The Flash (2023-) #1

The Flash (2023) (Single Issues)

by Simon Spurrier, Mike Deodato (Penciller), Patricia Mulvihill (Colorist)

Wally West has never been quicker, more fulfilled, more heroic. His loving family is around him. And yet something is off. Very off. His evolving understanding of his powers has opened Wally to new avenues of sci-fi adventure and attuned his senses to strange new ideas. Something whispers from the dark vibrations beyond the Speed Force, and as Wally experiments with creative new approaches to his powers he encounters new realms, mysterious allies, and mind-shattering terrors. A new era for the Scarlet Speedster begins now from the team of Si Spurrier (Coda, Damn Them All) and Mike Deodato Jr. (Avengers).

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics

41 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Gordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a Wally West fan is SO EXHAUSTING as DC always finds a way to fuck his character up just when you think he's safe (again).

I have no idea why they swapped creative teams, it was sooo good and it was the Wally West Flash we deserved. This new team of Spurrier & Deodato just doesn't fit for Wally or Flash in general. Deodato is a great artist, no doubt, but this dark, broody, hyper realistic style does not work for the tone of Wally at all. It's actually quite boring to look at, despite being great art. I kinda think there's no movement either, which isn't exactly what you want for a Flash book. It's just drab and dull. Poor creative choices.

[Eden · Rating 1 out of 5]

This comic has some of the most needlessly annoying panel layouts I have ever seen. This is not hyperbole. It is absolutely awful. Every bit of artwork that should be a single panel is split up into 3-10 smaller panels for no reason other than to be different and it makes this a headache. Most of these 'panels' don't need to be here either as some are just someone's shoulder that would have been included in the art that should have been a single panel. If you feel the need to crop the art, why go on to include the rest? Reading this actually gave me a headache. It is so needlessly crowded while also under utilizing the space. I didn't think that was possible. To top it off it is highly distracting and makes it very difficult for me to focus on the art and story. It lasts for the whole book.

Well the art is fine. Not particularly eye catching or pretty, just serviceable. I noticed a point where a character randomly switched outfits in the art in the middle of a scene and I have no idea how no one noticed that. It distracted me almost as much as the panel layout.

The writing is mediocre at best. Wally is obnoxious here and not charming at all. Everything is super surface level and not trying to say anything of depth. The writing contastly does annoying things to try to be "quirky and fun" but it falls flat. They bring up the dead meme "the Harlem shake," for no reason as well.

The whole book feels pretty unfocused and jumps around a ton.

I am not going to follow this any further.

[Shawn Ingle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't hold my interest at all. One and done.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si Spurrier has been on my radar for the better part of a decade, but I’ve really become a big fan since his tragically short run on Hellblazer. I have never read a Flash solo book, but Spurrier writing it was enough to get me to check it out. He’s also been doing a fair bit of press for the book, comparing it to Immortal Hulk and Saga of the Swamp Thing, and those are two of my favorites, so that certainly got me excited.
And this is definitely off to an interesting start. It looks like Spurriers going to be putting a strange spin on the idea of the speed force, something I know little about, and he’s leaning into the family dynamics. The book reminded me a lot of Lemire’s Animal Man (another favorite), and it seems like another intentional nod given the inclusion of Animal Man’s daughter.
Mike Deodato is doing some great work here also. His style has been evolving over the last few years, and this book seems very tailored to some of his visual interests; lots of interesting things happening with the panel layouts. As with any Spurrier book of late, the lettering is also very elaborate and considered.

[Murphy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/7/24

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blah. Hopefully the arc gets better.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sin ser asidue lector de Flash (ninguno, no solo Wally West), es difícil dar mi opinión de cómo se posiciona este arranque en el legado general de este icono. Si bien, sí que puedo hablar con una perspectiva personal de alguien que busca aquí una buena toma de entrada... Lo cual... Creo que no será el caso. Y es cierto que Simón Spurrier puede haber logrado presentar de buena forma la situación personal de Wally West (uno de los personajes más accidentados de DC comics, pero que goza de un interesante contexto familiar, por el cual vive en pareja y con 3 hijos... con supervelocidad debajo del brazo, por supuesto). Pero la forma de presentar una narrativa "espídica" de este personaje usuario de la misma FUERZA DE LA VELOCIDAD, creo que es uno de los mayores escollos a la hora de disfrutar de esta lectura. Lo cual se extiende al costreñido arte de Mike Deodato que fracciona de forma bastante molesta las viñetas en un frustrante efecto de hiper fragmentar las páginas para dar una sensación de ser la única forma de poder seguirle el paso a los Velocistas.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting start to a new era for Wally West. For the first time in quite a while, The Flash has a creative team that takes a somewhat slower pace.

A lot of different mysteries are being set up in this issue. It should be interesting to watch them play out over the coming months, although for now a lot of them are merely operating as basic "mystery boxes".

It's always a little jarring when there is such a huge change-up in the writers and artists in charge of a comic, and the current team have an uphill battle after arguably the best run of issues this comic has had since before The New 52. But I am excited to see how this new saga for the comic unfolds!

[Ludor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is okay, the kids sound more realistic, though I'm concerned about where the over-aching interpersonal plot is heading, because DC characters aren't allowed to be happy. The art is good (sometimes the eyes in previous Flash issues were creepy tbh), but the experimental paneling (the kind of thing that was great in Rorschach), only works in like two pages of this book, the rest of the time it's just distracting. The title page was hard to read as well. Still, interested in this story, the threat seems interesting.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wally is facing a new series of trials. Not only is the speed force acting up his marriage seems to be in trouble. Why do people think that breaking up a marriage is a good story? Grodd gave us the hint that he is from the future but come on. Otherwise a good mystery is unfolding. However I don’t like where the Jai story seems to be going.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I'd try a Flash comic out for the first time. Not knowing it was Wally Wade. It was cool to see that he has a family but found it strange that his kiddos have powers as well. Like, how does that particular gene get passed down? Idk. It was okay. Liked the art.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal issue

Phenomenal artwork and writing! Wally and Lynda West are one of my favorite couple and family.
Wally and Michael Bolt better figure out what is going on.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite liking how creepy and ominous this issue is

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is off to a darker take than the Flash I'm used to but I'm willing to give it a few more issues to sell me on the story.

[James B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off well and then got boring... always about the speed force. The Uncoiled looks cool, hoping the next issue is better.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new start for the Flash. Grodd and the apes are up to something.

[Roland Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another unmissable era for Wally West and family

[Austin Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Excellent start!

[Zaynab]

didnt rlly care for it. but when are issue 1s ever good ig (if im trying to be nice).

[Andy Waldron · Rating 3 out of 5]

playing catch up in preparation for ryan north’s run on this book… lets see what we got here