December 9, 2010
Today’s guest post is by Frank Lee Delano.
Hello, Flash fans! I go by the alias Frank Lee Delano, was voted second most likely to run entirely too many blogs (after Rob Kelly,) and I will be your substitute teacher for the day. For the second year in a row, I’m running a complex and lengthy inter-blog crossover between Thanksgiving and Christmas, in part because I’m a sadistic misanthrope who takes his hatred of the holidays out on my unsuspecting fellow bloggers. The theme this year is Mayfairstivus, a make believe holiday where we celebrate the Mayfair Games Incorporated DC Heroes role-playing system and its many releases. A large part of the blame for this type of event falls on the shoulders of The Irredeemable Shag, who brought me into his own crossover, Crisis on Earth-Blog, almost two years ago, and continues to conspire with me on these dirty dealings. Shag was your guest blogger forMayfairstivus – Celebrating Flash in the DC Heroes RPG, and when I volunteered to write a second post while your regularly scheduled Kelson was tending to his newborn son, Shag offered the advice, “I believe his blog is typically on the positive/up-beat side, so I wouldn’t trash Captain Boomerang too much (but that’s just me).” As I believe I already established that I am diabolical and make all my promises through crossed fingers, I now present to you Captains Cold and Boomerang, whom I will surely criticize venomously.
I assume I first became aware of Captain Cold through the Super Friends cartoon show, because that’s just what people of my generation did (see also: mustachioed men wearing mirrored aviators and Lacoste polos with skimpy tennis shorts defending original Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.) As you may or may not be aware, Ape Law* dictates that every super-hero must have an ice-themed villain, so to me Captain Cold was just Mr. Freeze on a budget. It wasn’t until John Ostrander wrote Cold into his first Manhunter script as a loser who loved betting baseball that Leonard Snart felt like he had something unique to contribute to the field, as more of a blue collar snow blower. Of course, now Snart is a fan favorite, after taking on a Golden Age attitude toward casual homicide. If you’re going to flash freeze some dope in the equivalent of liquid nitrogen, you might as well indulge the bloodlust of Rome by punching the schmuck’s head into a pink-tinged flurry, right? So cool, Captain Cold is now the baddest gangsta to wear a fur-lined hoodie.
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December 7, 2010
Newsarama is running a series of interviews on the theme, “Geoff Johns Still Writes Comics.” today’s installment focuses on his work on The Flash. As usual, he drops a few hints, but remains mostly cagey about the details. He does make the interesting point that while he’s trying to build up the Flash universe (similar to his success with Green Lantern), he’s not trying to build it up in the same way. “Flashpoint is nothing like any of the Green Lantern events. It’s not a Flash army vs. a Reverse-Flash army.”
Also of note: IESB reports that the movies Green Lantern 2 and The Flash are planned for Summer 2013.
Some big releases on the DC side of Heroclix for their 75th Anniversary Set coming later this month including several Flash-related releases that are sure to rock the socks off of Flash and Heroclix collectors alike. First up Heroclix.com released a preview yesterday of the Monarch of Motion, Barry Allen in his first solo release in his traditional uniform. We had previously seen him in his dying form from the climax of Crisis on Infinite Earths, his Blue Lantern uniform and even in a few team ups with Wally, Green Lantern, and Superman. But this is the first time we are getting classic Barry and I’m pretty elated.
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Out this week from BOOM! Studios, Starborn is one of the three books the company is launching with ideas by the master of Marvel storytelling, Stan Lee himself. This one comes with an intriguing premise: Benjamin Warner is an unpublished writer, who has been building a science-fiction world ever since he was a child. He finally sent off his first novel to a publisher…and suddenly discovers that what he thought was science-fiction — not to mention all in his head — is in fact very real. And because of what he knows, it wants him dead.
The first issue is mostly exposition, but there’s enough action at the beginning (in the sci-fi setting) and at the end (in reality) to keep things moving. Some elements seem a bit too familiar for someone who’s read a lot of science fiction, but there’s enough going on…and enough left unexplained…to be intriguing. The art style doesn’t really grab me, but I do like the contrast presented between the sci-fi elements and the ordinary world. It may grow on me.
Verdict: Definitely worth a look! I’d like to know more about the world, and the lead character’s role in it, as well as where the story might go.
Update: CBR has a preview of the book. And I forgot to mention: Impulse fans might be interested in the variant cover by Humberto Ramos.
Starborn #1
Concept by Stan Lee
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Khary Randolph
A digital review copy was provided by the publisher.
This week sees the release of The Flash #7, a one-shot Rogue Profile story focusing on Captain Boomerang.
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by SCOTT KOLINS
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:10 “DC 75th Anniversary” Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE
The Rogue Profile issues return as BRIGHTEST DAY zips on with a spotlight turned toward the resurrected Captain Boomerang! He knows why he’s back and what he needs to do. But does he still have what it takes to be a Rogue?
