The Flash, Vol. 6: Ignition

The Flash (1987) (Old Editions) #13

by Geoff Johns, Alberto Dose (Illustrator), Howard Porter (Illustrator)

Whatever happened to the Flash?

It's a question on the minds of Keystone City's inhabitants, including police mechanic Wally West. When a series of incidents show Wally that he's something more than human, he discovers the answer he IS the Flash. He can't remember the details, and has to relearn his powers, but, in doing so, he finds out why the city needs the Fastest Man Alive. Someone is committing crimes and all fingers point to Captain Cold, except he swears he's innocent. A bold, new beginning for the Flash is found in this adventure.

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

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

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

[Fred Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For all of the greatness that people speak of Geoff Johns (maybe I'm one of them) this was not a let down either. What was a let down--for this book, anyway--was the art. It wasn't horrific, but it wasn't spectacular to look at either. There were a few highlights whenever there was a splash page, but that was about it. The rest of the art was *blech*. Comic books are unique in that they need the skills both the Writer and the Artist (and even then I'm not including the talents of Inker, Colorist, and Letterer, who all have just as important role in telling the story as the Writer and Artist do) to tell a good story. If a story is bad, there is nothing the Artist can do to make it better. If the art is bad, it detracts from understanding the story. There needs to be a balance. Therefore, the reason for the average rating is because of the art. I can safely assume that if Scott Kollins worked on these issues this would have been rated higher. This just seemed to be a mediocre story and I can't help but thinking that it's due in part to the art. Anyway, despite the lackluster rating I'm really getting into Johns' foray into The Flash's mythos. This is only the second collection I've read.

[Vojtěch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This ain't it.. Johns si v tomhle jednom volume zničil věechno co dosud ve svým runu udělal... Po skvělým Blitzu fakt obrovský sklamání. Odchod Kollinse tomu rozhodně nepřidal.. Nejhorší kresba kterou jsem tenhle rok v komiksu viděl..

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very strong volume of the Flash. One of the most fascinating elements is that it places Wally on the outside. He has to learn about what's going on in the police force as a new rogue comes to town without having the benefits of privilege. It also makes him more blue-collar than ever, which was always one of his strongest roles. Beyond that, there's a fine mystery and yet more new supporting cast.

On the downside, the art in this volume is horrible.

[Matthieu Savignac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quel changement drastique que prend le run de Geoff Johns à ce moment, d'un côté par la nouveau Status Quo de l'identité secrète de Flash avec la perte de mémoire de Wally et du reste de la planète, et de l'autre part la partie artistique qui tranche drastiquement avec ce qu'avait produit les illustrateurs précédents.

Le récit est intéressant à suivre et ce même si l'intrigue principal du copycat killer est cousu de fil blanc. Le sujet de cette histoire est simplement plutôt la réappropriation de la mémoire de Wally avec l'implication et la culpabilité que cela implique que ce soit vis à vis de lui, de Linda ou de Keystone.

La relation entre Len et Wally est bien dosé et démontre à nouveau où souhaite en venir Johns avec les Rogues, à savoir en faire de vrais personnages avec une vrai personnalité et des motivations plausibles.

Ce qui est dommage, et j'ai vraiment hésité à baisser la note d'une étoile pour cela c'est les illustrations.
Bon sang... Certains panels sont vraiment hideux, les visages masculins sont vraiment horribles à regarder, et les personnages féminins sont sexualisés à outrance, on se croirait presque sur certains plans dnas une bd érotique c'est vraiment désagréable à regarder.
Et c'est dommage, parce que certaines compositions de pages sont très intéressantes, certaines idées de découpages à garder (la page où Wally est avec Linda dans le bar et où la pluie s'arrête et le temps se fige est très intense et puissante d'ailleurs, une des plus intéressante planche que j'ai vu depuis un moment), mais le dessins gâche vraiment tout.

