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Impulse
Flash/Impulse: Runs in the Family
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Expected 2 Jan 79In 1990 Mark Waid's legendary writing career began when he scripted his first issue of The Flash. Waid soon introduced a new super speedster, Impulse, to the series. As a teen hero from the 30th century, Impulse was raised in an artificial reality environment that made him notoriously, well, impulsive, but also a heroic new sidekick to his uncle, the Flash. Before long, Impulse moved on to his own solo series, where he faced not only the drama of adolescence but also evildoers new and old.
During his epic battle with the deadly Savitar, the Flash learned that somewhere in Alabama lives a young super-speedster called Bart Allen, a.k.a. Impulse. Before long, Impulse had raced off into his own solo series, where he must balance high school with crimefighting. With the guidance of his mentor, Max Mercury, Bart faces evil in the form of White Lightning and her gang, as well as a riot at a local rock concert. These stories written by Mark Waid show a sensitivity to teen concerns including juvenile delinquency and abuse.
This title includes the stories from The Flash #108-111 that introduced Impulse plus Impulse #1-12.
During his epic battle with the deadly Savitar, the Flash learned that somewhere in Alabama lives a young super-speedster called Bart Allen, a.k.a. Impulse. Before long, Impulse had raced off into his own solo series, where he must balance high school with crimefighting. With the guidance of his mentor, Max Mercury, Bart faces evil in the form of White Lightning and her gang, as well as a riot at a local rock concert. These stories written by Mark Waid show a sensitivity to teen concerns including juvenile delinquency and abuse.
This title includes the stories from The Flash #108-111 that introduced Impulse plus Impulse #1-12.
392 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2021
5 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,195 books1,284 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 12, 2023
Impulse hit the scene during a period when I wasn't buying comics. In fact, so did several other characters in this book. And the speed force. I swear, you think you're up to the minute on the comics world, but take a few years off for financial reasons, and everything changes.
But I was curious about the character, and Mark Waid is usually a good writer. Even if I hadn't checked the copyrights, this is a very 90's book. Lots of jagged, angst-y lines in the artwork. And the hairstyles.
We basically have the first dozen issues of the Impulse series, plus the issues of the Flash that were part of a six issue crossover storyline between the two titles.
I don't know. I wanted to like this more than I did. It's not bad so much as generic. I think I expected more from Waid, though I guess this was fairly early in his career. Impulse is a reasonably interesting character, and I like his relationship with his mentor, Max Mercury. The one issue where he keeps getting on the wrong side of the kids at school and being asked to meet them "at three o'clock", presumably for a beating, pays off nicely. And Humberto Ramos' artwork, though it struck me as a little too goofy at first, grew on me as I learned to appreciate his approach to drawing facial expressions.
The storylines are mostly forgettable, though, and seem to be filling in time more than developing characters. The crossover event owes a fair amount to Highlander, and I kept muttering, "There can be only one," as I flipped through it. And those first three pages from the Flash that kick off the crossover? What even is going on there? We eventually get an explanation of what happened, but even knowing that, the pages are so poorly laid out that it's almost impossible to tell what's going on.
It's a decent enough book, I suppose. But I think you really need to be a diehard comics fan and/or Flash and/or Impulse fan to get anything out of it.
But I was curious about the character, and Mark Waid is usually a good writer. Even if I hadn't checked the copyrights, this is a very 90's book. Lots of jagged, angst-y lines in the artwork. And the hairstyles.
We basically have the first dozen issues of the Impulse series, plus the issues of the Flash that were part of a six issue crossover storyline between the two titles.
I don't know. I wanted to like this more than I did. It's not bad so much as generic. I think I expected more from Waid, though I guess this was fairly early in his career. Impulse is a reasonably interesting character, and I like his relationship with his mentor, Max Mercury. The one issue where he keeps getting on the wrong side of the kids at school and being asked to meet them "at three o'clock", presumably for a beating, pays off nicely. And Humberto Ramos' artwork, though it struck me as a little too goofy at first, grew on me as I learned to appreciate his approach to drawing facial expressions.
