The Flash, Vol. 1: Blood Will Run

The Flash (1987) (Old Editions) #9

by Geoff Johns, Scott Kolins (Illustrator), Doug Hazlewood (Illustrator)

The Flash races into adventure in this incredible graphic novel from Geoff Johns, the writer of INFINITE CRISIS. This new edition of a classic Flash title now includes the additional story "Iron Heights".

The Cicada, charismatic leader of a deadly cult, makes his debut by ruining The Flash's lifetime of heroism. Cicada's cult has been systematically murdering every person The Flash has ever saved.

Now, as The Fastest Man Alive realizes that he is indirectly responsible for the death of innocents, he must ignore his guilt feelings and face Cicada head-on before any more blood is shed in his name. But when he discovers that someone special from his past is one of Cicada's devoted followers, The Flash finds himself on the verge of a catastrophic breakdown.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.

His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.

Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.

Reviews

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wally faces off against his ex Magenta and its an interesting battle as we se her personality shift and some other power controlling her and its the Cult of Cicada, who think of Flash as some god and the leader Cicada wants to harness his powers for something and its a fun battle there and another one is vs Weather Wizard as we learn his origin and some interesting things with him and Wally defeats him. Also a fun mix up of children there haha. But the last one is in Iron heights and it sets up so many stuff for the future with Warden Wolfe and all. This volume was like setting up the future volumes but also showcases Wally and how his different villains challenge him in what ways adding layers of personal drama and all in the mix and the art just flows naturally which is cool. Also fun references with Barry.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of Flash being a regular Joe with his identity known to the locals and having regular issues with his wife and the police.

A good spread of villains appear, too, especially The Rogues.

Respectable and solid artwork.

OVERALL GRADE: B

[Jason Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johns has definitely found his voice for the Flash for Blood Will Run, and he is beginning to set up long-term plots. Overall, the stories told in this volume are pretty good.

But there is one thing that kind of bugs me that I never noticed before: the Wally West as a regular guy motif. I get why Johns is doing this. Keystone City is more or less an analogue for Detroit: a Midwestern city focused on blue collar American manufacturing. (Okay, it's an idealized analogue for what Detroit used to be.) The people are salt-of-the-earth, the new cop is from a big city and thinks the locals are amateurs, there's even a union plotline building. I get all that, and it's good. But Wally West is NOT a regular guy. He's the Flash. He is so fast that he wears a costume made of speed. He has to understand relativistic physics to do his job effectively. He fights talking gorillas and hangs out on the moon with Superman. And he has been doing that since he was a child. The only person who might be more comfortable around superheroes is Dick Grayson. Wally West is the definition of extraordinary. Now, he may prefer the company of the regular people of Keystone, and he may celebrate blue collar values and working for a living and all that, but he is not one of them, he never was one of them, and Geoff Johns putting the words "I like to think of myself as a regular guy" into his mouth just rings false. Not a dealbreaker, and maybe not even that big of a deal, but it stuck out to me.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Geoff John’s execution wasn’t always perfect, I always found her could get to the essence of his characters. Find what makes them tick. He did that really well with Wally West, the third Flash ( and my third favourite Flash). This collection is very good, the bulk being the introduction of Cicada, and the Flash Cult, a story with plenty of suspense and action. This is followed by a short storyline asking if Wally had a child he didn’t know about, and the return of Murmur, all wrapped up in an ongoing plot seeing classic Rogues reappear with more powers and involved in some plot.
The art by Scott Kolins is a little too loose for me at times, but he also does some amazing two part spreads throughout, so on balance solid art.
This is a great collection, and well worth a read. Recommended.

[Robert Noll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is actually three parts: Blood Will Run is a weak entry, but the "Birthright" story is interesting and the unnamed third part featuring Murmur is fascinating. It appears Geoff Johns received more creative freedom or an expanded artistic license, because the Murmur story is grimmer and darker. And much more violent; it reminds me of something involving Batman and either Blackgate or Arkham. Murmur is just a creepy character.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded down.

