The Stop Button

Why did DC hire Francis Manapul to write The Flash? I understand he’s a popular artist—even though his mix of sketchy backgrounds and slick foregrounds, to the degree it adds a false sense of focus, isn’t exactly mainstream—but did they need to keep him so much they gave him the writing chores?

Oddly, the writing is better than the art. I tired of the slick foregrounds after about three pages (the backgrounds are, falsely, interesting).

And the writing isn’t very good. Manapul and co-writer Brian Buccellato make a multi-ethnic Central City of the future. It looks like Metropolis.

Iris isn’t Barry’s wife or love interest; she’s Lois Lane.

And Barry? He hangs out on the police station rooftop like Batman.

It’s derivative and lacks any potential to get better. The cliffhanger is soft and boring. There’s no drama.

If I had any expectations, I’d be disappointed.

CREDITS

Writers, Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato; artist, Manapul; colorist, Buccellato; letterer, Sal Cipriano; editors, Darren Shan and Brian Cunningham; publisher, DC Comics.