Flash

Grodd #1

/ / Comics

Grodd #1The basic premise of these Forever Evil .1 tie-in issues is to show fans what the bigger name villians get up to when the heroes of the DCU disappear. This is problematic for the obvious reason that you’re buying a comic to see the hero’s adventures and with The Flash #23.1 it’s also an issue as the New 52 version of Grodd is fare less interesting than the original.

What made Grodd originally interesting (and ridiculous) was the character’s great intellect shoved into a gorilla’s body. Here we’re left with a brutal warrior without the cunning or charm of the original.

On the eve of a peaceful Gorilla City officially becoming a neighbor of Central City (so much for the invisible African home) a Speed-Force-infused Grodd shows up to take control of his former warriors leading to bloodshed. Yeah, it’s Planet of the Apes.

It’s not a bad issue and its competently told, but without the Flash, regular co-writer and artist Francis Manapaul, or a willingness to embrace the absurdity of the hero’s Rogues it does feel a bit flat. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Flash #23

/ / Comics

The Flash #23As the Flash battles the New 52’s version of the Reverse-Flash, Iris West will make a startling discovery about the man behind the killings of those tied to the Speed Force and her connection to him. I have mixed feelings about our new Reverse-Flash, however, the reveal that the killer is Daniel West leaves Professor Zoom (and kick-ass yellow costume) safe from the New 52 reboot, at least for now.

After teasing us for months ago an altercation between the two speedsters, The Flash #23 with several panels of the action and the unfortunate fallout from Iris’ discovery. There is also a nice B-story centered around Barry missing dinner with Patty’s parents and the cost of living the super-hero life as even the Fastest Man Alive can’t be everywhere at once.

The reveal of Daniel West was unexpected, and we’ll have to wait until at least next month to discover his story. I’m also wondering if this isn’t the first step to introduce another member of the West family. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Superman – Speed Demons

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Superman: The Animated Series – Speed Demons
  • wiki: link

Superman - Speed Demons

With a new Superman in now in theaters every now and then I’ll continue to take a look back at the hero’s more memorable moments on both the big and small screen. Who’s faster, Superman (Tim Daly) or the Flash (Charlie Schlatter)? That’s a question DC Comics has teased its readers with several times over the years without ever really coming to a definitive answer. “Speed Demons” capitalizes on the Silver Age concept of a public race between the heroes and the inevitable attacks of a super-villain that leave us without a true winner.

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Superman – Speed Demons Read More »

The Flash Annual #2

/ / Comics

The Flash Annual #2The second Flash Annual gives a look back at the first meeting between the Flash and Green Lantern, their first mission together to Arena World, and the pair’s return a couple of year’s later to make due on the promise Hal Jordan made to save the two heroes and the dozens of Earth’s children kidnapped to be turned into future gladiators.

Although the annual is missing the ongoing series’ artist and co-writer Francis Manapul (who does give us the issue’s cover), writer Brian Buccellato and Sami Basri offer up a strong Flash/GL team-up longtime fans of both characters should enjoy complete with their trademark banter.

The aliens return to hold GL to their deal and the pair of heroes are stuck fighting in a gladiatorial combat. When the Flash’s speed slowly begins to wane and Green Lantern gets taken down, Hal offers Barry the use of the ring. Although his super-sped-up brain allows him to master it relatively quickly (which is pretty cool), he’s unprepared for how much a single will-power-induced construct can take out of a guy (by targeting the enemy’s crotch).

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The Flash Annual #2 Read More »

The Flashpoint Paradox

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
  • IMDB: link

The Flashpoint ParadoxAlternate reality stories are nothing new in comics. Although not originally designed for that purpose, Flashpoint became a major storyline in DC Comics to help the publisher transition from the established DCU continuity to that of their New 52 reboot. Spanning more than 75 issues the story centered around the Flash finding himself trapped in a darker version of the world he knew with heroes similar, yet different, from those he called friends, and a war between Atlantis and Themyscira threatening to destroy the Earth.

The results of Flashpoint were mixed at best and I certainly wasn’t expecting much when I heard DC had chosen the project for their latest straight-to-DVD feature. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is actually pretty good and arguably the best animated feature the company has put out over the last couple of years since Batman: Under the Red Hood.

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