The Flash, Volume 1: Move Forward (Review)

When DC rebooted their comic book universe with The New 52 in 2011, the Flash was one of their many mainline characters to receive a facelift. Despite the overall initiative's mixed reception, The Flash is one title to consistently appear on many "best of" lists from that era of the publisher's history. With industry veterans Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato on both writing and art duties, it's easy to see why.

The Flash: Move Forward

Manapul's comic art is some of the most distinct in the business, and his pairing with colorist Buccellato is an uncanny match. The complementary artistic styles combined with their tag-team effort on the story immediately puts The Flash in a category all on its own. Rarely is such a synthesis of narrative, art, and general style so fully realized in a mainstream comic book. But here it is, and the world is better for it. The New 52 was geared primarily toward accessibility, creating space for new readers to jump aboard classic titles that had been running for decades. And Move Forward is the perfect place to start following the adventures of the Scarlet Speedster.

Forensic investigator Barry Allen is the fastest man alive. After he's struck by lightning and doused in chemicals, he gains access to a mysterious energy field known as the Speed Force, which grants him the ability to move very quickly. Donning a bright red suit, this modern day Hermes (or Mercury) races through Central City as the Flash, protecting the city's residents and fighting all manner of crime. This is a pretty straightforward concept for a superhero that clicks neatly into archetypal place. And there are two ways of approaching a character like the Flash, whose superability basically boils down to "he can run real fast." One approach reduces the character to a supporting role, which is usually what happens in most of the character's adaptations outside of the source material, essentially turning Barry into something like a wise-cracking sidekick to the more popular Justice League members. But there is another approach, one that seeks to embrace the inherent silliness of the genre, while trying to work with the character in interesting ways. Thankfully, Manapul and Buccellato take the latter approach.

As accessible as this volume is to first time readers, the plot is deceptively complex. But it doesn't hit you until the back half of the story. The world of the Flash is much more akin to pulp science fiction than that of many other mainstream heroes, which makes a certain amount of sense given Barry's abilities. When you have a character who can lap the world a couple of times before breakfast, the storytelling has to be creative enough to actually develop real conflict and lend the characters some relatability. The unfortunate result is that, like Superman stories, Flash tales can easily fall into the category of paint-by-the-number, with goofy villains posing minimal real threat, contrived conflicts, and underwritten characters. But Manapul and Buccellato manage to strike a good balance here between the bonkers sci-fi elements and good character development. There's a sense in which they throw everything and the kitchen sink into the story, which begins with a rogue CIA asset named Manuel—who just so happens to be an old friend of Barry's—who has the ability to clone himself, before pivoting into time travel, then venturing into the Speed Force itself.

If all of this sounds very confusing, that's because it is. This is a book written with uncommon intelligence and attention to detail, stringing together multiple classic sci-fi genre tropes with the kind of reckless abandon and lightness of touch that you sort of forget how hard it is to tell these types of stories well. Manapul and Buccellato make this look easy, and Move Forward really should be a kind of gold standard across the medium for how to reinvent a classic character with smart storytelling, solid dialogue, great themes, and sheer fun. This is the kind of story that doesn't appear to demand much from readers at first glance, but for those who like thinking through stories and spending time with characters, there is a trove of good content here. This book definitely rewards multiple readings.

I most appreciate how the creators write Barry. He's always been a bit of an everyman, but it's very easy to turn him into a mouthy brat. There's not a trace of that kind of laziness here. He's funny without being reduced to slapstick, enthusiastic without being blindly optimistic. Like anybody, he has his insecurities, but he doesn't let those things define him. He's still figuring out the extent of his powers at this point, and both their unpredictability and his limitless potential lend the volume a healthy dose of excitement, as we want to find out just how far Barry can push himself. The pounding plot is tempered by the occasional moment of quiet reflection, and these quieter moments interspersed with flashbacks are some of the best rendered panels in the entire volume. Barry Allen is a genuinely likable hero, the charming kind with a touch of whimsy, cut from an older cloth of storytelling and who are increasingly hard to find these days.

Move Forward is a great introduction to the Flash, an iconic and much beloved character in the DC universe. A zany sci-fi romp from first panel to last, the superb artwork by both creators is just the icing on the cake of this brilliant reinvention. In the capable hands of Manapul and Buccellato, The Flash promises to take readers on a wild ride.

You just have to keep up.