THE FLASH #28 (DC COMICS)
The threat of Darkseid has shaken up the DCU to its’ core.
With a possible way to stop him hinged on trial by tourney combat, heroes and villains alike fight with everything they have. The prize is enough power to take down the former Lord Of Apokolips. Lines are crossed. There is no turning back. It’s either a complete K.O. or nothing at all.
This round has two heroes ready to risk it all. One is a Speedster Legend with class and dignity. The other is Guy Gardner. Need I say more?
In the midst of this chaos is Wally West. His current situation is finding a way to fix Impulse’s rash choices. The Young Speedster is depowered and its’ now a race against time to repair everything before Darkseid claims all victory.
THE FLASH #28 by Mark Waid, Christopher Cantwell, Vasco Georgiev, Matt Herms & Buddy Beaudoin continues its’ tie-in story with “DC K.O.” with its’ match-up of clashing personalities.
THE FLASH #27 by Mark Waid, Christopher Cantwell, Vasco Georgiev, Matt Herms & Buddy Beaudoin (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Waid and Cantwell break this issue up into two separate tales. The beginning piece deals with Wally’s desperate attempt to help Bart Allen. His monologue gives readers a quick recap into the previous issues without bogging it down. His frantic pace shows the worry mounting on what is going on. The story is brief for this issue but furthers the overall feel of Darkseid’s moves. It provides a perfect transition point to the true main event of this chapter.
Garrick vs. Gardner is everything fans would want and expect. The wily experienced Garrick plays off Gardner’s brash persona for some fun exchanges. I wasn’t expecting to see a game of checkers involved but it definitely showcased the fun Garrick was having. The latter rounds carry a much more serious tone to them. Seeing Gardner switch to a Red Lantern amplifies his rage to a new height. Garrick’s counter is brilliant. No spoilers on this but what a smart use of mythos by the writers. The final round dives more into Gardner's lore. Readers watch as this side of the angry Lantern shines bright. It leads to a fitting conclusion of their combat. Overall, a fun read admis the more sinister tone of K.O.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Georgiev & Herms open with a great full page image of Wally running with a wounded Bart. The art team also throws in another full page image to transition into the big fight. Once here, the mood gets right down to business. Garrick’s instincts kick in to throw Gardner off his game. Their checkers match is filled with enjoyable panels. Garrick’s frustration with Guy’s lack of knowledge here is a laugh out loud moment. It is huge contrast to Gardner’s cutting dialogue, which leads to round one’s end.
As the middle round begins, the near full shot of Red Lantern Guy kicks events off. This round is very short due to Garrick’s impressive move. Round three opens with a full shot of Garnder in a very familiar persona. Garrick matches him with a full shot all his own. Readers watch as the battle starts ramping up with more action. This leads into a very solid finish. The close-ups of both heroes cements the choice to end the contest. It shows a mutual respect through combat seen in most boxing and MMA bouts. This energy moves the round into the loud closing with many questions lingering for West and company.
FINAL GRADE: 8.5
A disrespectful jerk and a legendary hero square off with stakes that have never been higher. Waid and Cantwell piece together an exciting issue geared towards long time DC fans. Georgiev & Herms deliver on fantastic visuals that swing big for the ongoing fight. This is a great addition to the DC K.O. lineup and doesn’t miss its’ mark.
Let me know your thoughts on The Flash #28 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
