There was supposed to be a book called “Speed Force” from DC in period between Barry Allen’s return in “Final Crisis” and “Flashpoint” that starred the extended Flash family. The book called “Speed Force” that came out this week, clearly, is not that book, but it intends to occupy a similar place for the DC Universe. This is a place for stories featuring speedsters that aren’t the titular Flash at the moment, with Wallace West (Kid Flash) and Avery Ho (The Flash of China) as this iteration’s stars.
In theory, this is a great idea. There are countless books that have explored the fringes of the Batman and Superman titles, but the Flash has an extended cast that rarely, if ever, gets any time in the spotlight. It is also nice to see a book focused on two characters who have never headlined their own title, are (relatively) new creations, and aren’t white. It features new creators, working in a style that is unlike anything else DC is publishing. This book, on paper, is doing everything right.
But then you open the front cover.
Written by Jarrett WilliamsCover by Di Nucuolo and Adriano Lucas
Illustrated by Daniele Di Nucuolo
Colored by Andrew Dalhouse
Lettered by Simon BowlandWallace West and Avery Ho: the young speedsters have been Teen Titans, Justice Leaguers, and above all, members of the Flash Family. As they become aware of mysterious changes happening to the Speed Force, they race to Keystone City, where they encounter old friends, new threats, and a chance to forge their own paths. Spinning out of the pages of The Flash, the team of Jarrett Williams (Super Pro K.O., Rick & Morty) and Daniele Di Nicuolo (Nightwing, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), bring the next generation of Speedsters into the Dawn of DC!
From the first page, it is clear that this book is trying to find a place to occupy that feels more youthful, if not outright ‘hip’ than your standard DC fare. This presents itself instantly in the art, which takes its primary influence from manga. This is not a bad thing; DC should have more artists do work outside of the more standard ‘house style.’ Daniele Di Nucuolo’s art looks how a Flash book should, full of kinetic energy, making you feel like the world is spinning at a different speed than it would in any other book. In the broad strokes, Di Nucuolo does all the right things here, but there is an ugliness to some of the work that is…well, just ugly. Specifically, some of the facial work is not good. There’s a Conner Kent on the first page that is easily one of the least appealing renderings of the character in its 30 year history, and that’s a generous description.
Just because a book needs to look fast doesn’t mean it should look rushed, and Di Nucuolo’s work, at times, looks unfinished or tossed off. Luckily, this isn’t the primary look, but when those panels pop up, it takes you out of the story.
Therein lies the second problem with the book: the writing is such that a bad panel can rip you out of it. The story by Jarrett Williams feels like an unholy marriage between an in continuity title and something that is intended to stand on its own. This reads like a book written for DC’s WebToon partnership that was retrofitted for main continuity or vice versa. Jarrett Williams doesn’t do himself any favors by giving the characters so much ‘youthful’ slang that just puts a spotlight on the fact that this was written by a nearly 40 year old man (I say as a 41 year old man). Nothing reads stodgier than someone trying to sound hip, and this entire issue has big Steve Buscemi fellow kids gif energy.
But beyond the regrettable syntax, the bigger problem is that the story doesn’t really grab you. The faux-Soundcloud/Spotify music service could be a fun element, but it is unveiled in the clumsiest ways, and makes the reader roll their eyes whenever its mentioned. The intelligence of the reader is insulted when characters have to drop such clear hints towards a plot ‘twist’ so early in a book, not to mention wasting said twist in the first issue of a six issue series.
The biggest shame of a book like this is that its failure will lead fewer books of this ilk to get made in the future, but it doesn’t have to be that way. These characters are interesting and deserve more of a spotlight. The bold artistic choices should be celebrated, even if they don’t always land. Even the frustrating dialogue is attempting something in a field where rewards for the status quo are far more common than rewards for a swing and a miss. “Speed Force” #1 is not a good comic, but it is a comic that is not satisfied with complacency. That’s the best thing it has going for it.
Final Verdict: 4.7 – A disappointing Flash side-title.
