We’re taking a break from The Trial of the Flash to look at Super-Team Family #15 (December 1977), written by Gerry Conway and featuring a team-up between Flash and The New Gods!  This book contains major unheralded moments in the history of both Flash and The New Gods, as well as foundations for future stories that would go untold.  Links to artwork and research are included throughout this post.  For previous annotations, click here!

COVER:  José Luis García-López is featured.  He was involved with four Flash covers in the Bronze Age, inking two and earning full credit for two others.  Orion is planet-sized, for perspective.

Before we get started, a little background on why we chose to spotlight this story.  First off, there were a couple other original stories in the short-lived Super-Team Family title featuring Flash:

• A story in issue #3 featuring Hawkman and Grodd, inked by Wally Wood.
• A team-up with Supergirl and the Atom in issue #11, with gorgeous artwork by Alan Weiss and Joe Rubinstein.  This was reprinted in Countdown Special: The Atom #1 (2008).

Those were fun stories, however issue #15 is quite notable.  It features two of DC’s signature properties in a first-time team-up and at least two major moments in New Gods lore that seem to have faded into obscurity.  When Final Crisis began and Barry Allen’s return was announced, I was certain this story would be critical to explaining his resurrection.  I am a Fourth World novice so I’ve enlisted the help of a learned fan for this post, but if you have any corrections or insights please feel free send them along or post in the comments.  Off we go!

PG 1: The story begins In medias res, with Flash and Lightray in outer space.  Flash’s comment “If only the Justice League were on Earth…” does not appear to be a reference to a specific storyline.  It is interesting that there was no issue of Justice League of America published in December 1977, which was a great month when you look at what was hitting stands.  Maybe everyone was at Superman vs. Muhammad Ali?

PG 2 & 3:  Orion is suspended between the Earth and the Moon, “like some awesome, ill-shaped planetoid.”  He continues to grow, already half the size of the Earth.  Conway is joined by Arvell Jones and Romeo Tanghal on pencils and inks, respectively.  Jones is perhaps best known for his 18 issues of All-Star Squadron from 1984 to 1987.  Tanghal is credited in over 500 DC issues and was the main inker for George Pérez on The New Teen Titans.

The term “Gulliver Effect” has been used in fields as disparate as economics and psychology.  Interestingly, Fourth World architect Jack Kirby had used the same title in Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth! #31.  The term itself is a reference to Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.

PG 4:  Metron joins the party. Lightray explains that Orion is being kept alive by his Mother Box.  Metron suggests Flash should explore the device, noting that a Mother Box is also allowing Flash to communicate and move in the vacuum of space.

PG 5:  Flash vibrates inside of the Mother Box in a sequence that provides the first look at the inner workings of the fabled device.  Fourth World fan Ellen Igor was kind enough to provide some commentary and insight, and confirmed that to her knowledge no diagrams nor other such depictions had appeared prior to 1977.  This scene is similar to one in Flash # 290, where Barry Allen vibrates into the Central City Police Lab computer to “find” a piece of information.  Jezebelle was not a Jack Kirby creation and is a pretty obscure New God.

PG 6 & 7:  Mother Box almost immediately expels Flash.  Metron then produces a Boom Tube, destination…”Orion’s mind!”  He emerges, recalling only two images: “Darkseid on Apokolips…and the Promethean Galaxy!”

PG 8 & 9:  Lightray flashes-back forty-eight hours.  An editor’s note points readers to The Return of the New Gods, which is the 1977 continuation of the original Kirby New Gods series.  The first series ended in 1972, but the numbering was maintained when it resumed.  Here is a great recap of those years, though it refers to this particular issue as “unessential.”  Orion’s “dual heritage”: Darkseid is his father, yet he was raised by Highfather on New Genesis (in exchange for Scott Free, a.k.a. Mr. Miracle).  Orion’s Mother Box also conceals the physical attributes he inherited from Darkseid.  A water demon, referred to here as “elementals…evil personified…the most potent agents of the dissembler Darkseid!”, attacks Orion.  Check out this page at KirbyMuseum.org for a complete rundown (including scans) on Orion’s Astro-Force, which is on display here.

