Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #3

     It's a rematch between Citizen Cold and his Rogues Gallery. After the murder of his sister, Lisa, at their hands, Leonard Snart looks to end this blood feud once and for all.
     This book is rated Teen but some of the ways characters meet a gristly end makes me wonder if this book should've been rated Teen+. If not mature level gore but it's more than your standard comic book fare. Proof again that the Flashpoint universe is not your dad's DC.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #2

   The Rogues of Central City come gunning for Citizen Cold. Using Snart's sister Lisa as bait, can the anti-hero keep his wits or will his family attachments result in Citizen Cold losing his cool?

    A very interesting chapter. Before the epic throw-down, there's a really great scene where Cold is flirting really hard with Iris West. She's only interested in the story but seeing Snart's amorous attempts crash and burn was actually really funny. Usually, it's the hero in their secret identity that has trouble with the ladies. Having the 'hero' fail was pretty clever.

     The one thing I wasn't a fan of in this Flashpoint tie-in was the art. I liked the color palette used by Michael Atiyeh but I'm still not digging the art. Scott Kolins, who does double duty as writer and artist should leave the pencils to someone else. The anatomy is off but not in a 90's over-muscled way. One scene might have Iris sporting a gigantic head with tiny Donald Trump-like hands and it the next scene, she's got calves the size of well, baby calves. 

     Now I know that I'm no Picasso, (okay,with my carpal tunnel, maybe I am) but the point is, I understand that I'm not a comic book artist. My artistry in is my skills as a Professional Chef. I can whip up some great food, but I leave drawing to those skilled with a pen and paper. But while I love the story, I am just not digging the artwork.

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1

  How can you best define Leonard Snart? Rogue? Ruthless Killer? Hero? In the Flashpoint universe, he's all three.
   As the costumed vigilante, Citizen Cold, Leonard Snart issues a brand of justice that borders on cold-blooded murder. But armed with an agent, endorsement deals, and presumably a legion of lawyers, Citizen Cold is a media darling. He's also a marked man.
   Without the Flash and the Speed Force, Snart is the sole protector of Central City. With that massive responsibility, Citizen Cold has amassed his own Rogue's Gallery. Snart's no Barry Allen and his relationship with the Rogues is like that of a mongoose and a cobra; there's no love lost between the two parties.
    On top of the death wish Citizen Cold has with the criminal element of Central City, forces are conspiring to reveal his secret identity to the world. Superstar reporter Iris West is publicly poking around searching for clues as to just who Cold is. Now another mystery player has captured photos of the anti-hero out of costume. It looks like it might be time for Snart to make a quick getaway out of town but first, he's got to get a hold of those damning photos.
    In 2010 (when Flashpoint first came out), I thought the twist of having Leonard Snart be a 'good guy' was brilliant. But I wasn't sure how it would work out. Over the course of the past two seasons of the Flash TV series, Wentworth Miller's Captain Cold was a bad guy but he did have a sense of honor. That resulted in Cold and his partner Heatwave, becoming begrudging heroic rogues on DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
    But Citizen Cold is no Captain Cold.
    What Citizen Cold lacks from his pre-Flashpoint counterpart Captain Cold is having the Flash around to act as an incredibly fast Jiminy Cricket. This Snart has no conscience and with his ego, he's is a slimier version of Guy Gardner.
   What is Snart's motivation in becoming a 'hero?' Right now, it's implied that he's just in it for himself. But I refuse to believe that that's the only reason. I can't wait for issue #2 to get some more answers to this puzzle!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents - The Flash #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time Editor In Chief of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title. It's also fitting that the Flash is used as one of the heroes to pay respect to Julie as it was Schwartz who was solely responsible for the Speedster's 'return' to comics in the 1950s.

The first take has Barry Allen testifying against a mob boss. But before he can testify, an assassin marks the criminologist for death. Cameos abound with Iris West, Martian Manhunter, Deadshot & more.

The second tale features some of the Flash’s Rogue’s Gallery. However, the story is rather flat.

Worth Consuming if for just the first story alone.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.