FLASH #17

[ A SMASHING SALE ] 

At last it's the final part of 'Gorilla Warfare'! Let's break-out three cheers and go off to the fun-fair. We'd have a good time. We can eat some cherries and lime. Plus we can find that clown who messed-up our son's hair. No! Not 'son'. The super-fast creative team of Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato, plus Publisher: DC Comics, in March 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this FINAL PART of 'Gorilla Warfare'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Whilst the Rogues and the Central City Police Department pushes back a hoard of Gorillas from Gorilla City, Flash fights with Grodd in the Speed Force, and attempts to save Iris Allen plus her cohorts in the process.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: I'm not saying. That'll spoil the surprise. Won't it?
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: After their ruckus, the Rogues recruit a new team member.
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With Barry a free man, and with a new speedster running upon the horizon. A reversible one.

Overall, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

As much as I loved reading the sentences 'Those damn, dirty apes' and 'Sometimes you've got to go in reverse', the stand-out conversation for yours truly, was when...

GRODD: Tell me Flash. Should I play with your friends first, or are you eager to die?

FLASH: I'll take 'C'... none of the above.

Ha! You've got to love a hero who laughs in the face of adversity, don't you? Especially if the danger in question swings from a tree and eats bananas!

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) Now who doesn't like the sight of a talking Gorilla getting slapped in the mouth? Go on. Stand up and let yourself be known. I have some flee powder waiting in the wings.

(+) Was that Daniel West I saw ogling the rogues whilst they were talking about their weapons? If so, I'm sure that glimmer in his eye means something big.

(+) Seeing the Reverse Flash on the final page was a strange yet startling sight for my surprised eyes. And I'm not talking about his over-worked costume. Ha!

(+) Solova is alive. Yippee!

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) My only slight gripe with this conclusion would have to be the overall pacing of it. As per-usual with this series, it started off by presenting to us the main dilemma that Flash had to contend with, and then the narrative went all the way around the houses before said dilemma could ever be resolved.  

Pick TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and compare them individually to a HONG KONG ACTION STAR.

DONNIE YEN AS THE FLASH: When I first saw Donnie on screen all those many years ago, I honestly thought to myself that he was an oriental version of Barry Allen. Granted, I was on a lot of medication at the time, and overdosing on a shed load of Won-Ton. Still, I've made my point.  

PEI-PEI CHENG AS IRIS ALLEN... ERR... I MEAN WEST: Look at Pei-Pei. Think of Iris. Look at Pei-Pei. Think of Iris. Look at Pei-Pei. Think of Iris. Job done.

What WORD or PHRASE could you use to sum-up this story?

'Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town' -- George Carlin

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, as well as add and extra dimension to it by default?

DANNY ELFMAN'S THEME TUNE TO 'THE PLANET OF THE APES': OK, so the Tim Burton film might have stunk like an overripe banana, nonetheless, it had a good tune to match-up to this rather rhapsodic comic book?

ANYTHING Else?

Now as a resolution to a story-arc goes, I have to say that this one wasn't a bad yarn in retrospect. On the one hand it prodded Flash to bring back 'Barry' and Linda from 'limbo'. Yet, on the other hand, I felt that the overall arc could have been more focused in places. With some more cohesion on the 'war' part of the story, rather than the other paraphernalia going on in the background.

Also, what about the Reverse-Flash? Huh? Doesn't he look like Darth-Mauls nephew to you? Furthermore, what the hell is going on with Daniel West and Doctor Elias? I'm pretty damn sure these two characters will worm their way into things sooner or later. My question is though, what things?

You got any ideas?

GIVE IT, IT'S DUES: If This Comic Book Was A Sound Effect, It Would Have To Be A Noise That I Could Use Again And Again To Annoy The People Around Me With. Oggga-Oggga!! Fun.