May 24, 2009
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May 22, 2009
Some links of note before this holiday weekend:
Flashy Links
Comics Should Be Good’s Year of Comic Book Moments features Flash v.2 #73, Wally and Linda’s first Christmas together and a surprise visit from the man in red.
Somehow I missed this when it was posted, but Mightygodking has an off-kilter profile of the Rainbow Raider.
Comic Coverage looks at the time Mirror Master managed to transform the Flash into a mirror.
Silver Age Comics looks at the way crime was treated as an addiction in many comics of the era, particularly The Flash — again focusing on the Mirror Master.
Update: Karl Kerschl has posted a progress shot of the Flash being inked for Wednesday Comics.
Whirlwind Tour
The Source previews what’s in store for Justice Society of America as Bill Willingham, Matt Sturges and Jesus Merino take over the book.
Darcey McLaughlin of the Miramichi Leader notes that death has lost all meaning in comic books.
Scott’s Classic Comics Corner (Comics Should Be Good) has an interesting post on measuring scarcity in comics collecting.
Karl Kerschl’s (Flash in Wednesday Comics) webcomic, The Abominable Charles Christopher, has reached its 100th episode.
Finally, if you’ll excuse the plug, please take a look at my eBay auctions if you haven’t recently. I’ve got several DVDs and CDs up right now, as well as a promotional Star Trek T-shirt from San Diego 2007.
May 21, 2009
Sony has just released character designs and a bio of the Flash in DC Universe Online, and Newsarama has the scoop. The Flash has previously appeared in demos and screenshots of the upcoming MMORPG, but I don’t recall seeing the design artwork before…or the character biography.
The surprise here is that Jim Lee’s design is still recognizably Wally West’s costume with the V-shaped belt, rather than Barry Allen’s. Considering that DC has been re-focusing the Flash franchise around Barry Allen, I would have expected them to use him for their next flagship game. And besides, Geoff Johns is writing both Flash: Rebirth and the storylines for DCUO. On the other hand Mortal Kombat vs. DCU used a costume that was closer to Wally’s than Barry’s, and called him Barry Allen. The biography is quite specific, though:
The Fastest Man Alive, Wally West easily runs at light speed, vibrates through objects, create explosions through friction – and, when at agonizing top capacity, can manipulate time and bridge dimensions.
The Flash is a time-honored member of the Justice League. The latest in a long line of Flashes, each with their own unique way of tapping into the primal “Speed Force,” Wally is determined to live up to the noble legacies of speedsters such as Barry Allen, Max Mercury, and Jay Garrick.
It’s hard to get more specific than that!
(Speaking of Jay Garrick, the design for his appearance in the game was released last summer.)
Newsarama has more images and details.
Update: jcbagee points to a gallery of more images at Kotaku. In addition to some slightly larger versions of the same images, there are a bunch of screenshots from the game itself, including this one with some (presumably) player-character speedsters:
Oddly enough, the Flash’s eyes seem blue in the renderings…
Update 2: CBR has the same set of images as Kotaku, and the bio.
The Word Balloon podcast interviews Geoff Johns, and the writer talks about Flash: Rebirth, Blackest Night, and Legion of Three Worlds. Newsarama has a few excerpts, including this bit about reader reaction to Barry Allen’s characterization:
I love the discussion and debates, because I know where this story is going …I remember when we did The Sinestro Corps Wars, and Kyle at the end of the first issue was possessed by Parallax. People went crazy! They couldn’t believe how we could do this (laughs) …and Ethan was saying ‘We should tell them that he’s not going to be Parallax,’ and I said ‘No! Let them get riled up, because they should, but we know where this story ends.’ … In Flash: Rebirth, Barry is searching for the same answers…this story is trying to solve a crime, but Barry is moving much too fast to do that. [Emphasis added.]
The whole interview is about an hour long. I know what I’m going to be listening to at lunch!
Update: I forgot my headphones, so I had to wait until I got home to listen. 
Things that stood out, Flash-wise:
- Trying to go against expectations
- Twist coming for Wally
- Flash is back, but Barry isn’t yet (figuratively speaking)
- Bart’s attitude toward the Rogues is sort of “Nyah, nyah, missed me!”
- Bart and Barry are in sync in terms of sensing that something’s wrong.
- Expanding the Flash mythos so that there could be more than one Flash book post-Rebirth
I hope you won’t mind me using this blog for a little self-promotion. I’m selling off some duplicate CDs and DVDs, plus a Star Trek T-shirt from the Paramount panel at Comic-Con International 2007.
- DVDs: Angel Seasons 1-5 (individual season boxed sets)
- CDs: Tori Amos “A Piano” boxed set (massive 5-disc archive of hits, rarities, alternate mixes, etc.)
- T-Shirt: Star Trek (XL) from the new J.J. Abrams movie. Handed out at San Diego Comic-Con in 2007, still has the original 12-25-08 release date on the back. It’s never been worn.
Here’s the link to all my auctions. Most of them run through Sunday, May 24.
