The Flash #79 Review

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Pencils: Rafa Sandoval

Inks: Jordi Tarragona

Colors: Arif Prianto

Letters: Steve Wands

Published by: DC

One of the keys to every great comic in my eyes is that no matter who is reading it, the creators have to convey who their characters are and establish what and where in the story this issue takes place. I mention this as this is the first Flash comic I’ve read this year and the comics itself should get me up to speed (pun definitely intended) within the first few pages. Does this issue to that? I would say yes and no. 

Williamson does a great job at the beginning of establishing what is going on in the story (this being part four of the storyline Death and the Speed Force) as we see a confrontation brewing between three characters (two of which will be named later in the book, one who isn’t - but resembles Captain Cold) just as Flash arrives with another character, dead in his arms. It seems like they just escaped the Black Flash. 

The rest of the issue is split into three parts really: the return of two characters, the Rogues scheming and the Flash and the new Forces (Strength, Sage and Still) trying to figure out how to escape the Black Flash. As a stand alone issue, the comic was okay, but clearly is acting like the denouement of a second act of a larger story line. 

Since most of the new characters aren’t named outright on the page, it led to some confusion throughout, which I wasn’t a fan of. I still don’t know who the unnamed character that looks like Captain Cold is - especially since a very different looking Captain Cold appears with the Rogues later on in the comic. 

I’ve really enjoyed Sandoval’s art in the past and this issue is no different. The action shots are fluid, the quieter moments have life (and are not just characters standing around) and the perspective shots are beautiful. Unfortunately, Taragonna’s inks are a little too heavy-handed and drown out a lot of the colors/pencils. 

In all, this was a very enjoyable issue that made me interested in the storyline requiring only a couple of tweaks.