Road to Redemption (Flash Forward #1 Review)
Updated: Jan 25, 2020
FLASH FORWARD #1
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciller: Brett Booth
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Luis Guerrero
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Cover Artist: Doc Shaner
Publisher: DC Comics
Rating: 7/10
To say that I was anticipating this series would be an understatement. First off, Wally West is my favorite character and second I've been waiting to see DC redeem him after the events of HEROES IN CRISIS.
Well, I have to say that this was a little underwhelming and kind of disappointing. There were some great ideas that just didn't fully hit the mark for me.
I was part of the group of fans that didn't really care for the way Wally was handled at the end of the series (HIC). I could accept that he was overwhelmed with grief and inadvertently "killed" his fellow heroes, but it was the way he covered it up and went to the future to "kill" himself that I just couldn't get down with. It was a struggle for me, especially because I really loved HIC, but I just didn't like the way Wally was handled. Maybe I was too close to the character. But I had hope that DC would eventually redeem this amazing character and return him to the prominence he once held.
Cue FLASH FORWARD
I was ready to love this series. I mean I had seen what Lobdell had done with Jason Todd in RED HOOD, so I figured maybe this had a chance to redeem Wally and take him an in a new direction. Instead we get a story that just didn't feel fully thought out. The idea was great, Wally was going to be the savior of the Multiverse and help push back the Dark Multiverse that has been taking over numerous worlds.
But we spent so much time catching readers up on the events that led Wally here, that I just couldn't really get into the issue.
Tempus Fuginaut, who I had no idea about prior to this book ( I later found out he debuted in the SIDEWAYS book), selected Wally because of his importance to the Multiverse. I loved that Wally was being used in this way and a saw as the perfect way to redeem him, even though he feels he doesn't deserve it.
Wally is in jail the majority of the issue and is still deep in his head over past events. The one highlight was when Linda Park, his wife Pre-Flashponit, comes to visit him. This was the glimmer of hope that I wanted to see. Hopefully this isn't the last we see of her.
Why Should We Care?
While this issue was by no means perfect, the ideas are there, they just needed to be executed better. The art was the best part for me. I've always been partial to Brett Booth's art, it has a 90's feel without feeling like 90's homage. Plus, I know what a die hard Wally fan he is, so it's awesome to see him on the book.
I won't completely give up on the book just yet. From what I've heard there are big plans in store for Wally. When I spoke to Joshua Williamson, he said that there were big plans for Wally moving forward. So maybe this is just the stepping stone towards bigger things.
Come on Lobdell, don't let all of us Wally fans down. It's time for Wally to return to the greatness we all know he's capable of.
