The Good
If you're reading this review, odds are you're pretty excited for the Scarlet Speedster's upcoming CW show. Thankfully, this series manages to give us a decent look at the TV series and its characters without blatantly spoiling anything huge. The primary cast is here, but after the basics are established, we're off on a side adventure which is, well, quite silly. But you know what? It's fitting for the book's visuals and honestly, it's quite fun.
Andrew Kreisberg (story) and co-writers Brooke Eikmeier and Katherine Walczak make sure this is a 100% new reader friendly experience. Everything you need to know (how he received his powers and who he is) is quickly established and in a fairly interesting way, too. The banter won't have you laughing out loud but it does make Barry a likable lead. Additionally, feeling like we're discovering this world alongside the rookie hero is an entertaining experience. The action is very brief but it's still pleasant to observe. Hopefully we'll get more of it in the next installment.
Artist Phil Hester, inker Eric Gapstur, and colorist Kelsey Shannon are a good fit for the lighthearted series that's packing not-so-serious villains. Hester's more animated characters work well and, minor gripes aside, it's a really terrific match for the tone. The emphasis on going heavy with the inks and using vivid colors helps the brief origin story stand apart from the rest of the ride. It's an effective move since the origin has a way darker atmosphere while the rest of the tale is more focus on sprinkling in a little more comedy and fun.
The Bad
I'm enjoying Hester's character work, but Barry's appearance tends to fluctuate. It's also a little distracting that he doesn't look all that much like Gustin Grant. As for the story, I know there's going to be some drama when it comes to relationships (it is based on a CW show, after all), but the numerous lines highlighting the love triangle felt like it went a bit overboard. The first example made the situation more than clear and the rest just made me wish the time was being spent on more interesting scenes.
Question: how'd Barry break his ankle? The "Strongman" hits his upper body and then it's his back that smashes against the column.
The Verdict
THE FLASH: SEASON ZERO #1 is a good time. It offers an animated look at the upcoming show's world and keeps us entertained with amusing interactions and seemingly silly villains. It's not compelling or thought-provoking stuff, but it is fun. So, if you're really excited for the new show, you'll likely have an entertaining time reading this comic. Will it be enough to make you count down the days until the next chapter? Probably not, but when it does come out, you'll likely be interested enough to check it out and hope it's just as enjoyable!