'The Flash:' What's the verdict?

Comic book-based movies have been dominating Hollywood in recent years ("Guardians of the Galaxy," anyone?). But this season, TV is following suit in a big way. The CW has a high-profile new series this season with "The Flash." Critics are praising Grant Gustin's performance as the "fastest man alive."

One of the hottest new series is Fox's "Gotham," which examines Batman's city many years before Batman began.

AMC's "The Walking Dead" got the comics-on-TV trend going in 2010, and it's now one of the top five most-watched shows on TV.

The fan base for "Arrow" has grown over the last two seasons. This new take on Green Arrow is a guaranteed action extravaganza each week.

Fans enjoyed last season's finale of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," which took a nod from the events of "Captain America: Winter Soldier." The Marvel TV and movie universes are sure to collide again this season on the ABC series.

"Marvel's Agent Carter" will debut in early 2015, while "S.H.I.E.L.D." takes a break. This series chronicles the beginnings of S.H.I.E.L.D. as co-founded by Captain America's World War II-era girlfriend, Peggy Carter.

Rabid fans of Guillermo del Toro's vampire comic book series "The Strain" have praised the FX adaptation.

The 2005 Keanu Reeves movie "Constantine" didn't exactly launch a franchise, so NBC is giving it a go again in October with a new version of the comic book anti-hero, as played by Matt Ryan.

Rob Thomas of "Veronica Mars" fame is loosely adapting the cult comic book favorite "iZombie" for the CW in 2015. Rose McIver ("Masters of Sex," "Once Upon a Time") stars as a zombified woman who tries to live a normal afterlife ... when not snacking on brains.

• The CW's "The Flash" premieres tonight


• The network is hoping to have another success on par with "Arrow"


• Critics have been largely positive

(CNN) -- Speedy hero Barry Allen -- a.k.a. the Flash -- is zooming back onto TV.

Tonight, the CW will unveil its new fall series about the Scarlet Speedster, reviving the story of how scientist Barry Allen came to be the uberswift superhero after being hit by lightning.

The freshman series, which stars Grant Gustin as the endearing lead, was introduced through the CW's other comics-inspired series, "Arrow." With that program in its third season, the CW is surely hoping to find another success story with "The Flash."

Comic books invade the small screen

Critics are willing to give it a shot. "The CW's 'The Flash' is one of the most enjoyable, agreeable and infectiously exuberant new shows of the fall," applauded TV Guide, and USA Today's Robert Bianco predicted that "The Flash" could follow in "Arrow's" longevity footsteps if it "can maintain the quality of the plot."

That said, the last time "the fastest man alive" was on TV, it didn't work out so well. In 1990, it was John Wesley Shipp who wore the iconic red suit and raced around alongside co-stars Amanda Pays and Alex Desert. But that series was canceled after a single season.

Shipp is getting a second chance at seeing the Flash find a home on TV in his role as Barry Allen's father in the CW's new version.

According to "The Flash" actress Candice Patton, who plays Barry's love interest, Iris, everyone from executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg on down is "very aware of the love for Flash."

To that end, longtime fans can expect to feel right at home viewing "The Flash's" debut, which airs on the CW at 8 p.m. ET.

"Our series feels and looks like the comic book in a lot of ways," Patton said. "The design is so incredible."