Heureusement, qu'il s'agit d'un grand Johns qui nous narre une histoire, avec quelqu'un de moins talentueux, avec un dessin pareil, je crois que je n'aurai pas pu continuer après la première issue.

[Anchorpete · Rating 4 out of 5]

And thus began my journey into Geoff John's run on the Flash.

I had heard the legends, and yet I could never find it on the shelves at my local library. Well, thank you, gods of the austin public library, you brought me some of the best flash stories I have ever read.

It is interesting, reading through the issues of this trade. You can see Johns' style develop. Going all the way back to Pre-Identity crisis, his writing was pretty close to the generic stuff I would see in the other DC books, but then suddenly, he would start adding all of these little details, references to classic flash comics, and little bits of narration from Barry, that give us a glimpse into what it would truly be like to be the fastest man alive.

This was my least favorite of the three Johns' Flash trades I read, since a good portion of this book focused on Barry not remembering that he was the Flash, and dealing with the tough life he and his wife faced, after a horrible tragedy. Obviously that is not as much fun as a book filled with Barry taking on the rogues and living it up with his lady Linda. that would come with the next trade.

[Lissibith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wally West doesn't remember who he's been, and that might be a good thing - after the events of the previous trade, his wife isn't feeling too kidly disposed toward the Flash. She blames him for the trauma of the last book.

And Wally's got a mundane job working on cars for the police station. But he knows there's something off. Like how occasionally, the world seems to go into slow motion, letting him help people or stop bad guys.

As he slowly pieces together his past, he finds that some other people were faster on the uptake - and that he's not sure he even wants to accept who and what he was because of his wife.

It's a great, somewhat slow and definitely emotional volume. Great for anyone who liked the Wally West of old (aka back when sad and dark wasn't the base state for every superhero in DC's stable.)

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman's cameo in this is legendary. He just shows up and is himself (i.e. Smarter than everyone and far too good-looking to be so intelligent but by God, he'll have to manage until someone else in the Justice League develops some investigative skill).

Yeah, and then there's some stuff with the Flash, too.

The Flash was the first superhero I ever really fell in love with, but that was Barry Allen whose trials and tribulations I followed fanatically. So Wally's horrible problems with Linda don't hit me quite as hard as they might affect anyone who has followed him since Kid Flash days. Still, the whole world becomes horrible, and I can respect a superhero who has to go through this.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a pretty big fan of the Flash/Barry Allen but I have to admit these Flash/Wally West stories are pretty cool. I really like how much Wally wants to live normally after the horrible events that happened with his wife.

The mystery killer of this story becomes secondary to Wally remembering who he was. A selective amnesia in which he can't remember he was the Flash.

While some old superhero friends attempt to help him does look cool it does take away a little bit. Still, its very good. B+

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Longer review possibly coming.

Artwork plays off the shadows a lot.

ARTISTIC PRESENTATION: B; STORY/PLOTTING/PANELS: B minus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B to B plus; ACTION SCENES: B minus to B; FLASH/JLA FOCUSES/MYTHOLOGY: B minus to B; WHEN READ: early December 2013; OVERALL GRADE: B minus to B plus.

[Alberto Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curioso que ECC empiece a publicar el Flash de Geoff Johns en su "segunda parte", tras la apoteosis del 200 y con un nuevo comienzo de Wally West, que debe descubrir por qué ser Flash.

Buen tomo, estupendo y qué nos devuelve al mejor Johns, al despreocupado por lo de las pelis y planificador a gran escala.

[Yoshio · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a continuation and a soft reboot at the same time; it takes a look at the character's responsibilities and consequences. Plus it brings forward his relationship with the rest of the superhero community, and how his legacy and his own personality clash with eachother. Fantastic read.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more emotional volume, but not much happens. Having a hero forget who he is, then spending six issues having him remember, is less interesting than one might assume.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Supuestamente está incluido en tres revistas argentinas, pero tendría que encontrarlas para corroborarlo.

[Dan Chandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love it when a superhero struggles like a normal person. It makes them more humane and more believable. Love this volume 😀