Geoff Johns posted on Comic Bloc this morning about plans for the Flash through 2010. He recommends that Flash fans read Blackest Night #5, says he’s seen Blackest Night: Flash #1 and goes on to reveal:
- March sees the release of Flash Secret Files 2010.
- April features “not one, but two new Flash titles. There have been a few minor top secret alterations that will be revealed soon, I think, about the books.”
Presumably that means The Flash and Kid Flash will both debut in April. The top secret alterations may include a backup feature in Kid Flash, or perhaps an artist change. (I suppose it could mean two Flash books in April and then Kid Flash in May, but that seems unlikely for now.)
He talks a little about the new series:
The first arc of THE FLASH is called THE DASTARDLY DEATH OF THE ROGUES and should be self-explanatory…kind of.
Other arcs will include MURDER IN GORILLA CITY, THE RETURN OF ### ######## and a brand new Rogue with a power unlike anyone in comics, but perfect for the Flash.
Johns also addresses the delays with Flash: Rebirth, saying it’s “as frustrating for [him] as anyone” and adding that “after much debate, we didn’t want to hand the series over to another artist or spilt up the book.”
There’s a lot more, particularly about Blackest Night: The Flash. He notes that “the ending [of the first issue?] might be my favorite line Captain Cold has ever uttered.”
I’m a little bothered by the fact that Blackest Night: The Flash #1 will be out just before The Flash: Rebirth #6 as it seems from Geoff that it will partially spoil the ending of Rebirth, or at least some aspects of it. So we’ll get a glimpse at the new status quo of the franchise before Rebirth wraps, but he seems just as annoyed by that as anyone. I love Ethan Van Sciver`s work, but I wish he were faster. Oh well, no ones perfect. The important thing Geoff mentioned, in my opinion, is that he and others are still committed to The Flash as I was a little worried about their ability to be so, what with his commitment to Blackest Night and other projects taking precedent right now (at least Flash is a major player in Blackest Night though).
I am not that bothered by it, especially after the reveals in Countdown involving Kyle Rayner and Parallax.
I’m still hoping for Black Lantern Atomic Banana Peel. I can even picture it in my head a Banana peel with a Black Lantern “sticker” on it where the Dole or Chiquita sticker would normally be found…
Bart could be eating a banana at super speed throw the peel on the ground and then there’d be a panel showing the “Black Lantern” sticker on it and Grandpa Barry not seeing that Bart dropped the banana peel on the ground slips on it… and off he goes into the stratosphere at super speed.
He notes that “the ending [of the first issue?] might be my favorite line Captain Cold has ever uttered.”
“Ice to see you.”
Oh god.. lol :]
“Everybody chill.”
It seems like the Barry Allen stories featured in the new Flash title will have a very Silver-Age slant to them based on the names of those first few storyarcs. I wish he had given us more information on the Wally West co-feature though.
Has the artist for the Kid Flash book been announced yet? I don’t remember hearing anything. I know Francis Manapul (sp?) is doing the Barry Allen stories and Scott Kolins is doing the Wally West stuff, but I would love to know who the other artist is.
No word yet on the Kid Flash artist. I have to admit I’m a bit concerned that the “top secret alterations” might be changing some of the things I’m looking forward to.
Same here. Although maybe we’ll get an “All-Flash” title after all. Honestly though, I hope the “alterations” means that Francis Manapul is getting moved to the Kid Flash title as he seems to handle younger characters better. Though that would leave the question as to who would be doing the Barry Allen stories.
Rob Liefeld?
I have not been this excited about the Flash in a good long while. Can’t wait!
No guesses on who ### ######## is?
.-= Brandan’s latest blog post: SpeedsterSite: @FrancisManapul You can! Trust me, people rarely check their twitter feed anyway. =-.
(Getting to this a little late. Okay, a lot late.)
You know what I’d really like to see, but know we won’t? A Wally back-up running in BOTH books, telling a single story and by a single creative team. As it stands, I’m not sure I’ll be picking up either Flash book going forward, but that would tempt me a good deal.