What do you think?
Rate this book
The Flash (1987) (New Editions)
The Flash by William Messner Loebs and Greg LaRocque Omnibus Vol. 1
The mysterious power known as the Speed Force is an energy field that has, over the centuries, granted incredible powers of velocity to certain heroes.
The most famous of these is the Flash, also known as the Fastest Man Alive. Ever since the days of World War II, there has been a man clad in red who can run at impossible speeds, using his power to save lives and defend those who cannot defend themselves. All between the ticks of a second.
The Flash has mastery over not just speed, but time itself, and he has often used his powers to travel though different eras and even into other dimensions. Although the Flash has not always been fast enough to outrun personal tragedy when it has come for him, he always does his best to prevent the same from happening to the people of Central City and Keystone City. In so doing, he's earned himself a spot among the greatest Super Heroes the DC Universe has ever known.
Collects THE FLASH #1-28, THE FLASH ANNUAL #1-3, MANHUNTER #8-9, SECRET ORIGINS ANNUAL #2, and pages from INVASION! #2-3, featuring over a dozen never-before-collected issues.
The most famous of these is the Flash, also known as the Fastest Man Alive. Ever since the days of World War II, there has been a man clad in red who can run at impossible speeds, using his power to save lives and defend those who cannot defend themselves. All between the ticks of a second.
The Flash has mastery over not just speed, but time itself, and he has often used his powers to travel though different eras and even into other dimensions. Although the Flash has not always been fast enough to outrun personal tragedy when it has come for him, he always does his best to prevent the same from happening to the people of Central City and Keystone City. In so doing, he's earned himself a spot among the greatest Super Heroes the DC Universe has ever known.
Collects THE FLASH #1-28, THE FLASH ANNUAL #1-3, MANHUNTER #8-9, SECRET ORIGINS ANNUAL #2, and pages from INVASION! #2-3, featuring over a dozen never-before-collected issues.
984 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2024
6 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 5, 2025
Mike Baron (#1-14). First up, why isn't Mike Baron's name on this omnibus? He wrote the first half of it, and his run was phenomenal. The Flash #1 hits the ground running as a groundbreaking and revolutionary issue that simultaneously treats Wally as a real person and considers his speed from the perspective of real physics. The result is a foundational change in The Flash.
Then we get a run of mostly two-issue arcs each of which introduces new characters into the mix, creating a supporting cast and rogues gallery that Wally never had on his own. The use of Vandal Savage in the first and last arcs is terrific, as he's a bestial, dangerous man that feels the opposite of the Flash in many ways (which was likely the intent). But we also get new speedsters starting with Blue Trinity and Red Trinity and continuing into the Velocity Nine junkies.
Yeah, Chunk is here too, and his arc is a little over-padded because of the Millennium crossover, but this was the character as a fresh villain, not as an overused cast member, as would be the case under Loebs.
Still an amazing run all these years later [5/5].
Messner-Loebs (#15-28). When Messner-Loebs takes over, things are great at first, but that's primarily because he's continuing with Baron's plot, starting with a few more issues about Savage (not that they were needed; Baron's ending was pretty definitive). But the further you get into the Messner-Loebs run, the more it's running downhill.
The prime problem is that the comic gets increasingly slapstick. Messner-Loebs tries really hard to be funny, and it's just not to the comic's benefit. The secondary problem is that he concentrates on the supporting cast that Baron had created ultimately to the deficit of Wally. The final arc barely features him at all, except as a big MacGuffin.
These are still pretty decent as superhero comics, but the step down is more obvious than ever when read back-to-back with the Baron issues [3+/5].
Then we get a run of mostly two-issue arcs each of which introduces new characters into the mix, creating a supporting cast and rogues gallery that Wally never had on his own. The use of Vandal Savage in the first and last arcs is terrific, as he's a bestial, dangerous man that feels the opposite of the Flash in many ways (which was likely the intent). But we also get new speedsters starting with Blue Trinity and Red Trinity and continuing into the Velocity Nine junkies.
Yeah, Chunk is here too, and his arc is a little over-padded because of the Millennium crossover, but this was the character as a fresh villain, not as an overused cast member, as would be the case under Loebs.
Still an amazing run all these years later [5/5].
Messner-Loebs (#15-28). When Messner-Loebs takes over, things are great at first, but that's primarily because he's continuing with Baron's plot, starting with a few more issues about Savage (not that they were needed; Baron's ending was pretty definitive). But the further you get into the Messner-Loebs run, the more it's running downhill.
The prime problem is that the comic gets increasingly slapstick. Messner-Loebs tries really hard to be funny, and it's just not to the comic's benefit. The secondary problem is that he concentrates on the supporting cast that Baron had created ultimately to the deficit of Wally. The final arc barely features him at all, except as a big MacGuffin.
These are still pretty decent as superhero comics, but the step down is more obvious than ever when read back-to-back with the Baron issues [3+/5].
