July 19, 2010
Full solicitations are coming soon, but DC’s Brightest Day comics for October are already up…and the Rogue Profiles are back!
The Flash #7
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?
On sale OCTOBER 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Notes: I’d been speculating that we might see a done-in-one story after “The Dastardly Death of the Rogues” finished, though it didn’t occur to me that it might be a Rogue Profile.
For those who weren’t reading The Flash during Geoff Johns’ first run on the title, in between major storylines he would take a break and focus on one of the villains for an issue, often with a guest artist. He started with Captain Cold, then Pied Piper, Zoom, Mirror Master and finally Heat Wave. These off-format issues were a highlight of Johns’ previous run, and I’m glad to see him returning to the concept.
Scott Kolins is really carving out a niche as the artist for the Rogues. His initial run on The Flash, Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge, Blackest Night: The Flash, and now this Captain Boomerang Spotlight.
Update: Not that this should come as a surprise, but Francis Manapul confirmed on Twitter that he’s still on the book and will return for the second story arc.
June 14, 2010
DC’s Brightest Day solicitations for September are up, including…
The Flash #6
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:10 Variant cover by ALE GARZA & SANDRA HOPE
BRIGHTEST DAY dashes on with the stunning conclusion of “The Dastardly Deaths of the Rogues!” With Barry caught between the Rogues and the Renegades, the resurrected Captain Boomerang’s role in the adventure is revealed! You won’t believe how this leads to the upcoming FLASHPOINT…
On sale SEPTEMBER 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Update: Francis Manapul has posted the uncolored version of the cover.
So if “The Dastardly Death of the Rogues” wraps up in #6, but the collection covers #1 through #7, presumably we’ve got a done-in-one story coming up in October.
And they’re already starting to plug Flashpoint.
In related news, DC has rescheduled The Flash from the beginning of each month to the end. Flash #3 is now June 30, Flash #4 has been moved from July 14 to July 28, and Flash #5 is now August 25 (previously August 18) — all in keeping with the September 22 date they just gave for #6.
Reminder: You can now follow Speed Force on Facebook, Twitter and Google Buzz.
June 5, 2010
Collected Editions is always on the lookout for new DC hardcovers and trades, and has posted a round-up of DC hardcovers for early 2011. Among others, he spotted the Amazon listing for Flash vol.1: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues. The hardcover collection is available for preorder and ships from Amazon on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, which probably means it will hit the direct market on February 2, 2011.
As announced last month, this collection features The Flash #1-7 and “material” (presumably the story) from The Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010.
Update (July 9): The Source has posted more detail on Spring 2011 collections, and now states that the book collects The Flash #1-6 and The Flash Secret Files 2010. This makes it line up exactly with the first story arc, rather than extending one issue beyond it.
May 18, 2010
Writer Cary Bates is responsible for the entire Bronze Age of the Flash, but has been missing from the DC Universe since the early 1990s. This August he returns with Superman: The Last Family of Krypton, a 3-issue Elseworlds miniseries (remember those?) about what might have happened if Jor-El and Lara had escaped Krypton along with their infant son Kal-El, and the whole family had arrived on Earth. Renato Arlem handles the art, with covers by Felipe Massafera.
This Elseworlds project, one of very few in recent years, has been in the works almost as long at Bates’ first foray into comics after a decades-long absence, the 2008 Marvel miniseries True Believers. Dan Didio mentioned it at Wizard World Chicago that same year!
May 17, 2010
DC’s August Solicitiations are out, and as usual they include advance news on upcoming collections as well. The Flash Chronicles Volume 2, informally announced back in February, now has an official release date of September 29.
The Flash Chronicles Vol.2 TP
Written by JOHN BROOME • Art by CARMINE INFANTINO, JOE GIELLA, FRANK GIACOIA & MURPHY ANDERSON
Cover by CARMINE INFANTINO & MURPHY ANDERSON
In this second volume, Barry Allen’s rogues gallery expands with the addition of Gorilla Grodd, the Mirror Master and the Weather Wizard, plus the debuts of Kid Flash and the Elongated Man! Collecting THE FLASH #107-112.
On sale SEPTEMBER 29 • 160 pg, FC, $14.99 US
Pre-Order from Amazon
According to the solicitation, this is not the final cover.
Back to August, in addition to Flash #5 and the usual Justice League (now with Jesse Quick), Justice Society (Jay Garrick) and Teen Titans (Bart Allen) books, DC Universe: Legacies catches up to the original Teen Titans (Wally West).
May 14, 2010
DC has released their Brightest Day solicitations for August, including…
The Flash #5
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
BRIGHTEST DAY continues with a shocking connection to the White Light as Captain Boomerang and the Reverse-Flash experience a bizarre event that ties them together. Meanwhile, it’s the Rogues vs. the Renegades with The Flash caught in the middle!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Other Flash-related items: the final two parts of the Justice Society/Justice League of America crossover, featuring both Jay Garrick and Jesse Quick. Currently they’re both in the JSA, but Jesse will be moving over to the JLA at the end of this story. (Also: how did I miss the fact that Cyborg is appearing in backup stories in JLA?)
