THE FLASH #33: Time’s Running Out!

Time’s running out as the nuke is set to go off any moment now and destroy not only the city but everything that Wally loves! He has checked everywhere in the city, even breaking his own rules and a few laws along the way. However, with the help of his wife, Linda, and his unlikely ally, Captain Cold, they just may be able to crack this case and save the day before it’s too late!

Creative Team: Ryan North, Adriano Lucas, Gavin Guidry, and Buddy Beaudoin.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

North has built up the anticipation for this final issue of this incredible mini-saga and takes us home in truly heart-stopping fashion. I cannot get over how well-written Wally is behind Ryan North, who delivers excellent inner monologuing that makes Wally West perhaps the most relatable superhero. There are hilarious moments with him being forced to break some rules, leading him into people’s bedrooms, and he swears he is no pervert. The banter between Captain Cold and Wally is top tier.

The entire mini arc leading towards the plot of being a Bond movie was hilarious all at the same time. It has injected so much fun into this run that is now 33 issues deep, and bringing new life to it at the same time. I left this issue wanting more team-ups with Cold and West, and Wally’s newest ability has me heavily intrigued.

The Art and Letters:

Guidry and Lucas bring out some exquisite panel work and designs with this issue to match the intensity. I particularly loved how they show an overview of the city and trace Wally running through the streets, and little bubbles show each of his stops. It’s a clever way to show his race against time and super speed while still giving us insight into his search for the bomb. The art is lighthearted until Wally finds the suspect, and the use of darker colors and shadowing shows the tone shifting. It’s subtle; however, it’s effective and reminds the reader that this is not all fun and games.

Beaudoin’s lettering shifts to match the tones, and I love how he manages to make the jokes even land on the panels as well. It can be hard to bring out sarcasm through reading, but the way the lettering is done manages to extract the right amount every time. Even the minor defeated Captain Cold when he didn’t get his gold, as the lettering is a tad smaller and expresses disappointment.

Final Thoughts:

I loved the ending The Flash #33 delivers on this 3-issue arc. There is a beautiful blend of humor and intensity as the stakes are higher than ever. Anytime a billionaire gets taken down is a good day in my book. The little glimpses into Wally’s life, if he ever were a villain, got a chuckle from me. It’s a smartly written and detailed issue that injects a whole new life into this run.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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