CBR has posted a write-up of the DC Nation panel at Bristol Comics Expo last weekend, and Dan Didio has (as usual) some interesting things to say about the Flash.
All modern concepts of The Flash stem from the Silver Age Barry Allen version of him, and ‘The Flash: Rebirth’ does not negate the all of the stories that have gone before, it merely brings back the star character of the franchise in order to revitalize and expand the Flash universe, using the core concept as the foundation.
Well, sure, it doesn’t negate them…except for the stories that have been negated. For example, anything that involves Barry’s parents being alive during his career as the Flash, like the Identity Crisis tie-in, “The Secret of Barry Allen.” Hmm, I wonder who wrote that one?
Undoing Crisis on Infinite Earths
He also explains that since the “pillars of ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’” — the deaths of the Flash and Supergirl, and elimination of the multiverse — had long since started falling, they might as well knock them all over. I’m not sure I’d consider those “pillars.” Things that happened, sure, but the key purpose of COIE was to combine DC’s multiple universes’ worth of characters into a single, cohesive history — and that still stands. There may be alternate realities, alternate timelines, hypertime, a multiverse, whatever you want to call it — but they’re all variations on a theme.
There’s still a main DC Universe which is home to all the Golden Age DC characters, all the Silver Age DC characters, all the characters DC bought from Fawcett, Quality, Charlton and other companies, even the Milestone and Archie/Red Circle characters that they just licensed last year. They’re all part of “The DC Universe,” which itself has become a brand name.
Just adding a multiverse that contains worlds for the Tangent characters, popular Elseworlds concepts, and new alternate realities? That doesn’t undo the Crisis. Really undoing it would mean splitting off groups of characters into separate universes, and at this point DC couldn’t do that without a much more substantial reboot than they did with Zero Hour or Infinite Crisis.
Waiting for the Trade
One last note: Didio’s perspective on trade-waiting, and DC’s focus on periodicals:
We have to make it feel like you can’t wait for the trade. I hate the expression ‘wait for the trade.’ It’s the thing that upsets me the most, because it means in my opinion that what we’re creating isn’t worth reading now. ‘I can pick it up a year from now.’
It’s an interesting take on the issue. It reminds me of a remark someone else made about how if you wait for the trade, you might not remember to pick it up a year from now, whereas if you’re buying something every month, you’re a lot less likely to forget. I suppose there’s some truth to that, but I’ll say this much: when it comes to prose authors I follow, if I’m following a series or really looking forward to their new book, I’m going to either pre-order it or go straight to the local bookstore the week it comes out.
I mean, how many Harry Potter fans forgot to pick up the last book when it came out?
May 20, 2009
It’s official: Flash: Rebirth #1 is a sales success.
ICv2 has released sales data for April 2009, and Flash: Rebirth #1 takes the #2 spot on the chart, right after Detective Comics #853, the first second half of the Neil Gaiman/Andy Kubert Batman story, “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?”
Just out of the starter gate, The Flash: Rebirth #1 sold an estimated 102,429 copies, the highest the book has sold since the launch of Flash: The Fastest Man Alive in 2006. The first issue of that series, featuring an adult Bart Allen as the Flash, sold 120,404 copies in the first month, climbing to 126,741 with reorders. (Of course, sales on subsequent issues of Flash: TFMA dropped sharply after that initial spike, so only time will tell.)
I’m not sure The Flash has ever been this high in the rankings. I imagine this is the first time Flash outsold every single X-Men book on the market, including Wolverine!
Also interesting: 8 of the top 10 books (by units sold) were priced at $3.99.
May 19, 2009
This week sees the conclusion of the Titans/Teen Titans/Vigilante crossover, “Deathtrap,” a new issue of Tiny Titans, and collections of Tiny Titans and Booster Gold featuring Flash and Kid Flash.
Vigilante #6
Written by Marv Wolfman
Art by Tom Lyle & Scott Hanna
Cover by Andrew Robinson
The horrifying conclusion to the Titans/Teen Titans/Vigilante “Deathtrap” crossover! Vigilante takes matters into his own hands to stop Jericho once and for all — even if it means becoming a target himself!
Update: Newsarama has a 6-page preview online.
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Tiny Titans #16
Written by Art Baltazar & Franco
Art and cover by Art Baltazar
It’s another ordinary gym class with Coach Lobo for the Tiny Titans until Supergirl and Kid Flash decide it’s the perfect day for a race around the world. The race isn’t theirs alone as some of the other Tiny Titans decide they don’t want to be left out. And see just what happens when the Atom and the Molecule compete in a shrinking contest.
32 pg, FC, $2.50 US
Tiny Titans: Adventures in Awesomeness TP
Written by Art Baltazar and Franco
Art and cover by Art Baltazar
Check in on the young, adorable heroes of Sidekick Elementary as they head into space, get their report cards, transform into monkeys, fall in love and more! Collecting issues #7-12 of the monthly comic.
