So far, Simon Spurrier and Mike Deodato Jr.’s tenure on The Flash can be summed up by the first text bubble in this issue. The Speed Force has been acting weird, and nobody knows why. Not only that, but Wally’s utilization of the Speed Force has not been working as he expected. So, things are less than great for The Fastest Man Alive. With science out the door (phew, that stuff’s hard), Wally turns to the most spiritual speedster around Max Mercury. Throughout this issue, the pair work to understand why Wally’s powers are off-kilter and may learn a bit about the Speed Force in the process.
The issue opens with Wally and Mister Terrific assessing the bizarre nature of the Speed Force. Wally’s lack of honesty is clearly starting to become a problem, and one that certainly will come to a halt soon enough. But until then, Wally’s trying to keep his work and personal life separate (which seems hard for superheroes). Spurrier does a great job showing how brilliant Mister Terrific is; his dialogue feels inspiring enough to think it is real and fun science fiction.
The main focus of this issue sees Wally and Max explore the wonders of the Speed Force and time itself. This is where Mike Deodato Jr. and Trish Mulvihill shine. The paneling in this issue was initially a bit distracting, but the more fantastical the story became, the more enjoyable the art design was. Deodato helps bring the story to life through his unique and very animated art style. This series has been unlike any of his previous work I’ve read, and I’m frankly a huge fan of what he brings to the table here. The art is both realistic and evokes a fun campiness only found in comics. Mulvihill’s colors are essential to the story as well. Every weird Speed Force phenomenon is combined with a kaleidoscope of colors. Something I’ve noticed is there is a subtle difference in coloring between the foreground and background, with the focal point of the page given a more stark coloring. These little stylistic choices help make for an enjoyable story with spectacular art.
So far, the Flash relaunch has taken a very different direction than expected. Normally, it’s Barry Allen who faces the scientific side of comics. Seeing Wally work to understand the strange things going on is an enjoyable switch from his normal stories. Although it’s a tough sell, as this does shift the roles of his supporting cast, Spurrier has made the first arc continuously engaging. This issue is no different. With an eerie ending, The Flash #3 is the strongest entry so far in the series.
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