In ‘The Flash’ #11, our hero had rounded up and captured the Rogues Heatwave and Capt. Cold. However, on their way to prison, Gold’s sister Glider showed up and appeared to be busting the villains out. Oh boy! This is sure to turn out bad for the Flash!
As this issue opens, Glider reveals that her plan is to break out Heatwave only. What about her brother? I guess he’ll be left to fend for himself. While the frantic (and explosive) breakout is taking place, Flash pays a visit to Dr. Elias. Flash wants to know why the scientist turned all of Keystone City against him, to which Elias replies, “A social experiment… nothing personal.” Geez! Could this guy be any more arrogant? I see a future super-villain in the making here.
Back at the breakout, it seems Glider is rounding up her own group of Rogues. But all is not butterflies and rainbows for Glider’s new team. Other ex-Rogues like Pied Piper and the Trickster have their own agendas. Despite the random chaos that seems to be spinning around her, Glider does manage to keep her plan on a clockwork schedule… until her new team has a run in with the one Rogue that I’m sure she didn’t want to see!
Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato continue month in and month out to keep ‘The Flash’ as one of the most accessible and fun book of all of DC’s New 52. That’s quite the feat considering how much backstory a lot of these characters have and how much it’s playing into the stories. But, off all the New 52, this one continues to be the title that I recommend to new comic readers. It’s one of the few books that harkens back to the fun comics of childhood while keeping the stories mature and fresh. In fact, every time I read one of Manapul and Buccellato’s issues, I almost certainly ask again, “Why has DC not used this as a template for a Flash movie? I mean c’mon! It’s perfect… and leagues ahead of a lot of superhero movies.” But ramblings aside, back to the issue at hand…
Manapul is back on art duty again this month after having Marcus To step in for an issue and I couldn’t be happier. To’s work was adequate enough and matched the writing style but Manapul seems to write these stories to his own artistic strengths and it shows on each and every page. This is a solidly written title with some of the best artwork in comics. Period. If you’re not reading ‘The Flash’ already, you should definitely check it out!
Final Score:
THE FLASH #12
Written by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Art and Cover by Francis Manapul
