I have to ask why do you continue to read this every issue has two people talking about how awful it is.
"Rogues Reign" part one! The speed force is dead, doom has gripped the earth, and the FLASH lives in a nightmare! Powered-up by Lex Luthor's offer, Captain Cold led his team of Rogues to ultimate victory over Central City. Through the might of Mirror Master's amplified abilities, the rogues have re-shaped reality itself into their own kingdoms of cruelty - Heat Wave's volcanic territory, Weather Wizard's floating armory of the elements, and at the center of it all, the icy castle of Captain Cold. But with the villains stealing the show, why is the greatest threat to their reign one of their own?
Taken on its own terms, however, this story is a fascinating study of Len Snart's character and a great issue for new readers to start with. Read Full Review
In the past few months, Williamson has produced some of the best Flash stories we've gotten in years. But he's not content to sit on his laurels, but pits Barry against a new deadly threat. We've seen Barry try to stop the Rogues many times, but now we'll see how he copes when the Rogues have already won. This premise is full of potential and promises to give us yet another classic Flash story. Read Full Review
Williamson has done a great job again for writing this issue. It is nothing but high excitement from start to finish. The art by Sandoval is something else, too. This is one hell of a start to a new storyline and I cannot believe how good this is. Read Full Review
In terms of piquing interest in a new storyline, Williamson and Sandoval certainly accomplish that with a whole new world showing how Central City would look like without The Flash. This makes one of the more effective tie-ins to Year of the Villain as we see exactly how far villains with a plan can take Lex Luthors gift and help usher in an era of Doom. Read Full Review
Flash takes a huge step forward an introduces an almost completely new world that has formed since the previous issue. For an issue that would typically be all about set-up this issue takes huge steps to not only set up the new world but to progress the story with some huge implications for this book going forward. Add an amazing cliffhanger to that mix, and we have an amazing issue. Read Full Review
It reminds me a bit of Riddler in Zero Year, in that it's a good storyline, but I'm not sold yet that it's a good storyline for this specific villain. Read Full Review
In the end, the creative team is doing the best they can with a forced tie-in, and they are to be commended for their work. This may not be a story anybody was dying to see again, but everyone on board is trying to take it in as compelling a direction as possible. If youre patient enough to give it a chance, its probably going to be one of the better of the mandatory tie-ins for the Year of the Villain crossover. Read Full Review
Flash #82 throws readers for a loop by drop-kicking them straight into a world gone mad! It's fun in the sun (and the bitter cold) for a book that seems flies right under the "can't miss" radar and is "just" content to put out some solid storytelling. If you maybe dropped off of Williamson's run at some point - and it's not like he didn't give ample reason from about issues 51-69, when the book was a meandering mess - now is the time to get back onboard. Big things are happening all around the DCU and as usual, the Flash is at the center of it! Read Full Review
In the long history of superhero comics, it can sometimes be hard to find truly original story ideas, but the latest issue manages to do just that (for the Flash anyway). Read Full Review
Rafa Sandoval delivers on the art and the issue is visually interesting, but the story is an exercise in "been there, done that". Read Full Review
Prelude:
It's time for Rogues Reign! After the Death of the Speed Force, let's see how Barry and co deal with this new threat.
The Good:
I really love when "Villain controls city" ideas work well and it is great here.
King Cold is menacing and we finally get the Captain vs Commander fight we've been waiting for.
Rafa Sandoval's art is amazing. Even though I associate it best with Flash's speed, Sandoval proves his art is much more than just that.
I love the Insurgents and how everyone is dressed.
The Bad:
Continuity continues to be off with Year of the Villain.
Characterisation for the Rogues is really off. I get that this is the story Williamson wants to tell more
This was a good hook for a first issue of an arc and the cliffhanger was pretty crazy. This is like the Flash version of City of Bane, and I think that is pretty COOL.
Crazy start to the new story arc. The art by Sandoval is always great. This issue gives us a cool showdown and a shocking final page. Things ain’t lookin good at all in Central City. Can’t wait to see what happened for things to get to this point!
" There is only one cold. "
- Captain Cold
"There is only one Cold"
Year of the Villain messed-up continuity/timeline aside, this issue was great.
We're dropped right in the middle of something big, without any explanation (other than YotV), but Williamson makes it work, so there's no confusion and no unnecessary exposition dumps.
Central City belongs to the Rogues and King Cold is at the top. His time in the Suicide Squad really did a number on him. He is doing great work as the main baddy in this arc.
I really enjoyed this one, waiting for more.
Finally, we get to see the outcome of teasing the Rogues for the past god know how many issues. This arc may end up being very good, if done correctly. So far so good.
Is it cold in here, or is it just me? Oh boy, Hell froze over and took Central City with it. The Rogues have won, and Captain Cold is calling the shots in this new Snow-Pocalypse.
Honestly, the events of the issue aren’t all that surprising. Underground resistance courtesy of the remaining Flash Family since Barry is MIA. The Rogues themselves are locked in a bit of a stalemate that sooner or later is going to crumbing into a chain of betrayals.
All of this is merely backdrop to illustrate just how cold Leonard Snart has become. He’s abandoned his code of honor and become a merciless tyrant with ice in his veins. Dire as the situation may be, something tells me that Snart’s reign will be over in a Flash.
Not as bad as usual, honestly. Maybe because Flash wasn't in it.
I wish this was better. I love the Rogues. But I love their characters, not, this random twist-em-into-whatever-to-suit-the-story shit.