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The Flash (1987) (Old Editions) #4
Flash, The: Dead Heat
With the help of Golden Age Flash Jay Garrick, Johnny Quick, Jessie Quick, XS, Max Mercury and Impulse, the Flash takes on an army of super-speedsters. By Mark Waid, Humberto Ramos and others.
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2000
231 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,181 books1,271 followersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 5, 2018
Wally continues to understand and develop his new abilities while trying to uncover the leader of a new cult of ... what can be described as "speed ninjas". Add to that Wallys continuing inability to handle the more mature parts of his relationship, and you got yourself some good Mark Waid comic writing.
While this volume wasn't as momentous as the previous ones, its still really fun. And I really enjoy how Wally has to come terms with and understand his new powers. The fact that he is scared to push the limit of them is very humanizing. And then to have the leader of the cult be, essentially, his exact opposite where he wants to do nothing but push the limits, then it creates great conflict.
The art as always, compliments the story really well. The way the speed force is drawn and the way that the new powers are shown is great.
I'm really enjoying Mark Waid's run on this. Definitely recommended for anyone that likes the Flash or Mark Waid.
While this volume wasn't as momentous as the previous ones, its still really fun. And I really enjoy how Wally has to come terms with and understand his new powers. The fact that he is scared to push the limit of them is very humanizing. And then to have the leader of the cult be, essentially, his exact opposite where he wants to do nothing but push the limits, then it creates great conflict.
The art as always, compliments the story really well. The way the speed force is drawn and the way that the new powers are shown is great.
I'm really enjoying Mark Waid's run on this. Definitely recommended for anyone that likes the Flash or Mark Waid.
August 9, 2021
Honestly, this has everything I love about the 90s Flash. The extended Flash community, faux metaphysics, character exploration and development, plus a pulpy villain!
Flash, much like Star Wars, seems to be at its best when its characters grow to meet a challenge and there is some sort of pop philosophy behind it.
Flash, much like Star Wars, seems to be at its best when its characters grow to meet a challenge and there is some sort of pop philosophy behind it.
July 17, 2011
After discovering heaven and surpassing his mentor, what else can Wally West do?
Why, become a stronger leader of men, a leader of speedsters -- of course!
In Dead Heat, a ridiculous cult leader tries to do away with all speedsters, causing Wally once again to make the ultimate sacrifice, but this time showcasing maturity in realizing he has to do what he can to protect his family, as opposed to simply himself. A much more tactically aware man appears here, as Waid continues his maturation of Wally by stacking his leadership skills against a cult leader who abuses and uses his followers for their speed abilities. Wally allows all the other speedsters here to be at their best here, as Waid's mediation on human potential and grit begins to involve the entire cast.
The story is crazy as only comic books can be crazy, and the last page is a gut-puncher that will force you to buy the next volume without too much anger. And the artwork overall here is energetic, and even though styles changes from issue to issue, the frenetic pace of the story really sells the changes.
Another bonus is a sweet issue involving Bart, Wally's ... uh. Well, he's related and from the future. Bart loses his powers and his mentor at the same time, and watching a super-fast teenager slow down is really poignant, as you'll see.
Why, become a stronger leader of men, a leader of speedsters -- of course!
In Dead Heat, a ridiculous cult leader tries to do away with all speedsters, causing Wally once again to make the ultimate sacrifice, but this time showcasing maturity in realizing he has to do what he can to protect his family, as opposed to simply himself. A much more tactically aware man appears here, as Waid continues his maturation of Wally by stacking his leadership skills against a cult leader who abuses and uses his followers for their speed abilities. Wally allows all the other speedsters here to be at their best here, as Waid's mediation on human potential and grit begins to involve the entire cast.
The story is crazy as only comic books can be crazy, and the last page is a gut-puncher that will force you to buy the next volume without too much anger. And the artwork overall here is energetic, and even though styles changes from issue to issue, the frenetic pace of the story really sells the changes.
Another bonus is a sweet issue involving Bart, Wally's ... uh. Well, he's related and from the future. Bart loses his powers and his mentor at the same time, and watching a super-fast teenager slow down is really poignant, as you'll see.
February 22, 2018
Waid's Flash is always a treat and its evident here. He introduces Savitar into Wally's world. In my memory Savitar wasn't a very good character but I was impressed. I liked the idea of his speed guru character much more than Max Mercury. The author does a great job of including the other speedsters to deal with the crisis. The art by Oscar Jimenez was fantastic. Humberto Ramos' chapters on Impulse show how far he has come as an artist. Pretty rough. Overall, a really fun Flash tale.
April 26, 2022
Good story. I enjoyed the story of a man better than Wally winning. Too bad he comes back in the future.
May 20, 2025
A siper-speedster named “Anatole” is killed on the fifth page.
As the only other Anatole in comics was in Krazy Kat in the 30s, i was very sad. Still enjoyed the rest pf the book, but still…
As the only other Anatole in comics was in Krazy Kat in the 30s, i was very sad. Still enjoyed the rest pf the book, but still…
November 17, 2011
Waid's run on the Flash has been so heavily hyped before I read it (how did I miss it when I was younger?), that I think that my expectations were a tad high. This is solid superhero fare, with Wally (Flash #3) facing off against a speedster who runs a speed cult. Waid at this time was really interested with the speed force, and Savitar is another character that plugs into its mythology. I did enjoy that this volume ends on a tasty cliffhanger, and Waid nails the characterizations of Wally and his relationship with Linda as usual.
July 19, 2018
Not much of a fan of Flash comics, particularly with Wally West in it but this was a nice time killer. My favorite Flash is Barry Allen but it does help knowing more about the other Speedsters because you get an understanding of the Speed Force.
C+
C+
April 23, 2013
I really liked this. I found the speed force to be an interesting concept and it was cool to have all the speedsters together for an epic story. I still miss Barry Allen.
May 15, 2014
Has my best in heroic cliffhangers ..."They just got better,let's go to work."
July 27, 2015
is there a Mark Waid Flash story arc that doesn't involve the Speed Force?
August 30, 2014
Vai, Jesse (Quick)!!
April 10, 2017
Another 5 star for Mark Waid. Man is he great! Savitar is savage! Those super knowledge about speed force! Looovvveeee it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews