Speed Force

There’s a whole bunch of Flash-related comics coming out this week!

The Flash Vs. the Rogues TP

Written by John Broome
Art by Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson and others
Cover by Ethan Van Sciver

These seminal tales from the 1960s, torn from the pages of SHOWCASE #8, THE FLASH #105, 106, 110, 113, 117, 122, 140 and 155, introduced the Scarlet Speedster’s Rogues Gallery, including Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Gorilla Grodd, the Weather Wizard, Captain Boomerang and Heat Wave — all prominently featured in FINAL CRISIS: ROGUES’ REVENGE.

144 pg, FC, $14.99 US. Pre-order from Amazon

Justice League: Cry for Justice #5

Written by James Robinson
Art and cover by Mauro Cascioli

Supergirl and Shazam join the team as Prometheus is finally captured! His evil machinations are revealed, but even so, the League may be unable to stop the villain’s disturbing plans as he cuts down one of the members! Don’t miss this shocking new issue that’ll have everybody talking.

5 of 7 · 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Justice Society of America #33

Written by Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges
Art and cover by Jesus Merino

The traitor stands revealed, and his part in the destruction of the Justice Society of America is complete. While the team’s headquarters lies in ruin, the same fate has befallen the team itself! Hold on to your seats, because the JSA as we’ve known it is torn asunder!

32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Blackest Night #5

Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert

The moment you’ve hungered for finally arrives! Who controls death in the DC Universe? NEKRON – Lord of the Undead! The dark being behind the undead Black Lanterns makes his presence and purpose known, and our heroes discover they’re not only fighting for their lives, but their after-lives as well. Don’t miss this game-changing issue from superstar writer Geoff Johns and stellar artist Ivan Reis!

This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Rodolfo Migliari). For every 100 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis).

5 of 8 · 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Teen Titans #77

Written by J.T. Krul
Co-feature written by Sean McKeever
Art by Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson
Co-feature art by Yildiray Cinar & Jlio Ferreira
Cover by Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson

It’s a return of the teenage dead in this BLACKEST NIGHT tie-in issue! There’s certainly no shortage of dead Teen Titans, so when the Black Lanterns come a-calling, old teammates return with a vengeance! It’s a Titan’s worst nightmare come true!

40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Newsarama has the trailer for DC’s upcoming direct-to-DVD/Blu-Ray animated film, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, and IESB has details on the release.

Comics Continuum reports that Josh Keaton will voice the Flash in the cartoon, and adds that Keaton is the voice of Peter Parker on The Spectacular Spider-Man.

The movie is currently scheduled to arrive in stores on February 23, 2010.

Here’s your chance to do a side-by-side (well, vertical-by-vertical) comparison of Barry Allen’s and Wally West’s Flash costumes — including several variations. Spoilers for Flash: Rebirth #5.

Read the rest of this entry »

Flash: Rebirth

• Now that we know for sure Flash: Rebirth will arrive Wednesday, people are searching for Flash: Rebirth #6. (Still Dec. 23.) # (Monday)
• The more I think about it, I’m not sure Wally’s new costume will appear tomorrow. In the middle of a battle? Doesn’t seem like a priority. # (Tuesday)
• That said, both the classic Kid Flash costume and first appearance of the Speed Force costume were roughly instantaneous, so who knows? #
• Sometimes, living in the westernmost timezone in the continental US is annoying. My local comic store isn’t even open yet. # (Wednesday)
• Could be worse. I could be in Alaska or Hawaii. (Not that I’d mind *being* in Hawaii.) Or some other country that has to wait for imports. #
• OK. Comic store opens at 11, and I’m taking lunch early. I should probably grab a snack for mid-afternoon. #
• Yes, Flash: Rebirth #5 is really out! Also bought: Farscape, Dr. Horrible. #
• Another week ends without new delays. Flash: Rebirth #6 is still listed for Dec. 23 on DC’s website. # (Friday)

Movies and TV

• Listening to Dark City soundtrack while scanning a roll of old photos. Just picked up a photo of the sign for Shell Beach. #
• New Global Frequency adaptation? Could be cool. The nifty phones (outpaced by the iPhone) were never the point anyway. #
• The real question is, can they still get Michelle Forbes to play Miranda Zero? #
• Watching Red Sonja. Why is there Kryptonite in this movie? #
• Hey look, it’s not-Conan! But I think they filmed a scene for Conan the Destroyer in the same spot. #

Also, check out the Star Wars Band Names meme from Saturday.

