About Heroes

Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Daniel Acuna

I really wanted to hate this book.  DC's handling of Bart Allen and the Flash character has disgusted me.  From handing the book over to two writers who did not get the character, to then handing the book over to a good writer, who brought the book out of the gutters, only to kill him the same week that Wally West returned from wherever he was for a year.  So, why was he the Flash in the first damn place?  He was fine as Kid Flash, and had only been that for a few years in publishing time.  I guess Mark Waid returning to the series and the character he molded is trying to make amends with angered fans like me.  Most everyone was excited about this book but I was not.  I had never read Flash until Bart took over, I thought I could grab onto that series like I had done for Blue Beetle and follow him forever.  The return of Wally does not excite me that much, since I was gravitating towards Bart at the end of his run with Marc Guggenheim.  Anyway, over to the book itself. 

I ended up liking this book.  Not loving, but liking.  I'm still of the opinion that Mark Waid has had his run on the Flash, but I'll still read this book for as long as it contiunues to interest me.  The twins, Jai and Iris, who were only just born when Wally dissapeared are super-heroes alongside their father.  Jai exhibits super-strength through accelerating his muscle growth.  Iris has the ability to super-vibrate her molecules, making her DC's copy of Kitty Pryde. Both of these sets of powers are based on having super-speed, and thus derivitive from their father.  The kids' went through accelerated aging, getting rid of my thoughts that Wally and Linda had spent 10 years inside the speed force but only a few outside it.  It's still not clear exactly what happened, so hopefully Waid will explain more of it later.  The book starts off with an adventure and then ends with a conversation about the children between Wally and Linda.  I think the book is starting out a bit forward in time than the current DCU, as the Wests already have their own house and are moved in.

I was not a fan of Daniel Acuna's work on Green Lantern 18-20, as it looked rushed, and in some places, sloppy.  Here, it looks better, but I'm still getting used to the non-traditional style.  It seems to work with the character, as Flash is usually more a blur of color than actual ink.  I guess the difference will show whenever Acuna needs a break or leaves the book, and a more traditional team takes over.  For now, I'm liking the art and the colors, as Acuna colors it himself, making the art more seamless than other DC books out there. B