Flash has gone into the mystical Speed Force in an attempt to get back Iris West, but what/who else will the speedster find in the place where the present and future meet?
FLASH #8
Writers: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Artist: Francis Manapul
Colors: Brian Buccellato with Ian Herring
Letters: Wes Abbott
Editor: Brian Cunningham
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Flash: The battle raged on between Flash and his nemesis Captain Cold, with Flash coming out the victor, but at the cost of Iris West being sucked into a wormhole and into the mysterious Speedforce. In Barry’s attempt to enter to the Speedforce to find Iris, he jumps on a treadmill, does what he does best, creates a wormhole, and is immediately sucked inside.
A NEW FRIENEMY
On the final page of last issue we were given a brief introduction to a man holding Flash captive inside the Speedforce named Turbine, and in this issue we are given a better look at this spinning-speedster. Roscoe Hynes, aka Turbine, was a Tuskegee Airmen in 1944 and about ready to enter a dog fight when he was sucked into the Speedforce and has been there ever since. Being there that long has given him the power to spin incredibly fast (which seems slightly lame to me), but also a thorough understanding of the Speedforce and its connection to Flash.
Before entering this mystical place Barry believed that the wormholes were created from him running at too high of speeds, but he was completely backwards. Turbine informs him that his powers are connected to the Speedforce and when he doesn’t use them wormholes are created at varying points in the timeline. While this explanation gives reason to why there was a Mayan Temple in the background, it breaks down when you remember that Flash entered the Force by using his powers and not just standing still.
HEY THERE GOOD LOOKIN’
Francis Manapul is once again doing double duty as he writes but also pencils and inks the entire issue. Much has been said about Manpul’s art and rightfully so because it is top notch. What I appreciate about his art is that he can give the impression of speed without using any digital blurring that has started popping up in comics. Flash would be an ideal place to use such blurring, but his choice not to has kept the art more consistent and allowed for greater detail. Manapul has also showed his talent in using the two-page spread to expand the story with three in this issue alone.
BOTTOM LINE: BACK ON THE WAGON
I have to admit that I didn’t buy Flash #7 until this issue hit shelves. I don’t remember my reasoning for not picking it up, didn’t want to read good comics that day I guess. But after catching up and reading this issue I’m here to proclaim that I will once again be buying this regularly. Francis Manapul and company are creating an enjoyable read, and with that ending hook how could you not come back for the next installment? The explanation of the wormhole creation has me slightly confused, but overall it was a fun time so I’m giving Flash #8 3.5 out of 5 stars with high expectations in the future.
[rating:3.5/5]
3 Comments
Should have dumped the speedforce with the reboot
Absolutely not. The speed force is a central part of Flash lore. Plus, it helps explain a lot of the logical problems one might run into with super speed. It’s like magic!
Honestly, subtracting something like that from the franchise would only limit what kind of stories can be told in the Flash books. Well that and piss off fans.
On another note, I respectfully disagree Mr. Woolf. Spinning really fast is an awesome power if done right. It can create whirlwinds, deflect bullets, and make him difficult to pin down. Just ask the Top. Coincidentally, I was really missing the Top and all his spinny and/or brainwashing antics. So having Turbine around is nice.
While it’s a central tenet of Flash stories NOW, they did the better part of 60 YEARS of stories without the Speed Force, as it was Mark Waid who introduced the concept in about 1994 or so…