Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #3 – Review

By: J.T. Krul (writer), Fabrizio Fiorentino (artist), Kyle Ritter & Ander Zarate (colorists)

The Story: Wow Boston—we’re so close now, it’s like you’re in me.

The Review: Here’s a pretty good indicator of worthwhile series: when each episode, chapter, or issue has its own agenda yet plays together with the others to form a cohesive story.  In other words, if you can predict how things will turn out the next time around by what you get at the moment, then you lose nearly the whole point of a continued plotline.  When the element of surprise disappears, so does your reason for investment.

Krul has set up a pattern of movement which every issue of this title has followed, even to the very end.  We again start with a foreboding monologue: “But instead of bringing a spectacle of thrills, we brought the dogs of war.  We brought the Amazons.  We brought death.”  Gag-worthy melodramatics aside, let’s commend Krul for that “dogs of war” bit; way to skirt the line on calling those women something offensive, sir.

We also have the obligatory scenes of Boston trying to weasel the easy way out of the life-and-death situation our circus crew find themselves in, and of Dick acting impulsively self-righteous.  It’s a noble attitude, no doubt, but grating just the same, especially when coupled with claims like, “We became soldiers the day the war started.  We just didn’t know it until now.”  Their squabbling over survival vs. justice is part of a tiresome formula we’ve grown all too used to.