The Flash #39
DC Comics

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Carmine Di Giandomenico

“The Perfect Storm” part one! In the 700^th tale of THE FLASH, Barry Allen wants to make amends to the people he’s hurt, but Gorilla Grodd has other plans! If Grodd’s shocking attack on Central City wasn’t enough, the reason why—and how it connects to everything The Flash has faced since the Speed Force Storm—will rock our hero to his core…and change everything he thought he knew!

(SPOILERS)

After the finale of a “Cold Day in Hell”, The Flash is back this week focusing on the main storyline. “The Perfect Storm” is a culmination of the major events that have happened throughout this run, from Iris and Barry’s relationship to the organization Black Hole. The introduction immediately gets you sucked in and immersed in the comic. Gorilla Grodd narrating how humans have been obsessed literal power since the beginning. His dialogue is great and serves as a nice setup for his eventual return later on.

Barry and Iris finally talk about his other life as the Scarlet Speedster, it’s very well written and the characterizations are on point. Although the almost black and white art makes it seem a bit melodramatic, it still worked overall. When Flash takes her for a run to take a tour of the Justice League HQ it really works, although they are slowly rekindling their romance, there was the perfect amount tension here.

As this goes on, Wally West is busy superhero-ing tracking down Dr. Karver (Black Hole guy). He also runs into Avery, the female speedster who joined the Justice League of China a while back. They have some nice chemistry here and it’s interesting to see so this man speedsters in here, it also has a “Flash Family” feel to it.

The last couple of pages are simply epic, with Meena and Raijin literally bringing in the speed force to Central city. It’s a large scale scene that artist Carmine Di Giandomenico completely nails. It only gets better when Gorilla Grodd make his triumphant return to rule over the speed force. I simply can’t wait for how this story expands from here. I have a good feeling the “The Perfect Storm” will be one to remember.

In Conclusion:

The Flash delivers the goods this week as the story gets to an all-time high intensity here. It’s one of the strongest issues yet in this run and it lives up to the 699 Flash stories that have come before it. This issue delivers on the entertainment and emotion, with the art complementing extremely well. The return of the fan-favorite villain was also very nice,

Rating: 9/10

– Marcos Melendez