PG 10 & 11:  The New Gods were spending a lot of time on Earth those days.  Here’s why, per The Masked Bookwyrm:

The arc of the [Return of the New Gods] series is that evil Darkseid has deduced that the anti-Life formula (for which he has long sought) resides in the sub-conscious of six humans — so it falls to hero Orion and various other New Gods to protect them. The various familiar New Gods split up, each to bodyguard a different charge.

Orion crashes in the desert, unconscious, and begins to grow uncontrollably.

PG 12:  Metron arrives in Barry Allen’s lab, requesting his aid on behalf of Highfather.  Flashing back to the present, the two New Gods and Flash plan a trip to the Promethean Galaxy.  Metron is concerned.

NEXT: DARKSEID!

Annotations: Super-Team Family #15, “The Gulliver Effect!” – Part One is a post from Speed Force.

Justice League: Doom is the latest direct to video film to be released through DC Animated. Slated for release February 28th, the film adapts the Tower of Babel story line from the “Morrison Era” League and penned by Mark Waid. In the story it is revealed that Batman has devised different methods of incapacitating his allies if they ever were to go rogue. Unfortunately the plans fall into the hands of the bad guys and we get to witness the fall out.

The story was adapted for the screen by the late Dwayne McDuffie and features Michael Rosenbaum, the voice of Wally West on Justice League and Justice League Unlimited and Lex Luthor on Smallville, as Barry Allen this time around.

I personally have to say, great move on DC’s part to include the  Flash figurine. Now I will be picking it up on launch day as opposed to not at all. Who else is picking up the release now that the Flash figurine has been added? Who would have picked it up otherwise? Let us know in the comments below.

Thanks to Phantom Stranger for the tip and pic.

-Devin “Flash” Johnson

Justice League: Doom Blu-Ray Release To Feature Exclusive Flash Figurine is a post from Speed Force.

Speed Reading is a post from Speed Force.

It must be a week for sales. ComiXology is holding a 3-day Flashpoint sale this weekend, offering each issue of Flashpoint, its related miniseries and one-shots, and the Booster Gold tie-in issues for just 99 cents. That’s the whole thing for around $30, the cost of two trade paperbacks.

For the most part, I’ve already read what I wanted of Flashpoint. (Well, technically, I’ve read more than what I wanted, for the sake of completeness. I really could have done without Legion of Doom) But I think I may pick up Batman: Knight of Vengeance. From what I hear, a lot of fans agree that it’s the best of the lot.

Flashpoint Digital Discount is a post from Speed Force.

So what is The Flash Companion?

It’s a book published in 2008 detailing the behind-the-scenes history of The Flash from Jay Garrick’s first appearance in 1940 through the death of Bart Allen and return of Wally West, including the 1990 TV series.

Most of it is about the artists and writers who have worked on the character. Articles on Gardner Fox, Sheldon Moldoff, and Julius Schwartz. Interviews with legends like Carmine Infantino, who reveals the origin of the Rogues, and Harry Lampert. Cary Bates on going serial in the seventies. Mike Baron’s fast living with Wally West. Mark Waid on creating Impulse, his reaction to Bart Allen’s death, and his tribute to the late Mike Wieringo.

“Flash facts” about critical turning points. Pages and plots from the stories that went unpublished when Flash Comics was canceled. The Flash who DC almost introduced after Crisis on Infinite Earths. The actor who turned down the role of Barry Allen.

Artwork and photos. Lost covers. A Rogue’s Gallery.

The book was written by Keith Dallas, who recruited a number of Flash fans (including myself) from the Comic Bloc forums to contribute additional material.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of the Flash, or in the writers and artists who have created and guided the character for the past 70 years.

