The Flash: 5 comic book stories to read while waiting for season 7
By Scott Brown
The Flash by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Probably the best place to start for any new reader, or for someone who just wants to re-read the series, would be The Flash by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. Manapul and Buccellato co-write the series with Manapul serving as the artist for most issues and Buccellato acting as the colorist during this 27-issue run that goes from issue No. 0 to 25, and includes No. 23.2. This seems a bit confusing, but it’s not, especially if you decide to read it in graphic novel format, which runs from Vol. 1-4 of the New 52 series.
But what’s this series about though? At its heart, its about Barry Allen learning what it means to be The Flash. He’s been The Flash for a couple of years at the start of the series, but he’s still constantly learning and adjusting to the supervillains that he is up against, whether it be the Rogues, Gorilla Grodd, or the Reverse-Flash. The series also introduces several shake-ups to the mythology such as introducing the version of Wally West that the show’s version is inspired by, as well as having the Reverse-Flash be someone other than Eobard Thawne.
The best part about this run though is that it never goes beyond the purview of the series though. There are no crossovers and it is a contained, easy to read, run. Plus, it’s simply fun and the art is absolutely gorgeous because Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato are a great team. So, if you’re looking for place to start in comics for the character, The Flash by Manapul and Buccellato is the place to do it.