[Criticism] Flash Rebirth – Volume 1 at Urban Comics

Flash returns to Urban Comics for Rebirth. The opportunity to find our favorite car in a new adventure, facing a brand new villain: Godspeed. Our review.

While Barry Allen is working at a crime scene reminding him of his mother's murder, he is suddenly struck by a malaise related to disturbances of the Swift Force. He manages to remember his former partner Wally West reappearing in his life. But the adventures do not stop there for the scarlet car as he is confronted with a violent lightning storm that strikes his friend Inspector August Heart, who finds himself with speed powers. But he doesn't seem to be the only one in this case. Indeed, Central City discovers a real armada of cars but especially a new villain determined to annihilate them: Godspeed.

After a slow end of the run during the New 52, Flash is finally back with the release of Flash Rebirth – Volume 1: Love at first sight. This volume contains issues 1 to 8 of The Flash as well as The Flash Rebirth #1. The latter is already available in the DC Universe Rebirth collection published last June. This new run is an opportunity to introduce Dr. Carver and Black Hole, an evil organization but also to find the character of Inspector August Heart. After the introduction that serves to replant the scene, we are quickly embarked in the small world of Central City.

A new charismatic villain

It's quite exciting to discover a slew of new cars linked to a storm of Force Veloce. Each character treats things differently, August wants to avenge his brother's death, and Meena suddenly has a knack for detecting other speedsters. Dr. Carver and Black Hole are ultimately just a pretext for the introduction of a new threat to Flash: Godspeed. Self-proclaimed God of speed and wearing a beautiful white and yellow suit, this new villain turns out to be very enigmatic. Like others, he is not there to do evil but rather good. Except that his own definition of good is not that of Flash far from it! The story gives us a new charismatic villain and it feels good! The final reversal of the situation gives hope for a sequel at the height of this first volume.

To move the story forward, Barry falls in love with a beautiful scientist, Meena, who also finds herself endowed with powers. It is unfortunate that this plot only serves as a mouthpiece. Barry happy? Long gone are the days when this was the case and it is not yet ready to happen. However, this small parenthesis is likely to continue since the end of the volume suggests a great mystery…

Dynamism and defects

Screenwriter Joshua Williamson takes over from the duo Venditti/Jensen and gives us a good story. The character has his flaws but he manages to tell us something new. Everything is not perfect far from it but the spirit lives on and that is the most important thing. The drawings are signed by the Italian Carmine Di Giandomenico. In contrast to Brett Booth's work on the previous series, he gives us beautiful boards. The line is dynamic and allows a fluid reading of the story. The gentleman is rather good when it comes to backgrounds as well as the representation of the Swift Force. Neil Googe and Felipe Watanabe each provide a chapter.

Urban Comics offers us a book in the purest tradition. Fitting in perfectly with the other titles in the Rebirth collection, Flash Rebirth – Volume 1 presents a cover in a pop-art style with the face of the car on a yellow polka dot background. Inside, 216 pages on glossy paper accompanied by a short introduction, a presentation of the characters, alternative covers as well as research work on the places and the different protagonists.

In conclusion, Flash Rebirth – Volume 1: Love at first sight, even if it is far from perfect, remains nevertheless a pleasant read and a good restart for the scarlet carlet. Situations evolve and we take pleasure in finding the characters we love. Special mention to the new villain Godspeed, a real success! Urban Comics is always there to offer a quality product. To be continued at lightning speed!