4 out of 5

A prologue to an in-series reboot, this zero issue provides the setup for in-coming Flash writer (as of Mad Cave’s issue #16) Dan Abnett’s run: Flash is grounded, relegated to teaching status for the next era of space-faring adventurers for Earth Rocketry Administration – or, yeah, E.R.A.

Admittedly: I only know of Flash in passing (movies, serials, random comics), and do not know the events preceding this; Abnett very cleanly gives us the framing, though, using a press interview to not only give us some background – there’s a time gap since Flash’s last adventure; E.R.A. is a new organization – but also set a tone of the past not seeming all that distant to our lead (it’s possible – pardon, Flash readers, for my ignorance – that some time/space shenanigans mean years have passed for Earthers but not for Gordon), and the imbalance that sets for someone trying to switch from galaxy-traveling epics to training college kids.

To Dan’s immense credit, he puts a lot of this into the panel gutters instead of trying to get too philosophical about it; same is true for some careful poking and prodding at the 2026 political climate, as Flash tries to show-and-tell how even attacking forces can be engaged in conversation and not just assumed to be violent. Artist Manuel Garcia and colorist Ceci de la Cruz build out a great visual balance between the pulpy poppiness that is Flash and something more grounded; Garcia captures the battling emotions on Flash’s face / mannerisms in a way that really supports Dan’s script.

While truly a masterclass in giving us a complete story while also acting as a prologue in a single issue, the one finnicky note I’d have is that it’s too clear that we’re zooming in on two or three of Flash’s students. Both Dan and Manuel let the others fade way into the background. That is how these things go, but I think even one or two panels of trying to engage with the others periodically could’ve made it a bit less obvious.