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The world’s fastest man and his.. kids?

In all of comics, very few heroes have matured and grown as much Wally West, The Flash.  Starting his career quite young, the nephew of the ‘original’ Flash, Barry Allen, Wally gained his powers nearly identically while visiting his uncle.  Ever since that day, Wally grew from a hyperactive teenager, a womanizing, sarcastic young-adult to accepting his role as the Flash as a young-man, surpassing even his uncle in speed and power.  Now we find Wally married and trying to train his own speed force enabled children in the proper use of powers and heroism.  How many comic book heroes can you name that have grown from teenagers to having their own kids?  Not that this makes the Flash’s life any easier mind you.

Coming out of a self-imposed retirement after the death of his cousin, Bart Allen (boo DC for killing such a great character) who assumed the mantle of the Flash in Wally’s absence, The Flash book has had its difficulties.  Mark Waid took over the book right after Bart’s death and as writer who heralded The Flash through most of its best run; it should have been the book to read.  Somewhere though, the spark had died and Waid quickly moved onto other projects, paving the way for Tom Peyer to take over as head writer. 

Peyer’s run, so far, really feels more true to the Flash.  The current story arc, culminating here in issue #241, has had the Flash practically run out of town by a villain named Spin, who can use the media to influence what people see and feel in reality.  This backfires hardcore when in confrontation with the Flash, he pulls Gorilla Grodd into their fight and Grodd, of course, stomps them all quickly.  The tables are turned when Wally’s son, Jai, and now teenage daughter, Iris, (the kids are technically only 3 months old and aging rapidly due to their speed powers) join the fray. 

Peyer seems to capture the essence of a hero struggling to deal with having two super powered kids aging rapidly.  The complexity to the story and the thoughts of the Flash adds deepness to a character we once were sure had no thoughts further than his next girl friend.  The bit at the end in the Flash museum with Inertia felt exactly right as well. 

Freddie Williams II’s art shines in this book.  Large bold paneling help keep the ‘speed’ feeling throughout the book.  The richness of the details in the characters and the ability to see emotions in their face really make a difference in such an emotionally charged issue. Tanya and Richard Horie’s colorings added to the overall art of the issue with their vibrant and appropriately bright colors.  The art on this book really stands out as the beautiful, gorgeous work you should see in your comics. 

A good issue of The Flash that sees a comic that jumped the rails slightly getting back on track, I really enjoyed this issue of The Flash.  The Flash excites me like very few characters do and I am happy to find myself enjoying the book again after they unceremoniously and needlessly killed off Bart last year to have Wally jump back into the mantle.  If you happen to skip The Flash on your weekly wall trolling, I would try it; you might just find a new hero.

The Flash #241
“Fast Money Part 4: Flash Mob”
Writer: Tom Peyer
Art And Cover: Freddie E. Williams II
Colorists: Tanya & Richard Horie
Letterer: Travis Lanham

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