The Flash #22 Review

Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, the creative team behind The Flash, are starting to get on my nerves. We're 22 issues in, and I'm starting to run out of ways to describe how beautifully crafted this book is. Visually, The Flash #22 is as stunning as we've come to expect from this duo, and the story is picking up speed as Barry Allen careens into a confrontation with the man who's been hunting down the people who'd been trapped in the Speed Force. Barry and Iris West now both have targets painted on their backs, and their proximity might prove to be problematic for his relationship with Patty Spivot.

This issue focuses less on the Flash as a character and more on the people who surround him. It's a solo title, but that hasn't stopped Manapul and Buccellato from making it feel like a strong ensemble story. No man is an island, and the same is true for the Flash. Here, we see Barry struggling to chase a killer who's so far remained one step ahead of him at every turn. We've been strung along on this less than merry chase for a few issues, but the plot hasn't felt stretched. It's unraveled slowly, the way a proper murder mystery should. The emphasis on police work and on Barry's interpersonal relationships adds substance that fleshes out the world of The Flash, while giving the core conflict a sense of urgency.

As we've said (again and again), the art on this book is second to none. From the innovative layouts to the combination of soft tones and strong splashes of color, everything about The Flash's visuals is executed with a level of sophistication that few superhero comics could hope to rival. When the plot waned in intensity in previous story arcs, the art was enough to carry you through, but here, Manapul and Buccellato have no need to rest on their visual laurels. The Flash #22 sees the text and the art coming together to create a harmonious whole.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

Source : ign[dot]com