FLASH #14

[ MONKEYING WITH MY MONEY ] 

What's scarier than an all-powerful monkey? An aardvark that's all masterful and funky? But I could be quite crude. And say something rude. Like never mess with a prostitute's flunky. Yeah. Flunky. Plus absolutely nothing to do with the super fast creative team of Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato; plus Publisher: DC Comics in December 2012. Allegedly.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Now in this second part of this story entitled, 'Gorilla Warfare', who in the name of 'Charlton Heston' is able to stop an army of monkeys from rampaging all over Central City?

• Granted, Barry (The Flash) Allen does seem like the logical candidate for this role. Although he does have his hand's full at the moment, with a super-charged and super-fast Gorilla Grodd.
• Then I'd surmise that 'the Rogues' would be my next logical choice. But only if they can stop bickering amongst themselves of course.
• After that, the time displaced hero called Turbine could be just the man for the job. That's if he wasn't presently searching for another candidate for this endeavor.
• No. Not Iris West. She stranded in the speed force. And it isn't her brother, Daniel West, either. He doesn't know what he's doing with himself.
• I'm referring to an ape Barry bumped into sometime ago.

Let's just hope he gets to Barry soon, huh? Or otherwise... STAB! ARGGHHHH!!!!!

To be continued...

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

As much as this scene was fairly disposable within the confines of this tale, I still liked the conversation between 'The Rogues' whilst they were fighting the 'Gorilla Army'.

CAPTAIN COLD: This is getting stupid! How many monkeys are there?

GLIDER: Does it matter? As long as they keep coming, we're gonna have to keep fighting.

CAPTAIN COLD: Way to state the obvious, sis.

WEATHER WIZARD: Uh, Glider? Captain Cold? No disrespect, but this sibling rivalry thing is getting old.

HEATWAVE: Yeah. How about someone coming up with a plan that makes sense.

Well, not only does it progress their part of the story along a bit more, it's kind of personable as well.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

One of the most surprising things about this issue; was how Turbine acted as if he were some sort of 'pseudo hero' by default. Subliminally, it's as though he knew what's going to happen next, without actually stating this fact out load.

Moreover, I did like how his presence worked its way into this 'Gorilla Warfare' storyline, without making it come across as too contrived or blatant.

Great job speed force creative team. Please keep it up.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

Now the majority of this adventure was a right hoot to follow. However, here and there, the overall structure of the story was hindered slightly; as it went from scene to scene to scene, jarring the momentum of the tale with its lopsided pacing.

Also, I wasn't that keen on the 'Daniel West' scene either. It added nothing to the overall narrative. Nothing at all.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: Wasn't it a very creative how the Ape who pestered Barry in issue #9, became the inadvertent focal point of this adventure? Wow! What a surprising turn-up for the books to find out his real identity as well! S*****r! Who would have thought it!

ART: Artistically there was a lot to like about this yarn: For example: (1) I liked the panel where I saw the gorilla driving a bus. (2) I liked the brutality behind the Flashes fight with Gorilla Grodd. And (3) The final splash page nearing the end of the book was a right heart stopper. Ka-Pow! Drama in action!

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

GORILLA DRIVING A BUS: We're still in comedy casting-call mode this month, dear reader. So I'd choose the star of yesterday's television today, Drew Carey, to play this simian with a need to put his medal to the pedal. 

GRODD: Have you ever listened to Pat Cooper's act? He's wild you know. Wilder than a monkey who has just overdosed on the 'Speed Force'.

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

Hey! Don't Make A Monkey Out Of Me You Bloody Ape! Make Like A Banana And Split.

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

In essence this story was about finding the right man to do the job, only to then figure out that he isn't. No. You're not thinking what I'm thinking, are you? Not 'The Matrix Revolution'!

Just replace the mechanical monsters with some monkeys, and it'll be a fairly good match.

FINAL thoughts...

Dear People at DC Who Decide Where to Put the Bar-Code on the Cover,

Hello my friends! How are you doing? Have you figured out where you're going to put the bar-code on your very next book? Will it be in the right hand corner? Will it be in the left hand corner? Or will you be very debonair, and stick it in the center of the page?

Go on. I dare you. Stick the bar code in the middle of the next book you have to handle. Make a statement. Make it proud. Tell the world you won't be anybody's whipping boy any more. You're the controller now. You. You're the one who will decide the fate of the comic book industry from here to eternity.

Or maybe you won't. Maybe you'll say to Mister DC 'Sure boss. Whatever you say boss. You're the boss, boss'.

Well, what I'm trying to get at here, buddy. Is that sometimes you've got to be like the creators of 'The Flash', and go your own way on a title, no matter whatever anybody else thinks.

Fair enough. Your not going to please all of the people all of the time. But I tell you what; you're going to please some of the people most of the time.

All the best in the future.

Love, Light, and Peace -- The Reviewer.

MARKS out of 10? 8.9