Jesse Quick at NYCC. Photo by Anna Fischer (used per Creative Commons). I think this may be the first time I’ve seen someone in a Jesse Quick costume. Lots of female Flashes [edit] and the occasional Liberty Belle, but no actual Jesse Quicks until now.

Photo: Jesse Quick Cosplay (NYCC) is a post from Speed Force.

One of the stranger items on DC’s September solicitations is this statue of the Black Flash coming in February.

AME-COMI HEROINE SERIES: BLACK FLASH PVC FIGURE
DESIGNED BY JIM FLETCHER
SCULPTED BY JACK MATHEWS

Death strikes faster than lightning!

Black Flash mysteriously appears as an omen of impending doom for any of the Flash family of speedsters that tap into the Speed Force.

Packaged in a 4-color window box with J-hook, this non-articulated PVC statue stands approximately 9” high and includes a display base.

On sale February 1, 2012 * Statue * $70 US

Now, you may recall that in the comics, the Black Flash looks like this.

The reason for the difference: The Ame-Comi line is a series of statues that redesign DC’s characters as anime heroines, and since they released Jesse Quick as the Flash this year, the Black Flash is of course a reflection of her look.

Actually, I suspect it’s a repaint. I’ll have to leave that to Devin and others more familiar with collectibles, but at first glance, they look like they’re not just the same costume (again, except for the skull mask), but the same pose, and they’re credited to the same sculptor.

You can see another view of the Jesse Quick statue in my 2010 Comic-Con photos.

Black Flash Ame-Comi Statue is a post from Speed Force.

The DC Universe Classic Fan Bracket from Action Figure Insider continues with the Fourth Round of voting. The bracket has been ongoing since last year and this round is full of tough choices.

Characters of interest to Flash Fans:

The Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick faces off against Liberty Belle II (Jesse Quick). Jay holds a solid lead of 331 to 160 over Jesse last I checked.  I personally went with Jesse Quick since I know Jay is going to be in the pipeline sooner than later. We need more female action figures!

A man who has squared off against all three current Flashes, Vandal Savage is also in the running up against Count Vertigo and winning by a large margin. 303 votes to Vertigo’s 180. I was pretty excited when they announced the JLU Vandal Savage action figure at Toy Fair 2011 a few weeks ago and would love to add another to my collection soon. Vandal Savage was Wally’s first real arch-nemesis as The Flash and I loved the stories. Great stuff from Mike Baron and William Messner-Loebs.

The last pairing may be another difficult one for fans as Psycho Pirate, the man who held Barry Allen captive for the Anti-Monitor is up against one of the three villains responsible for the disappearance of Keystone City and later Jack Knight ally, The Shade. I fell in love with The Shade while reading James Robinson’s Starman and he became even cooler when I found out he was one of the classic Golden Age Flash villains. I have to side with The Shade. He is barely edging out Psycho Pirate though. Shade has 255 while Mr. Hayden has 231.

Now the final results of the bracket will be sent into Mattel to let them know exactly what fans want so make your voice heard.

I looked around and didn’t see an ending time, but it is late so I could have just missed it. In any case go and Vote Now!

Btw I’d like to plug my new blog once again, FastestFanAlive.com. I post a lot more frequently there and the content ranges from pictures of my collection and newest arrivals to great Flash art I’ve stumbled upon on the web. Please check it out and let me know what you think. You can also follow me on Twitter @FlashJohnson.

Thanks for reading and Happy Voting.

Have a Flashy Friday!

-Devin “Flash” Johnson

Fourth Round of DC Universe Classics Fan Bracket at AFI is a post from Speed Force.

Art

I finally placed what that Funko Flash plush toy reminds me of: paintings by Degrazia.

Michael Cho is bringing some great paintings of the Flash and Mister Miracle to Fan Expo. (via @FrancisManapul)

In Brightest Day, In Blackest…Coffee? The Nerdy Bird has found an awesome T-shirt on Etsy.

Giant Size Geek (formerly Photon Torpedoes) found a “trippy” Martin Ansin painting of the Flash. Actually, there’s another Giant Size Geek find that’s going to get its own post…

Commentary and News

Quick Time is a new blog focusing on Jesse Quick and Hourman. Recent posts include costumes, low points (Jesse in Titans, anyone?), and thoughts on the Justice Society roster.

That F’ing Monkey looks at Flash postage stamps in the Fastest Mail Alive.

The Source has a new video ad for DC Universe Online, “I am the Next Legend.”

The Flash makes IGN’s top DC series list at #8.

CSBG has completed their series on the Top 75 Most Memorable Moments in DC Comics History.

Speed Reading: Art, Quick Time, DCUO, Fast Mail and More is a post from Speed Force.