The storylines are mostly forgettable, though, and seem to be filling in time more than developing characters. The crossover event owes a fair amount to Highlander, and I kept muttering, "There can be only one," as I flipped through it. And those first three pages from the Flash that kick off the crossover? What even is going on there? We eventually get an explanation of what happened, but even knowing that, the pages are so poorly laid out that it's almost impossible to tell what's going on.
It's a decent enough book, I suppose. But I think you really need to be a diehard comics fan and/or Flash and/or Impulse fan to get anything out of it.
October 4, 2023
FUN! My only gripe was how XS leaves at the end but with no plan how to get home and that’s exactly what her reason for meeting impulse in the first place, to find a way home. Smh lol.
Seriously, it was a fun book and I would love to read more.
Seriously, it was a fun book and I would love to read more.
July 17, 2021
As someone who read all this on original publication, the biggest curve is relearning how Humberto Ramos developed his style during the course of this (heh) run. I know he’s continued to work in mainstream comics over the years, but he’ll always be the Impulse artist for me. By the end of this collection (the span of a single year) he’s reached what I love so much.
The bulk of the collection is setup, Bart Allen acclimating to the semblance of a normal life thanks to the Zen Master of Speed, Max Mercury, who’s supposed to be helping him but instead holds all his cards close to his chest. By “Dead Heat” we have a little idea why.
This is fine, since the arc is one of the best Mark Waid wrote in the pages of The Flash, the concept of the Speed Force and its legacy finally reaching an apex thanks to another speed villain named Savitar who views it as a religion, and himself as the only worthy practitioner. Max alone knew of his threat, and like Nero and Prime Spock years later in Star Trek hoped to be prepared to settle accounts when their paths at last converged again.
In hindsight it’s kind of the definitive Max Mercury story, the only time he has a leading, rather than supporting, role. This is great, because he was a favorite of mine, and all these years later with very few appearances since Waid, and certainly nothing approaching substantial, it’s easier to see for its seminal status.
Otherwise these are episodic adventures. Waid never really did figure out how to characterize Bart. He always portrayed Impulse as the poster child of the video game age, which in the ‘90s was certainly a whole thing (the later accusations that it led to mass shootings only escalated the theory), and yet for all Waid’s posturing, Bart turns out to be supremely competent at…every turn. All Max really has to do is help him stay grounded in the real world, the consequences of his actions in writing a school essay more dire than failing to tell the difference between fiction and reality (in that sense, a natural opponent really would have been someone like Scarecrow; instead Waid’s own Underworld Unleashed gives us the first appearance of the revised Blockbuster, who makes little sense as a foe for Impulse, but has since spent decades in Nightwing’s rogues gallery).
Definitely worth revisiting all the same. If anything Impulse might be a better way to feel nostalgic about the Waid years than Flash. Here he has a simple concept (the odd couple of Max and Bart) that keeps him focused, grounded. As all speedsters require.
The bulk of the collection is setup, Bart Allen acclimating to the semblance of a normal life thanks to the Zen Master of Speed, Max Mercury, who’s supposed to be helping him but instead holds all his cards close to his chest. By “Dead Heat” we have a little idea why.
This is fine, since the arc is one of the best Mark Waid wrote in the pages of The Flash, the concept of the Speed Force and its legacy finally reaching an apex thanks to another speed villain named Savitar who views it as a religion, and himself as the only worthy practitioner. Max alone knew of his threat, and like Nero and Prime Spock years later in Star Trek hoped to be prepared to settle accounts when their paths at last converged again.
In hindsight it’s kind of the definitive Max Mercury story, the only time he has a leading, rather than supporting, role. This is great, because he was a favorite of mine, and all these years later with very few appearances since Waid, and certainly nothing approaching substantial, it’s easier to see for its seminal status.
Otherwise these are episodic adventures. Waid never really did figure out how to characterize Bart. He always portrayed Impulse as the poster child of the video game age, which in the ‘90s was certainly a whole thing (the later accusations that it led to mass shootings only escalated the theory), and yet for all Waid’s posturing, Bart turns out to be supremely competent at…every turn. All Max really has to do is help him stay grounded in the real world, the consequences of his actions in writing a school essay more dire than failing to tell the difference between fiction and reality (in that sense, a natural opponent really would have been someone like Scarecrow; instead Waid’s own Underworld Unleashed gives us the first appearance of the revised Blockbuster, who makes little sense as a foe for Impulse, but has since spent decades in Nightwing’s rogues gallery).