UPDATE: DC has posted a 5-page preview, which you can read at The Source. Update 2: Here’s Newsarama’s copy for those of you who can’t see the images DC posts on The Source.
December 6, 2010
Today’s guest post is by KC Flash.
For my first EVER comic review, I wanted to start with the comic that began my love for Flash comics so many years ago. What was it in my first comic that made me want to follow the Flash for over thirty years? Would it still “hold up,” so to speak?
The first Flash comic I remember purchasing was Flash #268. If you just look at the cover, you will discover three characters fighting over a Golden Age comic, Flash Comics #26. The cover blurbs state that this is “the comic book that holds the world’s greatest secret!” In the bottom left corner, the cover asks the question, “What amazing secret does a golden age comic hold that causes three heroes to fight for its possession?”
At first, you may be thinking that since this was a December release, that the heroes were still fighting over a “Black Friday” sale at their local comic book store. ☺ However, as you read the story you discover that “The Riddle of the Runaway Comic” is actually a crime mystery story. The story involves Barney Sands, who is a twelve-year-old comic book collector, the Flash and a gang of criminals.
A gang of criminals has “obtained” a secret spray, Formula XCV. This formula, after being sprayed on an object, allows the object to reappear at a different location. The criminals obviously want the formula for devious reasons. As the story states, “Just imagine how this formula could revolutionize crime! Squirt the invisible spray over a priceless painting or jewelry exhibit while no one’s looking and then retreat to your hideout—concentrate—and the priceless item materializes in your hands!” Yes, friends, XCV takes all the risks out of stealing!” The only problem is that the original scientist, the “late” Professor Phillip Denton was able to only effectively use the spray on one object, his son’s copy of Flash #26. Whenever someone concentrates on the book, the book magically appears. Enter our criminals dressed as Wildcat and the Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott.
Without going into further details, I must say it was quite a treat to go back and reexamine this book. My interest in the history of the Golden Age began in this book. By reading this book, you will also get to see Barry Allen’s comic book collection. As Barry Allen states after finding Barney Sands’ comic book in his own collection, “Its one of the few Flashes that have eluded me –even when I managed to get rarer ones.” Just think about how much fun it would be to go over to Mr. Allen’s to share collecting tips.
Now that I think about it, Golden Age Flash Archives ends at Flash #24. So, yes, I am still searching for a reader copy of Flash #26 after 30 years. Hmm…Maybe, just maybe, if I think about it hard enough?
KCFLASH
Covers c/o the Grand Comics Database.
December 5, 2010
December 3, 2010
Over at The Source, DC has posted several variant covers, including both the standard and variant covers for The Flash #8 starring Professor Zoom. We’ve seen the variant by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau before, but through unofficial channels. This confirms it. This is also the first time we’ve seen Scott Kolins’ cover in full color!
Flash #7 arrives in stores next week, with Flash #8 scheduled to reach stores on December 29.
Today we’re featuring the first of two guest posts by fellow blogger The Irredeemable Shag (from ONCE UPON A GEEK and FIRESTORM FAN)!
Dear Speed Force readers,
Welcome to Mayfairstivus! That’s right, it’s time once again for the beloved annual celebration of Mayfair Games’ DC Heroes Role-Playing Game! This time honored tradition dates back to 1985 when the first edition of this role-playing game was released … or maybe this is a fake holiday some comic book bloggers just cooked up as an excuse to post related content from Mayfair’s long-running DC Heroes line.
Today we’ll look at a few different Flash entries from the role-playing game (RPG) and learn how the first box set shattered my fragile little comic reader world.
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December 2, 2010
Today’s guest post is by Dave Huang.
One of Flash franchise’s greatest strengths is the diversity of the Rogues. That strength, however, may prove a challenge when being modernized or adapted to film. Whether or not combining origins is a good thing, it certainly is a trend. Every Superman film has presented a Kryptonian threat (kryptonite, phantom zone criminals, synthetic kryptonite, synthetic kryptonian, kryptonian crystals). In Batman Begins, Scarecrow’s formula, Falcone’s involvement, the main threat, and Bruce’s training all trace back to Ra’s. In The Dark Knight, Batman’s escalation begets Joker who begets Two-Face. In updating Spider-Man, radioactivity is discarded in favor of genetics with organic webshooters (one origin for all powers). The list goes on….
How then does one adapt a speedster with enemies from the far future, prehistoric past, and all manner of scientific disciplines?
If past is prologue, one starts with the hero’s origin. The origin of The Flash is a little thematically weak. It’s an accident without purpose or meaning which grants neither chemical nor electrical powers and is unrelated to speed. Random electrified chemicals aren’t enough to rationalize all of Flash’s physics defying feats even in the comics, hence the Speed Force. However, the Speed Force is a little esoteric and geared at the comic book literate, for an adaptation you need something better grasped by general audience. My suggestion?
FTL. Read the rest of this entry »
