Speed Force

This Gary Frank cover spotted at ComicVine’s staff review of The Flash #5.

Comicvine’s page detailing The Flash #4 includes Eric Basaldua’s variant cover for the issue. DC seems to have stopped promoting the alternate covers beyond naming the artists in the solicitations. The last one I saw on an official site or press release was the variant for issue #1.

It’s been interesting to look at the different approaches various artists take to the new costume, as well as to compare the mostly story-focused, stylized and representational covers from regular artist/co-writer Francis Manapul to the more standard “Flash running/stopping” covers used for the variants. Of course, I have no doubt that many of the variant covers were assignments to “draw a Flash cover,” rather than to draw a Flash cover for a particular story or even issue.

Somehow, I missed seeing this cover until today. I guess with the early preview, DC just didn’t get around to posting it online. Thanks to Aaron Louis Kessler of the Flash and Other Members of the Speed Force group on Facebook for the scan!

Speaking of Flash #3, I’m sorry I’m so far behind on reviews. It’s been a busy couple of months. Who am I kidding, it’s been a busy year! I’ll see if I can do a combined review of #2 and #3, or just go straight to #3, sometime in the next week.

Speaking of that preview, it was one of DC’s first posts on Google+. Speed Force is on Google+ [edit: fixed link] too, so please add us to your circles!

Robot 6 spotted the cover in, of all places, the Wall Street Journal’s article on DC Comics’ 52-issue sellout. The CBR blog notes that artist Greg Capullo (Batman) is also providing variant covers for Green Lantern #1, Justice League #3 and Action Comics #4.

The Flash #1 goes on sale tomorrow. The Flash #2 arrives on October 26.

Straight from The Source, it’s Ivan Reis’ variant cover for The Flash #1, due in stores and online at the end of September.

It reminds me of the Flash Secret Files 2010 cover, only with the new transformation sequence added to the new costume design.

DC has also revealed the third variant cover, a sketch version of Francis Manapul’s main cover for the book. Read the rest of this entry »

FanExpo gets its own exclusive Flashpoint #1 wraparound cover, based on the SDCC cover. Like that one, it will sell at the convention for $10.

Andy Kubert will be attending the convention.

DC has announced an exclusive SDCC edition of Flashpoint #1, to be sold at the Graphitti Designs booth, faturing this wraparound cover by Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, and Alex Sinclair.

They’ve also released a guide to all things DC at the convention: events, exclusives, locations and more.

DC has released a preview of this week’s issue, labeling it as the “Secret Origin of Hot Pursuit.” Although DC previously identified a piece by Yildiray Cinar as the variant cover for #10, the final version features a cover by Ed Benes which looks quite similar to the standard cover by Francis Manapul, minus the other Flashes.

DC has released Francis Portela’s variant cover for Flash #12, which they remind us is the final issue of the (current) series before it jumps into Flashpoint.

Flash #10 comes out tomorrow, with #11 scheduled for April 27 and #12 due May 11…the same day that Flashpoint launches.

Ivan Reis’ variant cover for Brightest Day #23 focuses on everyone’s* favorite resurrected boomerang-throwing Rogue. DC has a 4-page preview of the issue, which hits stores today.

One one issue left after this one. The end is near!

*Some might prefer other boomerang-throwing Rogues who have not been resurrected at this time.