Arrow: A Generation of Vipers

It's always with just a bit of trepidation that I read a book that is based on a television show or movie, as I am always concerned that the authors will not be able to truly capture the feel of the show or film, or that they will be unable to give the characters the proper feel that they have in the show or film.  In the first half of this two-part story, which began in the Flash novel, The Haunting of Barry Allen, writers Clay and Susan Griffith showed that they had a grasp on the cast of Flash.  With this second part, they show that they have an equal feel for the cast of Arrow.

The Arrow television show is a bit darker and a bit more serious than the Flash, and A Generation of Vipers follows that format.  As Team Flash works overtime to try to find out what is causing Barry's gliches in the speed force, Arrow hits to streets of Central City to protect the town in Flash's absence.  But you can't keep a good hero down, and Barry is determined to help save lives, even if it costs him his own.  A cure, however, may not be as far away as they think.  When the combined forces of Team Flash and Team Arrow uncover a power source that was first created at Queen Industries back in the day, they set out to find it.  But someone else is also on the hunt...

Which, of course, leads to the obligatory Arrow flashback scenes (ugh, how I hate them on the television show, so to have to read them in printed form is pure torture!!  but, as I said, the Griffins definitely keep the flavor of the show, and sadly, those flashbacks are a part of it).  Readers will gain some more insight into Oliver's time on that dastardly island, as well as some pre-island time when Oliver was just another spoiled, rich playboy that influenced a friend that has now become a very dangerous enemy in the present.

Oh, and did I mention that the search for a cure for Barry ultimately leads the combined teams over to Markovia.  Yes, the very country from which Geo-Force and Terra hail from (although neither characters are seen or mentioned here, sadly).  However, we do get a surprise visit from Malcolm Merlyn, who offers his aid to the desperate heroes - but at what cost?

One of the best things about this story is the character interaction.  All the non-super-powered characters of Arrow and how they deal with the super-powered characters from the Flash is always good for a smile and sometimes a laugh.  Felicity and Cisco's geekness, Barry's carefree nature at opposition with Oliver's seriousness, and John's struggle with grasping not only super-powered humans, but the idea of a multiverse.  With 402 pages of story, the book felt like an extra-long episode (or maybe even a two-parter if it were on TV), and had they elected to drop the flashback chapters, I would have found this book to be nearly as perfect as the Flash novel.  Fun, with plenty of action, spot-on characterization, a spectacular climax, and plenty of underhanded tricks and surprises.

Now, I'll admit, the only reason I picked this up was because of the Flash.  While I watch the Arrow television show, I'm not a huge fan of Arrow himself (the character - the actor, well he's a whole 'nother story!).  Not sure if I'll pick up any future Arrow novels, unless they have a crossover with the Flash (or maybe even the Legends of Tomorrow - wonder if we'll be getting any novels of that group?).  But, for what it was worth, this book was a good read, and I enjoyed it - provided a satisfying conclusion to the story started in the first Flash novel.

8 stolen wormhole generators out of 10 for being able to keep the feel of both television shows and all the characters therein and putting them into a story worth reading!

The Flash: The Haunting of Barry Allen

I may not have sped through this book as quickly as Barry Allen speeds through Central City as the Flash, but I can honestly say that I finished this book quicker than most! At 414 pages, I expected The Haunting of Barry Allen to take me closer to 4 or 5 days to finish, particularly during the week when about the only chance I have to read is when I'm eating lunch or working out on the elliptical in the gym at work; however, this book drew me in so quickly and had me so easily feeling like I was watching an episode of the television show that I couldn't put it down.

Authors Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith have written a number of science fiction / fantasy books, as well as some comics and young reader books. This appears to be their first time writing a novel based on a television show, but I give them total props - they managed to capture the character and essence of each and every person, bringing the television personas to life on the page. From Barry Allen to Oliver Queen and all of their supporting cast and sidekicks, the Griffiths brought just as many smiles to my face as I was reading the book as the television shows do when I am watching them!

The first part of a two-part book crossover (the second part of which is in the next Arrow novel), The Haunting of Barry Allen focuses more on the Flash. As the Pied Piper gathers a group of rogues (including Weather Wizard, Mist, Prism, and Peekaboo) with the idea of methodically wearing Central City's defenses down until it is ready for the taking, the Flash finds himself "blurring" out of phase with this reality and seeing not only his future self urging him to run faster, but all the failures from his past - including Gorilla Grodd, Ronnie Raymond, and the Reverse Flash.  As the blurs become more frequent and seem to happen at the very moment when he is about to stop the rogues, Caitlin and Cisco do everything they can to discover the source.  When all else fails, they call in some outside help.

Enter: Green Arrow and gang.

Oliver, Felicity, and John make a trip from Star City to help their friend. As Barry's health slowly declines, Oliver and John work feverishly to protect Central City from the attacks of the rogues, who are working with precision, sweeping in and out, causing the most damage to the city without ever getting caught.  And when the Piper makes the mayor an offer that could save the city but cost them millions - as well as their famed hero! - the Flash and Arrow know that their time is running out.

Dare I say it?  The story is very fast-paced, with the action never stopping; yet, at the same time, just like the TV show, there is plenty of character interaction and development and the right amount of humor to keep it from getting too bogged down with all the action.  The timing of the story is clearly after season one (as it references Reverse Flash being gone, and Iris knows that Barry is the Flash and is helping at Star Labs), but it's not clear whether it takes place after season two or not (although there is a reference to Zoom from season two). Regardless, not knowing exactly where it fit into the TV show continuity does not detract at all from the enjoyment of the story.

I would say this is a definite must-read for any fan of the show - and in case you are wondering, it does end with a mild cliff-hanger, which sets up the second part of this story in Arrow's Generation of Vipers.

RATING:  10 microscopes with slides of fly wings out of 10 for staying true to the television version of these characters and providing a Flash/Arrow fix during the summer break!