The Flash moves at breakneck speed… and I’m not talking about the guy. This series has gone from Captain Cold to Turbine to Gorilla Grodd and now to Weather Wizard in the span of just four issues. At the finale of ‘The Flash’ #9, Flash had narrowly escaped Gorilla City only to find himself back in Central City… which now wanted the Flash taken down!
This issue opens with a flashback to two years ago and the mysterious murder of Claudio Mardon, brother to Marco Mardon (aka The Weather Wizard) before jumping forward to the present where the Flash is attempting to save Central City from one of Weather Wizard’s attacks.
Barry’s friend and partner Patty Spivot has been kidnapped, apparently by Weather Wizard and Flash is trying to pin down the villain long enough to find out Patty’s whereabouts. The battle between Flash and Weather Wizard takes up most of this issue but it’s a fun fight, so I have no complaints in that department. As the battle winds down, the Weather Wizard gets a shocking revelation that will change his path forever… and then he meets up with an unexpected arrival.
Many comics these days rely on their episodic nature to create more cinematic stories and can sometimes draw what would have once been two pages of a comic out to three or four issues (see the beginning of ‘Justice League’ to see what I mean), but ‘The Flash’ has no such hinderances. Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato have created a comic series that harkens back to those great tales of yesteryear wherein each issue could essentially be a stand-alone story while tying into the larger arc. Other than the opening arc with Mob Rule, each issue of ‘The Flash’ has had a definite beginning, middle, and end while managing to cram a damned good story into each and every single issue.
This writing style makes every issue of ‘The Flash’ a good jumping on point, keeping this title as my go-to book when I start recommending newbie comic readers to the New 52 Universe. There just is no bad place to start. And, unlike the first issue of ‘Justice League’, Flash always gets right to the point and keeps you entertained. You’re never waiting for the villain to arrive or the story to progress. Like the title character, ‘The Flash’ is always moving.
Verdict: Buy
THE FLASH #10
Written by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Art by Marcus To and Ray McCarthy
Cover by Francis Manapul
