thing now to Papa Grodd?

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

Time Waits For No Man. Unless Man Is Waiting In Time.

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

Conceptually, I thought that this story had a very hip hop the hippie the hippie to the hip hip hop, you don't stop, the rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumped the boogie, to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat.

Or something like that, huh? Sugarhill Gang, of 'Rapper's Delight' fame.

FINAL thoughts...

Another great issue by the great creative team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. Honestly, after their initial couple of issues on this series, I was genuinely concerned for the Flash's future. Now please don't get me wrong, they are not out of the woods yet. I am a die-hard Wally West fan, and want to know where the hell he is. Still, for the time being, all is good in the Barry-verse.

MARKS out of 10? 9