This is pretty much what super-hero comics should aspire to. Fantastic action, just enough continuity to draw new readers in and make continuing readers smile and imaginative uses of the hero's powers, combined with some real ramifications for down the road. The "Run Riot" arc has been strong throughout, but this finale is fantastic, standing with the conclusion of "Crossfire" and the standalone stories of Grodd and Captain Cold collected in this week's Rogues trade as the best of the Johns/Kolins run.
Johns has really taken some of the old standards of the Flash mythos and put his own spin on them, just as William Messner-Loebs and Mark Waid did before him. And, as with those writers, he's added plenty of his own characters and concepts into the mix as well. In this issue, Gorilla City gets a revamp and a new character that is right in line with the way its been presented in the past while also being undeniably new, and Johns proves himself as probably one of the best Gorilla Grodd writers ever as well. It's easy to write talking, telepathic gorillas as goofy; it takes something else to recognize what is absolutely cool and terrifying about the concept and turn them into formidable allies and frightening foes.
Gorilla City, Grodd and Nnamdi are definitely the stars of this book. The double-page splash of Gorilla City by Kolins stands out as one of the most memorable visuals in an already-memorable run, and I love the mixture of technology and tribal tradition, animal instinct and sentient will that defines the gorillas of Gorilla City. There's also an unexpected but clever political hook to the story, as Flash finds himself not just chasing a super-villain who harmed his friend, but interfering in the right of a culture to punish its own. The end of the Grodd confrontation could easily have been unsatisfying, especially given the harsh consequences for Hunter, were it not so easy to sympathize with Nnamdi and the others of Gorilla City.
While the gorillas steal the show, that doesn't mean Wally West is left a guest-star in his own book. His narration continues to define the character, and I love that Johns had the character a little out of sorts this issue, driven by adrenaline and anger as much as his principles. I also loved the way that Johns and Kolins portrayed his intelligence in the use of his powers, with key moments like the vibrating eyes that indicate how he can see the city or some pretty effective superspeed use in battle against Grodd. Johns also peppers the dialogue with could-be corny lines like "Think Fast!" that come off instead as cool witticisms in the John McClane manner thanks to their context.
Though Geoff Johns has risen to become one of the A-list writers in the industry, tackling JSA, Avengers and upcoming books like Teen Titans, it was The Flash that really first drew my attention, and it continues to rank as my favorite book that he writes. Along with Scott Kolins, Doug Hazlewood and the rest of the team, this has become a classic team for the book, a run that will be talked about for some time, as well as one of the best damn super-hero books on the stands.
