Speed Force

ICv2 has released February 2010 sales estimates, and both Flash: Rebirth #6 and Blackest Night: Flash finish close to the previous issues of the respective series. Rebirth is ranked #9 for the month, while the Blackest Night tie-in comes in at #12 — again, the highest-rated of the three spin-off miniseries.

*Compared to the previous issue of Flash: Rebirth

In the end, about two-thirds of those who started Flash: Rebirth finished it, though most readers who were still on board by #5 stuck it through to the end. I have no idea what typical drop-off is for a six-issue miniseries, so this could be good, bad, or standard.

The rankings are quite positive, though: Of the nine issues between the two miniseries, seven were in the top 10 for the month. The two that dropped below the top 10 were still in the top 15.

I’d guess we’ll see a drop for this month’s Flash Secret Files and then another jump up for The Flash #1. It’s a major relaunch of one of DC’s top 6 characters, it’s a #1, it’s tied into Brightest Day, and it’s a new series by Geoff Johns. Plus even many readers who were disappointed by Flash: Rebirth have expressed optimism about the new series. It will be interesting to see how well it succeeds.

WonderCon has started posting the 2010 convention schedule, starting with Friday’s programming. The Flash: Rebirth team of Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver are both guests at the convention…and they each get a spotlight panel.

Friday, April 2
12:30–1:30 Spotlight on Ethan Van Sciver
3:00–4:00 Spotlight on Geoff Johns
4:00–5:00 DC Nation

Saturday, April 3
12:00–1:30 DCU Editorial Presentation

I’m going to WonderCon on Saturday, but I’ll be on the road on Friday, so I’ll probably miss both spotlights. If we get into San Francisco early enough, I might drop in for part of the afternoon, and if I do make it to one of the panels, I’ll post any Flash news that comes up.

Update: Saturday’s schedule is up now, and the most-likely place for Flash news is the DCU Editorial Presentation. Last year it was mostly a retread of DC Nation, but if I don’t make it to DC Nation, I won’t mind so much.

Considering that the con is only two weeks before Flash #1, and DC has already released a preview, I don’t expect any major revelations…but you never know…

Some reviews of Flash: Rebirth #6 that I’ve found around the internet:

Multiversity Comics – “very well illustrated one by Van Sciver…but I’m not going to lie, I found Barry Allen’s overall return and the expansion of his relationship with the Speed Force to not be a very satisfactory story overall. ”

Robot 6: Grumpy Old Fan – “Flash: Rebirth may read better as the first installment in an extended saga, but it risks alienating readers expecting a little more immediate follow-through.”

Comic Book Revolution – “I am just glad that this story is over so we can move onto the new Flash monthly title. Despite all the problems with Flash: Rebirth, I still remain extremely confident that Johns is going to crank out a quality read with the new Flash monthly titles.”

IGN – “The final issue, despite its flaws, provided a fitting close to the character’s journey here while still teasing at what’s to come.”

Newsarama Best Shots Rapid Reviews – “a lackluster final issue that comes off as more lightswitch rave than lightning storm”

Airship Over Water – “if you’ve been reading this series thus far, you really should pick up this issue to complete the story. It’s worth it.”

X-Man’s Comic Blog – “With the exception of the Final Crisis debacle, I’ve never been more disappointed in DC.”

Every Day Is Like Wednesday – “If you’re reading this series just to see how Barry Allen returns or to keep abreast of the big events in the DCU, this issue is surprisingly, entirely skip-able.”

Comicsbulletin – “The story and ideas presented throughout the first five issues of Flash: Rebirth were all over the place, so it should come as no surprise that the sixth and final chapter is the same way.”

Comic Reviews by Walt – “As a whole, this issue’s quite a disappointment, a lukewarm ending to what should’ve been a hot series.”

Pai Wings – “So after reading this, I feel ready for a Flash book dedicated to Barry.”

Flash-Back Podcast (audio)

ComicVine (video)

And of course there’s Speed Force’s review as well.

Justice League: The Rise and Fall Special

40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by JAMES ROBINSON & J.T. KRUL
Art and 1:25 variant cover by MIKE MAYHEW
Cover by MAURO CASCIOLI

Following the stunning conclusion to JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE comes the next epic chapter for the Worlds Greatest Heroes. What controversial decision has created a split in the League? A new meaning to the term “hunt for justice” creates fear in the villain populace. Plus, a shocking secret is revealed that will change Green Arrow’s life forever.

Super Friends #25

32 pg, FC, $2.50 US
Written by SHOLLY FISCH · Art by DARIO BRIZUELA
Cover by J. BONE

To commemorate 25 glorious issues, were sending the team to compete in the Space Olympics! Of course, if they lose, Earth will be destroyed — but no need to tell them that!