(Full disclosure, since I contributed a few articles: No, I don’t get any money for it, unless you buy it through my Amazon link in the sidebar — but then, you’d miss out on the discount price at TwoMorrows.)

The Flash Companion is on Sale. Here’s Why You Want It is a post from Speed Force.

The fastest superhero to ever grace the pages of comics wears one of the most recognizable costumes, but as the role of the Flash has changed hands from Barry Allen to Wally West, the costumes over the years have incorporated some subtle changes. Of course, no one would be talking about DC Comics’ Flash at all without the original inspiration behind the modern day Flash if Golden Age Jay Garrick had not inspired the superhero’s more popular incarnations.

Iconic Flash Costumes

Golden Age (Jay Garrick)

• Red t-shirt with jagged yellow lightning bolt from top to bottom
• Blue pants
• Red boots with yellow wings
• Silver helmet with yellow wings

Jay Garrick’s Flash costume consists of little more than a set of blue pants, t-shirt, helmet and boots. It comes across as a bit dated by today’s standards (who wears a tucked in long sleeve t-shirt these days?), but it sets the groundwork for the future Flash costumes. The significance of this Flash incarnation is the beginning of the iconic yellow lightning bolt that we see on his shirt, which every other Flash has worn proudly on each of his costumes. The red and yellow color scheme also begins here. The winged helmet and winged boots were a befitting nod to the mythological messenger god, Mercury, who also wore winged footwear, which future embodiments of the Flash have kept.

Silver Age (Barry Allen)

• Red full body jumpsuit
• Redesigned lightning bolt in front of white background
• Yellow athletic boots with matching wings
• Lightning bolt around the waist and forearms
• Red cowl with exposed face and yellow wing accents
• Addition of gloves

Barry Allen begins the transition into the more iconic image of Flash that most comic fans associate with the DC speedster. Barry keeps the red and gold color scheme, but loses the blue pants and t-shirt for a jumpsuit that evokes a more heroic appearance. The lightning bolt theme makes a more prominent appearance on the chest, accented by a white circle to make even more of a focal point, while lightning bolts around the waist and forearms adds another charismatic touch. Barry wears a sleeker, more aero-dynamic cowl, carrying over the wing accents seen in the Golden Age Flash’s helmet. Barry’s boots are now yellow, with a much more fitted appearance and signature wings on the calves.

Crisis Era (Wally West)

• Darker red full body jumpsuit
• Same redesigned bolt on the chest
• Reshaped bolt around the waist
• Yellow boots without wings

Wally West may have started out as the sidekick, but after being thrust into the role of the leading speedster superhero, he brought some new changes to the Flash costume for the Modern Age. Wally’s Flash keeps the lightning bolt encased in a white circle on the chest, but he opts for a deeper red, which creates a sleek modern look. The lightning bolt around the waist changes into a dual lightning bolt, giving some more movement to the suit, while the lightning bolts around the forearms remain unchanged. Wally also gets rid of the wings on the boots. Wally’s changes may have been subtle, but the minor changes really do influence the mood and attitude of the character.

Here’s a side by side comparison of Wally and Barry’s costumes.

Other Flashes

Although the costumes above may represent the better known looks of the Flash, the speedsters have also assumed some other interesting costumes through the years and various sagas. From bright blue to black, Lantern stories to cartoons, the Flash has found himself in a whole myriad of different looks!

New 52 (Barry Allen)

All right, so the first Flash on this list may not be as wild or different as the classic Flash costumes, but with the new comics comes a redesigned suit. The New 52, released in fall 2011 is back to Barry, who wears a slightly modified version of the Wally West suit. The new Flash costume features most of the same features of the Modern Age costume, but now the lightning bolts around the forearms have a more pointed shape moving towards the wrist and the boots received a slight redesign, giving them an almost metallic armor appearance. A toned down, gold metallic accent color also replaces the bright yellows that once made up the lightning bolts and boots.

