Review: ‘The Flash’ #772 Faces New Beginnings And Old Enemies
by Tony Thornley
After a story arc solely devoted to reforming and recontextualizing Wally West’s recent history, The Flash can truly start telling its own story. In The Flash #772, we get a glimpse of what that could be.
Starting this run in earnest with this arc, there’s a lot of fun teases here. And using one of the most classic Rogues as an antagonist cements it as keeping the core of classic Flash while forging ahead into a new future. This issue comes from Jeremy Adams, Will Conrad, Alex Sinclair, and Steve Wands.
Wally West is home. He’s reunited with his family and he’s back in the red and gold while Barry Allen heads into the multiverse. Now, all he needs to get this new lease on life really started is a job. Thankfully, one might be headed his way thanks to a fellow JLA member — that is if Heat Wave doesn’t get him first!
Adams dives right in with this issue; showing the dynamics of Wally’s life, and putting his family front and center. There’s a lot here that makes it feel like Wally hasn’t missed a beat since his last starring role over a decade ago. The twins and Linda are welcome presences in the title, and it makes it feel modern without doing anything to date it, such as pop culture references or slang.
The plot is a lot of fun too. Everyone can relate to needing to try to find a job, and involving Mister Terrific in that search feels unique without jumping the shark. Heat Wave’s presence could be seen as just giving Wally something to punch, but Adams goes out of his way to humanize him and give him proper motivation (even if the reason why might be slightly cliché).
Conrad’s art is solid, if a bit stiff. He conveys the movement well, but he isn’t really able to give Wally the kinetic pop needed to bring the Flash to life. His depiction of slower moments, like Wally’s repeated rejections and first moments on the job, are much stronger than his action beats. Sinclair’s colors are grea,t though, making the line art come to life and actually adding some good energy on the action pages.
After this issue, I’m even more bought-in on what this creative team is doing. I’m cautiously optimistic, but if this issue is indication, things are going in the right direction.
The Flash #772 is available now from DC Comics
Overview
Fun character development and a strong plot overcomes some stiff line-art. The issue puts the Flash on a very fun path that strengthens the series’ prospects for the future.
