Flash #207 Review

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Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Rush Hour

Written by: Geoff Johns
Penciled by: Howard Porter
Inked by: Livesay
Colored by: James Sinclair
Lettered by: Nick J. Napolitano
Associate Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Publisher: DC Comics

The Flash is back!

After telling a story the last six months that really established the origin for a new direction for Flash, Geoff Johns, this month, settles the story back into a much needed comfort zone. The opening three pages serve as a near perfect description of who the Flash is, and why he’s so much different than the rest of DC’s big name characters. This is the perfect opportunity to give Flash a try. Geoff Johns exemplifies who the title character is, and catches everybody up on recent happenings on the first few pages, then jumps into the usual thrills that we all expect from the book.

Wally West (The Flash) bucks the normal comic trend and continually grows as a character and sees distinct changes in how he’s presented. Last month’s issue concluded the six-part “Ignition” storyline. That story seemed to raise a single finger toward another company’s recent trend toward unmasking all of their superheroes. Events that led into that arc saw the Spectre granting Wally his wish and giving him and his wife, Linda, a fresh start. Unfortunately, this fresh start led to everyone, including the Flash, forgetting his secret identity. This is a stunning change in direction, when you consider that since this books inception Wally’s identity has been public knowledge.

It took me a little while to settle into “Ignition” since it was in stark contrast to the Flash stories I am used to. I’m now content with the idea that Wally West has a secret identity once again. The fallout from his wife, Linda, relearning his secret is having a great effect on the direction of the book. This new found secret identity has actually opened up a lot of new areas to explore, so this is a very exciting time.

A rogue’s gallery like no other…

After a number of years where they fell into a state of disuse, Geoff Johns has developed the Flash’s gallery of rogues back to the state of prominence they belong. This month’s issue has more villains than by any right you should be able to cram into a single issue and still tell a solid story. The rogues that have played a big part in Geoff Johns run (the likes of Captain Cold, Trickster, Plunder, and Mirror Master) are joined on the last page by the return of a rogue that has not taken center stage in some time. I won’t give it away, but this villain will certainly make the Flash’s life very difficult in the month’s to come.

Howard Porter arrives in style!

Alberto Dose never seemed to get a fair shake after taking over for Scott Kolins as penciler on Flash. By replacing the fan favorite Kolins (who had been the regular penciler since Johns started his run), and drastically altering the style of the book, he was almost doomed to failure from the start. His artwork had a much darker tone and didn’t fit the normal super heroic artwork Flash fans expect. As different as it was, I think his artwork suited the coarse tone Johns set during “Ignition.” In the end, I really enjoyed Dose’s time on Flash.

With that out of the way, let me say that I am thrilled with Howard Porter as the new regular penciler. What artist could be better at bringing to life the adventures of the Scarlet Speedster, than the man that brought Grant Morrison’s huge stories in JLA to the shelves. Porter’s grand super hero images are absolute heaven for an old school Flash fan. The Flash is at its best when the stories are unrepentant superhero love fests. Porter’s bold style captures the necessary stylistic spectacle perfectly!