Review: The Flash #781

This Flash run is a legend in the making. A great book in which every issue brings something different. Jeremy Adams is an ideal comic writer for The Flash. He builds up characters and gives them space to breathe. He finds the right balance of humor, heart and action. This coupled with the perfect depiction of the Flash by Fernando Pasarin and inker Matt Ryan make for a fun, kinetic and bright comic.

Wally West is a character centered on hope and friendship and it’s exciting to see him happy and fulfilled with family and friends surrounding him. With Barry off saving the multiverse he takes over the role of mentor here and bonds with Kid Flash. The relationship of Wally West and Wallace West is an odd one. Wallace is an anachronism who popped up when Wally was lost due to the changes brought by Doctor Manhattan. Now with Wally back to his old self he takes the time to visit his variant and establish a mentor relationship.

Wallace, or as Wally calls him Ace, is taking a test in Titans Academy when Wally interrupts. Ace speeds out from under teacher Roy Harper’s nose because Flash told him it’s an emergency. The emergency is a false one and just a pretext for Wally and Ace to enjoy a world food tour.

Wally shows off his favorite ice creams and pizza while recounting his own beginnings as Kid Flash. He remembers Barry trying to protect him until he realized Wally was doing extra hero work in his off time. Wally and Ace race around the world helping others before tripping upon the Legion of Doom headquarters. Wally reveals he has seen it pop up in various places before and he just keeps pulling it slightly apart to keep the villains busy and pumping resources into repairs.

The duo takes on some more crime and run into Girder. They take him down together and race to return him to Iron Heights. This is an excellent issue. This comic run just crackles with energy. It is so much fun seeing Wally West back and bringing all the joy and positivity that comics and the world needs. Ace finally seems to have a logical place now and hopefully this portends the beginning of a more interesting characterization for him.

Writing: 4.5 of 5 stars
Art: 4.7 of 5 stars
Colors: 5 of 5 stars

Overall: 4.7 of 5 stars

Writer: Jeremy Adams
Pencils: Fernando Pasarin
Inks: Matt Ryan
Colors: Jeromy Cox and Peter Pantazis
Publisher: DC Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.