Written by Grant Morrison & Mark Millar.
Art by Paul Ryan; John Nyberg; Gaspar Saladino; & Tom McCraw.
Collection Cover Art by Steve Lightle.
SUMMARY:
In 2008, DC Comics released this 144-page trade paperback compiling Wally West’s Flash # 130-135 from 1997-1998. The three-part “Emergency Stop” pits a ghostly super-suit (dubbed ‘The Suit’) against a temporarily-crippled Wally West, Jay Garrick’s Flash, Max Mercury, and Bart Allen’s Impulse. This murderous suit is essentially a parasite that steals super-powers and ultimately each victim’s life to continue powering itself.
“Flash Through the Looking Glass” subsequently pits a still-injured Wally in a desperate race against time to save his girlfriend, Linda Park, from Mirror Master II’s scheme.
Next up is “Still Life in the Fast Lane,” as Jay Garrick’s Flash enjoys an eventful workday, which coincides with his 50th wedding anniversary with wife Joan. Guest stars include an undercover Nightwing, some of the Justice Society’s surviving members (i.e., Alan Scott’s Green Lantern/Sentinel & Johnny Thunder), and one of Jay’s Golden Age adversaries: the Thinker.
Finishing this compilation is a three-part crossover with Green Lantern # 96 and Green Arrow # 130. “Death at the Top of World, Part 3” has Wally, Kyle Rayner’s Green Lantern, and Connor Hawke’s Green Arrow as prosecution witnesses against multiple villains on trial after a failed effort to free Dr. Polaris. Yet, the climatic rub is that a super-slick criminal defense attorney may outwit the Justice League’s younger generation.
Note: There is a brief gag reference, as Wally flippantly compares Dr. Polaris to an unnamed Magneto.
REVIEW:
Though this collection’s artwork is consistently solid, it is fair to conclude that Grant Morrison & Mark Millar’s scripting falls far short of remarkable. Case in point: Wally’s convoluted strategy to alter time, prevent his own imminent death, and still thwart ‘The Suit’ will prove mind-numbing to readers just trying to grasp all the wacky pseudo-science involved. Then, there is the eye-rolling matter of Wally’s makeshift Speed Force energy suit – suffice to say, the less said the better.
Essentially, there is nothing about the kid-friendly Emergency Stop that demands must-have reading – even for DC die-hards. Wally West’s loyal fanbase should find Emergency Stop an enjoyable yet utterly average caper. Most others will likely deem this book as quickly forgettable.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
In a full-page format, each cover precedes its issue. The cover artists are: Steve Lightle for Issues # 130-134, and Rodolfo Damaggio & Robert Campanella for Issue # 135.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
