The Fury of Firestorm brings us an emotionally charged issue as the hour grows short, with the Firestorm Matrix in full control of Ronnie’s body, as Lorraine and Stein resort to desperate measures in an attempt to bring him back from the void. Can Ronnie be saved, or has his mind been lost for too long, leaving nothing but his body behind?
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Matt!
Creative Team: Jeff Lemire, Marcelo Maiolo, Rafael De Latorre, Lucas Gattoni, and Andrew Marino.
Writing
Megan: This was a very emotionally driven issue that Jeff Lemire handled beautifully. Throughout the issue, the question of whether Ronnie was still inside Firestorm was a looming presence, but now we have our answer. With some excellent work by Lorraine, we’re presented with the fight of Firestorm’s life, covered in emotional turmoil. This has to be my favorite issue so far. The energy was high throughout most of the issue with a beautiful build up leading to the action. If you haven’t checked out this series yet, there’s no time like the present!
Matt: This issue feels so simple and yet so emotional all at the same time. Lorraine feels as though she is almost all by herself, trying to pull Ronnie out from being trapped within the Firestorm Matrix. There are moments where you know she still feels and cares so deeply for him, such as when she corrects Stein, telling him how they were in love. The Matrix itself feels terrifying and robotic with only a single goal in mind. As we dive into Ronnie’s mind, I love the memory of him being nervous and the level of inexperience as he joins Green Arrow and Hawkman in battle. Lemire does a great job bringing out some of the Silver Age tone and banter from the Justice League in these moments, blending new-age comics with the old-school historical feeling.
Art
Megan: The artwork throughout this series has been all aces, but I have to say, there’s something special about this issue’s art. Maybe it’s the flashbacks into the mind of Ronnie, maybe it’s the artwork that is made with the emotions of the characters in mind, but the artists really cooked here and it shows. It’s difficult to give details as I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, but there’s a dramatic change in the artstyle that is just absolutely flawless. Anyone that checks out this issue will love it from beginning to end.
Matt: The art remains a massive highlight and strong point with this entire run. Starting with the cover, which blends the ferocity of the sleeker and “shinier” art with the more simplistic old-school artwork. Within the book, the way they move from the duller colors and then create reflections off of the helmet of Firestorm in the present or the reflection in Stein’s glasses makes this run so unique. There’s a splash page that shows fragments of Ronnie being broken against a plain white backdrop that hits powerfully, and it’s an excellent use of imagery.
Final Thoughts
Megan: 9.7/10. This series gets better and better with every issue! The artwork is beautiful, the story is gripping, and the excitement for the next issue is huge!
Matt: 9.5/10. This issue sets us up for a big finale! I cannot get enough of how gorgeous the art style is within these pages, and the emotion is charged with Lorraine making a last desperate attempt to save Ronnie. If nothing else, the cover alone should sell you on this issue and tell you why you need to be picking this book up!
Overall Grade: 9.6/10
How are you liking this series? Let me know in the comments
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