REVIEW: ‘The Flash,’ Issue 791

The Flash #791 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeremy Adams, pencils by Roger Cruz, inks by Wellington Diaz, colours by Luis Guerrero, and letters by Rob Leigh. This is part 2 of The One-Minute War. After a strange ship crashes into Central City, the Speedsters reel from the attack as the aliens make their move. And Wally and Barry try to make sense of a painful death.

This story is investing right from the start. Dealing with the immediate aftermath of the attack, the heroes are unstable, separated, and frightened. The unease and the shock are palpable, emanating from the very first page. Adams brilliantly splits the locations again, but the structure is much different. The group deals with separate problems, from being stuck outside the city to greater tragedies. Then slowly, the team finds each other, gathering and encountering the first waves of villains. There is still humour in this comic, but it has become extremely dark and dangerous. When the action erupts it is energetic and the signs of excitement in this large story. Then there is the most important part. Something that happened last issue, but the ramifications are felt more here. It is extremely shocking, something that many would hope was a false alarm, but instead proved to be extremely heartbreaking. It is treated with the respect and time that it deserves. It demonstrates that Adams is not going to pull punches with The One-Minute War.

The characters in this comic are full of personalities. This is a community of characters fuelled and held together by family. They are so closely tied to one another, perhaps more so than any other group within the DC Universe. Which is why something awful happening hurts so much. The book has been so positive for many issues, full of adventure and exploration, that it deflected from how dark it can get. The script is phenomenal—every character has a clear voice and their reactions are natural and impactful given the intense situation. The villains have only started to make a move, but are ominous and excellently written.

The art is incredible. Something I noticed in The Flash #791 is just how emotive the characters are, superbly created by Cruz and Diaz. The despair and haunting nature of the second half of this comic are captured beautifully. The angular style of the inking is distinctive and sharp, intensifying even more when the speedsters are on the move. All of the costumes are perfect, but there is more to it. The musculature and the size differences in the heroes are excellent when they are in a panel together. The action pieces are really fun and fast-moving.

The colors are terrific examples of storytelling. The tones are rather muted for most of the issue—the extreme danger perhaps dampening the brightness. However, the costumes for the heroes remain vibrant and rich throughout the comic, with a few exceptions used for dramatic effect. The lettering is bold and easy to read.

The Flash #791 is a heartbreaking sign of intent. The One-Minute War very much gives depth and weight to a comic that has been light for a while. The peril of that is characters are put in extreme danger. Adams makes it clear that no one is safe in the early stages of a story fraught with emotions. This issue is an important but devastating one, giving a gut punch that will hurt for a while.

The Flash #791 is available where comics are sold.