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The Flash #231 PDF Print E-mail
  Posted by Sam Holland    03:02 PM   Wednesday, 22 August 2007 | Permalink         
Wally West is back, almost as if he never left. 

I like Wally West.  He did what no other sidekick ever did, properly handle the mantle of his mentor.  For almost two decades we saw him grow from a self-centered womanizer to a hero worthy to wear the same cloth as Barry Allen.  When he was removed from the DCU during Infinite Crisis, it seemed fitting.  His story was told.  Wally had grown up. It was time for new stories with a new Flash. 

Unfortunately, Bart Allen (formerly Kid Flash and Impulse) never got a chance to get up to speed.  A great character with a lot of potential, he suffered from the large shadow cast by his predecessor.  After thirteen issues as the fastest man alive, the powers that be at DC called a “do over,” dispatched Bart and pulled Wally from the speed force to join DCU proper once again.  Wally’s last issue was #230 and DC has picked up the numbering at #231 instead of making a new #1 issue.  It’s a smart move that preserves the legacy of the character. 


Wally is a family man now, happily married with twins, Jai and Iris.  Thanks to a super growth spurt, they’re not infants, but grown children (I’m guessing between 7-10).  They’ve got super powers too, and the issue opens with their first adventure, rescuing passengers from a burning ferry.  There’s not a lot of action in the opener, instead focusing on the family and the issue is stronger for it.  The West’s are the kind of family that you’d like to hang out with. 

Mark Waid penned some of the best Flash stories ever written, so it’s a great move to get him back.  He knows the Flash, but he also has a wonderful handle on his wife, Linda, and the kids.  They act like real kids with the added bonus of super powers that hangs like a weight around Linda’s neck.  With Waid at the helm, good things are in store. 

The art is fantastic.  I’m not sure if it’s painted or pencils colored on a computer, but the result is beautiful.  The layout is easy to follow and the characters are all unique and show a wide range of emotion.  A solid addition to the Flash team. 

It would be easy to say that the Flash has hit the ground running, but it doesn’t seem like he ever left.

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