Speed Force

Lots of Flash comics are out this week!

Flash #20: “Reverse” Part 1 of 6. An all-new Flash epic begins here, and the stakes have never been higher as Barry races toward a confrontation with the Reverse Flash! Preview at Kotaku.

Justice League #20: The PROLOGUE TO TRINITY WAR continues as a revelation about Batman could destroy Wonder Woman and Superman’s relationship! Plus, in the backup story, the penultimate chapter of the tale of Shazam finds Billy Batson learning the shocking secret of Black Adam! Preview at CBR.

Justice League Dark #20: The Flash and Swamp Thing guest-star as the team struggles to recover the stolen House of Mystery from Dr. Destiny! Preview at CBR

Teen Titans #20: “Light and Dark” continues as the fallout of last issue’s attack threatens to drag the team into darkness! Preview at CBR

And in digital back issues at ComiXology…

Flash #147: While traveling the time stream to prevent two future Flashes and Barry Allen from falling prey to Cobalt Blue’s magical gem, Wally West runs into the Reverse Flash. “Chain Lightning” part 3. Preview/buy.

Impulse #71: Lucius Keller–one of Max Mercury’s oldest foes–has returned. Meanwhile, Impulse and Carol discover some strong feelings for each other, but this revelation comes far too late. Preview/buy

It’s a slow week for the Flash, with no new comics or collections and only one digital re-release:

Flash #146: Chain Lightning Part 2

Wally West, Jay Garrick, Max Mercury, and Jesse Quick run into a variety of speedsters as they travel the time stream looking to save the lives of future Flashes.

Written by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn. Art by Paul Pelletier, Vince Russell, Tom McCraw. Cover by Steve Lightle.

No new Flash comics this week, but ComiXology is adding to their digital back catalog.

Flash #145: “Chain Lightning” Part 1 of 6: Wally West, Jay Garrick, Max Mercury, Impulse, and Jesse embark on a thousand-year time-spanning journey to help future Flashes against those who wield the Cobalt Blue gem. It’s Allen vs. Thawne for generation after generation. Mark Waid, Brian Augustyn, Paul Pelletier, Vince Russellcover by Steve Lightle.

Impulse #70: Bart’s friends have decided to make a movie about Impulse! Of course, Bart gets cast as…the villain? Todd Dezago, Carlo Barberi, Juan Vlasco, cover by Ethan Van Sciver.

Also, I missed this one a few weeks ago:

Green Lantern #40: A tie-in to The Return of Barry Allen: “Hal is surprised to find that his old pal Barry Allen, the Silver Age Flash, has apparently returned from the dead–but the speedster’s actions are less than civil. If Green Lantern is unwilling to stop this seemingly evil Flash, then his rival, Darkstar, will!” Gerard Jones, Claude St. Aubin, Romeo Tanghal

New Flash comics this week:

Earth 2 #12: “The drums of war begin to sound as the heroes of Earth 2 rally behind Dr. Fate—and a threat from Apokolips becomes all too real!” James Robinson, Nicola Scott, Trevor Scott. Preview at ComicVine

Also worth a look: Flash co-writer Brian Buccellato is writing the revival of pulp hero The Black Bat for Dynamite comics. You can check out a preview of The Black Bat #1 at CBR.

Tony Quinn is a brash Defense Attorney to the mob who compromises his ethics for financial gain. When he refuses to cross the line and commit murder, he is tortured and blinded by his gangster employers. But when a fortuitous meeting with a covert agency gives him a chance to make amends, Tony transforms into the Black Bat and embarks on a redemptive quest to right the wrongs of his past.

Digital Flashbacks at ComiXology this week include…

Flash v.2 #143-144: An attack on the Flash Museum leads to an encounter with a mysterious villain from the Flash’s past…with a surprising connection to Barry Allen. These two issues feature the origin of Cobalt Blue and lead into the time-spanning “Chain Lightning.”

Yes, that’s a bit of a jump, since last week they released #129. However, Flash #130-141 had been published digitally for a Grant Morrison sale, and Flash #142 – the interrupted wedding of Wally West and Linda Park – was already available as well (though I forget when).

Impulse #69: Bart Allen, Kyle Rayner and Adam Strange battle a menace on the alien planet of Rann in the second half of this Green Lantern: Circle of Fire epilogue.

New Flash comics this week include:

Flash #19: Trapped in Iron Heights without his powers (as a result of Dial H #11), Barry Allen has to fend off the attack of the Outlanders. All he has are his wits…and the Rogues’ confiscated weapons. Brian Buccellato and Marcio Takara, cover by Francdis Manapul. Preview at Uproxx.

Justice League Dark #19: The House of Mystery is under seige—can special guest star The Flash help Justice League Dark battle this unexpected threat? Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes, Mikel Janin. Preview at BuzzFeed.

Teen Titans #19: Which new member of the Teen Titans reveals his true colors? Scott Lobdell, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira. Preview at CBR.

Meanwhile in digital back issues:

Flash #128-129: “Hell to Pay” parts 2-3. The dead Rogues have returned to earth — or rather, their reanimated bodies have, and without their souls to keep them in check, they’re laying waste to Keystone City! Only Wally West can stop them, but he’ll have to make a literal deal with the devil to do so.