Other Stuff

• Walter West, the Dark Flash, has a cameo in Adventure Comics #4. #
• Cool: Absolute Planetary vol.2 & reprint of vol.1 coming next July! #
• Not sure it’s appropriate for #FollowFriday, but I’ve built a list of the Flash/Kid Flash creative team: @SpeedForceOrg/Flash-Creative-Team. #
• Also, a list of past & present Flash writers & artists on Twitter: @SpeedForceOrg/All-Flash. #FollowFriday(ish) #

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Comics Alliance has a couple of Flashy items: First, a page from the Shortpacked! coloring book: Batman Can Breathe In Space, But Not The Flash.

Second: they look back at a pair of Baby Ruth commercials from the 1990s, featuring Hawkman and an obvious Flash stand-in called the Blur. They have a video clip of the Blur commercial. Fun fact: The Blur was played by Tim Thomerson, who played Barry Allen’s brother Jay in the pilot episode of the 1990 Flash TV show.

Speaking of the Flash TV series, it makes Comic Book Movie’s list of Top Ten Most Accurate Live Action Superhero Costumes

The Secret of Wednesday’s Haul contrasts Ethan Van Sciver and Carmine Infantino in their approaches to conveying speed.

noscans_daily has a Flash Appreciation Post focusing on the character from the animated Justice League and Justice League Unlimited TV series.

A Trout in the Milk reviews Wednesday Comics and asks the question: “What have we learned?”

InTylerWeTrust82 casts Superman and the Flash, with some interesting choices for the heroes, their supporting casts, and selected villains.

What Were They Thinking? has an example of Golden Age Flashdickery. Jay Garrick was a bit of a prankster in those days…

Flash: Rebirth #5 has certainly gotten people talking! I’m still building a list of reviews, but here are some sites discussing major changes in costumes and identities. Beware spoilers!

High Five! Comics talks about that “new hero” who “step[s] into an old speedster’s boots” in Refrigerator Busting #2: You Know What the Speed Force Needs More Of?

Comics Alliance is thrilled that Impulse is back.

Blog@Newsarama discusses Flash Fashion.

Film Fodder considers the problem of superheroes sharing a name and looks at the broader implications of bringing back old characters instead of actually creating new ones.

Geoff Johns is among the first guests announcd for next year’s Baltimore Comic-Con. The show will run August 28-29, 2010. (For fun: Say that out loud and pronounce 2010 as “twenty-ten!”)

Mark Waid talks to CBR about Incorruptible, his Irredeemable spinoff that looks at the question from the opposite side: What happens when a villain decides to become a hero?

The CW’s latest promo for Smallville includes clips from February’s two-hour Justice Society episode, “Absolute Justice” (originally two separate episodes, “Society” and “Legends”). In addition to glimpses of Dr. Fate and Sandman, there’s the Justice Society conference table, Alan Scott’s Green Lantern ring, and a view of a painting (by Rodolfo Migliari) showing a dozen past Justice Society members:

It’s hard to tell exactly who’s in it, especially in the back, but the Flash’s red shirt stands out clearly. Toyriffic has more screen caps and a list of the characters pictured.

Smallville has generally done its own thing as far as continuity is concerned, which makes it interesting that they appear to be working an entire previous generation of heroes into the mythology.

(Thanks to @BubbaShelby for bringing it to my attention, and for allowing me to use the screencap!)

Just a quick note before the weekend: artist Ethan Van Sciver is among the guests at Comicpalooza, held in Houston, Texas on March 26-28, 2010.

Other speed-related guests listed on the site include artist Humberto Ramos, the original artist on Impulse, and actress Brea Grant, who played speedster Daphne Millbrook on Heroes during the “Villains” and “Fugitives” arcs.

(Tip of the hat to Papa Zero for spotting this.)

Collected Editions has determined the full contents of the Blackest Night collections. The six tie-in miniseries will be collected in two volumes of Blackest Night: The Black Lantern Corps — one for the first round featuring Superman, Batman and the Titans, and one for the second round featuring the Flash, Wonder Woman, and the Justice Society of America.

So Blackest Night: The Flash will be collected in Blackest Night: The Black Lantern Corps Vol.2, shipping July 13, 2010. I don’t know if this is intended as the actual cover, or if it’s a placeholder provided to Amazon.