The Flash #2: Weird Just Got Weirder

The Flash #2 picks up with Wally still having issues with his powers acting off while Gorilla Grodd and his soldiers bring forth a horrific being, The Uncoiled. If you thought the first issue was confusing, get ready here. While this book sets up several new concepts that are only barely introduced, most sound like fun additions to The Flash mythos, with these creators diving into uncharted territory for The Scarlet Speedster. Part of getting into this series has to be an unwritten bond between the reader and creators, understanding that this series is about to take you on a ride, and you must be in it for the long haul. With these conceits in mind, The Flash #2 is one of the wackiest science fiction pieces of media this week, delivering some of the zaniest, off-the-wall material.

When it was announced that Si Spurrier would be taking on the writing duties for The Flash, many feared that this meant the end of the fun, easygoing character and that he would transition more into a mature science fiction series. If The Flash #2 is any indicator, this run will be the best of both worlds. With the introduction of the new characters, The Stillness, Spurrier immediately sets a tone for what can only be described as his Suicide Squad: Blaze series meeting Rick and Morty. These unbelievable, practically indescribable concepts are masterfully paired with the wacky freehandedness of light, playful tone. This makes the mystery palatable and a joy to read, as Wally is just as confused as everyone else. Spurrier makes Wally a fun ride-along hero, keeping his everyman qualities alive as he slowly realizes that this problem he’s facing makes little to no sense. 

The Flash #2 also proves that Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou is the best letterer on the market right now. Typically, comics fans can expect variations in the shapes of speech bubbles or colored text/highlights to convey thoughts or dialogue. Here, Otsmane-Elhaou does all that and more, sometimes even altering the size and shapes of fonts within single phrases or sentences. This attention to detail and expert lettering exemplify his attention to the party while displaying techniques practically unheard of in mainstream comics. This makes this complicated book read as wacky as it should while creating voices for these characters in ways you would never expect.

Mike Deodato Jr.’s pencils continue to be stunning here, with the panel layout continuing to be as groundbreaking as it was when it first appeared in The Flash #800. Deadato does a fantastic job using contrast to show the differences between the fantastical adventures The Flash goes on and mundane home life. The unique panel layout also makes the book read at a fun pace, showing how Wally views the world while running at his top speed. Deodato also gets to explore other dimensions of reality as Wally’s powers evolve, contrasting even further with his mundane life and showing how diverse this book’s art can be.

Rounding off the creative team is colorist Trish Mulvihill, who does something unique with the colors that give this book an unexpected flair. While Mulvihill does an excellent job matching the almost noir-ish pencils from Deodato, she also uses her colors to bring out things that need to be fleshed out more. In most cases, the other-worldliness of these high concepts takes center stage; however, Mulvihill can use color to show how different Wally appears when placed next to these things. This creates a sense of surrealism, further contrasting Wally’s life on earth with the lives of these indescribable extra-dimensional beings.