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Pick Your Pickle and Prepare for Puns: Pickleball's Board Game Just Launched. A fast, fun, irreverent board game that celebrates the joy of Pickleball. Fans of silly puns, pickles, and fast-paced games alike have a new game to add to their list of must-haves: HotShot Pickleball. This delightful card-drawing board game is quick to learn and gives a surprising amount of opportunity to lightly strategize as you race to the ball and attempt to hit it back over the net to your opponent. The debut release from indie studio Midnight Trading Co., HotShot Pickleball was made while game designer Robert Gelb was recovering from an Achilles injury sustained, ironically, by playing Pickleball. For those who haven’t heard of pickleball, it's the fastest-growing sport in the world, with over 32 million players last year. HotShot Pickleball is a lively, family-friendly game that combines the fun of the sport with a cast of quirky, pickle-themed characters like Stew Cumber, Kim Chee, and Corni

Guest Review: The Flash #14 - Gorilla Warfare, Part 2: Last Ape Standing

The Flash #14 Review


The Flash #14 Cover
Get Away From Grodd Original Review by Johnkmccubbin91 at Comic Vine

I have been thoroughly enjoying this series, and it has easily been the best Flash series I have ever read. I've been enjoying how the stories have intertwined into this story and how we've got to learn more about the Speed Force throughout the series.

Plot

This issue sees Flash running away from Gorilla Grodd who now has the Speed Force going through him, allowing him to keep up with Flash. Meanwhile Iris West is still trapped in the Speed Force and Turbine is aiding Patty Spivot and Captain Frye in finding Barry.

Review

This was a brilliant issue and this story just keeps getting better, and better. What Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato have done over this series has been amazing and I've loved how they've brought Grodd and his Gorilla army to Barry's world, when he least expects it. I've also liked how they have made Grodd slightly equal, if not more powerful than Barry now by giving him the Speed Force. I've also liked the way they've written all the side characters in this issue, and how even the Rogues know that this Gorilla invasion isn't good.

The art form Manapul, along with Buccellato's colors have been outstanding throughout the series, and continue to amaze in this issue. I like how both writer's have a hand in the a hand in the artwork making it that much more personal to them, and showing that their main talent is their artwork. Manapul's drawing is brilliant and I love how he puts so much detail and emotion into his work, even with the smaller sequences, or panels that have the characters in the distance. Buccellato's colors bring Manapul's art to life and gives tons of tone to the series. I also love how he choices when to use soft or hard colors perfectly which make the art beautiful. It's nice to see that they can both not only write an amazing story, but give us some truly amazing art, which I thank them for.

Grodd with the Speed Force
Grodd having the Speed Force in this issue was very interesting, and it made the chase between him and Flash even more exciting. It was also nice to see how Flash reacted, whilst having someone able to keep up with him. The anger in Grodd's face was also brilliant, and it was easily noticeable that Grodd had bad intentions, and that it wouldn't be good for Flash if Grodd caught him.

I liked how the Rogues were still fighting alongside Flash, even if Flash wasn't there, and how they realized that Grodd's invasion is a lot more important than fighting Flash. It was also interesting to see that the Rogues still had time to argue amongst themselves, mainly Captain Cold and Golden Glider arguing over who is leader of the Rogues.

Grodd breaking Flash's suit in this issue was very interesting and it showed that Flash wasn't indestructible,
Grodd Breaks Flash's Suit
and that his suit could be damaged. Flash's reaction to his suit breaking was also brilliant, and it was easily noticeable that Flash couldn't believe what just happened. Flash's suit breaking also leaves the question of how easily Flash's secret identity could be revealed, and if Barry will eventually find a material that could withstand more impact, whilst being able to maintain the friction of his speed.

Evolution
The way this issue started was amazing, and I loved how it talked about evolution, and how the Gorilla's came to talk. It was also interesting to see how the Speed Force first came to the Gorilla's. I also liked how it explained that Evolution wasn't always what the great scientists like Charles Darwin thought it was and that Evolution could surprise you.

I also liked how we got to see Iris in the Speed Force, as I actually forgot she was in there. I will be looking forward to seeing if she gets out of the Speed Force, and if it will happen during this story.

Final Verdict

This was an amazing issue and one of the best in the series so far. I would highly recommend this issue and am looking forward to seeing what will happen to Flash in next issue.

Rating: 4.5/5


What I Thought

Cover - 4/5
Art - 4/5
Colors/Ink/Lettering - 3/5
Layout/Flow - 4/5
Story - 4/5
Verdict - 3.9

This was a pretty good issue and should be interesting to see how things play out. My only gripe actually stems from the last issue, where the battle against the Rogues IMO was cut short for Grodd. Then we get a issue that shows the Rogues for a few seconds but mainly doesn't really involve them. I enjoyed the art in the issue but for a flash comic to me the colors were kinda dull and the inking was subdued. The issue does a good job of pacing even with the flashbacks, the Speed Force and Iris, and Turbine and Patty's story.

Purchase The Flash #14 on Amazon


John McCubbin is a blogger at http://imaginationcentre.blogspot.co.uk/ and a comic book reviewer at Comic Vine. The use of this review has been authorized by the original author.

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