The Flash #790 kicked off a Flash event titled “One-Minute War,” sending the Fraction to Earth and leaving many dead. The Flash family still doesn’t know what hit them, but in The Flash #791, writer Jeremy Adams aims to show who they are and maybe even what they want.
After a good start, part two of the One-Minute War event ramps things up and entertains even more. The Fraction has come to Earth, but little is known about them. That is until you read The Flash #791, as we learn a little about why they’re on Earth and what the Flash family is facing. Adams and artist Roger Cruz show us the leader of the villains, who all seem to wear powered-up suits with a big button on the chest. It’s quite clear they’re on Earth to strip-mine the place and maybe do some other awful things.
Before we get more detail on the villains, the story checks in on all the key Flash characters. Attention to detail is the key to why these scenes work, from the expert characterization, no matter the character, or a decent explanation as to why some folks didn’t get hurt. It’s nice to see the different personalities of young and old too, and how they’d react to an invasion. They’re all coping and reacting in different ways, maximizing the enjoyment of an ensemble like this.
A detail that could easily be missed with “One-Minute War” is that everything is slowed down with only 20 seconds passing. The slowed-down time is present, like with things seemingly floating in the air or how non-speedsters are carried like mannequins, but it’s subtle. The concept is rather cool, though, as the characters are moving around like normal with only a slightly fast speed versus their usual speed. That puts the entire group in more danger than ever since they face an enemy that can move nearly at their speed, yet the city and world around them are frozen in time.
That had to hurt.
Credit: DC Comics
It’s worth noting time and attention are spent on the Flash family caring about each other. From Wally reacting to Barry’s loss to how Jay asks Barry if he can help carry the load, you understand these people are tightly knit. The little details and moments of care stand out, which are often neglected in big superhero comics. There’s also a good balance between all the characters, with nobody feeling left out.
A significant death in the last issue is also handled with care – Wally’s reaction is genuine and heroic. He’s deeply wounded by the news but also isn’t going to wait around to get blasted.
Along the way, we also get to see who the villain is that also graces the cover, and her design is a bit like the Batman Who Laughs meets alien tech. Cruz does an excellent job with the design, making her scary but also a bit cool. She’s also got a fun supervillain name. All the Flash characters look cool as heck, with appropriate lightning used throughout. The only thing missing is big splashy moments, and while there are two full-page splashes, the book could use a bit more event-caliber visual moments.
Cruz is backed up by Wellington Dias on inks and Luis Guerrero on colors, who make everything pop, from the destruction of the city to the emblem on Wally’s chest.
The strength of the Flash family is the key element that sets the “One-Minute War” apart from other superhero invasion stories. Adams captures the unique nature of every character while playing up the love and kindness they share for each other. It’s an all-out war on Earth and the Flash family with great ensemble writing, making for addictive reading.
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