Considering that there’s no new solo Flash material coming out this week There’s an awful lot of speedster material this week! The third Showcase collection from the 1960s, Wednesday Comics, and a cameo in Adventure Comics, plus team and event books like Blackest Night, JSA vs. Kobra, and Titans should cover Barry, Wally, Jay and Bart.
Showcase presents: The Flash Vol. 3 TP
Written by John Broome, Gardner Fox and Robert Kanigher
Art by Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella, Frank Giacoia and Murphy Anderson
Cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson
The Rogues take over in this new third volume collecting The Flash #141-161. Don’t miss the Scarlet Speedster’s epic battles with The Trickster, The Weather Wizard, The Mirror Master, Captain Cold and more!
520 pg, B&W, $16.99 US
Notes: This volume pushes the cheap black-and-white Showcase series past the more durable, higher-quality Flash Archives series, which currently leaves off at #141.
Wednesday Comics #6
The Flash battles Gorilla Grodd and tries to date Iris West in a story written by Karl Kerschl (Teen Titans Year One, The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive) and Brenden Fletcher with art by Karl Kerschl.
Wednesday Comics will arrive in stores folded twice to 7″ x 10″.
7″ x 10″, 16 pg, FC, $3.99 US.
Notes: I can’t believe I forgot this when writing up the list!
Blackest Night #2
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Mauro Cacioli
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis
The event of the summer continues! The dead rise across the DC Universe, bringing terror and darkness with them. What are the Black Lanterns? What do they want? Will Earth’s greatest heroes survive long enough to find out — or will they join the Black Lantern Corps?
This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Mauro Cascioli). For every 200 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis).
2 of 8 · 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
JSA vs. Kobra: Engines of Faith #3
Written by Eric Trautmann
Art by Don Kramer & Michael Babinski
Cover by Gene Ha
The JSA follow the trail of Kobra into Opal City! But the stars of this shining metropolis have been darkened by a deed so vile, it’s a new low for the global terrorist. Meanwhile, Kobra warriors have been turning up dead. Is Jason Burr a lone serpent now, or is there a greater plan at work?
3 of 6 · 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Check out the preview at Newsarama.
Adventure Comics #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul
Co-feature art by Clayton Henry Covers by Francis Manapul
It’s the return of one of DC Comics’ longest running books and one of its greatest modern-day heroes – Conner Kent! In our first heroic issue, Superboy can’t wait to jump back into his life – but which life will it be? With a clarity he’s never had before, Conner makes a beeline for the greatest place on Earth…Smallville?
Plus, in the wake of FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS, Starman heads off on an all-new mission in the present. And it’s one that will not only impact Superboy, but the future of the DC Universe itself. Fortunately, the off-kilter Legionnaire won’t be dong it alone! And in the upcoming months of ADVENTURE COMICS look for Lex Luthor! Brainiac! Lightning Lad! Superboy’s pal Simple Simon! Sun Boy and Polar Boy! Ultra, the Multi Alien! Wonder Girl! Black Lantern Alexander Luthor! And many, many more new and familiar faces!
40pg, $3.99
Notes: We know from previews that Kid Flash has at least a cameo in this issue.
Titans #16
Written by Christopher Yost
Art by Angel Unzueta & Wayne Faucher
Cover by Angel Unzueta
Why has Starfire been acting odd the past few issues? Turns out the warrior woman has major rage issues coming out of her recent breakup with Dick Grayson, the events of Final Crisis and more. Her super-powerful emotions could very well rip the team apart!
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Notes: Angel Unzueta did the art for Geoff Johns’ first Flash arc, “Wonderland,” and Wayne Faucher inked a long run on Impulse.
Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #4
Written by Ivan Brandon
Art by Marco Rudy
Cover by Scott Hampton
The drugs are wearing off, and Nemesis can finally clear his head enough to make sense of life in Electric City as a “guest” of the Global Peace Agency. So what could be worse than having to experience Electric City under the influence of tranquilizers and truth serums? How about living there with a clear understanding of what’s really going to happen when they’re done with you…
4 of 6 · 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Note: I have no idea whether any Flashes appear in this, but that sure looks like the Cosmic Treadmill on the cover.
The Last Days of Animal Man #4
Written by Gerry Conway
Art by Chris Batista & Dave Meikis
Cover by Brian Bolland
Regrets…he’s had a few! Buddy Baker can’t bear to live with the regret that comes of his infidelity with Starfire…but Prismatik and Bloodrage will be happy to take the burden of life off his hands! They’ve launched a full-on assault against the League of Titans’ headquarters, and Buddy and Starfire are the only heroes who stand in their way!
4 of 6 · 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Note: This series takes place 15 years in the future. Prismatik is the daughter of the second Mirror Master.
Don’t forget ‘Wednesday Comics’!
This week = The Flash vs. the third law of thermodynamics + Earth’s orbit
Also: the life and death of a super-intelligent god-gorilla!
D’oh! I can’t believe I forgot that!
You know, it’s funny – I find myself using our Showcase books for reference rather than reading for fun most of the time.
I wrote a thesis on Marvel movies using some Essential books which are the equal of Showcase. So I don’t find it to be odd.
Same here — I don’t currently own any of the Showcase Presents books, but when I was assembling this post the other night I seriously considered picking up the Flash ones for reference, because it’d be easier to flip through them than to dive into the long boxes. I stopped myself because I’ve already got the Archives, which are almost as easy, but this volume jumps past them with probably 2.5 archives’ worth of material.
Dangit! Somehow Last Days #4 wasn’t in our pulls pile. Must ask what happened.
Looks like it got delayed. Diamond shows it on the August 26 shipping list now.
Usually I try to double-check against DC’s website when I prep these posts, but I guess I must have missed this one.