FLASH #13

[ YOU'D GO APE AT THESE PRICES ] 

You've got to go ape over Central City. It's stark, it's bold, and it's shitty. Unlike a well-vacuumed monkey. It's gritty and funky. Plus has a mean fixation on committee. Not unlike the fastest creative team alive of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, with Publisher: DC Comics in November 2012. Come on people, let's get ready to rumble.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Well I'll be a monkeys Uncle! What else can make life even more difficult for the Flash in this first part of 'Gorilla Warfare'? Already the time displaced wacko called Turbine has shown his ugly face. And lets not forget that the dastardly Rogues have attacked this urban lo-cal too! So what next? Talking Gorillas falling from the skies?

• Yeah! Why not! Or more specifically, the Gorilla's from Gorilla City -- who under King Grodds direction -- are attacking this vast location, whilst the big kahuna himself searches for the focal point of the Flash's power
• Ouch! Sound's pretty bad, doesn't it? Thank God the Rogues decide to help the Flash sort out this monkey business, huh?
• Just make sure that none of them try to help Grodd, OK? Otherwise he may go a bit --- OOOGGAAAAA! -- ape?

Too late!

To be continued just as soon as a King goes supernova....

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

There were quite a few pieces of snappy dialogue I really liked reading in this issue. Such as:

(1) 'Let's kick some monkey ass' -- because it sounds funny.

(2) 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' -- because it does define the current state of play between the Flash and the Rogues.

(3) 'Get your stinking paws off  of me' -- because it's a 'Planet of The Apes' reference.

Now I could go on. But I won't. I want a banana instead. Ogga-Ogga!

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

For me, the best thing about this book, was that scene where Grodd ripped Axels arm off. Wow! What a shocking turn of events that was! I loved the brutality of it, plus how 'Kid Trickster' seemingly bit off more than he could chew.

Listen now, I'm not trying to justify his arm being ripped off. Of course not. Just that he should have been more careful with what he was doing.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

Errr... well... you see... the thing is... err... that... the...

Oh! Damn it. I've got nothing. I can't seem to find any fault with this story what so ever. Though at a touch, maybe the Turbine 'sub-plot' didn't feel as imposing as it did last issue. Apart from that though... nish.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: Although it wasn't the most creative thing I've ever seen, that still doesn't take anything away from the Flash teaming up with the Rogues and fighting against the gorillas.

Well, wasn't it a right hoot to see them team-up in this adventure together? I personally got a kick out of the jovial tone behind this 'story-strand' -- as if the bad-guys were doing the good-guy a favor.

ART: There's just so much to like about Brian Buccellato's art, I can't seem to spit it all out at the moment. I liked the brutality of the 'arm ripping scene'. I liked how the gorillas seemed bulky and imposing at the same time. I liked how the Rogues showed a lot more character than usual. And I liked the kinetic flow of Flash's action scenes too.

Nuff said.

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

AXEL: Just look at them. Either of them. The British 'pop-act' known as 'Jedward'. And tell me that you won't like to see one of them being harmed by an angry gorilla. You can't, can you?  

SOLOVAR: Couldn't you just see, actor, John Goodman, play this currently captive albino gorilla? He has the same warmth, and he defiantly has the same manner.

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

Whose Side Would You Fall On? The Good? The Bad? Or The Monkey?

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

I'm sure you will agree with me when I say that this adventure had a real jovial and chunky spirit behind it -- as if a bunch of guys were messing about with their own private monkeys. No. You're not thinking what I'm thinking, are you? 'The Mess Around'!

Ha! Ray Charles would be proud.

FINAL thoughts...

Over the last week or so, I've been reading on the internet that this title -- The Flash -- is considered a 'fairly safe and consistent comic book'. OK, to a point, I have to agree with this statement -- it is a safe and consistent comic book. However, whilst saying that, Brian and Francis are also trying their best to please both the 'old-school' Flash-fan, whilst giving the new readers a new take on an old character.

Now would you say that these are the qualities you'd assign to people you'd consider 'safe and consistent'?  No. Of course not. Both Brian and Francis are doing a really great job on this book, which has had quite a lot of resistance since Barry's return. People want Wally back. People don't like the new costume. People aren't too keen on the current state of play. Etcetera. Etcetera. Etcetera.

Personally speaking, I don't think these naysayers will ever be happy with this title. Like I've been know to do on occasion, they're looking at the past too fondly, without giving this series a proper chance to please them.

Come on you miserably git's -- you know who you are -- relax your minds and give this comic another shot.

MARKS out of 10? 9