THE FLASH #177
"Event Horizon"
Recommended (7/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Scott Kolins
Inks: Doug Hazlewood
Colors: James Sinclair & Digital Chameleon
Letters: Gaspar Saladino
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
Though I'm not completely taken with the concept of a new, more ruthless Rogues' Gallery, Johns continues to pump new life into this series. The book hasn't been this well written and original in tone since the early years of the Mark Waid run on the book. The art hasn't appealed to me this much either since Mike (Adventures of Superman) Wieringo handled the book.
In nearby Central City, Chester P. Runk -- an ally of the Flash also known as Chunk -- is struck down by an assassin's bullet, and the gunshot unleashes the uncontrolled might of his dimensional powers. Chunk essentially becomes a living black hole, and the Flash is called in to try and solve the crisis and save his friend as well.
Kolins has really come into his own on this book. His work here seems both realistic and surreal all at once. He conveys the power of the title character and Chunk handily. Of course, colorist James Sinclair adds a lot to the mix as well. He brings a darker tone to the book, reinforcing the sense of... ahem, gravity. There's a tone of maturity and danger in every issue thanks to the current art team.
Johns captures the fun of Silver Age science that was integral to the Flash character in the 1960s and combines it with more complex characterization and narration, just as Mark Waid did on his classic stint on the book. Also impressive is how accessible his story is. Chunk hasn't been used for quite some time in The Flash, and Johns provides succinct and seamless exposition for newer readers.
This title has really taken off since the Johns/Kolins collaboration began, and it's become a must-read title for me once again. However, I must admit that this new Rogues plotline -- which began in full force in the Flash: Iron Heights prestige-format one-shot -- hasn't really clicked for me. Plunder, seen on the last page of this issue, strikes me as a rather boring and formulaic villain, both in concept and appearance.
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