Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Flash Forward #1 Review
    Review

    Flash Forward #1 (of 6) Review

    Matthew PetersonBy Matthew PetersonSeptember 19, 20194 Mins Read

    His name is Wally West, and he’s the fastest prisoner alive… Your Major Spoilers review of Flash Forward #1 awaits!

    FLASH FORWARD #1

    Writer: Scott Lobdell
    Penciler: Brett Booth
    Inker: Norm Rapmund
    Colorist: Luis Guerrero
    Letterer: ALW’s Troy Peteri
    Editor: Paul Kaminiski
    Publisher: DC Comics
    Cover Price: $3.99
    Release Date: September 18, 2019

    Previously in Flash Forward: His name is Wally West-and he was the Fastest Man Alive… until the Multiverse was rewritten without him or his family in it. Though Wally returned and tried to make it work, the damage was done. After a terrible tragedy, can even a Flash find redemption in a cosmos that has fought so hard to destroy him?

    THE DARK MULTIVERSE IS RISING

    This issue begins in the Dark Multiverse, where Tempus Fuginaut (or A Tempus Fuginaut, I’m not 100% clear how they work, other than being a riff on The Watcher) is horrified to find a tide of darkness that threatens to breach the mainstream realities and plunge all the world of the DC Universe into perpetual blackness. In an act of desperation, he seeks out one being to stem the tide, as we cut to Wally West, trapped in a cell in Blackgate Prison, his super-speed powers dampened, but his super-speed mind still racing. We see a flashback to his time in Sanctuary, including some bonding with Roy “Arsenal” Harper, who died because of his loss of control. Worse still, his worst enemies are at Blackgate, leading to unpleasant run-ins with Murmur, Double-Down, Tarpit and Girder (all of whom have one interesting thing in common, as fans of our ‘Flashback’ podcast will tell you), including nearly being murdered in his cell. Then, the Fuginaut appears, teleports him away, unlocks his full powers and chucks him into the Multiverse, where he lands on Earth-23. Cue the big cliffhanger!

    THIS IS ONE UGLY COMIC

    As someone who didn’t like ‘Heroes In Crisis’ but has an affection for Wally West, I tried to come into this comic with an open mind, but Brett Booth’s art is VERY unpleasant. Wally’s first appearance is an above-shot, looking down into his room, really highlighting the spidery, elongated limbs of Booth’s signature style. By contrast, Murmur, who is designed to be long, spindly and unnerving, looks almost exactly the same as The Flash, and even characters like grown woman Linda Park have the thin neck of a preteen. The sequence in the Dark Multiverse works a little bit better, but even the Fuginaut has the strange physique, including enlarged hands and head. As for the story, it’s okay, and doesn’t try to immediately gloss over the tragedy of HiC, but Wally’s situation is incredibly grim from top to bottom, to the point where it feels a bit too contrived. Not only is he locked up with his worst enemies, not only is he wracked with guilt for killing one of his oldest friends and a dozen others, but the reporter who comes to visit him is Linda Park, a duplicate of the wife whose loss fueled his breakdown in the first place. The last page reveal of President Superman is a plot hook I might actually want to read about, but the art in this issue is off-putting enough that I don’t know if I will buy #2.

    BOTTOM LINE: I HOPE IT’S A BIG REDEMPTION STORY

    With the meta-statement about too much darkness overtaking the DCU, part of me hopes that these creators are self-aware enough to try and rebuild Wally as a man and a character, but I can’t shake the worry that it’s all going to end with a big old Flash Sacrifice™ to finally remove the troublesome third Flash from the board for whatever Barry Allen has going on next. Flash Forward #1 has the potential to change the onslaught of grimdark horrors, but it’s marred by art that’s not only inappropriate for the tone, but just unpleasant to look at, and it doesn’t quite give me confidence that editorial understands just how unsuccessful ‘Heroes In Crisis’ was, earning a disappointed 1.5 out 5 stars overall.


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    FLASH FORWARD #1

    35%
    35%
    Unsuccessful

    The problems of 'Heroes In Crisis' compounded by The Dark Multiverse and some truly unpleasant art.

    • Writing
      5
    • Art
      1.5
    • Coloring
      4
    • User Ratings (1 Votes)
      3.4
    brett booth dc comics Flash Forward Heroes in Crisis Review scott lobdell The Flash Wally West
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleVIZ Media announces New York Comic-Con panel and signing schedule
    Next Article Lex Luthor: Year of the Villain #1 Review
    Matthew Peterson
    • Website
    • Twitter

    Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.

    Related Posts

    Major Spoilers Podcast #1133: The Fight of the Century

    Read More

    Geek History Lesson – Wakanda MEGA EPISODE (Black Panther, Shuri, Dora Milaje, Ironheart)

    Read More

    Munchkin Land #726: Marvel Champions: Civil War

    Read More

    Comments are closed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    6.0
    July 8, 2025

    JSA #9 Review

    7.0
    July 7, 2025

    X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1 Review

    5.7
    July 6, 2025

    Gehenna: Naked Aggression #1 Review

    7.0
    July 6, 2025

    Retro Review: Big Apple Comix (September 1975)

    6.0
    July 5, 2025

    Wolverines and Deadpools #1 Review

    Patreon Support
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT