Post by xBarryxAllenx on Feb 23, 2012 22:50:51 GMT -5
Flash #6 gives us our first full-on fight against a real member of the Rogues (though Captain Cold has appeared in cameos previously). This issue has some real payoff for me, and at the same time sets up a lot of new threads now that we have completed the first arc of the New 52 version of the Flash. Once again, I cannot wait for the next issue!
Len now has a real reason to hate The Flash, and enough power to truly go toe-to-toe with Barry. I didn't know at first how I would feel about his going meta, but he does so in a way that allows him to truly fight as an equal...and I like that a lot. There are some nods to prior days (and to fan comments leading up to this issue), and I LOL'd a bit when Barry says, "I liked him better with the guns." But, overall the story builds on Len's reason to battle Barry with such passion, and it leads up to a great cliffhanger at the end.
The story does jump around in time quite a bit, from "Now" to "Yesterday" to "Last Night", etc. But, looking back I'm not sure the dramatic tension would have been built as well without the jumps, and at least each jump in time was clearly labeled. (Why do I get the feeling that these jumps may mean something in later stories, though?).
At any rate, now that I've seen a meta version of Captain Cold I'm impressed. In the Silver Age, it didn't make sense that a man with a gun (even one that freezes things) could outduel someone who could simply take the gun out of your hand before you could pull the trigger. I do miss the idea of the science-based Rogues, but the specifics of Captain Cold's powers make him truly formidable - and for a Flash powered up this much, that's something that makes sense and is truly needed.
Speaking of powers, we do get more on that "don't run too fast or the world will end" angle...and it appears to be building up to something interesting as well.
Overall I really liked Issue #6. One note for any reader who hasn't already figured this out - when buying The Flash, you cannot just scan the pictures and read the word balloons. I find myself reading these issues at least twice, so I can really delve into the artwork. A lot of things can be found there that both drive the storyline and provide some interesting side notes....such as
SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!
Now that we have that out of the way...
- I liked the way the sketches and the coloring drove home the extent of Captain Cold's powers. When Barry is close to Len, those yellow-glowing seams start glowing blue instead (indicating Barry's molecules slowing down). AND, just as cool, the Flash's chest symbol starts fading in color as well, returning to the usual brilliant gold only when he is far enough away from Len. Very neat way to drive that home - Booch's coloring really makes a difference here.
- Speaking of Len, I found it interesting that the ice didn't necessarily come straight out of his hands. He generates that field and seems to command ice in a way similar to how Mera commands water (and if you haven't seen Aquaman #6 I highly recommend it).
- Here's hoping Lisa isn't being brought back to be killed off. However, based on what I've seen in Issue #6, I can think of at least one or two ways she can yet be saved. We'll see...
- I thought the Captain Cold gun on the bus was hilarious! Also liked the Flash t-shirt...is a Flash museum coming down the line? Maybe when the EMP fiasco is over...
- ...and "The Treadmill" - wow! This makes sense and probably will fit in to at least one or two future storylines. The famous Cosmic Treadmill would have to be made out of amazing stuff to stand up to super-speed (keep in mind the force of each stride would be pretty impressive), so this much-bigger treadmill may be the start of something interesting here.
- Anyone notice "Captain Jay's" or the falling "J" from the boat?
- It seems that the newspaper industry in the Gem Cities is doing well, unlike so many papers in the US today. There are at least two papers for each city (Central Tribune and Central Citizen, along with the Keystone Herald and Keystone Daily - and did Len drop a Keystone Star next to Lisa's bed?).
- Finally, we are watching Barry and Patty taking things to a different level while Iris is asking interesting questions. This is likely something that won't be resolved anytime soon...and something that should get a lot more interesting in the meantime.
Overall - for me another great issue. Manapul and Buccellato seem to have a great thing going here. But that's enough from me - what are YOUR thoughts?
Len now has a real reason to hate The Flash, and enough power to truly go toe-to-toe with Barry. I didn't know at first how I would feel about his going meta, but he does so in a way that allows him to truly fight as an equal...and I like that a lot. There are some nods to prior days (and to fan comments leading up to this issue), and I LOL'd a bit when Barry says, "I liked him better with the guns." But, overall the story builds on Len's reason to battle Barry with such passion, and it leads up to a great cliffhanger at the end.
The story does jump around in time quite a bit, from "Now" to "Yesterday" to "Last Night", etc. But, looking back I'm not sure the dramatic tension would have been built as well without the jumps, and at least each jump in time was clearly labeled. (Why do I get the feeling that these jumps may mean something in later stories, though?).
At any rate, now that I've seen a meta version of Captain Cold I'm impressed. In the Silver Age, it didn't make sense that a man with a gun (even one that freezes things) could outduel someone who could simply take the gun out of your hand before you could pull the trigger. I do miss the idea of the science-based Rogues, but the specifics of Captain Cold's powers make him truly formidable - and for a Flash powered up this much, that's something that makes sense and is truly needed.
Speaking of powers, we do get more on that "don't run too fast or the world will end" angle...and it appears to be building up to something interesting as well.
Overall I really liked Issue #6. One note for any reader who hasn't already figured this out - when buying The Flash, you cannot just scan the pictures and read the word balloons. I find myself reading these issues at least twice, so I can really delve into the artwork. A lot of things can be found there that both drive the storyline and provide some interesting side notes....such as
SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!
Now that we have that out of the way...
- I liked the way the sketches and the coloring drove home the extent of Captain Cold's powers. When Barry is close to Len, those yellow-glowing seams start glowing blue instead (indicating Barry's molecules slowing down). AND, just as cool, the Flash's chest symbol starts fading in color as well, returning to the usual brilliant gold only when he is far enough away from Len. Very neat way to drive that home - Booch's coloring really makes a difference here.
- Speaking of Len, I found it interesting that the ice didn't necessarily come straight out of his hands. He generates that field and seems to command ice in a way similar to how Mera commands water (and if you haven't seen Aquaman #6 I highly recommend it).
- Here's hoping Lisa isn't being brought back to be killed off. However, based on what I've seen in Issue #6, I can think of at least one or two ways she can yet be saved. We'll see...
- I thought the Captain Cold gun on the bus was hilarious! Also liked the Flash t-shirt...is a Flash museum coming down the line? Maybe when the EMP fiasco is over...
- ...and "The Treadmill" - wow! This makes sense and probably will fit in to at least one or two future storylines. The famous Cosmic Treadmill would have to be made out of amazing stuff to stand up to super-speed (keep in mind the force of each stride would be pretty impressive), so this much-bigger treadmill may be the start of something interesting here.
- Anyone notice "Captain Jay's" or the falling "J" from the boat?
- It seems that the newspaper industry in the Gem Cities is doing well, unlike so many papers in the US today. There are at least two papers for each city (Central Tribune and Central Citizen, along with the Keystone Herald and Keystone Daily - and did Len drop a Keystone Star next to Lisa's bed?).
- Finally, we are watching Barry and Patty taking things to a different level while Iris is asking interesting questions. This is likely something that won't be resolved anytime soon...and something that should get a lot more interesting in the meantime.
Overall - for me another great issue. Manapul and Buccellato seem to have a great thing going here. But that's enough from me - what are YOUR thoughts?
