Monthly Archives: March 2011

Digital Flashpoint

A somewhat less controversial bit of Flashpoint news: All Flashpoint-related titles will be available digitally 4 weeks after the in-store arrival of the print version, released on Fridays to keep the “Flashpoint Friday” theme going.

Personally I think this would be a great opportunity to do day-and-date releases, but DC and Marvel seem desperately afraid that digital comics will destroy the retail market, so they keep hobbling the digital market so that it can’t reach its potential.

Flash Ending for Flashpoint

Ever popped onto a news site and found yourself saying, “Wait…what?” That was my reaction when I read this at The Source. They’re answering a fan question from fhiz:

Johns wrote that Booster Gold was the only ongoing to tie into Flashpoint, so where does that leave his book, The Flash?

The Source explains:

Great question, fhiz. While the effects of FLASHPOINT will be felt throughout BOOSTER GOLD even after the series concludes, we can’t quite say the same for THE FLASH past issue #12… Why’s that?

Issue 12 will be the final issue of THE FLASH.

It’s just as well they turned off comments the other day, or the fans would be going nuts!

I was sort of half-expecting DC to put The Flash on hiatus during Flashpoint. But to outright make #12 the final issue? Especially since they’ve already solicited #13? That’s a surprise. Not only is it an extremely short run for such a high-profile (and apparently successful) relaunch, but it if it’s canceled now, it makes it shorter than the ill-fated Flash: The Fastest Man Alive back in 2006–2007.

I guess we can look forward to yet another relaunch after Flashpoint ends.

Update: More comments at at Robot6, Comic Bloc, CBR….

White Lantern Flash Exclusive Action Figure

DC Comics’ official blog, The Source announced earlier this morning that an exclusive White Lantern Flash action figure will be sold this weekend at C2E2 and later at WonderCon. Distributed by popular pop culture t-shirt company, Graphitti Designs and limited to 1000 pieces, this is sure to be a big collector’s item one day. Of course we fans have actually known about the figure for quite sometime but this is the first official statement and pictures regarding it. Take a look:

 

They chose the smallest picture ever to show off the figure on the site here is a slightly clearer one courtesy of AFI:

 

I don’t fully get the whole White Lantern thing as I have not been following Brightest Day at all really, but not a bad figure. It is obviously a repaint of the DC Direct Blue Lantern Flash released a bit ago and that is not a bad thing at all. In fact that figure is probably one of the best sculpted DC Direct Flash figures in years, so I have no problem with them reusing it.

The design elements of the costume itself are pretty interesting, especially the choice of Wally’s belt instead of Barry’s classic straight across design. I don’t particularly like when they mix and match elements of Wally and Barry (as in the case of Young Justice’s Flash) but it definitely works better for the overall look. I can’t wait to see this figure up close and personal though, I have a feeling that the pictures don’t do the piece justice.

Oddly enough, DC left out the information about pricing. I believe it will be going for around 18 dollars or so. Availability of the exclusive will be limited to one item per guest. A number of websites and sellers on evilBay are offering preorders for the item for those that can’t make it out to the Cons. The prices however range from as low as 16.99 on some websites to as high as 70 dollars on evilBay.

Does anyone else plan on picking up White Lantern Flash?

Thanks for reading,

-Devin “Flash” Johnson

This Week: Superman Races the Flash

It seems like just last week that Kid Flash and Superboy raced against each other…oh, wait — it was! Now Superman and the Flash get in on the action.

Superman #709

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI & CHRIS ROBERSON; Art by EDDY BARROWS & J.P. MAYER; Cover by JOHN CASSADAY; 1:10 Variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT

Superman visits Boulder, Colorado, as “Grounded” races forward! And speaking of racing, here comes The Flash! The Scarlet Speedster has made a strange discovery that relates to Superman, so he tracks The Man of Steel down in the Centennial State to get some answers! What did Flash discover? Well, let’s just say there’s a reason Superman isn’t very happy to see him…

DC has a one-page preview at The Source. And speaking of Kenneth Rocafort, the concluding issue of Velocity is currently on Top Cow’s calendar for March 30.