Definitely worth revisiting all the same. If anything Impulse might be a better way to feel nostalgic about the Waid years than Flash. Here he has a simple concept (the odd couple of Max and Bart) that keeps him focused, grounded. As all speedsters require.
July 15, 2022
What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said?
This was the mid 90's. The Internet was just getting its legs. There were no Iphones. You still had to tune your TV with the good ol' rabbit ears antenna. Imagine dropping a teen from 2022 into the Bill Clinton era. Imagine the boredom he'd feel. You've got a whole bunch of analog entertainment for a kid that grew up with a Kindle in their hand and Airpods in their ears.
Now... imagine that kid from 2022 getting dropped into medieval times. Super culture shock. The language people speak? Different. The things they believe? totally contrary to what you've been taught.
Poor Bart Allen. The 30th century had to be amazing.
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This is a collection of Impulse #1-12 plus the 'Dead Heat' storyline that ran (pun intended?) through the Flash series. We're following Bart as he tries to slow down and learn to live in a totally different time. PLUS, he has to be super secret about his identity and still lead a normal life as a 9th grader. The 'Dead Heat' storyline has all of the speedsters come to grips with losing their connection the the Speed Force. Some don't make it out alive.
Bonus: shouting a math formula to get super speed... still amusing!
Bonus Bonus: the fact that this series took on issues like child abuse is amazing.
This was the mid 90's. The Internet was just getting its legs. There were no Iphones. You still had to tune your TV with the good ol' rabbit ears antenna. Imagine dropping a teen from 2022 into the Bill Clinton era. Imagine the boredom he'd feel. You've got a whole bunch of analog entertainment for a kid that grew up with a Kindle in their hand and Airpods in their ears.
Now... imagine that kid from 2022 getting dropped into medieval times. Super culture shock. The language people speak? Different. The things they believe? totally contrary to what you've been taught.
Poor Bart Allen. The 30th century had to be amazing.
------------
This is a collection of Impulse #1-12 plus the 'Dead Heat' storyline that ran (pun intended?) through the Flash series. We're following Bart as he tries to slow down and learn to live in a totally different time. PLUS, he has to be super secret about his identity and still lead a normal life as a 9th grader. The 'Dead Heat' storyline has all of the speedsters come to grips with losing their connection the the Speed Force. Some don't make it out alive.
Bonus: shouting a math formula to get super speed... still amusing!
Bonus Bonus: the fact that this series took on issues like child abuse is amazing.
July 19, 2022
Waid's Flash run was consistently great, and I do enjoy the beginning of his Impulse series, but then both series get bogged down in a crossover about The Speed Force. This is likely a classic for a lot of people, but as someone who watched several seasons of the CW TV show, I start to tune out as soon as there are multiple speedsters. The plot moves ironically slowly. I just don't care about running people vs running people. Toss the Flash against Captain Cold, or Captain Boomerang, or a member of The Justice or Injustice League, and I'm all in, but make the villain another guy who runs fast, and I'm going to start skimming insted of reading.
The cult angle is ok but not really explored, and they throw in a death, but it's the least important character in the series, so there's very little emotional impact. I'm hoping we return to non-running villains in the next volume.
If you loved the Savitar arc in the CW show, then this could be your jam. For me, it only gets a third star because I enjoyed seeing Humberto Ramos 's art evolve in the Impulse series.
The cult angle is ok but not really explored, and they throw in a death, but it's the least important character in the series, so there's very little emotional impact. I'm hoping we return to non-running villains in the next volume.
If you loved the Savitar arc in the CW show, then this could be your jam. For me, it only gets a third star because I enjoyed seeing Humberto Ramos 's art evolve in the Impulse series.
April 2, 2025
I'm reading this as a companion piece to the Flash Omnibus by Mark Waid Vol. 2 For context: Issues #10-11 of Impulse are collected in the omnibus, but Issues #1-9 & #12 are only found in this paperback. I kinda wish those were in the Omnibus as well. Missed opportunity by DC Comics.