December 31, 2024
(Zero spoiler review) 2.5/5
The opening half dozen or so of Mike Baron's issues were outstanding. Literally everything I look for in a supe comic. And seeing as how this was my first foray into the Flash, needless to say, I was mighty impressed. And not just because the outstanding and criminally underappreciated Guice Jackson was on art, Baron crafted a most interesting plot, mixing Wally's superhero exploits, his insecurities and his social life (along with some interesting assailants, into a must read comic. Sadly, the second half dozen issues weren't as interesting, and when Loeb's got on the book, it was all downhill from there.
Plots start and stop with little through lines. His mother is a hideous bitch of a character, with nothing remotely redemptive about her whatsoever, and Wally just keeps taking it in the shorts from her. The Manhunter tie in was awful, I skipped most of it. Not to mention LaRocque's art, which was more up and down than a hooker on a Saturday night. It didn't matter who inked him, it was a total crap shoot as to whether it was a semi decent Guice impression, or whether it was just plain unacceptable. It all ended in a damp squib, though I was too dejected at this point, given the high point it started on to get overly angry. Too many tie in's / annuals. Not enough Jackson on art.
This is my favourite era of DC if for the art, inks and colours. Truly the high water mark before digital started to creep in and slowly strangle the life out of the medium.
If it wasn't for those opening half dozen or so issues, this would be sold off lickety split. I'll keep it for the start of the run, although the odds of me picking up volume 2 are slim to none. 2.5/5
The opening half dozen or so of Mike Baron's issues were outstanding. Literally everything I look for in a supe comic. And seeing as how this was my first foray into the Flash, needless to say, I was mighty impressed. And not just because the outstanding and criminally underappreciated Guice Jackson was on art, Baron crafted a most interesting plot, mixing Wally's superhero exploits, his insecurities and his social life (along with some interesting assailants, into a must read comic. Sadly, the second half dozen issues weren't as interesting, and when Loeb's got on the book, it was all downhill from there.
Plots start and stop with little through lines. His mother is a hideous bitch of a character, with nothing remotely redemptive about her whatsoever, and Wally just keeps taking it in the shorts from her. The Manhunter tie in was awful, I skipped most of it. Not to mention LaRocque's art, which was more up and down than a hooker on a Saturday night. It didn't matter who inked him, it was a total crap shoot as to whether it was a semi decent Guice impression, or whether it was just plain unacceptable. It all ended in a damp squib, though I was too dejected at this point, given the high point it started on to get overly angry. Too many tie in's / annuals. Not enough Jackson on art.
This is my favourite era of DC if for the art, inks and colours. Truly the high water mark before digital started to creep in and slowly strangle the life out of the medium.
If it wasn't for those opening half dozen or so issues, this would be sold off lickety split. I'll keep it for the start of the run, although the odds of me picking up volume 2 are slim to none. 2.5/5
October 7, 2024
This really sucks. Such a bizarre way to launch a series when you essentially have a clean slate. Wally is an unlikable asshole the entire book. The supporting cast is so uninteresting. There is so much Chunk, every single issue almost features a Chunk plot. There is so much focus given to the trio of Russian speedsters. Wally’s mom is awful, Tina is awful, everyone is awful. Wally in particular is a huge sexist asshole who genuinely is always complaining about how much his life sucks.
Were they not allowed to reference the Rogues? The villains are laughably bad, from a genuine Morph from New Mutants rip off (from personality to function to design, to Vandal Savage selling drugs, to random aliens coming from Chunks dimension. Everyone is bitter and miserable, complete opposite appeal of the flash as a series.
Things just randomly happen? In the last panel of the first issue Wally wins the lottery, then a few issues later (again in the last panel) they randomly lose it all in the stock market. Every other issue Wally is getting evicted. One issue Wally’s dad is revealed to (off panel) have always been a Manhunter, then that he killed Wally’s mom?
Highly recommend skipping.
Were they not allowed to reference the Rogues? The villains are laughably bad, from a genuine Morph from New Mutants rip off (from personality to function to design, to Vandal Savage selling drugs, to random aliens coming from Chunks dimension. Everyone is bitter and miserable, complete opposite appeal of the flash as a series.
Things just randomly happen? In the last panel of the first issue Wally wins the lottery, then a few issues later (again in the last panel) they randomly lose it all in the stock market. Every other issue Wally is getting evicted. One issue Wally’s dad is revealed to (off panel) have always been a Manhunter, then that he killed Wally’s mom?
Highly recommend skipping.
October 18, 2025
3 stars. This was fine but nothing special. Mike Baron wrote the first half and it is not that memorable, and Wally is not the most upstanding character. William Messner-Loebs takes over after that and it gets better but is still relatively forgettable. Wally's characterization does seem to improve as he is still flawed but less of a traditional jerk. The art throughout is fine.
