The Fury of Firestorm #1 is a Haunting Slow Burn (Review)

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Firestorm is back with what might be his most compelling comic book series yet. While Ronnie Raymond, the Nuclear Man, first appeared almost 50 years ago and has been featured in several comics, he hasn’t been the main focus for quite some time, aside from some appearances in titles like Justice League Unlimited. Now, as DC Comics launches the second phase of its All In initiative—also known as Next Level—they’re shining a light on characters like Firestorm who haven’t had as much attention in the past.

What’s been happening with Firestorm, and how does it connect to his upcoming series? Firestorm, along with many other heroes and villains, fought in the DC K.O. Omega Tournament to prevent an invasion by Darkseid. Though he didn’t win, Firestorm, like all the competitors, was exposed to powerful Alpha and Omega energy when Superman won the tournament. This energy has given everyone visions of the future and even unlocked new abilities. A new series from Jeff Lemire and Rafael De Latorre will explore the impact of these events on Firestorm.

Rating: 4 out of 5

PROS CONS
Amazing, tense start to story Slow burn take might not be for everyone
Art serves the story well Somewhat exposition heavy

The Fury of Firestorm #1 is a Slow, But Incredible Start to New Series

The first issue of The Fury of Firestorm introduces the hero as he arrives in the quiet town of Bedford, Colorado. Over the following week, Firestorm essentially turns Bedford into his personal lab, using his powers to change everything around him – buildings, the landscape, and even the people who live there. This activity doesn’t go unnoticed by the Department of Defense, who reach out to Firestorm’s former teammate, Loraine Reilly (also known as Firehawk), hoping she can help calm things down. Loraine quickly realizes something is wrong with Ronnie, and she discovers that, unlike before, he isn’t sharing control of the Firestorm power with another person, which seems to be causing his unpredictable actions.

Two soldiers accompany Firehawk as he confronts Firestorm, who quickly kills one of them. Firehawk firmly believes the being before him isn’t Ronnie Raymond. We then see a brief flashback of the familiar Firestorm – Ronnie, with Professor Stein as his guide. However, this is revealed to be a false hope, a mental prison within the Firestorm Matrix designed to suppress Ronnie’s consciousness. The Matrix is now in control and shows no signs of stopping its destructive actions.

DC Combines Horror, Action, and Mystery for a New Kind of Firestorm Book

Knowing Jeff Lemire’s previous work, I expected this story to be atmospheric and unfold slowly, building a mystery over time. While his stories usually deliver in the end, it can sometimes be tough to stay fully invested with each individual issue – as seen with the reaction to Absolute Flash. However, I don’t see the slow pace as a negative here. It might frustrate some readers, but I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing how Lemire’s mystery develops.

I have to give a lot of credit to Rafael De Latorre – his work on this is fantastic. The character designs, page layouts, and panel work are all top-notch. Even though Firestorm’s destruction of Bedford is only shown across a few pages, De Latorre makes it genuinely disturbing. I also appreciate how seamlessly his art flows and how he adapts his style to fit the story, such as changing it to reflect Ronnie’s previous series when depicting his mental prison. Colorist Marcelo Maiolo deserves recognition too, as that scene was visually striking.

This book has a lot of potential, but newcomers to Firestorm might find it a bit dense. While it briefly covers Firestorm’s backstory, it occasionally pulls focus from the main narrative – though not significantly. The creative team nailed the atmosphere, making it dark, unusual, and unpredictable. Having followed Jeff Lemire’s Black Hammer series, I’m confident this book will improve with each issue and become something truly special.

The first issue of The Fury of Firestorm is a compelling read, but it’s not for everyone. If you don’t enjoy horror or stories that unfold gradually, you might not love it. However, fans of Lemire’s work will find this story perfectly suited to his strengths. This issue introduces a new mystery and direction for Firestorm, hinting at a darker path for the hero. With DC’s Next Level initiative encouraging bold storytelling, now is the perfect time for this kind of experimentation. If you’re looking for something unusual and different, Firestorm is worth checking out.

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2026-04-08 16:41