[Matthieu Savignac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, le run de Geoff Johns. J'avais déjà lu ce recueil il y a pas mal d'année, et j'ai décidé de le relire. J'en avais gardé assez peu de souvenir, hormis le fait que j'avais vraiment du mal à apprécier les illustrations de Scott Kolins. Ces traits, quasiment sans ombrages, au style très cartoon m'avait fait - a l'époque - sortir totalement de ce run.

Et bon sang que j'avais tord. Les dessins sont parfaitement adaptés à l'histoire, aux personnages, au style naratif de Johns, l'action est fluide, dynamique, alors certes les couleurs sont assez pastels, peut être un peu terne, mais cela rend très bien pour illustrer keystone et sa ville industrielle et le contraste avec les couleurs de flash et de ses rogues est parfait.

Les scénarios sont eux, simples pour le moment mais avec une liberté au sein de l'univers de Flash qui fait plaisir à voir, on sent qu'il avait la main libre pour faire ce qu'il souhaitait avec ce personnage et cela se ressent.

[Jordan Valentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that Magenta as a villain would be really intriguing to see in Live Action. Depending on the writer, it’s the sort of character that could be so unique and different to some in the Flash’s rogues gallery

[Paul Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Wonderland, this is a more action oriented storyline. I think we get more characterization of the two cops, Chyre and Detective Morillo, than we do Wally.

The Cicada storyline is good, but the insinuation that Wally is some absentee father to a newborn is off putting.

We move another step towards the Rogues working more closely together and the introduction of Hunter Zolomon, the metahuman profiler.

Scott Kolins is a great permanent artist with Brian Bolland as the cover artist.

[Lobstermannn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun to read, captivating story, wonderful art

[machado · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the idea of "the fastest man alive" being just a regular guy, but pretty much everything else in this run has been bland so far.

[Caleb Abel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Flash collection I've read that's actually tempted me to continue. Maybe someday.

[Nate Deprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geoff Johns is probably better known for his work with the Green Lantern but I feel he has a far better handle on Wally West's Flash. He has a feel for the family drama that permeates every well drawn panel and makes each Rogue and Central City cop feel fully developed.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Will Run (170-173). I find it rather astounding how much Johns' writing has improved from the previous volume. Here we get great characters in both Wally and our new cops (Chyre and Morillo). We also get an interesting villain, some nice continuity, and some nice mystery. The result is a pleasure to read. [7+/10]

Moving Right Along (174). Though we get a silly new villain in "Tar Pit", this is still a surprisingly strong issue because of its focus on characters and ... life [7/10]. It's a real marked contrast from the house style that Johns has pioneered for the New 52, which is all fighting all the time.

Birth Right (175-176). Another strong story for its combination of action and character. It nicely answers the previous cliffhanger and also announces an upcoming Rogue conspiracy, which is of course the heart of Johns' run [7+/10].

There's also great art by Scott Kolins. I'm actually usually not that enthused with his art generally, but something about his early art here, with some great coloring by James Sinclair, really makes these stories standout.

Iron Heights. This is a pretty great one-off story, both because it creates a new problematic setting (Iron Heights) and because it really ramps up the idea of the Rogues getting together. As much as Blood will Run, this is the story that makes it obvious that Johns' Flash run will be legendary [7+/10].

Rogues. And finally, a fairly low-key story that introduces Zolomon and reminds us of the Rogue threat. It's just a teaser [6/10].

Overall, this is a pretty great volume of stories that defines the strengths of Johns' run. And if folks find this volume slightly disjointed, it's because the last two stories were not part of the normal run [though they link well with the continuity] and so served different purposes. I'd certainly rather have them than not.