Impulse #67: After the events of “Mercury Falling,” heroes gather to celebrate the life of Max Mercury. Todd Dezago, Ethan Van Sciver & Andrew Hennessy.

Impulse #68: Impulse “rescues” Adam Strange from a Zeta beam and ends up on the alien world of Rann. Part one of a two-part “Green Lantern: Circle of Fire” epilogue. Todd Dezago, Battle & Buzz. (I meant to review this story for The Indigo Tribe’s Circle of Fire event, but didn’t have enough time after I reviewed the Green Lantern/Adam Strange issue.)

I’d like to add that Impulse #67 was the best fake-out I’ve ever seen in the era of online solicitations and spoilers everywhere. DC didn’t write a fake solicitation or block out parts of the cover art. All they did was post the artwork showing Max Mercury (I’m such a digital packrat that I still have it) and state that heroes gathered together to honor him. Then the next two issues put Bart off-planet on Rann for the Green Lantern/Adam Strange guest spot, so there was literally no way to know whether Max would survive “Mercury Falling” until the conclusion hit the shelves.

New comics featuring the Flash this week:

Justice League #19: Last month, the Justice League added a few members. So how long will it be before it loses one for good?

DC Universe Presents #19: In this final issue, what time displaced-hero has arrived on our world—and is the destruction he brings the herald to a great disaster? Edit: It turns out he’s only on the cover.

Justice League of America’s Vibe #3: Vibe vs. Kid Flash. What is the one super power that is more than a match for Vibe and how can it tear the universe apart?

Digital back-issues newly released through ComiXology:

Flash #126-127: Major Disaster strikes the Flash’s new city of Santa Marta, while the undead Rogues terrorize Keystone City in “Hell to Pay”

Impulse #65-66: Impulse battles Inertia. Can they set aside their rivalry long enough to save Max Mercury’s life? “Mercury Falling” concludes.

The Flash takes center stage in Injustice: Gods Among Us #13 (digital) by Tom Taylor (no, not that Tom Taylor) and Tom Derenick. The series is a prelude to the upcoming video game.

In the land down under, The Flash must face the consequences of his choices. Superman and Wonder Woman have brought their campaign for a new world order to Australia and are confronted by a new hero. But what connection does this would-be champion have to the Scarlet Speedster?

Digital backissues include:

Flash #125: Lead-in to “Hell to Pay.” Rejected by Keystone City, Wally West protects the coastal city of Santa Marta, California, where Major Disaster plans to create a massive earthquake. Meanwhile, Keystone’s mayor finds that kicking the Flash out might not have been the best idea when the Rogues return from the dead. Mark Waid, Brian Augustyn, Paul Ryan & John Nyberg.

Impulse #63-64: “Mercury Falling” continues. Can Impulse pull together what it takes to save the dying Max Mercury? Or is inertia keeping him from unleashing his full potential? Bart says goodbye to his oldest friend in these issues. Todd Dezago, Ethan van Sciver.

Flash-related comics out this week:

Earth 2 #11: Tower of Fate continues.

Dial H #11: The dial has accessed the Flash’s powers. What the Flash?

Smallville Season 11 #12: Conclusion to “Haunted” — Superman and Impulse team up to stop the Black Flash…but at what cost?

And in digital back-issues, DC/ComiXology have added:

Flash v.2 #124: “Flash of Two Cities” continues, as Wally West finds that Santa Marta, California blurs the lines between reality and illusion. How can the Flash suddenly be the slowest man in town?

Impulse #61: Impulse and Max Mercury team up with Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. in this issue guest-written by Geoff Johns.

Impulse #62: “Mercury Falling” begins, as we learn that Max Mercury, Zen Master of Speed, is dying…and Bart Allen is his only hope.

Flash #18 is out today.

The Trickster is accused of murder! Can The Flash help solve his case? Plus, a surprising twist ending that will rock the world of…DIAL H?

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Marcio Takara
Cover by: Francis Manapul
Variant Cover by: Francis Manapul

Preview at MTV Geek. As noted before, this is the first of two issues where Francis Manapul is taking a break. He’ll be back on #20.

Also this week: the final chapter of Smallville Season 11 “Haunted” (guest-starring Impulse) arrives on ComiXology this Friday.

There aren’t any new digital backissues of Flash or Impulse this week.

The next digital chapter of Smallville Season 11: “Haunted” guest-starring Impulse arrives on ComiXology on Friday.

Today, two more issues of the 1987-2009 Flash series starring Wally West are available digitally.

Flash #122-123: Keystone City decides that it can no longer handle the cost of property damage from the Flash’s battles, and want him to leave town. The seaside town of Santa Marta, California, however, would love to have their own super-hero. And who better than the Flash to be a super-commuter?

The cover and title are, of course, an homage to the classic “Flash of Two Worlds” in the first Flash #123.

One thing that surprised me here is that, up until now, DC and ComiXology have been re-releasing the series in sequence. After an initial release of a dozen or two issues by theme, they started with #1 and have been working their way forward, filling in and around those issues that have already been released. Last time, they jumped straight from #115 to #120, skipping the last three issues of “Race Against Time” and the “Final Night” tie-in issue. I wondered if they might be jumping back to fill in the gap this week, but that isn’t the case, at least not yet.

I asked ComiXology about it, and they said that DC simply hadn’t sent them those issues yet. I haven’t heard back from DC.