Showing just how confident they were in The Flash, DC and WB have teamed up to release a digital comic set in the TV Show continuity to expand on the world in ways not possible in the show. Unfortunately The Flash: Season Zero just feels like a cheap tie-in to try and make a quick buck off the show. Included in this review are the 2 chapters that make up 'Volume 1' which also makes up Part 1 of the story 'Freak Show'. For the uninformed this comic takes place in between episodes 1 and 2 of the show.
Chapter 1 'The Strongman Cometh' introduces us to a new villain in The Strongman. After beating on Barry, we are given a summarized version of the first episode of the show. From the onset, I had 2 problems with this. The first being that I doubt anyone would be reading this comic without seeing the show, so why summarize the first episode? It's a tie-in comic after all, not a stand alone piece. It's just a waste of a first issue that I believe could have been used better. The second and more glaringly obvious problem...no one really looks anything remotely like they do in the show.
Barry went from looking like a baby-faced young adult to someones jock fantasy. Team S.T.A.R. Labs didn't get hit as hard but on my first read through I had to look again as Harrison Wells looked suspiciously like a younger Professor Oak. Iris also appears to have aged...about 20 years. I literally thought she was Iris's mother until Barry called her by name.
Despite how weird everyone looks I do however like seeing the world expand ever so slightly and hope it gets referenced in the show. The Strongman is fairly simplistic but he's reporting to a greater power and personally I love the idea of these 'freaks' (as The Strongman calls them) congregating in a circus. Much like American Horror Story has shown, the circus is a place these people can call home. Outside, they're feared and forced to fight for survival (which, given they now have powers makes the balance of power that much different).
Chapter 2 'Who Let The Chimps Out?' shows us more of the team dynamic at S.T.A.R. Labs and expands on how Barry's body heals itself. While useful, Barry's powers unfortunately have drawbacks. We saw some of this in episode 2. However in this case, the focus is on the healing factor and that Barry's body doesn't always heal correctly. We also find out how Barry's feeling about being The Flash. The more time he puts into his superhero self the less he feels like Barry Allen, to the point that they aren't the same person anymore.
As Barry returns to his regular life, we get a glimpse into what the villains are doing and boy did this one intrigue (and confuse) me. Previously we'd met The Strongman but now we get to meet...The Viper? The Snake Charmer? She doesn't get a name but with control over animals she's sure to take a bite out of Central City. We also finally get the revelation of who the Circus Owner is, which is a name some comic fans may know. Mr. Bliss, a villain first introduced in Starman.
Overall Feelings:
While I like what the production team is trying to accomplish with The Flash: Season Zero, it just feels like a cheap way to make extra money for the show. I'd love for it to be more meaty and REALLY expand on things but then that'd confuse and leave out the non-comic readers. I do like the story line however (excluding the summarized first episode), while weaker then the TV show it is still fairly fun to read.
I would really like for the artwork to look closer to the comic previews though, as I mentioned earlier everyone just feels off. In a show that otherwise I feel has been amazing, this just feels like a low point. Not to the point that it's completely terrible but I feel it could have been done better.
If you really want more Flash in your life then I'd recommend reading the tie-in comic, but if you choose not too then currently you aren't really missing much.
So have you read Volume 1 of The Flash: Season Zero? What'd you think?
