#joshreed

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