REVIEW: ‘The Flash,’ Issue #793

The Flash #793 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeremy Adams, pencils by Roger Cruz, inks by Wellington Diaz, colors by Luis Guerrero, and letters by Rob Leigh. This is part four of the One-Minute War. After finding superheroes held captive inside the ship of the Fraction, The Flash Family plan another assault on their ship.

This is another issue that is split into two parts, similar in structure to the previous one. The first has a large amount of exposition and set-up. One of the captives that the Fraction held is able to communicate, giving history to the enemy and heightening their fearsome power. It might be slightly too much story, but after that comes enough emotion to reignite the tension in the book. With all of the chaos that has occurred, Adams still provides time for some heart-to-hearts, processing all of the tragedies and acknowledging those frozen. Every time this group goes into battle, the potential danger is ramped up. But there is still an extraordinary amount of fun to be had, the balance between the tones being wonderfully poised. Elements from previous stories return, used as part of an elaborate mission.

Then comes the execution of the plan, with an incredible dramatic set of pages. It is exciting and fraught with difficulty. The last issue showing Impulse and Kid Flash escape unharmed may have created a false sense of security, but the possibility of harm is still very high, with the final part of the comic leaving on an extremely surprising cliffhanger.

The dialogue in this book is incredibly well-crafted when past the slightly clunky exposition. The conversations are packed with the personality of the characters. One of the best is the budding friendship between Jesse Quick and Irey. Irey rapidly latches on to Jesse for support with the huge vents and current predicament with her brother. Then there are the two and the front of the pack: Wally and Barry. It is fantastic seeing them alongside one another again. Whilst Barry has been leading the team, it falls on Wally to be the heart after Barry’s had his break. The anger is starting to flow from Barry now, causing him to lash out. The Flash Family is a team with a true soul, and they’re in the middle of it being tested.

The art continues to be terrific in The Flash #793. For the first half of the issue, there is a lack of movement, just conversation. Yet Cruz and Diaz brilliantly keep the angles changing within the panel and maintain interest. The facial expressions are fantastic, both comical and tragic when the artists intend it. There is something quite hilarious about seeing the frozen heroes in action poses whilst just standing completely still. The second half of the comic packs a huge amount of action and speed in, making up for the slower first part. Once it takes off at a sprint the issue doesn’t slow down, and that is presented superbly through the artwork. The application of speed and momentum is explosive, propelling everything forward with an extreme magnitude.  Through changing the shapes and angles of the panel layouts, the intensity of the situation is multiplied and pressurised. 

The colors are also wonderful. Like the rest of the issue, they are relatively calm at first. Embracing the shadows and the darkness that reflects the gloominess of the situation, what is always vibrant and bright is the costumes of the characters. But once the action erupts there is a huge amount of energy generated from the colors. This is also amplified by the large and exciting SFX, created by Leigh.

The Flash #793 keeps the comic moving at full speed. It’s a brief interlude that is filled with some amazing dialogue and is just a temporary respite from more drama. Because when the action resumes it is even more incredible. Adams is constantly taking risks and not shying away from putting any of the characters in danger. The emotional weight of the situation is upheld and fuels the suspense of the rest of the issue. This is one of the most powerful Flash stories in years.

The Flash #793 is available where comics are sold.