DC Comics has found a fun and familiar direction for Wally West in their main “The Flash” series. West has returned to the DC Universe as the premiere Flash. Artist Fernando Pasarin is joining Adams for the current exploration of the character. The last issue carried a tense cliffhanger featuring a familiar DC hero that carries Wally West directly into the next issue. Since the conclusion of the first story arc titled ‘Blink of An Eye,’ I have been waiting for Adams to find a clear direction for the series. Will “The Flash” #776 be able to find a new direction for the series while keeping the same level of quality we expect from West’s monthly adventures? Let’s take a closer look over at “The Flash” #776!
Written by Jeremy Adams
Penciled by Fernando Pasarin
Inked by Matt Ryan
Colored by Jeremy Cox
Lettered by Rob LeighDoctor Fate arrives to whisk the Flash away to the IN-BETWEEN, a two-dimensional causeway filled with demonic forces. Now it’s up to YOU, the reader, to help the Scarlet Speedster make his way through the dangerous dimension toward his final destination and the beginning of a brand-new adventure!
“The Flash” #776 has an opening that will immediately connect with readers. Adams imbues the issue with an absurd amount of ambition from the first couple of pages. Artist Fernando Pasarin draws so many demons in the In-Between where the issue happens to take place. Adams and Pasarin make it clear from the first couple of interior pages that there’s something special about “The Flash” #776. “The Flash” #776 is begging for readers to jump in and explore the plot twist that I wouldn’t dare ruin for you here! Adams does a great job explaining some of the rules of the issue through the magical Dr. Fate. The stakes of the issue are really high as readers can feel West and Dr. Fate getting nervous in the dimension filled to the brim with demons.
Pasarin’s pencils are the premier showcase of the issue. Pasarin connects deeply with Adams’ script to deliver great material that expands the boundaries of comic books. The second interior page of the issue is one of the most exciting comic book pages I have seen all year. Adams and Pasarin pace this moment incredibly well and it offers lots of payoff from a visual and scripting standpoint. The issue is full of great expressions, panel bleeds, and advanced comic book techniques.
Pasarin lends so many details to the pages filled to the brim with demons. The next page that really spoke to me was one that flipped the orientation on the page. There are panels going in different directions on the same story page. This moment should have been clunky but stands triumphant thanks to the script and context of the issue itself. On the pages with less creative tricks, the simple position of the panel and symmetry of the page drew me in. Pasarin draws incredibly symmetrical demons standing together in a hallway that is equal parts beautiful and scary. On top of the beautiful symmetry, there’s a climactic monster fight towards the final pages here that make the issue feel nothing less than iconic. Pasarin and Adams introduce the next cliffhanger moment immediately following the big battle but the end feels like a payoff here!
Adams has officially gotten so ambitious with his work on “The Flash” that the quality is now matching up with the peak ‘Blink of an Eye’ storyline that kicked off the run. Adams kept the tension of this title enforced by ending the last issue with a cliffhanger. “The Flash” #776 contains yet another cliffhanger. Adams is illustrating that the audience is going to be one step behind the careful plotting of the new storyline. Seeing “The Flash” title get this ambitious again after spending a few chapters back at home is enthralling.
Pasarin’s last page also shows his immense skills as an artist. These cliffhangers wouldn’t intrigue me so much if they weren’t drawn with such precision. Pasarin’s figures are emoting through the way they are posed on the panel. There are six characters here in addition to Dr. Fate and West. Each additional character is exposing their curiosity through folded arms, stoic looks, or just disappointed glances. The work matches up tonally with what Adams was going for in the ‘Blink of an Eye” storyline as well. The bottom line here is that Adams and Pasarin have a strong creative relationship here and I can’t wait to read more of this series.
“The Flash” #776 is a bold title that demands the attention of any Flash fan. Adams has found a strong story direction for the series again. This experimental issue follows suit with some of the best Flash stories from creators like Mark Waid, Greg Larocque, and Brian Augustyn. The overall tone of the issue feels just right. Adams used the last couple of issues masterfully from a pacing standpoint to get readers ready for this big story. As soon as readers get to the last page of ‘Belief’ they will be clamoring for the next full of “The Flash.” “The Flash” #776 is a standout single issue that promises more fun next month. Pasarin’s mind-bending art cannot be missed by huge comic book fans here.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – “The Flash” #776 dissects the entire medium of comics with a powerful collaboration.
