The Flash #9
Publisher: DC Comics
Writers: Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato
Artist: Francis Manapul
Cover: Francis Manapul
For someone who primarily was known as an artist a couple years ago, Francis Manapul knows how to write, and he continues to show the lengths of his writing skills and his indisputable strength as an artist. The Flash is one of those books that is just simply a good classic comic book. It’s far from the best the New 52 has to offer, but over the past nine issues it has progressively picked up speed (not unlike its title character).
I have been a long time Flash fan, so issue number nine was a book I was particularly looking forward to. This issue saw the first New 52 appearance of one of The Flash’s greatest rogues – Gorilla Grodd. Thankfully the Francis Manapul, Brian Buccelato comic gave a faithful as well as intriguing introduction to the character. Though the new DC universe has not been without its drastic/controversial changes, and I’m sure any fan could find a discrepancy or two, the changes made to Gorilla Grodd and his super smart simian race make sense for the characters and the book itself.
However, I did feel as if the introduction was a bit short, if not rushed. The introduction of Gorilla City and Grodd could have easily been an event-like story arc. But it seems as if they were just trying to get the brain hungry ape’s introduction over with, so they could use him in future Flash story arcs. I for one would have salivated over a larger story arc taking place in a city of super evolved gorillas with everyone’s favorite speedster, but then again, maybe most people don’t share my obsession with simian brainiacs and evil silverbacks.
The Flash gets a presentable score of a 3.5/5. It is simply a good book, a good book that is constantly on the heels of being great, and maybe one day when the DCNU is simply the DCU, it will have enough back story to be the great book it’s been chasing after all along (Running puns stop…now…I promise).
In short: The Flash #9 is a good solid read from the talented up and coming team of Manapul and Buccellato.
Grady
grady@comicattack.net
