The Flash: Secret Files and Origins 2010 #1
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist(s): Scott Kolins, Francis Manapul
Cover: Francis Manapul
Minor Spoilers!
You would think that coming off of what was arguably comic’s biggest storyline this year, “Blackest Night”, that Geoff Johns would take some kind of break, but you would be wrong. The dude is a freak, and is already launching a Flash reboot starting with The Flash: Secret Files and Origins 2010 #1.
Personally, I love the Secret Files and Origins titles for many reasons. First, who doesn’t love origin stories? And second, we’re always treated to a simple, but intimate few pages of narrative with the characters we love. In this particular Secret Files and Origins, we see Barry Allen revisiting his past tragedies, are reminded of why and how Barry became the hero he is today, and see that he’s never alone in his struggles.
In this title, we’re given only eighteen pages of story, but are blessed with a deep and emotional eighteen pages that rival any twenty-two page regular issue released this week. Geoff Johns is such a master of his craft, and you can feel his passion for the characters come right off the pages. Not only does he treat us to deep and emotional character depth in Barry Allen, but he excites us and teases us with the adventures to come with the Flash Family’s robust gallery of rogues.
And as if the story isn’t good enough, Flash veteran Scott Kolins’s art sets such a perfect mood for the story, really putting us on the same emotional wavelength as Barry Allen. I love it when an artist can pump us up for adventure without even needing any dialogue on the page.
Francis Manapul, who you’ll recognize from Adventure Comics (also with Geoff Johns), and the man launching The Flash #1 (again with Johns), adds some beautiful splash pages of Barry Allen and a few of his most dastardly villains, with Scott Kolins coming full circle with the entire Flash legacy, their home, friends, family, and most wanted, accompanied by origins written by Johns, bring new readers up to speed on all things Flash Family related.
The Flash: Secret Files and Origins 2010 #1 is a must read if you’ve never experienced the Flash before, or if you’re just getting excited for the relaunch of the The Flash title. Check back with us next week for my review of The Flash #1!
Andrew Hurst
andrewhurst@comicattack.net
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I will be reading Flash #1 when it comes out. I didn’t pick up this issue. I haven’t picked up a Secret Files and Origins since Young Justice. (We’re young! Just us!) I always thought these were just profiles and old crap. A waste of time. Maybe I should go back and get this one?
For some reason I liked Wally a lot better than Barry
If this was Wally, I’d think about picking it up. So, didn’t this series just do a reboot a couple years ago?
I grew up with Wally as my Flash like most people in this generation, and I love Wally, but I can’t stand his kids. And there’s something about Barry that just screams classic super hero to me. I love it.
@Billy The launched The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive years ago when Bart Allen took over as Flash. But when Wally came back they canceled Fastest Man Alive and brought Back The Flash where it’s numbering left off.
I waited to read this issue towards the end of my stack, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well done it was! The story telling was spot on- it gripped me emotionally seeing Barry deal with passing the time when you’re the fastest man alive. I’m also a newbie to The Flash and found this to be a great read all around.
…although, was it really necessary for Johns and the art team to be credited on every single origin story? There were around 10 and it felt odd seeing their names on each individual origin page. Wouldn’t a typical credit listing at the beginning or end of them all suffice?
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