Flash #36 — Wally West brings the Scarlet Speedster to Metropolis for a Ryan North and Gavin Guidry special

Wally West trades Central City for Metropolis in this hilarious new special. Ryan North and Gavin Guidry team up to put the Flash in a world of kryptonian-scale chaos, where saving two cities turns into a city-wide game of whack-a-mole. It’s fast, it’s funny, and it’s exactly the kind of book you need right now.

There’s something uniquely charming about handing a comic to a reader and saying, "You’re going to love this one" without having to explain the complex continuity required to understand it. That’s the gift Ryan North has crafted with Flash #36. This isn’t a continuity-heavy event; it’s a standalone special that invites you in with a simple, irresistible premise: Wally West is tired of just Central and Keystone City, so he’s decided to take his brand of chaotic good to Metropolis.

Imagine the Fastest Man Alive trying to balance being a hero in three major metropolitan areas. Wally is scaling up his efforts, but as anyone who’s ever tried to multitask knows, things rarely go perfectly. In this issue, he finds himself in a whirlwind of shenanigans, encountering some of Superman’s most iconic villains in a battle for the city’s soul. And yes, there might be a Battlemech or two thrown into the mix.

The visual energy here is hard to overstate. Gavin Guidry, who handles both writing and art duties, brings a kinetic, polished aesthetic that makes every panel feel like it’s moving at Mach speed. His linework captures the slapstick physicality of Wally’s approach to heroism—where punching bad guys really fast is not just a tactic, but a personality trait. It’s a vibrant, lively backdrop for North’s sharp, comedic dialogue.

This is the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with comics in the first place: the joy of seeing a character step outside their normal routine and find humor in the unexpected. Wally’s willingness to engage with the larger DC Universe’s heavy hitters, even if it just leads to more chaotic shenanigans, is a delightful treat for fans of the Scarlet Speedster.

If you’re looking for a quick, energizing read that doesn’t demand you recall a decade of plot points, this is it. The stack for this one is moving quickly, just so you know, so you might want to grab it before it’s off the shelf. It’s a perfect entry point, whether you’re a longtime Wally fan or just someone who loves a good superhero comedy.