Warning! Contains spoilers for The Flash #1!The Scarlet Speedster returns for a powerful, trippy adventure in The Flash #1. Si Spurrier and Mike Deodato, Jr. team up for a thrilling new start that takes Wally West to some truly odd places.
Wally West has been on a heck of an adventure since he returned in DC Comics’ Rebirth era. After years of hardship and tragedy, the Flash finally got his life back on track with his wife and twin children. Things have even gotten better for the Fastest Man Alive with the addition of Flash’s new son Wade. However, not everything is going great for Wally. A prologue story in The Flash #800 saw the speedster come into conflict with his old nemesis Mirror Master, and their fight led to Flash developing a new ‘glitching’ superpower. Now Wally can see through alternating layers of reality, and the horrors that lurk within.
The Flash #1 is a Creepy, Gorgeous, and Experimental
Spurrier and Deodato’s The Flash #1 starts off with speedsters Max Mercury and Impulse discovering something is going wrong with the Speed Force, sensing the enigmatic force, or something within it, is in pain. Wally West senses the same thing, as jolts of pain ripple through his body as he uses his powers to fight Gorilla Grodd’s invading army. As Wally and Mister Terrific do some investigating into the Speed Force’s fluctuations, Flash begins glitching and hears messages of beings crying out for help, warning him that the Uncoiled are coming. Flash heads out to fight Gorilla Grodd once more, only to be interrupted by a new speedster leaving indigo trails. Grodd restrains the would-be hero and uses his power to open a gateway within the Speed Force, allowing a creepy being with spikes all over their body to make their way into Wally’s world.
Fans worrying that this comic would ignore the recently-ended Flash run can rest easy. This issue builds off of elements and plots from the previous series. But the first issue has a unique identity compared to the Flash comic that came before it. Between Spurrier’s pataphysical narration and dialogue and the creepy body horror vibe Deodato brings, this comic is nothing like the Flash series that preceded it. It’s an intense read that demands focus, but it’s quite thought-provoking and beautiful in several ways. Though The Flash has changed for a new era, it’s a fun experience that holds a lot of promise.
The Flash #1 is a Bold Change in Direction, But a Welcome One
There are a lot of things this issue does really well. It keeps up the family dynamic of Wally and gives them plenty of focus while also setting up new plots for the West Family. The book also leans hard into the outrageous science behind the ephemeral nature of the Speed Force. This new era of the Flash might not be for everyone, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. The Flash #1 swings for the fences in its debut issue and ends up with a powerful opening chapter that promises mystery, horror, and high-concept superhero adventures. Fans of the Scarlet Speedster will not be disappointed by Spurrier and Deodato’s new journey for Wally West. The Flash #1 is on sale now.