You ever have moments where you are on the internet randomly searching for Kid Flash costume variations and you stumble upon something really cool yet completely unexpected? This happened to me a few weeks ago when I came across some great stuff I’m not sure many fans of the Scarlet Speedster have seen yet.

Remember that Flash video game that was cancelled a few months ago? The Flash video game that was was covered by Kelson back in September and October of last year? Well I mentioned I was randomly interested in Kid Flash costume variations and I stumbled upon a nifty one in google images that rocked my socks off:

Taking a closer look around the site I found a few more:

And a nice Pied Piper:

Turns out these were modeled by Helen Rusinoff for the cancelled Flash video game. The costumes were designed by Roger Robinson who was featured in the previous Flash video game article Kelson posted. There were a few pictures that I didn’t have room to show but you can find those at her website.

I emailed Helen about showcasing the pictures on Speedforce.org and she emailed me back promptly. Not only did she give me permission to repost her work, but she also pointed me in the direction of Roger Robinson yet again. I visited his website and didn’t really find anything new to report. Wandering around that site however I came across another blog, where I found these pictures:

You can find a few more at Roger Robinson’s other website.

Seeing that we could have had Kid Flash, and Jesse Quick in this game makes me downright depressed. I wonder if there were any cool multi-player modes that they might have had planned using the various members of The Flash Family? The Flash meets Sonic Adventure 2 Battle? That wouldn’t have been a bad thing. I also wonder if they had any plans to have alternate costumes. That was a very nice touch in Justice League Heroes, which included Jay Garrick and Walter West as alternate uniforms for Wally. Too bad the game was so dang mediocre.

Until they find a way to either bring this back from the dead or create another one I guess I’m stuck playing this:

Actually Justice League Heroes: The Flash isn’t bad. I preordered it when it was first announced and purchased a Gameboy Advance SP just to play it. I now have it on my PSP as well and have beaten it many, many times. A lot of fun to play on the go(although I take Bart’s advice and don’t use my “playtendo” while running).

I hope you all enjoyed a deeper glimpse into the game that could have been. The potential was definitely there for a good, solid, fun game to play. Here is hoping they decide to create another one sometime down the road.

-Devin “The Flash” Johnson

This weekend I updated a few pages on Flash: Those Who Ride the Lightning:

The Shade gets some notes about his early appearances, plus images from the Golden Age and Silver Age. (This is, of course, because I finally tracked down his first appearance!)

I’ve broken up the variant covers into three pages, soon to be four once DC releases the variants for Flash vol.3 #1 & #2:

• 1993–2008: Legacy Era: Wally West and Bart Allen
• 2009–2010: Flash: Rebirth – also added the covers for Flash: Rebirth #6.
• 2008–2010: Final Crisis & Blackest Night – also added all the covers for Blackest Night: The Flash #1–3

I’ve also updated some minor items around the site, including the TPB list and Silver Age Reprints.

My next goal is to get all of the major changes from Flash: Rebirth — Barry Allen’s current status and a new picture, Iris “Irey” West’s new identity, Jesse Quick’s new costume, Eobard Thawne’s resurrection — before the new series starts. And update appearance lists.

Some more questions and answers pulled from the search statistics:

What happened to Tarpit in Flash: Blackest Night? – Probably nothing, since (as Captain Boomerang Jr. pointed out) his physical body is actually somewhere else. On the other hand, Captain Cold did freeze Iron Heights.

When does the new Flash Forward come out? – New episodes start Thursday, March 18. ABC will also be running a recap of the first half of the season on Tuesday, March 16, after Lost.

What is the song when Flash goes speed force? – I’m not really sure what you mean by this (unless it’s “What music plays during the climax of the Justice League Unlimited episode, “Divided We Fall”), but allow me to recommend the Jim’s Big Ego song, “The Ballad of Barry Allen.” It’s certainly more appropriate than Queen’s Flash Gordon theme.

Is DC: The New Frontier a sequel to The Golden Age? – No, but it’s a similar concept — enough so that when James Robinson was asked whether he might do a sequel, he said that New Frontier basically covered it.

Which Flash controls the speed force? – Depends on what you mean by “control.” Barry Allen generates it by running, all Flashes use it as fuel, and Wally West is able to manipulate it to perform feats like lending or stealing speed.

How can you speed if you are following someone else? – If they’re driving faster than the speed limit, then it’s entirely possible for you to do the same thing.

Why don’t people like Barry Allen? – Because not everyone has the same tastes that you do. Just as some people prefer the serious tone of the 1990s Batman animated series, while others prefer the zany adventure of Batman: the Brave and the Bold, different people like different takes on the Flash.

