REVIEW: ‘The Flash,’ Issue #796

The Flash #796 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeremy Adams, pencils by Roger Cruz, George Kambadais, and Fernando Pasarin, inks by Wellington Dias, Kambadais, and Oclair Albert, colors by Luis Guerrero, Matt Herms, and Pete Pantazis, and letters by Rob Leigh. This is the final part of the One-Minute War. As the rest of the Flash Family are in their final battle against the Fraction, Wally has woken up outside time in a place called Flash Planet.

This is the end of an epic, but the plot isn’t quite ready to give up just yet. There is still a fast pace to the book apart from the opening scene. In this, a lot of exposition is explained quickly, bringing in a new concept within the Speed Force. This part of the story is filled with time travel, with characters from the future and a past that hasn’t happened yet. It’s a lot to take in, and there isn’t time within this final part of the storyline to delve into it.

Perhaps it is an early introduction to what is to come. But it also provides Wally with a springboard back into the action, where the Fraction are in the middle of the fight with the rest of the Flash Family. This battle is incredible, with so many strands and pieces to complete. The energy has remained high throughout this story arc, with huge amounts of emotional depth. The ending feels like a classic Flash conclusion and is not unexpected, but is heartwarming and satisfying.

Adams has written all of the characters superbly, particularly the lead Flashes. Wally is consumed a bit by exposition at the start of The Flash #796, but for the rest of the conclusion, he is exceptional. But it has also been terrific seeing Barry at the forefront of the comic as well. That anger within him, sparked by his loss of Iris and Wally, whilst the others are also in danger, has given the comic some strength. And by the end, both Flash’s have an awesome moment.

The Fraction has struggled to be dynamic or memorable, but the leader of their army has an issue demonstrating some personality, and Adams’ script does a much better job at doing so. But it has been the escalation of other figures that have been fantastic in this arc. Linda and Irey have been terrific when put under pressure, and Jay Garrick has exhibited why he still deserves to be called a Flash, showing determination and the resilience that all Silver Age characters seem to have.

The art is also amazing, split between teams again. Pasarin is a great choice to illustrate the new Flash Planet, filling it with grandiosity and rife with details. There is a flurry of different characters, many of whom we have seen before, and they all look brilliant. And that is under the pen of any of the artists. Kambadais opens the battle, and his style is superb at highlighting speed and energy. The panel layouts do well to ramp the pace up and allows the eyes to follow the action effortlessly.

The artists substitute in and out seamlessly. Their styles couldn’t be more different from one another, and that keeps the book looking different. Within the Spire, the headquarters of the Fraction, there is a heavy red background, but the other colors stick out beautifully. But the tones can change drastically, again keeping us alert, with purples and yellows also being included to denote energy. There are more natural colors at the end of the issue, hinting at a return to normalcy. The lettering is superb and always easy to read.

The Flash #796 ends the One-Minute War with a fantastic finale. The new concept is clunky and odd within the context of everything else included in the book, but the last battle itself and the action of the issue as a whole are magnificent. All of the Flash Family feel justified in being used, and no one seems left out. And by the end of the story, the classic energy and hopeful feeling of classic Flash books have returned.

The Flash #796 is available where comics are sold.