FC, 144 pg, $12.99 US
Booster Gold: 52 Pick-Up TP
Written by Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz
Art and cover by Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund
Booster Gold is back in this softcover volume collecting Booster Gold #1-6 as the Super Hero from tomorrow must repair the timeline of the DC Universe to earn membership in the Justice League of America!
160 pg, FC, $14.99 US
Note: This includes a story in which Booster meets a younger Barry Allen and Wally West as Flash and Kid Flash.
May 18, 2009
Newsarama has a preview of DC’s August Solicitations, including Flash: Rebirth #5. Update: Full solicitations are up!
The Flash: Rebirth #5
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and covers by Ethan Van Sciver
The greatest threat to face the Flash Family in decades stands revealed! A new hero will step into an old speedster’s boots! And Barry Allen will make the ultimate sacrifice: his life! Oh yeah, you read that right, but you’ll never believe just what it means! They always say nothing will ever be the same, but trust us, this one will rewrite the history books!
This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver).
On sale August 26 • 5 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Wednesday Comics, team books and more after the cut. Read the rest of this entry »
A bunch of reviews of Flash: Rebirth #2…
Weekly Crisis – “For a book and character that thrives on speed, Rebirth has been a slow and plodding pace that threatens to bore me before Geoff Johns ever really makes me care about Barry Allen’s return or the new grimmer and darker motivation for the Silver Age character.”
Rokk’s Comic Book Revolution – “a good read that still had a few defects that might turn off some readers. I do think that most Flash fans will enjoy The Flash: Rebirth #2. Johns has done his best to try and make Barry accessible to all fans regardless of which Flash you grew up with. ”
Comic Book Resources – “The problem is, right now it feels like nothing is happening. There’s a whole lot of talking and reminiscing, but remarkably little forward movement in a book that is titled The Flash.”
IGN – “At its core, the problem with Rebirth is the way it presents the vast tapestry that is the Flash mythology. There are countless speedsters running around these pages, most of whom dash in and out of the book in rapid succession and with little impact.”
Rikdad – “readers who feel like they need to scan dozens of old back issues can sit back and relax. There is a wealth of old material there, but the road ahead is cutting its own path.”
Comic Book Legacy – “the biggest problem I am having with this series, as of this issue, is the lack of an actual physical threat in the story”
Four Color Media Monitor – “this latest forced darkening of another Silver Age hero whose background was better when it was brighter.”
Read/RANT – “This book is entertaining. You probably won’t be bored. But I kind of wonder who it’s aimed at.”
Reilly 2040 – “I’m aware I’m sounding very down on the series here, and I don’t really mean to. While there are aspects that aren’t quite clicking in this issue, I’m still excited for the series as a whole, and events in this issue are key to the rest of the series”
The Homeworld – “Geoff Johns is trying to bring him back to life, but unfortunatly, the Barry Allen we all know seems to be dead.”
Major Spoilers – “I liked this issue a lot more than the first, mostly because of the insight into Barry’s state of mind. ”
Comix 411 – “A good mystery so far and I’m starting to get into the character of Barry Allen. The only Flash I’ve known has been Wally so this is a bit of a virgin experience. Looking forward to more. ”
Nerdage – video
Tpull’s Weekly DC Comics Review – “Get this now, unless you’re of the type that just cannot stand a little mystery.”
Comics And…Other Imaginary Tales – “The art on this book is just outstanding….The story is where I’m having issues with this book.”
Speaking of Comics – “There are some great set pieces in this book….But I couldn’t help feeling the overall effect of what should be a monumental, groundbreaking comic, came up short.”
Newsarama Best Shots – “I was one of the people who found last month’s debut issue to be more funeral than homecoming, so I was pleased that Flash: Rebirth #2 to be a much more uplifting bit of superhero storytelling.”
Shipmates!: “I am filled with shock, confusion, understanding, horror, omfg I dunno if that’s awesome or not sort of things with my jaw hanging open and a few hours afterwards where I was just wandering around in a haze of trying to grasp what is going on with my beloved Flashes.” (She follows up with a flashback on the Black Flash)
Bureau 42 – “This is an original take on a character returning from the dead. I think this is the first time when the returning character struggled but others didn’t.”
Comic Book Bin – “the mystery of Barry’s return– and the surprising twist on the last page– really do grab the reader”
Comic Per Day – “This issue went a long way towards making Barry a character I’m interested in seeing more of. Just make sure Wally stays in the picture.”
Bee Boy’s Killer Sting – “If you are going to change a character so much, especially his personality, then you may have as well created something new.”
That’s a Wrap – “This latest rebirth is coming across as DC’s worst attempt to reintegrate a character in more than a decade.”
Flash-Back Podcast (audio)
Not exactly a review, but Daily Scans weighs in on the bow tie, Barry’s parents, and Wonder Woman.
There’s also my own review of the book.
Finally, there’s Comic Book Critics Round-up, which assigns scores to each review to try to get an overall sense of critic and reader response.