[Printable Tire]

I was really enjoying this until halfway through I realized I read the trade paperbacks that follow it pretty recently. I tried to remember the details of these stories but even though I remember liking them at the time, they all blurred together in a fog of colorful costumes and repetitive interpersonal drama. It was then that I realized reading these Flash tradepaperbacks is the comic book equivalent of me watching Law & Order reruns; a nice, comfortable diversion, although at the end of the day I will forget about everything that happened and be capable of watching/reading it again without remembering all the details... I think this is because both Flash and Law & Order are very generic and formulaic in a unique way, so that the cardboard complexities of both enrich their ability to be forgotten, and as both also use the same characters, places, and situations ad nauseum, they're ability to reconstruct themselves into an endless array of situations and plots is my adulthood form of playing with toys, which likewise were finite in number but had infinite possibility thanks to the power of my imagination. Yet the amnesia affect of Law & Order and The Flash seems unique to them alone, as I can watch a formulaic sitcom and know immediately I have seen it before. They are tough beasts to crack.

[Fred Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series. I really can't say enough about the art by Scott Kolins. About 3/4 of the way through I was surprised to see a stand-alone story drawn by Ethan Van Sciver ( Green Lantern: Rebirth , Flash: Rebirth ). I was a little put off by his art in Flash: Rebirth, but this was excellent. I've heard that he struggles drawing people in motion, that he struggles with the Flash because he ends up looking static and distorted. There wasn't a whole lot of movement in this story (at least like there was in Flash:Rebrith ), but I thought his art was incredible. I still don't feel like I know a lot of Johns' work on Flash as of now, but I feel as though I'm slowly learning through reading his run. These are great stories that, on the surface, feel light and fun, but underneath really hold deeper themes. It was a great read that I would recommend to anyone.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes when I finish a book I find myself saying angrily "What the hell was that?!?". Meet The Flash: Blood Will Run. It's the most disjointed so-called graphic novel I've read in quite a while, apart from those dumps DC takes on their fans by putting out huge collections of "bests" which are totally unrelated to each other - half of which are from the 1940s and 50s, with characters who don't look anything like they're supposed to and spend all their time worrying about pulling "boners".

The Flash maybe had a baby with a dead girl, oh wait, maybe he didn't...yawn. And don't expect any sort of resolution here. It feels as if they left off the beginning AND the end!

Avoid.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - Other than Batman and the occasional Superman comic, I was never much of a DC reader as a kid. (I think the only Flash stories I read were the ones where he raced Superman.) My good friend Jess - an avid DC fan - suggested I start my Flash reading with Blood Will Run.

I enjoyed the real-life struggles of Wally West and especially how Johns integrates the police force of Keystone City, but thought the book really got going during the last third of the book. I'll definitely read more.

[Kendra Mikols · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading the Flash and I really enjoyed it. I liked the art and the Flash's character is fun and down to earth. The dialogue wasn't cheesy either which was nice. It was a lot darker than I thought it would be. Things about cults and crazy people cutting out people's tongue's is not normally my style but it was definitely interesting and kept me reading. I am looking forward to reading the next volume!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is clear right from the first page of this collection that Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins make magic with the Flash. While this is officially the second volume from Geoff John's run, this is where things really kick into high gear. If the quality holds up through the final volume - Rogue War - then Geoff John's run on the Wally West Flash will be pure magic!

[Victor Orozco · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Geoff Johns goodness in these Flash stories. Got to say Wally West Flash is a pretty good read but here and there I do miss Barry Allen. The artwork is particularly nice, I can't help that I've seen it before. Typical staple during 2003 comic books. Cool to see what Iron Height can house.

C+

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

the flash easily became one of my favourite comic book characters. however, this story is a bit too wordy and not that interesting. i continue to read it from time to time when i am transitioning between novels.

[Pragmatic · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was my first dabble into The Flash, and i just didn't find him as cool as The Green Lantern.

[ketall · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cool book. I learned a lot more about Wally as the Flash.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK but I found it a bid disjointed and thought it didn't flow that well compared to some other graphic novels I have been reading recently.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay but I dislike collections that collect issued but end at the beginning or middle of an arc.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murmur is one of the most terrifying things ever.