Regarding this book itself: It features the new sidekick Impulse, whose first appeared only a few issues prior in the Flash Comic. He is living together with Max, his mentor and guardian and he has to adjust to everyday life.
Superheroics coupled with a secret identity. It's certainly not unique, but there is some fun to be had in these lighthearted stories. The artwork is good; I would even say it's better than in the Flash ongoing, that was running at the same time.
However, the stories are also bland and mostly forgettable and I see no reason to read them more than once. But I have a similar issue with the Flash comics themselves.
Regarding this book itself: It features the new sidekick Impulse, whose first appeared only a few issues prior in the Flash Comic. He is living together with Max, his mentor and guardian and he has to adjust to everyday life.
Superheroics coupled with a secret identity. It's certainly not unique, but there is some fun to be had in these lighthearted stories. The artwork is good; I would even say it's better than in the Flash ongoing, that was running at the same time.
However, the stories are also bland and mostly forgettable and I see no reason to read them more than once. But I have a similar issue with the Flash comics themselves.
July 12, 2021
*Lots of reading + no time review = Knee-jerk reactions!*
Impulse amuses me. As such, I enjoyed his unique growing pains, learning how to be, not only a hero speedster, but also a teen in the 20th century. The dynamic between him and Max was also pretty fun. Full disclosure--I only skimmed the Flash story because I'd read it in a previous Flash collection. I was here pretty much for Impulse shenanigans and the dichotomy created between his... well... impulsiveness and Max Mercury's special brand of speedy Zen.
Impulse amuses me. As such, I enjoyed his unique growing pains, learning how to be, not only a hero speedster, but also a teen in the 20th century. The dynamic between him and Max was also pretty fun. Full disclosure--I only skimmed the Flash story because I'd read it in a previous Flash collection. I was here pretty much for Impulse shenanigans and the dichotomy created between his... well... impulsiveness and Max Mercury's special brand of speedy Zen.
July 22, 2021
There's a lot of potential with Impulse but the school and town these issues are set never feel fully realized which is a shame because so few stories are set in the American South and Waid basically turns Alabama into "Anywhere, USA." More could also have been done with Max Mercury in his single dad/mentor role in the series. It's a missed opportunity. One real highlight came towards the end of the collection with the friendship between Impulse and XS as out of their time teens stuck in the lake 90s. There is a sweetness and fun there that the rest of the series lacks.
January 5, 2024
Never thought I'd change my mind about Ramos
I am not the biggest fan of the 90s art, and both Impulse and contemporary Flash suffer from being drawn by rather mediocre 90s artists. The difference is that Waid and Ramos make it work on this book, unlike Waid and Jimenez on the main title. The cartoonist style fits Bart's single-synapse attitude and wacky adventures, to the point where every other artist just doesn't feel right.
Impulse is a great book, and I wish DC continued repriting the series at least until the end of Waid's run.
I am not the biggest fan of the 90s art, and both Impulse and contemporary Flash suffer from being drawn by rather mediocre 90s artists. The difference is that Waid and Ramos make it work on this book, unlike Waid and Jimenez on the main title. The cartoonist style fits Bart's single-synapse attitude and wacky adventures, to the point where every other artist just doesn't feel right.
Impulse is a great book, and I wish DC continued repriting the series at least until the end of Waid's run.
May 12, 2023
impulse is genuinely one of my favorite comic series ever, the art is super fun, everything is generally lighthearted, and bart is the perfect blend of strange, immature, and naïve that makes reading teen superhero comics an enjoyable and easy read.
April 8, 2023
I need to give Bart Allen a hug like, yesterday. Also wtf do you mean no other issues of impulse were made into trades literally ever wtf
July 29, 2025
genuinelyyy one of my favorite comics out of dc. so sweet, naïve, innocent, w a summery atmosphere and the daily boredom of school setting pace for all the stories. bart is quickly speeding up into one of my fave characters in the entire dc universe…tbh, just the concept of a teen from the 30th century getting displaced to the 20th is brilliant (2ME!), but waid then also actually delivers! a boy raised in a wii game and then forced into the 90s??!? i’m not even sure what tech they had around then…it must have been like the paleolithic era. overall: FAB! 📀 thank you markkkkk
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews