The ongoing one-shot friendly Absolute Power Task Force VII continues this week with a fifth issue devoted to Flash. The Amazos have been taking out heroes during Absolute Power, and now Flash is literally running for his life.
Crafted by Alex Paknadel with art by Pete Woods, this is a fun issue, leaning into the Flash’s past and drawing out what gives him an edge on a robot. At the start of the story, we learn that Amazo has taken the speed powers from multiple heroes, leaving Barry on the edge of defeat. His only respite is being able to phase, while the Amazo hasn’t figured that part out yet.
Cleverly, Paknadel tugs at this Flash ability, drawing on past moments when he was learning how to phase. That includes a nice scene with Wally and another with Iris. We see these scenes in real time – the Amazo is experiencing them – the Amazo comments trying to figure out the secret. It’s a neat way to draw attention to their lack of humanity, but also how this ability works at all.
Pete Woods is killing it on this issue.
Credit: DC Comics
A slight gripe is how the events of this issue don’t play out into any real results. If you’re looking for game-changing events or plot progression, you’ll have to be satisfied with the check-in with Waller in the final few pages.
Similar to the last issue, the check-in on Waller’s activities feels important to the larger event. DC smartly adds moments like the one in this cliffhanger to make this a must-read tie-in. I won’t spoil it, but it feels like a monumental moment that’ll play a big part in the next chapter.
The art and pencil by Woods are excellent, with a clean style and great use of the Flash effects that maximize the abilities of this character on the page. Cool first-person shots of the Amazo add to the enemy’s inhuman nature with some cool details in his mask and suit. There are seemingly a lot of digital effects at work here, but it all looks slick as heck.
Absolute Power Task Force VII #5 is another good issue in a tie-in series of one-shots that lifts up the event’s hook well. Not only does this issue tie into Barry’s persona well, but it maximizes the idea of a robot with Flash powers.
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