Flash 226 page 15 by Steve Lightle

First and foremost, Lightle makes again great use of verticality in this page. In the layout itself then in the actual drawing.

That first splashy image with the tiny Flash and Piper really gives a sense of dread as the two characters are boxed in by the surounding moutain. This gives a true sense of the “what are we in face of the dangerous nature” truism? Lightle centered them in a sort of pocket as if the moutain is about to crush or eat them, a feeling reinforced by the ice stalactites on the side of the ledge that makes it look like a preying mouth.

The first insert gives us a shilling (pun intended) close up of Piper drowning in avalanche snow. You really get a sense that he is nearly gone.

Then Flash pops in and dig him up. His speedy arm enhances the sense of urgency here.

Then an open panel to pull you in the intensity of the scene. Walton is missing, nowhere to be seen and the death clock is racing on. Piper's facer expertly shows the disorientation one would expect from someone having just been rescued from certain icy death.

Then we get a nice storytelling device in that that close-up of the Flash, where we can clearly sees that he is seriously doubting he will be able to rescue those two guys despite his vast powers, is open in the page and yet boxed in by two inserts. His self-doubt looking away from Piper in that first insert as he tries to warm himself up, facing the reader so that he perceives all the emotional turmoil of the hero up front, is spot on. The tension of that moment is closed by that second insert in which we are reminded that the hero is not at his best here as he is quite sick which renders him unable to function at his peak at a moment where nothing but his peak will save them all. His frustration is obvious. A diminished hero crushed by dire circumstances, the need to act quickly while being unable to properly think and function. The scene is sublty placed in the bottom right corner to prompt the reader to turn the page.

I will confess that I find that particular part may not be instantly readable as it is often the case with great storytelling/ers but the reader is rewarded by paying attention to it.

Another great emotional page from Lightle.