May 3, 2010
DC has just announced a couple of hardcovers at The Source, including the first collection from The Flash vol.3:
The Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues HC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul*
In stores: February 2011
Collects THE FLASH #1-7 and material from The Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010
$19.99 US, 208 pages
What I find interesting is the length of the material collected. Six issues is a pretty typical story length these days, but it looks like the arc that just started may be seven issues — or it could be six followed by a one-shot, with the next big arc picking up with Flash #8.
*The blog post at the source actually lists two artists: Francis Manapul and Francis Manapul. I’m guessing they just exported the credits from a database through a template that expects a penciller and an inker.
Amazon: Flash Vol.1: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues
April 19, 2010
DC Direct’s Solicits for December are out and there are some great Flash related releases coming up.
BLACKEST NIGHT: SERIES 8: BLACK LANTERN BLACK FLASH Action Figure
The hugely successful BLACKEST NIGHT action figure line continues!
Included in this eighth installment of the series are: Black Lantern Black Flash, Professor Zoom’s reanimated corpse, holds curious sway over The Flash’s other undead rogues; Orange Lantern Lex Luthor, the new Orange Power Ring seeks out Lex Luthor for his avarice and lust for power; Indigo Tribe The Atom, with compassion and sense of duty stronger than ever, Ray Palmer serves as the binding force uniting the spectrum of power; Sinestro Corps Member Scarecrow, delights in instilling fear in others and is rewarded with the Yellow Ring of Power.
The Black Lantern Black Flash figure stands at 6.75″ high, features multiple points of articulation and includes a display base. Character-appropriate accessories are also included.
4-color clamshell blister card packaging.
BLAMMOIDS!: SERIES 4: FLASH Mini Figure
Real compact – with real impact!
BLAM! A funky, chunky collection of boldly designed toys that pack a lot of punch in a squatty body!
POW! A striking, hyper-stylized twist on the world’s greatest heroes and their biggest foes. Too tough to call small – you’ll want to collect them all!
Packaged on a blister card, each measures approximately 2.5″ to 4″ tall with three points of articulation.
On Sale December 1, 2010
and his Zoom counterpart:
BLAMMOIDS!: SERIES 4: ZOOM Mini Figure
Real compact – with real impact!
BLAM! A funky, chunky collection of boldly designed toys that pack a lot of punch in a squatty body!
POW! A striking, hyper-stylized twist on the world’s greatest heroes and their biggest foes. Too tough to call small – you’ll want to collect them all!
Packaged on a blister card, each measures approximately 2.5″ to 4″ tall with three points of articulation.
On Sale December 1, 2010
The Black Lantern Reverse Flash is a must have for me. Especially since we have yet to get a proper Professor Zoom or Zoom in the DC Direct lines. Well except for that artist-specific, out of scale one coming up in the Classified Series. It’s a shame that I only own five Reverse Flashes. And none of them were made in the traditional sculpt. Two are from JLU(Justice Lords large and small figures), One is a Toyfare Exclusive from the 90s JLA Line, and the other two are from Infinite Heroes and DC Direct’s short lived Pocket Heroes line. I’m actually surprised we’ve yet to see a Zoom in the Minimates line either. I’m crossing my fingers that this Flash Relaunch leads to a DC Direct Flash Series similar to what they’ve been doing with Green Lantern. And then when the movie hits. Wow. I think we are in for a great next few years as far as collecting goes.
I really don’t know what these Blammoids are or what the point of them is but I will definitely be picking up both the Flash and Zoom. I have a feeling it’s going to be a slow month for Flash collectibles anyway. Unless DC Direct or Mattel kicks it up with a *crosses fingers* Flash line or Flash-heavy DCUC release.
I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of the last three heroclix I need from the recent release. Expect a full write up when they get here.
-Devin “The Flash” Johnson
April 16, 2010
DC’s Brightest Day solicitations for July are up, including…
The Flash #4
On sale JULY 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by GEOFF JOHNS • Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL • 1:10 variant cover by SCOTT KOLINS
The original Captain Boomerang returns as BRIGHTEST DAY continues. Meanwhile, Barry must prove his innocence to the Renegades, cops from the 25th century. Discover what connection they have to the Rogues and what travesties have occurred in the future.
Notes: The variant covers continue…but hey, Scott Kolins! I wonder if he’s drawing the Renegades.
March 19, 2010
DC has posted their Brightest Day solicitations, including Flash #3.
The Flash #3
It may be BRIGHTEST DAY, but when a mysterious group of so-called heroes turns up, another Rogue ends up dead. Plus, the mystery deepens as The Flash witness another murder — his own!
On sale JUNE 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by GEOFF JOHNS • Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL • 1:10 variant cover by GREG HORN
Notes: It looks like they’re going to keep going with the variant covers for a while. The “solve your own murder” reminds me of “Emergency Stop,” the first story in Grant Morrison and Mark Millar’s brief run on the book. in the late 1990s.
Also, Jesse Quick gets a cover spot in a JLA/JSA crossover, and Lobo fights Atrocitus in Green Lantern.
On another note…
Don’t forget the Design Your Own Flash Ring Contest is still running through April 26!
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