A lot of different stories in here. There is the Red Trinity group of speedsters from Russia and also the Blue Trinity as Wally retrieves a doctor from Russia. Vandal Savage is pushing the Velocity 9 drug on everybody. Wally wins the lottery and spends his money recklessly and eventually loses it all and bounces around apartments. Chunk (Chester P Runk) is introduced, first as a villain with his black hole type powers and transporting people to other dimensions, but ultimately he becomes friends with Wally and is a regular supporting cast member.
Wally has a relationship with Dr. Tina McGee for a bit because her husband is going mad doing experiments on himself to get super speed. Wally saves her from her husband and ultimately they cure him and she rekindles her relationship with her husband. Linda Park is briefly introduced at the very end as a reporter but there's nothing to it. Several times throughout, Wally loses his powers or they are unreliable and he is constantly trying to get them consistent and better.
The stories are not very memorable but Wally's character developed throughout and the supporting cast was built out. His mom Mary is very annoying with nothing redeemable about her. His dad is a jerk and randomly revealed to have been an undercover Manhunter. The constant legacy of Barry Allen and how Wally struggles with living up to that standard is a very prevalent theme which is nice.
A lot of different stories in here. There is the Red Trinity group of speedsters from Russia and also the Blue Trinity as Wally retrieves a doctor from Russia. Vandal Savage is pushing the Velocity 9 drug on everybody. Wally wins the lottery and spends his money recklessly and eventually loses it all and bounces around apartments. Chunk (Chester P Runk) is introduced, first as a villain with his black hole type powers and transporting people to other dimensions, but ultimately he becomes friends with Wally and is a regular supporting cast member.
Wally has a relationship with Dr. Tina McGee for a bit because her husband is going mad doing experiments on himself to get super speed. Wally saves her from her husband and ultimately they cure him and she rekindles her relationship with her husband. Linda Park is briefly introduced at the very end as a reporter but there's nothing to it. Several times throughout, Wally loses his powers or they are unreliable and he is constantly trying to get them consistent and better.
The stories are not very memorable but Wally's character developed throughout and the supporting cast was built out. His mom Mary is very annoying with nothing redeemable about her. His dad is a jerk and randomly revealed to have been an undercover Manhunter. The constant legacy of Barry Allen and how Wally struggles with living up to that standard is a very prevalent theme which is nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2024
I haven't read much by Mike Baron who did the first 15 issues of this late 80's Flash series and after those I'm not likely to seek his work out. He turned Wally West into an immature slut. His introduction to this book mentioned wanting to make the character more of a typical young person but I think he just wanted to live vicariously through his creation. I understand that 20 year olds are often immature sluts but I would have to believe almost a decade of influence by a superhero named The Flash, not to mention the rest of the Justice League, would have to leave even a 20 year old with more of a sense of honor than that displayed by the main character here. The artwork was okay but Guice, especially in the early days of his work on display here, had a tendency to draw the characters who were in their 'super suits' with kind of a wonky anatomy.
The rest of the book was written mostly by William Messner-Loebs and got a lot better. Especially considering what Baron gave him to work with. I enjoy the work of WML even though he has a tendency to get preachy.
The rest of the book was written mostly by William Messner-Loebs and got a lot better. Especially considering what Baron gave him to work with. I enjoy the work of WML even though he has a tendency to get preachy.
August 19, 2024
What a weird series this was. You'd think they'd want to have come out of the gates running back in the 80s, but this is the complete opposite. Wally's weird and non-emotive, he keeps losing his powers and there's a lot of his super annoying parents. Who was this for? Who was buying this off the rack at the time?
Was there a mandate that neither Mike Baron or William Messier Loebs could use the Rogues? Because I don't know how you get to the Chunk and the complete lack of interesting villains. And a drug pushing Vandal Savage does not rank with my favorite portrayals of the character.
Not great Flash comics but weirdly fascinating nonetheless.
Was there a mandate that neither Mike Baron or William Messier Loebs could use the Rogues? Because I don't know how you get to the Chunk and the complete lack of interesting villains. And a drug pushing Vandal Savage does not rank with my favorite portrayals of the character.
Not great Flash comics but weirdly fascinating nonetheless.
Want to read
August 9, 2025Gran parte de esto se editó en Argentina de la mano de Perfil.
April 19, 2025
Some of the stuff Mike Baron wrote aged badly. His Wally acts like a con man instead of a righteous Hero. The run only gets good When Messner Leobs takes over from issue 15 onward. Leobs Wally's acted like an actual hero. His Wally was slightly a jerk with a good heart, so he was flawed because Wally was 20 years old. But his Wally still learned from his mistakes. Anyways, I would not recommend this if you want to get into Wally's character, but its interesting to see how Messner Leobs developed Wally's character after Baron regressed him. If you want to invest into Wally west then the best modern starting point for Wally is Mark Waid's Flash run or the recent Absolute Flash ongoing comic which is an alternate Universe take on Wally.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews