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Flash #75 "April 1993" |
my name is wally west. i'm flash. the fastest man alive.
Miscellaneous Comments: 1 November 1999
Barry Allen is back.
So the cover tells us.
And it's true. Barry Allen, the original Flash, the one everyone thought was dead…
Is back.
This issue shows the Flashes in action. Major action. A high-tech mob is targeting Central City. The opening scene involves the derailing of a speeding train in downtown, with only the Flashes on hand as it ploughs towards a packed school.
After a breather (where we get to see Wally tickling Linda) the Flashes join the cops for a show-down with the bad guys.
It's a spectacular show-down. Action-packed superheroics at their very best.
But what makes this special, really special, is the story-telling. Dead-on story-telling. The climax (the final panel) is gut-wrenching. And I mean that literally.
I read it.
And I felt like I had been kicked in the gut.
It's that good.
Type of Series: Super-Hero.
Similar Comics: Spider-Man.
Typical Issue: Bad-guys do something and Wally West moves really, really fast to stop them.
Strengths: Mark Waid is a great story-teller and he clearly has a lot of fun writing a super-fast character.
Weaknesses: I am a huge fan of this series. If it has a weakness, it eludes me.
Plotting: Superb.
Logic: Superb.
Originality: Two heroes vying for the same title isn't original, but Wally's happiness about recent events is.
And, come to think of it the underlying theme of this series (a theme brought to a head in this very issue) is fairly original. This is the story of a man trying to replace, trying to emulate, his idol. The greatest superhero there ever was.
As baggage goes, it's pretty original.
Ending: Absolutely stunning. I mean that. I was stunned. Waid is a superb story-teller.
Re-Readability: Good Flash issues are well worth re-reading. This is a prime example.
Impressive Characters: Wally. He's not jealous to see Barry back, just realistic.
Plus, I love the scene where he over-hears the kid asking for an autograph and confesses that he loves his work. Wally loves what he's doing. That's cool.
Impressive Writers: Mark Waid.
Impressive Artists: Greg LaRoque and Roy Richardson.
Impressive Dialogue: I'm going to write it in grey, to reduce it being a spoiler: the closing dialogue of the issue is Barry Allen saying: "I'm the Flash! Do you understand me, punk? I'm the Flash!" If you really want to read it, you'll have to squint.
Impressive Scenes: The opening with the speeding train. That was cool. And the final battle was equally cool.
Less-Than-Impressive Characters: Linda is a bit of a non-entity. No issues I've read so far have done anything to make me like the character.
Less-Than-Impressive Dialogue:
Less-Than-Impressive Scenes:
Continuity: This issue is part two of a specific on-going plot: "The Return Of Barry Allen" which runs all the way to a 54-page finale, in issue 79.
Guide:
Reviews:
Other Info:
Three Four Things I Really Like About This Issue:
The cliff-hanger. Gut-wrenching and guaranteed to make you want to come back next time and see how Wally is coping.
The scene between Wally and Linda. It made me laugh and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Honest! It was a really cute, really sweet little exchange.
Wally's ripped costume, with his hair spilling out. It wouldn't be a bad look for him, actually.
The tantalising hint of things-to-come in the alley-way. Was that the word "Allen" we saw? Hmm…
Three Things I Really Don't Like About This Issue:
I'm not entirely sure what purpose Jay is serving by being there.
Well, it's not a particular criticism of this issue alone, but - in general - Linda is a dreadfully under-written character.
GRADE: A+
Review by Michael Leddy
Comments are welcome: rikerdonegal@hotmail.com
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A BRIEFING WITH MICHAEL |
SECTION VI: COMIC-BOOK REVIEWS |
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