#infiniverse

Review: THE FLASH/FANTASTIC FOUR #1

Writer: Jeremy Adams Artist: Adrián Gutiérrez Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letterer: Josh Reed   Reviewed by: Joshua Raynor   Summary The Flash/Fantastic Four #1 is a digital-first one-shot published under DC’s DC GO! imprint, available exclusively via DC Universe Infinite. The issue dives further into the "Infiniverse," bringing together Barry Allen (The Flash) and Marvel’s First Family in a high-speed, multiversal adventure that centers on Gorilla Grodd, who is after Reed Richards’ mental-amplification technology, and manipulates Barry as part of his scheme.

  Positives Getting to see The Flash team up with the Fantastic Four — two icons from different corners of the comic book world — is something I never realized I wanted, until now. Jeremy Adams delivers a lean, high-concept one-shot that leans into the core of what makes both The Flash and the Fantastic Four compelling. Adams brings out a natural synergy between Barry’s logical, detective-like approach and Reed's brilliant but often emotionally distant intellect. Their dynamic works well — you feel the mutual respect, and the occasional competitiveness. The Fantastic Four are portrayed faithfully: Reed is analytical, Sue is both caring and pragmatic, Johnny has his trademark spark, and Ben, a.k.a. The Thing, brings groundedness and heart. The conflict doesn’t just come from Grodd — there’s real tension in how Barry and Reed wrestle with the moral and scientific implications of the amplifier. Grodd feels like a worthy antagonist here: his ambition, his manipulation, and his threat-level all feel appropriate for a crossover. He isn’t just causing mischief; his ambition is worldwide mental domination, which would absolutely branch out through the multiverse, if given the opportunity.

Because it’s a digital webcomic formatted for vertical scroll, Adams leans into the Speed Force as more than just the source of Barry’s power, as it becomes a pertinent storytelling device. He uses it to propel the narrative through different time/space beats, which allows for some fun glimpses and cameos from some classic, fan-favorite Flash characters.

Adrián Gutiérrez’s art is energetic. His style captures both the sleekness of The Flash and the more blocky, powerful physiques of the Fantastic Four. Romulo Fajardo Jr.'s vibrant colors help emphasize movement, energy, and emotion, with lightning trails, cosmic backgrounds, and mental-energy effects that are all rendered exceptionally well. The way time/space shifts are rendered is particularly effective, as you can feel the instability, but it never becomes confusing. Instead, it carries a sense of wonder, which is exactly what you want in a genre-bending crossover.

Negatives As a single-issue crossover, there’s only so much room for setup, character work, and resolution. Some plot threads feel brushed over, and the climax, while satisfying, doesn’t fully explore the ramifications of Grodd’s plan. The story is built very much for its webcomic, vertical scroll style. For people who prefer reading a more traditional comic layout, this may be a bit jarring.   Verdict The Flash/Fantastic Four #1 is a very solid one-shot and a successful experiment in cross-publisher storytelling. While it’s not perfect — especially given the limitations of a single-issue and vertical-scroll format — it delivers on concept, character, and fun. The art and pacing lean into the strengths of both mythologies, and it feels like a real celebration of classic Silver Age energy. If you’re a fan of either character (or both), this is absolutely worth checking out. Even if you’re just curious about digital comics or crossovers, this is a strong entry point. It’s not the most earth-shattering comic of the year, but it’s a fun, high-speed, high-stakes ride. The Flash/Fantastic Four #1 by Jeremy Adams, Adrián Gutiérrez and Romulo Fajardo Jr. is now available to read exclusively on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.   Score: 4/5

Personal recollections of Baron Autumn, Sir Alaric d'al Sancroix Part 1

I think I'll always remember that day, a bright searing spot burned deep within the recesses of my mind, the day I inherited my title. It was one of the most important days in my life, and would set in motion the events that would change my life forever. I was a man of only 25 then having spent my formative years fighting in Antar since 14, but now I was finally home.

It was strange to come home to this of course, my Fathers death had shook me to my core when I heard about it in Antar despite, or perhaps because of, our relatively cool relationship. To have one of the first things upon my return home be the granting of a title I wasn't expecting to inherit for atleat 10 more years was a shock.

But I kept my nerve, I mean how could I not, I was in the presence of many of my soon to be peers in the cortes and most importantly the King himself. So I kept myself as stoic as I possibly could, steeling my resolve as I approached the throne. The ceremony itself was a rather dull and affair, an exchange of oaths between me and the King, much like many of our old traditions.

Though there was an interesting breach of etiquette when someone called for "Huzzah for Lord Autumn, the most gallant of soldiers" and I received three huzzahs from the chamber. After that I quickly found my place among the other Saltcoast lords, who all moved to give me a seat and welcome me to the chamber.

Then it happened, Wulfrum was granted the floor near the end of a long and tedious session of the courtes. He started with a blatant bit of flattery aimed towards officers of the dozen year war such as myself. But then he moved onto the real reason he took the floor as he gave an address calling for an end to the war taxes that had devastated the commons and a shrinking of the Tierran military.

Immediately there was an uproar in the chamber as the voices of supporters and those against clashed in a cacophony of anger and vitriol. The King looked on all this, his knuckles white around the hilt of the royal sword Pactmaker, as his Chancellor of the Exquencer, Earl Weathern, the man responsible for managing the crown's taxes and spending, looked on in tight-lipped fury.

I knew then that I had to make my position known, so I stood, ignoring the hand trying to stop me, and moved towards the throne. The king gives ascent for me to speak, despite obvious reluctance because of some archaic custom of a lord not speaking during his first session in the cortes, so I begin.

"My Lords, if we must speak of matters of state, let us do so without illusions," I began, "It is easy to speak of abstracts as we sit in this chamber, of 'armies' and 'fleets,' of 'defences' and 'economies.' Yet let us not forget that armies are made up of men. They are led by gentlemen of the blood, that is true, but if there is anything that my years at war have taught me, it is that an army without its common soldiery is like a mast without sails. Without this common soldier, there can be no army." I then had given a pause to let the lords of the cortes stew on what I said.

"Yet who is this soldier?" I continued after the pause "What compels him to brave hardship and battle? Ask any soldier, and the answer will come readily enough: he fights for Tierra and her King. Yet what are these things to him, a man who has likely never before left his home village, a man who has likely never glimpsed his King? Ask him, and he will tell you: to him, Tierra means his old parents at home in their cottage, it is the girl he means to marry, the children he means to sire, the shop he means to open. The King is the man who keeps these things safe for him, so that he may return to them, once his service is done."

Then I turned slowly for dramatic effect and pitched my voice low and ominous.

"So what happens when he comes to find that the King's taxes have driven his old parents out of their cottage? That they have driven his sweetheart to destitution? That they have snatched away his chance for a shop and a family? Will he fight for a kingdom that is empty promises? Will he fight for a King who he believes has betrayed him?"

I let the lords stew on that for a few moments, reaching the answer on their own, before finishing "relief must be brought to the poor. These onerous taxes must end. Beggar our people to pay for our army, and we shall soon find ourselves with neither."

This speech would be met with applause as some lords leaped to their feet with enthusiasm. The Duke Wulfram had even met my gaze and nodded with approval. But there where those who met my speech with stone faced silence, one of whom was the King Himself.