“Flash Forward” became a bit of an oddity given the manner DC has chosen to advertise it, and what follows it. That said, when taken on a stand-alone basis, this final issue is still entertaining and aptly done on its own merits.
Written by Scott LobdellCover by Evan Shaner
Pencilled by Brett Booth
Inked by Norman Rapmund
Colored by Luis Guerrero
Lettered by Troy PeteriThe finale of Flash Forward is here, and Wally West must make the toughest choice of his life: save the day, or save his family. With the crack in the Dark Multiversal barrier reaching critical mass, Wally’s mettle will be tested in ways the young hero has never seen before…and this surprise ending will leave you speechless!
First of all, placing everything that follows under a spoiler tag. Even though DC has chosen to spoil the issue themselves, given the reveals present on its main FCBD feature, this review will also comment on some new twists for Wally West, his future, and his family.
Standing at the crossroad of events that came before it – ‘Heroes in Crisis’ – and those that come after it – ‘Generation Zero’- “Flash Forward” had the difficult challenge to find its own value, and be a narratively consistent adventure. And, despite some faults on execution, both on script and art, this final issues pulls off far more than originally expected.
Starting with the art, the illustration due of Booth (pencils) and Rapmund (inks) caters to a specific crowd, so reader’s mileage may vary depending on how fond one is versus the pinnacle of ‘bombastic’ art of the nineties, namely the origin of Image comics and of the art style commonly associated with it.
Booth goes, consistently and relentlessly, to the larger than life panels, spreads, diagonal panels, and every other form of element that draws readers in. It is exhilarating in a way, such passion and energy on each page and panel, but it does make the overall pacing suffer a bit, especially on the quieter moments.
On the plus side, action scenes often impress. Flash’s energy crackle permeate the page, the cosmos being affected by the dark energy looks alive, and the general sense of speed, so needed for a Flash book, is certainly there. On the down side, the more personal, character-driven moments feel over-acted, with facial expression in a constant state of surprise and awe, and poses feeling a bit stiff, as if earning for the exciting movement that fits the more action-packed moments of the script.
Guerrero’s colors, as one should expect, is as vibrant as the illustrations. Especially well-done are the scenes in outer space, or those aiming at multi-dimensional, incredible settings. Energy signature look distinct, depth is often mesmerising, and making the characters stand out on these unique moments is very aptly done.
Lobdell’s script is also enjoyable, if a bit generic. The mentor role of Tempus Fuginaut is incredibly commonplace, from its un-respected vow of non-interference, his vast knowledge, and his lack of direct involvement in the conflict. Even Wally’s mission and dilemma, that of how a hero can redeem himself, and make an absurd choice between family and duty, is certainly something readers have witnessed before.
And yet… it works. Wally West surely has a devoted fan-base, and one that has been suffering with the ups and downs of the heroes since the beginning of the Rebirth era, to his adventures on Titans and the disconnect with estranged wife Linda, to his downfall during ‘Heroes in Crisis.’ And through the pages of “Flash Forward” he does find redemption. He does manage to revert some of the worst things that happened to him. And he ends up on a much more advantageous position in terms of power and influence over the DC universe.
Now, second spoiler warning, for the major reveals of the issue. As spoiled for the previews of DC’s FCBD, Wally is now the wielder of the Mobius chair. Not only that, the chair itself has been imbued with the power of Doctor Manhattan, so the amount of knowledge and power Wally possesses, and the power he can exert with it is tremendous. It will be interesting to see where this goes next, and if the narrative will evolve to a more villainous role, or remain on the path of redemption. What was not spoiled by previews is the restoration of Wally’s family, with a very touching moment towards the end of “Flash Forward,” that might be worth the price of admission on its own.
All in all, “Flash Forward” #6 is not a daring book, from script structure to art style. Readers can likely see what’s coming, spoilers or not. And yet, it clicks, it is beautiful to look at, and it flows very nicely. Fans of Wally West will likely enjoy it and eagerly await what comes next.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – While not particularly ground breaking, “Flash Forward” #6 does Wally West justice, paving the way for what comes next.