At DC Universe Event Horizon, James Robinson stated that the Justice League would be battling the Crime Syndicate at some point, with Jesse Quick battling Johnny Quick , Batman vs. Owlman, Supergirl vs. Ultraman etc.

At DC Focus: Teams, incoming Teen Titans writer J.T. Krul said that Bart Allen “is past the Impulse stage but he still has that innocent, light-heartedness about him.” (Quote from Newsarama, may be paraphrasing him.)

At the Superman panel they announced that Superboy #3 will feature the first-ever Superboy/Kid Flash race.

» Full index of Comic-Con coverage

SDCC Catch-Up is a post from Speed Force.

Spotted at the DC booth at Comic-Con International.

» Full index of Comic-Con coverage
» More Comic-Con photos

Jesse Quick as the Flash Ame-Comi Statue is a post from Speed Force.

This photo by spatula108 got me thinking: I’ve seen several women dressed as the Flash at conventions, and two or three as Liberty Belle…but I can’t think of a single Jesse Quick cosplayer.

There were at least three women in home-made Flash costumes at Comic-Con International 2007, two of whom I met.

(Originally posted at K-Squared Ramblings)

(From CBR’s Photo Parade)

Looking online, I’ve spotted one more in a homemade costume (SDCC 2009), and several women wearing an off-the-shelf female Flash costume (SDCC 2009 and WonderCon 2010).

I guess it’s the same principle as the Ame-Comi statue of “Jesse Quick as the Flash.” The Flash is the more famous character. He’s got the name recognition, the costume recognition, and the fan base. More people are going to recognize you if you’re dressed in red with the Flash symbol on your chest than if you wear a random mix of red and yellow with goggles.

Come to think of it, though, if someone did want to design a Jesse Quick costume, she’d have a lot of leeway in what she could wear with it still being authentic!

FOLLOW-UP (Oct. 2011): Here’s an actual Jesse Quick cosplay from NYCC 2011.

Cosplay: Lady Flash vs. Jesse Quick is a post from Speed Force.

Wow!

I’ve mostly lost interest in the current Justice League series. From what I’ve seen of it, the book has been too focused on shuffling the roster and supporting crossovers. And after the Cry For Justice fiasco (though I get the impression that the worst of it was editorially decreed), I’d made a conscious decision to avoid James Robinson’s run.

But you know what?

I think I’m picking up this comic, if I can find a copy with the variant cover at a reasonable price.

Jesse Quick + Liberty Belle + Francis Manapul. Seriously.

Update: Francis Manapul has posted the uncolored artwork.

Justice League of America #46 arrives in stores June 30.

Francis Manapul Covers Jesse Quick for JLA #46 is a post from Speed Force.

Well, sort of.

AME-COMI HEROINE SERIES: JESSE QUICK AS THE FLASH PVC FIGURE

Sculpted by Jack Mathews

Faster Than Lightning!

Super-speedster and member of the Flash family of zoomers, Jesse Quick invokes the mysterious 3×2(9y2)4A formula, tapping into the power of the Speed Force.

Fleet of foot, Jesse sizzles with swiftness!

Packaged in a 4-color window box with J-hook, this non-articulated PVC statue stands approximately 9” high and includes a display base.

On sale February 9, 2011 * Statue * $70 US

Thoughts: This is part of a series of statuettes that have taken DC heroines and redesigned them with looks inspired by anime. This one’s a bit odd, as is another one announced today (Duela Dent as the Joker) in that they’re double mash-ups. Instead of just anime-inspired Jesse Quick, it’s anime-inspired Jesse Quick as the Flash.

OK, the Flash has the name recognition. And while they could have just given us a female Flash, it’s nice that they actually used one of DC’s few female speedsters (most of them are alternate-reality, past or future characters). And, let’s face it, Jesse Quick doesn’t exactly have an iconic look to start from. She’s gone through at least half a dozen costumes since her first appearance.

Side Note: Speaking of Jesse Quick and anime, about ten years ago I watched a science-fiction sports epic called Battle Athletes Victory. There’s an athlete named Jessie with long blonde hair whose last name I could never remember, so I always thought of her as Jesse Quick!

Reminder: You can now follow Speed Force on Facebook, Twitter and Google Buzz.

Jesse Quick Anime-Inspired Statue is a post from Speed Force.

Newsarama: Her encounter with her father during Blackest Night explains why she chose this costume and identity now, but why do you think it works for her to join the Justice League?

Robinson: Well, you’ll have to read the story to see how it happens. But what I like about her joining the Justice League is there’s a natural link between the Justice League and the Justice Society because of her marriage to Hourman, which we can play upon. There’s a natural organic link between the two teams now, which is good.

James Robinson: Jesse Quick in the JLA is a post from Speed Force.