Flash & Flashpoint Solicitations for June 2011

DC’s June 2011 solicitations are up, and it looks like our Flash fix will be Flashpoint, pure and simple, for June. Creative teams and write-ups have already been announced over the past two weeks (Flashpoint & Booster Gold, miniseries part 1, miniseries part 2 & one-shots), but here are the dates:

June 1:

Flashpoint #2
Flashpoint: Batman – Knight Of Vengeance #1
Flashpoint: Secret Seven #1
Flashpoint: Abin Sur – The Green Lantern #1
Flashpoint: The World Of Flashpoint #1

June 8:

Booster Gold #45
Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1
Flashpoint: Deathstroke And The Curse Of The Ravager #1
Flashpoint: Frankenstein And The Creatures Of The Unknown #1
Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1

June 15:

Flashpoint: Wonder Woman And The Furies #1
Flashpoint: Deadman And The Flying Graysons #1
Flashpoint: Legion Of Doom Starring Heatwave #1
Flashpoint: Grodd Of War One-Shot

June 22:

Flashpoint: Lois Lane And The Resistance #1
Flashpoint: The Outsider #1
Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost Starring Bart Allen #1
Flashpoint: Reverse Flash One-Shot

June 29:

Flashpoint: Project Superman #1
Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1
Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries One-Shot
Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket One-Shot

The first round of Flashpoint Action figures also get a release date: July 20, right before Comic-Con International.

That said, there are some upcoming collections on the list…and the Tiny Titans “All-Flash” issue!

TINY TITANS #41
Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR

Outta the way – It’s the “Flash” issue!

It’s the fastest comic ever and the race is on! This special issue introduces Jessie Quick and features Inertia and Mas y Menos. Plus: Kid Flash sharpens his pencil to a FLASHPOINT! Plus plus: Blue Beetle makes a special appearance!

On sale JUNE 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E

Upcoming Collections

BLACKEST NIGHT: BLACK LANTERN CORPS VOL. 2 TP
Written by JAMES ROBINSON, GEOFF JOHNS and GREG RUCKA
Art by SCOTT KOLINS, NICOLA SCOTT, EDDY BARROWS and others
Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI

The Flash, Wonder Woman and the JSA come face to face with their greatest foes and long-lost loved ones, newly undead as evil Black Lanterns, in this collection of three 3-issue BLACKEST NIGHT miniseries.

On sale JULY 20 • 240 pg, FC, $19.99 US

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE TRIAL OF THE FLASH TP
Written by CARY BATES and JOEY CAVALIERI
Art by CARMINE INFANTINO, DENNIS JENSEN and others
Cover by CARMINE INFANTINO and KLAUS JANSON

Following the murder of The Flash’s wife by The Reverse-Flash, the two foes are locked in a round-the-world battle that ends in the death of the evildoer. Collected from THE FLASH #323-327, 329-336 and 340-350.

On sale JULY 20 • 592 pg, B&W, $19.99 US

Notes: This picks up years after Iris Allen’s death, with Barry Allen engaged to Fiona Webb, and the return of the Reverse-Flash. The issues skipped are:

Flash #328: A reprint of the Barry/Iris wedding story with a very brief framing sequence.
Flash #337-339: Pied Piper has a nervous breakdown, and the Rogues goad Big Sir into attacking the Flash. On one hand it’s sort of a diversion, but on the other hand, it sets up a key moment in the later part of the story.

Update: I can’t believe I missed this one!

DC COMICS PRESENTS: IMPULSE #1
Written by TODD DEZAGO
Art by ETHAN VAN SCIVER, WALTER SIMONSON, ANGEL UNZUETA and others • Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER and WAYNE FAUCHER

It’s Batman vs. The Joker – with Impulse caught in the middle! Plus, Impulse battles Kalibak, son of Darkseid – and meets Inertia, the Reverse-Impulse! Featuring art by Ethan Van Sciver, from IMPULSE #50-53!

On sale JUNE 8 • 96 pg, FC, $7.99 US

Notes: Not where I would have started — the Waid/Ramos run is IMO the best of the series — but Todd Dezago’s stuff was really good, and these issues have big advantages for marketing: They introduced Inertia (making them Important™), and they guest-starred Batman.

Speed Reading

Some weekend linkblogging…

Art

Other stuff