In The Flash #35, writer Ryan North and artist Gavin Guidry expand on Wally’s Speed Force abilities to peer into the future. If you can stop bad things from ever happening, can you save everyone? It’s something Flash puts to the test, right down to soccer balls accidentally entering traffic.
Part Five of “The Speed Was Power, and the Speed Was Joy,” the creative team continues to give a heavy dose of positive vibes and feel-good superhero comics in The Flash #35. Wally’s positivity and optimism is infectious, while Guidry’s pleasing clean lines and thicker line work with Adriano Lucas’ bright colors add heaps of charm. While this is part five in the story arc, it still feels self-contained enough for a casual fan to pick up and read.
There are basically two conflicts to manage in this issue, first with Heat Wave, who is attempting to secure a sunken ship filled with gold. Finders keepers, he thinks, but thanks to Flash’s fast reading comprehension skills along with North’s propensity for fun facts, it turns out maritime law isn’t the end-all be-all. Who knew you’d be learning about maritime law in a Flash comic this week? This first confrontation also ends with a neat detail about Flash’s ability to make vigilante justice choices, something we don’t often see brought up.
I get he’s fast enough to read quickly, but how good is his comprehension a day later?
Credit: DC Comics
After a check-in with Mr. Terrific, the issue enters its meatier portion, kicking off with an excellent double-page layout of Flash’s body filling the panels to convey that he’s everywhere in the city. To prove his point, Wally takes his wife on a bit of a show-and-tell to demonstrate that his ability to see seconds into the future can truly work.
As hopeful as this comic is, one can imagine the positivity these characters have over Wally fixing every little thing, although it’s a bit of a surprise that the moral problem of it all isn’t brought up. Likely that’s coming when the cliffhanger reveals what’s next, but you have to wonder if Flash is fixing everything, which means he’s literally changing history for the better and worse.
Frankly, Guidry’s art makes it clear he was born to draw an optimistic character like Wally West. The line work is so stable and strong, grounding the realistic parts and making Flash look fantastical as he runs faster than light. There’s a bit of comedy in the issue, like Flash peering over a desk sneakily, or when he’s bummed out, covered in water. I dare you to read this and not have a big smile on your face, largely due to the art.
The Flash #35 is another winning chapter that reminds readers why Wally West remains one of DC’s most endearing heroes. Ryan North balances inventive superhero concepts with genuine heart, while Gavin Guidry’s artwork radiates personality from start to finish. The central idea of preventing disasters before they happen opens up exciting possibilities, and the creative team wisely leaves enough uncertainty to keep you wondering where it all leads. Even before the larger questions arrive, this issue succeeds by making heroism feel joyful, hopeful, and endlessly fun.
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