What will happen to Wally West? – He’ll probably be a recurring guest star in The Flash, and will almost certainly show up in an issue or two of DC Universe: Legacies. DC has scaled back on the big plans they had for the Flash this year, dropping a set of backup stories that would have featured Wally in The Flash and a Kid Flash series that would have featured Bart. Other than that, we probably won’t see much of him until the next big Flash epic, unless James Robinson pulls a surprise and puts him back on Justice League. In which case we can probably expect to see Irey or Jai killed and Wally’s legs amputated. @#*&^! Cry for Justice.

Edit: One More! – Panels at WonderCon 2010 – They haven’t released a programming schedule yet, but last year it was posted about two weeks before the convention. So we should see something online by mid-March. Update: They’ll post the schedule one day at a time, starting on March 10.

A few years ago I was browsing eBay (like I frequently do) in hopes of finding cool Flash collectibles when I stumbled upon an awesome piece of Flash fashion:

A sterling silver Justice League/The Flash-themed class ring! Thinking this ring popping up was a random one of a kind occurrence, I quickly snatched it up. When the ring arrived a week or so later it came with a catalog for Arrobasilver.com. I looked up the website and didn’t really see anything else Flash-related at the time, although they did have class rings for every member of the Big Seven. Nevertheless I still subscribed to their newsletter because A) The ring was gorgeous, had a great heft to it and was extremely detailed. And B) I wanted to know if and when they added new Flash stuff to their catalog.

Fast forward a year or so and I get a newsletter with an announcement for these designs:

Traditional Red and Yellow

“Dark Flash” Silver on Red

Red on Silver

And last but not least “Professor Zoom” Red on Black.

Pretty nice huh? One doesn’t have to be ultra-brazen to wear these out in public, but they still have a distinct look and unique flair to them. They run for $54.99 USD plus shipping, and with the amount of creativity, and craftmanship that goes into these pieces I’d say they are worth at least double that. Not only that but they are officially licensed by DC Comics and Warner Bros and that authenticity shows.

By the way when I asked Arrobasilver for permission to feature them they were kind enough to give Speedforce.org an exclusive promo code to knock 10% off of these bad boys. Just enter GA001 when checking out. Also stay tuned for some exciting news concerning Arroba Silver and Speedforce.org in the next few days.

Oh and one more thing:

***Slightly Off-Topic***

For those random non-Flash fans that show up here from time to time, Arrobasilver does much more than just Flash Rings. They have over 20 Green Lantern Ring designs alone that you can check out HERE, as well as other Justice League-related rings including a swanky Captain Marvel (Shazam) Ring they just released a few weeks ago. Remember: GA001 gets you 10% off exclusively so take advantage of this unique opportunity while you have the chance.

Remember, some exciting news is coming up in the very near future concerning Speedforce.org and Arrobasilver so keep an eye out.

-Devin “The Flash” Johnson

DC has posted the second half of their interview with Geoff Johns about the Flash. This time he talks more about the new series (though most of it is “wait and see”), working with Francis Manapul, why The Flash (and Barry Allen specifically) represents hope, and one of the themes he wants to explore in the book:

There’s an exploration of speed and what it does to us today, how we can succumb to it or be seduced by it. What do we have time for in our “busy” lives? Are we really too busy we have to send text messages instead of calling someone? Or is it easier to keep in touch with our loved ones that way? Do we need more hours in the day or do we need to stop overfilling up the hours we have? What is speed? What is time? What does it all mean to us in our lives day-to-day and year-to-year?

The new issue of Comic-Con Magazine (originally the newsletter for Comic-Con International) is up, with a focus on comic book writers and an extensive interview with Geoff Johns. At one point, the interviewer asks about a Flash: Secret Origin story.

I will be doing the Flash Secret Origin. He’s never had a secret origin book….with Green Lantern Secret Origin, it’s a book now and that book actually outsells the other GL trades because you look at it if you’re in a bookstore or whatever and that’s the first one you’ll pick up because it looks like that’s the first volume….the Flash Secret Origin will be one of those books that you can hand to anybody.

Johns has previously said that he’d like to do a Secret Origin of the Flash, but it sounds a lot more definite now. Though of course, we’ve seen DC’s plans for the Flash change many times over the last few years.

He doesn’t say when the story will be told, or whether it will be in the main book like Green Lantern: Secret Origin or in a separate miniseries like Superman: Secret Origin.

I wouldn’t agree that the Flash has never had a secret origin book, though. Certainly Mark Waid & Brian Augustyn’s The Life Story of the Flash would fit the bill. Yes, it’s 13 years old now, and Geoff Johns has wiped out the entire first third of the book with Eobard Thawne’s time travel shenanigans in Flash: Rebirth, but it does exist. Unless Superboy-Prime somehow punched it out of existence. I should go check my longboxes and make sure it’s still there…

Tip of the hat to @SpeedsterSite for catching this!