Comic Book Reviews: Deadpool, The Flash, Rumble (12/13/17)

Deadpool #290

• Gerry Duggan (writer)
• Scott Koblish (artist)
• Nick Filardi (colorist)
• VC's Joe Sabino (letterer)

"I'd rather give Hitler a time machine than trust you to face Stryfe alone." This line from Cable is an obvious nod to the absurd and hilarious flashback issue Deadpool #26 (which is also illustrated by Koblish and co-written by Duggan) and it immediately took me out of the issue. That may sound like a bad thing, but it's definitely not. This line made me think about how Duggan's been controlling the Merc with a Mouth's main title since 2012 and it has yet to disappoint - impressive, right? The guy's delivered everything that I would want from a Deadpool story. There's consistently over-the-top comedy, plenty of brutal action, amazing worldbuilding throughout, and lots of moments that'll remind you that Deadpool is so much more than just a goofball with a healing factor - he's a tormented guy who won't always do the right thing, and this latest story arc is completely embracing that.

Just like Duggan, Koblish has also been with Wade Wilson for quite some time, and, just like Duggan, he has yet to disappoint. I don't know how he finds the time to pack so much material into these pages. While some artists may skip on bringing backgrounds to life - and understandably so - Koblish is able to bring the characters and the settings to life equally well. Duggan's script is full of some truly ridiculous stuff - there's quite a bit of hopping around in this one - and Koblish is able to handle all of the drastically different material. Whether it's a dark and abrupt moment or a wacky trip through time, Koblish pulls you into the moment and sells you on it. This, of course, wouldn't be nearly as effective without Filardi adapting the tones for each of these drastically different moments, too. It's very brief but I really enjoyed the look of the first two panels - they yanked me right into New York and I could hear the rain. A variety of locations is something we tend to take for granted in comic books. Reflecting on this issue, it really is amazing how Koblish and Filardi are able to build each of these incredibly different settings.

When Deadpool's in Duggan's hands, you know it'll be worth your time. Word is that Ryan Reynolds has called his run "not bad." If that's not high praise, I don't know what is. Okay, I have no idea what Reynolds thinks about it (he's missing out if he's not reading it), but you need to read this series if you liked the Deadpool movie. Somehow, Duggan's still moving forward with Deadpool instead of doing the same old things with him. There's no doubt that his work with the Merc with a Mouth has earned a spot in any "Deadpool must-read stories" list.


The Flash #36

• Joshua Williamson (writer)
• Howard Porter (artist)
• Hi-Fi (colorist)
• Steve Wands (letterer)

Don't you just love it when a new story arc embraces history but is also totally new reader friendly? The Scarlet Speedster's new story races forward with the Rebirth run's history - I'm sorry but the terrible pun is intentional - while also crafting a fresh mystery that'll leave any fan wanting to read the next issue right away.

Williamson packs some exposition in here to make sure everyone has a proper handle on what's going on and why it's so important. To new fans, this will be greatly appreciated and quickly catch 'em up. To pre-existing fans, this may be going over information that they already know, but the developments in here definitely make up for that and then some, and the artwork totally enhances the experience. A little exposition is no big deal when the puzzle's off to such a strong start and you get hit with an ending like this one, after all. If you've been around since the first arc of the Rebirth title, you're definitely going to be fully immersed in this twist.

I love Porter and Hi-Fi's establishing shots. From Flash racing across the water to feeling like you've been teleported right in front of the Central City Bank, Porter and Hi-Fi's animated work makes sure that no panel feels static, even if it's just two people standing around - there's depth to these panels.

It doesn't matter if you've been following this series since the first issue or if you've never read a Flash comic before but you like the CW show. This new story is most definitely worth checking out if you're interested in Barry Allen's life and you're looking to enjoy a solid mystery. Run to your local comic shop, reader, run!

Rumble #1

• John Arcudi (writer)
• David Rubin (artist)
• Dave Stewart (colorist)
• Joe Sabino (letterer)

Rumble is finally back! The world of Rumble is creative and strange, exciting, and often pretty funny. It's baffling this Image Comics series hasn't received more attention, but hey, maybe it'll get a movie one day and people will finally see what they missed out on? Thankfully, this new volume welcomes brand new readers while also taking some pretty interesting steps forward.

Arcudi's back but this time around artist James Harren isn't with him. Rubin's stepped in - while Stewart remains on colors - and, to be completely honest, the switch is a little jarring at first but it's something that new readers won't notice. That's not a jab at the quality of Rubin's work - not at all - but Harren's artwork has been a defining quality of Rumble. With Rubin, the world still retains its strange feel, but it's a little trippier and, at times, looks a little more lighthearted, almost like it could be an animated series. Regardless, it's crystal clear that Rubin is a great fit for the series. He can pack the pages with strange Esu getting sliced apart, make me laugh at Del, and give even the smallest moments - like a close-up of Rathraq in combat - the intensity they require. He also goes all-out constructing each setting. Rubin's work is fitting for this story and he's already grown on me. Stewart, of course, plays a huge role in this. While Rubin's style may be slightly different than the previous volume's look, Stewart's impressive colors make the world of Rumble still feel familiar and it's amazing how he can give each and every scene the atmosphere it needs to thrive.

Look, this is obviously an issue that has to fill in new readers on an entire volume of Rumble while also planting the seeds to move forward with some pretty cool stuff. I can see the potential is already there for some exciting times ahead. A thorough recap page would've been good, but briefly going through the book's history is a good way to welcome Rubin to Rumble and have him tackle a lot of the characters and settings that his book has to offer. It's so great to have Rumble back in my life. Don't miss out on this amazing series, people. Seriously, go read it.


Want to read more comics? You can check out last week's reviews here.
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