Blue Lantern Flash (Barry Allen)

Red may be the signature color of the Flash, but Barry Allen made an appearance in blue during the Blackest Night even. His Blue Lantern costume brings forth the style of the Blue Lantern Corps with a dual shading of light blue and dark blue, and a runic Blue Lantern symbol on his chest where the Flash lightning bolt would normally rest. He retains the Flash-style cowl wings, but now in white.

Young Justice: Kid Flash (Wally West)

Some people tend to forget Wally’s time as Kid Flash, but it was the genesis of his story to becoming the Flash. Cartoon Network brings Wally back to his role as Kid Flash in their Young Justice cartoon series. Wally wears the classic Kid Flash costume. As always, he wears a lightning bolt on his chest, but now in red with a white background. Notice that the lightning bolt has only one ripple, rather than two normally seen in the comics. Rather than a full cowl, his headpiece leaves the top open to expose his hair, while a set of goggles adds a new functional look. The Flash wings make an appearance on his headpiece, but in red. Red pants and gloves accent his yellow top and boots, while the boots have been redesigned to look a bit more athletic.

An interesting twist to his look from Young Justice is a “stealth mode” now incorporated into the series. The stealth mode version replaces his yellow and red with varying shades of black.

Whether it’s on the pages of DC comics, or on the TV screen, the Flash always has a unique look. The Flash is one of the few heroes who never made big changes to his costume, for one simple reason: he didn’t need to. The Flash costume has always done an excellent job of telling his fans what he’s all about, with perfectly matched color schemes, symbols that represent the Flash character and a look that no other superhero could replicate. But what do you think—which Flash did it the best?

This Flash costume retrospective was put together by Ryan Heuer. Ryan writes for an online Halloween costumes company that sells a wide variety of superhero costumes for men and women.

Update: Since the related-posts system doesn’t seem to be picking it up automatically, you may be interested in Speed Force’s previous article on Wally West’s costumes.

Flash Costumes: Speedster Style is a post from Speed Force.

THE FLASH: THE ROAD TO FLASHPOINT TP
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Francis Manapul and Scott Kolins
Collects: THE FLASH #8-12
$14.99 US, 120 pg

The hardcover came out last November. There was a bit of confusion when the Dastardly Death of the Rogues TP was released, and DC identified it was only collecting The Flash #1-6, but that turned out to be a misprint.

This brings the last of Geoff Johns’ Barry Allen Flash run into trade paperback form.

Road to Flashpoint TPB in September is a post from Speed Force.

Choi is also quoted in the post, where he talks about some of his artistic influences:

From the get-go, [Flash editor Brian Cunningham] told me to try and infuse more dynamism to my figure work by looking at artists like John Buscema and Wally Wood, and hopefully that’s coming through bit by bit as my career progresses.

Interestingly, the solicit up at DCComics.com has not been updated to reflect the new content in issue six and still reads as below.  It has been stated by writer Brian Buccellato that the CSI story is “off the table.”

THE FLASH #6
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
Variant cover by MIKE CHOI
1:200 B&W Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale FEBRUARY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Struggling with the climactic aftermath of his battle with Mob Rule last issue, The Flash must solve a murder mystery that dates back 150 years! Is this case too cold even for Barry Allen? Also: Learn the origins of Central and Keystone City!

Flash #6 Variant Cover by Mike Choi Revealed is a post from Speed Force.

Speed Reading is a post from Speed Force.

I had a great chat with Flash co-writer Brian Buccellato at his signing at The Comic Bug this Wednesday. He dropped a few hints and spoilers, most of which I can’t pass along (alas!), but I can shed some light on the somewhat confusing upcoming schedule:

The Captain Cold story originally solicited to start in issue #7 is now a two-parter running through #6 and #7.

After the Turbine story in #8, the next few issues will be done-in-ones re-introducing the Rogues one at a time, leading up to a bigger Rogues story down the line.

The Barry Allen CSI story is off the table for now.

Oh, and that image up there? A teaser for Flash #6 posted by Francis Manapul.

Here Come the Rogues! is a post from Speed Force.