The Flash #86
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Christian Duce (CA) Rafael Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona
In Shops: Jan 15, 2020
SRP: $3.99
The Flash battles Captain Cold for the last time! The Rogues’ Reign is a brutal battle for power over Central City, but the tides are turning and the reign approaches a deadly end! With the Speed Force in chaos, can Glider help channel Flash’s powers long enough to overthrow her brother, Captain Cold?
The Flash #85
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Christian Duce (CA) Rafael Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona
In Shops: Jan 01, 2020
SRP: $3.99
“Rogues’ Reign” part four! An out-of-control Flash must figure out a way to harness his powers, because he’s about to face the villain who flipped his world upside down- Mirror Master! Our hero has only one hope of survival-the Rogues are warring with each other and their forces are split. But while Barry struggles with his own abilities, are the Rogues headed for a reconciliation that would make stopping any of them that much harder?
Detective Comics #1018
(W) Peter J. Tomasi (A) Scott Godlewski (CA) Rafael Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona
In Shops: Jan 01, 2020
SRP: $3.99
In the aftermath of “City of Bane,” the Dark Knight has found himself cold, alone, and missing one of the very foundations of his life as both Bruce Wayne and the Batman. But personal problems will have to wait-a mysterious series of deaths have been peppered throughout Gotham and it seems an element of the supernatural is at play in the form of a monstrous pagan spirit. Can Batman silence the demons within to stop the killing? Or will this silent night be for keeps?
The Flash #84
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Christian Duce (CA) Rafael Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona
In Shops: Dec 11, 2019
SRP: $3.99
“Rogues’ Reign” part three! The Speed Force is out of control, but the Flash must learn to harness it again if he’s to stand a chance against the powered-up Rogues! With the freshly crowned King Cold leading the charge to hunt the speedster down, all hope seems lost…or is it? An unexpected ally and the save of a lifetime comes to our hero in the form of one of Cold’s oldest and most trusted friends-is this icy betrayal what the scarlet speedster needs to turn the tide and set the world right?
To celebrate a milestone in the Scarlet Speedster’s comic book run, in February 2020 DC is publishing a momentous 750th issue of The Flash with a cover by series artist Howard Porter and packed with all-new stories from across the generations and multiverses of super-speedsters. The 80-page prestige format issue debuts February 26, 2020, featuring an all-star array of top writers and artists in the Flash’s recent history.
Joining series writer Joshua Williamson for this must-have collector’s item are Geoff Johns, Marv Wolfman, Francis Manapul, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Stephen Segovia, David Marquez, Bryan Hitch, Riley Rossmo, Scott Kolins, and Michael Moreci. The Flash #750 also features a variant cover for each decade the character has been published, including art from José Luis García-López, Jim Lee and Scott Williams and Gary Frank.
This landmark issue of The Flash is highlighted by an original story, “The Flash Age,” that kicks off a new arc for series writer Joshua Williamson and artists Rafa Sandoval and Jordi Tarragona. Barry Allen’s life is being torn apart by a supercharged Speed Force as the story Williamson’s been building toward since issue #50 comes to a head when a new threat appears on the horizon: the deadly Paradox. Destined to destroy the Flash’s legacy, Paradox sends his herald, Godspeed, to trap the Flash family!
The Flash #750, an 80-page prestige format issue, will be available at comics retailers and digitally on February 26, 2020, for $7.99.
The Flash #78
(W) Joshua Williamson (A/CA) Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona
In Shops: Sep 11, 2019
SRP: $3.99
It’s “The Death of the Speed Force” for the Flash as our hero squares off with new force users Fuerza, Steadfast and Psych! If the Flash can’t convince his fellow speedsters to unite and find a cure for the dying Speed Force, certain death awaits! Plus, Captain Cold’s latest recruit is a familiar friend who’s got a brand-new grudge…
The Flash #77
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Scott Kolins (CA) Howard Porter
In Shops: Aug 28, 2019
SRP: $3.99
“Death of the Speed Force” continues! The Speed Force is collapsing, and its destructor is here…to save the day?! The Strength, Sage and Still forces have placed a dangerous strain on the force that empowers the DC Universe’s super-speedsters, and the Flash is about to face the impossible choice of saving his friends’ lives or losing his powers forever!
The Flash #76
(W) Joshua Williamson (CA) Howard Porter (A/CA) Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona
In Shops: Aug 14, 2019
SRP: $3.99
“Death of the Speed Force” begins! With renewed resolve following the events of “The Flash Year One,” the Flash is back with a new mission, a new outlook and a brand-new speedster HQ. But the Fastest Man Alive is slowing down-and there’s only one explanation: the Speed Force is dying. Plus, the Year of the Villain heats up as Captain Cold uses Lex Luthor’s offer to boost Heat Wave to the next level!
The Bloodshot Rising Spirit #8 preview text asks “Will we finally learn the truth behind Bloodshot’s origin?”
Not really, if we’re being honest. This comic actually creates more loose ends than it answers. That’s about par for the course with the series as a whole.
The series certainly took a turn for the better after Eliot Rahal joined the creative team. The back half of the series found a cohesive voice and direction. The series became an entertaining read after five somewhat forgettable issues.
Bloodshot: Rising Spirit #8 does an admirable job of bringing the story to a close on a high note. It doesn’t do quite enough to change my gut feeling that this series as a whole is worth reading. If you want to know the highlights and major plot points, read the issues with Rahal’s name on the cover. The last three, honestly. While this issue does bring to a close the eight issue series that was supposed to tell the origin of Bloodshot, and it does deliver on the threads and hints from the previous issue or two, it doesn’t really give us anything more that we didn’t already know.
This leaves me in a bit of a quandary; while Bloodshot: Rising Spirit #8 is actually a pretty solid comic, but it does nothing to make the series as a whole necessary reading for Bloodshot fans. When you’re advertising that a character’s origin will be revealed, one would expect that there would be some form of closure or revelation beyond what was telegraphed the previous issue. It’s a somewhat disappointing feeling when you finish the series and realize that all we really took away was that maybe there has been more than one Bloodshot. Which we knew already, thanks to Jeff Lemire’s introduction of Quiet Man, Tank Man and the rest of the Bloodshot Squad in Bloodshot Island. And yet… the comic itself was actually pretty good, because Rahal is able to craft a fun story from his short time on the book.
When it comes down to judging the comic on its own merits, I think that Bloodshot: Rising Spirit #8 is a solid read, and I’d almost recommend you picking up the final three issues; but when you look at the series as a whole, I’m left feeling somewhat empty. It just isn’t that great of an eight issue run.
Story: Kevin Grevious and Eliot Rahal
Writer: Eliot Rahal
Art: John K. Snyder III, Diego Yapur, ChrisCross with Jordi Taragona
Colourist: Jason Wright Letterer: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.3 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read
Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.
BLOODSHOT RISING SPIRIT #8 (of 8)
Story by ELIOT RAHAL and KEVIN GREVIOUX
Written by ELIOT RAHAL
Art by JOHN K SNYDER III, DIEGO YAPUR, CHRISCROSS with JORDI TARRAGONA
Colors by JASON WRIGHT
Letters by SIMON BOWLAND
Cover A by FELIPE MASSAFERA
Cover B by AJ JOTHIKUMAR
Cover C by MICHAEL WALSH
Pre-Order Edition by KEN LASHLEY
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale JUNE 26th
Will we finally learn the truth behind Bloodshot’s origin?
This issue will change everything you know about the nanite-filled supersoldier. The action-packed ending of BLOODSHOT RISING SPIRIT!
