REVIEW: ‘The Flash’ Issue 31

The Flash Issue 31 is published by DC Comics and written by Ryan North, art by Gavin Guidry, colors by Adriano Lucas, and letters by Buddy Beaudoin.

The Flash discovers a host of people who are desperate to be saved.

A new creative team steps into the driver’s seat of the Fastest Man Alive and instantly fills the pages with energy and speed. It starts at home, with the West Family. It’s a great introduction to the family’s goofiness and special dynamics, now that virtually the entire family is connected to the Speed Force. It’s a charming sequence that quickly delivers the exposition you need as a new reader. And then the Flash is running, moving between the scenes at great speed.

A swirling tornado usually heralds the emergence of a particular Flash villain, but Ryan North disrupts that with a surprise. It’s an early example within The Flash Issue 31 that not everything is as it seems. The tornado is the first tussle with a metahuman, because the rest of the comic is something different. There are a lot of people to save, but no one to fight, and a feeling of deja vu. This introduction is fascinating because it tests Wally’s resolve and relationship with the people of Central City.

Wally West is a great hero, and The Flash Issue 31 demonstrates why. He’s a family man and a people pleaser, trying to help everyone he can. He runs, finding solutions in the Speed Force. There’s lovely humor within the first two scenes, playful and friendly. When Wally rushes into a tornado, it highlights a relationship with his villains that is pretty unique to The Flash and the Rogues. They’re so amicable with each other, respectful of their history.

It isn’t who Flash expects in the centre of the storm, and it turns into him again, trying to be helpful, like an adult trying to help a child in trouble. The final part of The Flash Issue 31 has a positive tone, but it also has a sinister undertone. The happiness and excitement come from a darker place, making the last pages uneasy.

The art is pivotal in reinventing the comic’s mood. In the opening stages, Wally is dorky and lovable, with a goofy smile. The family is happy and settled, even in the aftermath of mistakes and drama. The energy that Guidry infuses when Flash runs is phenomenal, creating an exhilarating atmosphere. He transforms from a suburban father into a superhero.

Guidry is a wonderfully expressive artist without resorting to excessive detail. The Flash has his eyes obscured by his mask, yet the shadow of his face and the slight bend in the mask brilliantly reveal his determination as he runs. When the real plot appears, there is repetition in the panels, which intentionally builds the pressure on The Flash.

The colors are superb and solid. Most of the shades are natural and comforting. The vibrancy comes from The Flash, who stood in the centre of the panels. Wally is almost always the only red item on the page, usually drawing all of the attention. And following him is the yellow and orange of the Speed Force, carving through the streets. It carries the positivity into the scene with him. The lettering in the word balloons is comfortable and bold, but the small font paired with the red of the caption boxes can make it difficult to read at times.

The Flash Issue 31 reinvigorates the series. The energy is back and immediately gravitating. There’s something of a reset, but not much. North brings the family back to the table, making them comfortable and content with each other, and instills a sense of strength in the series. Wally’s family is the core of his character and the series, and his comfort with them is so integral to who he is. It’s nice to see references and returns from classic villains whilst also introducing something new.

The Flash Issue 31 is available where comics are sold.