DC Round-Up: THE FLASH #25 is a heartfelt end to Si Spurrier’s run

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THIS WEEK: The Flash #25 brings writer Si Spurrier’s run on the series to an epic conclusion.

Note: the review below may contain spoilers. If you want a quick, spoiler-free buy/pass recommendation on the comics in question, check out the bottom of the article for our final verdict.

The Flash #25

Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Vasco Georgiev
Colorist: Matt Herms
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Artist: Davide Paratore

Since taking over the writing chores on the ongoing The Flash series back in 2023, writer Si Spurrier has taken the scarlet speedster to some unexpected places, infusing the series at different times with elements of horror and high fantasy. The current arc of the series, “Bad Moon Rising,” has been firmly planted in the realm of sci-fi war epic, and this week’s issue marks the end of that tale and of Spurrier’s time on the series.

Though the trappings of the series now may be very different from when he started, Spurrier has kept the drama firmly rooted in the West family. “Bad Moon Rising” has seen Wally West isolating himself, waging a one-man war on the moon against a powered-up Eclipso by creating copies of himself Jamie Madrox-style to act as soldiers in the time-dilated fight. In the midst of that, Wally’s children, Iris and Jai, have fought on two different fronts: to stop Eclipso, and to save their dad.

The West twins are still relatively new characters, and previous series writer Jeremy Adams did a lot to establish them as individuals. Spurrier has expanded on that wonderfully, giving them unique quirks and hang-ups that have made them highly relatable to readers of any age. Jai in particular has seen a lot of focus, and he and his father had a moment in last month’s issue that’s a really nice bookend to what Spurrier has done with the character. Both Iris and Jai play crucial parts in the conclusion of “Bad Moon Rising,” and it’s a great showcase for how far they’ve come over the past two-dozen issues.

Spurrier has teamed with artists Vasco Georgiev and Matt Herms on the latter portion of his run, and their visuals have helped ground the series in superheroics. Georgiev’s style is cartoony and lively, capturing the energy of superspeed and the joy of that powerset beautifully. This is a dialogue-heavy issue, and his characters carry the weight of what’s happening and the decisions they’re forced to make on their faces. Herms’s bright colors complement the linework nicely, adding to the overall feeling of classic superheroics that has pervaded their run, and adding texture and vibrancy to the more out-there sci-fi elements. While Spurrier is departing the series Georgiev and Herms are not, at least for the next few issues, and it’ll be fun to see how they handle the oncoming craziness that is DC K.O.

If there’s one thing Spurrier’s run on The Flash will most certainly be remembered for, it’ll be the big swings that it took. From cosmic horror with unconventional Flash artist Mike Deodato Jr. to a fantasy family vacation in Gemworld with a dog who’s secretly a newborn universe, Spurrier has pushed The Flash into uncharted territory over and over again. The swings haven’t always hit, but when they have it’s been a pleasure to behold, and you have to respect him for taking the swings to begin with. Here’s hoping whoever takes over the series next long-term doesn’t lose that storytelling spirit.

Final Verdict: BUY.

Round-Up

Absolute Wonder Woman #12 continues the incredible run on this series by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and co. “As My Mothers Made Me” has been a fantastic storyline, expanding the world of the series, introducing new threats, and seeding future storylines. The conclusion of that story is so firmly based in who Diana is that it almost feels foregone, but it’s no less exciting and entertaining for it. This series is, no pun intended, simply wonderful.

Justice League Unlimited #11 and Superman #30 are both lead-ins to DC K.O. Mark Waid and Carmine Di Giandomenico‘s JLU #11 is pure chaos aboard the Watchtower with newly-hatched Parademons running rampant, surgery on the Time Trapper leading to time-travel insanity, and a team of Leaguers taking on members of Darkseid’s Legion in Markovia in the present. In the future, Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora‘s Superman #30 finds the Man of Steel attempting to rescue Booster Gold from a turncoat Superboy-Prime and the rest of Darkseid’s Legion. Both books are great fun, with some really good twists along the way, and they stand alone well, but it’s also interesting to read them in tandem, especially given how they both end.
We learned earlier this week that the ongoing Green Arrow series will be ending in December, and that’s really a shame. Chris Condon and Montos have been telling some really great street-level stories with the emerald archer. Green Arrow #28 continues the “Crimson Sands” storyline, exploring Roy Harper’s history and adding a new villain to GA’s rogues gallery. If you can’t make money on this series, with these creators, telling these high-quality stories, you might need to get out of the money-making business.