REVIEW: ‘The Flash,’ Issue #4

The Flash #4 is published by DC Comics, written by Si Spurrier, art by Mike Deodato Jr, colors by Trish Mulvihill, and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. As Flash tries to return to the place where he lost Max Mercury, Irey and Jesse Quick follow up on a lead.

This story splits the plot to embrace both the cosmic, mind-boggling aspect of the series, as well as the superhero antics. But as it’s Spurrier, both have been taken to another level. Wally is pretty static, talking to a mysterious celestial being who seeks to rewrite how he sees the universe. It’s also a meditative exercise, a lesson in priorities and what he has been getting wrong. On the other side of the book is a youthful adventure that is equally creepy, as Irey and Jesse are sent to follow up on a lead that only seeks to put them further and further into trouble. The scenes intersect with each other, with Flash’s absence from Irey’s mission becoming more of a problem as time goes on.

From the first page, the issue is creepy and unnerving. But the levels of scariness vary. There’s a sinister, underlying threat and then an acute threat that could kill instantly. As another member of the Rogue’s Gallery enters the picture, there is suddenly an explosion of panic and danger. The book has a blend of old, new, and seemingly eternal. It should be noted that this comic takes place after the events of Titans: Beast War, which is currently ongoing. Whilst that means the book is running ahead of everything else, there are no spoilers or any other connection to Beast War beyond it being mentioned on the first page.

The characters are fantastic. Irey is really the focus of The Flash #4, as Spurrier demonstrates just how grown up she has become in a short space of time. She’s doing investigations on her own, only running into an older speedster by chance. And having young and inexperienced heroes at the centre of the book increases both the energy and the peril. That haunting narration that has travelled over the top of the series when talking about characters other than the Flash starts to talk again, commenting on absent fathers and maintaining the instability of the West household as it stands. Irey is still extremely young, and that should always be remembered as she runs into danger.  She has skills and understanding of her abilities that several other Speedseters twice her age don’t possess, but she’s never faced a real supervillain yet.

The art is gloriously insidious. The strange garden filled with statues where Flash spends all issue is strangely silent and serene. Who he meets has an extremely creative and detailed design. Both speed and stillness are important themes in this run, and Deodato implements both superbly. Those statues seem to move, representing people in Wally’s family. Sudden change is also integral as Irey walks into a rather unsuspecting location. It isn’t long before it becomes nefarious.

The colors are brilliant. The backgrounds have a dotted texture, from the walls of the garden where Wally is to the buildings that Irey zooms past. It isn’t just the clarity of the figures in front that stands out, but the colors as well. The Flash’s red is the most vibrant part of the page. And not just the characters either, but the streaks of color that follow them, that look painted on the area in their wake. The difference in color between Irey and who she’s chasing is striking and creates a path for the young West to follow. The lettering continues to be phenomenal, as it is unlike any other comic out there. There is a moment where Flash is actually able to interact and touch the word balloons, showing just how influential they are to the storytelling.

The Flash #4 is incredible. This whole series is absolutely unique, taking not just the Flash to another level but the whole superhero genre in general. It’s a story that starts to fry the brain once you question how it is altering the DC Universe, down to the very fabric of the cosmos. But there is something much easier to understand but just as deep and important. A story about a man not spending enough time with his family because he can’t stop running. Using Irey grounds the comic, providing both a tether to bring Wally back home and, as an adventurer herself, running off into danger.

The Flash #4 is available where comics are sold.