Four Years of Speed Force

Can you believe it’s been four years since the first post at Speed Force?

Amazing, isn’t it?

Back when it started, it was just me, running WordPress on a shared webserver at work. It’s since grown to four regular writers, the occasional guest writer, a bunch of regular commenters and lots of readers.

This was a time when the iPad didn’t exist, the iPhone had only been around two years, and Android had yet to release a single phone. Digital comics were something that the print publishers still looked at as maybe a threat, or maybe a fad, but certainly not something viable, even though webcomics had been around for over a decade. Wally West was still the main Flash and Barry Allen’s return had only been hinted at on panel. The previous Comic-Con International had still sold tickets at the door, and the next Comic-Con wouldn’t sell out until about a week before the event. No one had ever complained that Twilight “ruined” Comic-Con, because the movie hadn’t come out yet. No one had heard of a Black Lantern.

For comparison, here are the covers of the most recent Flash issues at the time the site launched vs. today.

Flash v.2 #240 Flash #9 cover

Hmm, two relaunches (three if you count Flash vol.3 separate from Flash: Rebirth) later, and they’re still monkeying around…

I launched Speed Force on June 15, 2008, because I wanted to write about the Morrison/Millar Flash run being collected. A few days later I lucked into my first “scoop:” images of the Flash in Mortal Kombat vs. DCU. That and the reputation of Flash: Those Who Ride the Lightning helped the blog hit the ground running (so to speak), and it’s been a mad dash ever since.

Over the next four days, each of us at Speed Force — me, Devin, Greg and Lia — will be writing something special for the event. We’ll have a contest, too, so be sure to check in over the weekend!

Thanks to all of you for coming along on this ride!

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26 thoughts on “Four Years of Speed Force

  1. Kyer

    I take off the helmet from my Jay Garrick action figure in order to doff it towards you. Kudos on keeping a wonderful site running like lightning. 🙂 😉

    Reply
  2. CraigM

    Congrats on the 4 Year Anniversary! Still one of my favorite sites and one I visit daily. Also, I realize it’s a bit of a pain, given the New 52 and the state of the characters (no Wally? Earth 2 Jay ? Bart isn’t Bart?) but any plans to update Those Who Ride the Lightning?

    Reply
    1. Kelson Post author

      Thank you! Unfortunately, I’ve come to realize that I just don’t have time to manage both the blog and the reference site on top of family and a full-time job. I thought about looking for someone to take over updates, but I think wikis are better for that sort of thing these days, and there’s no shortage of DC-related wikis.

      I’d like to eventually go through and update the appearance lists to the end of the pre-Flashpoint DCU so that everything is lined up in terms of when it was current, but even that is a “someday” project.

      Reply
  3. Aedien

    I certainly miss those simpler times….but it’s really cool that this place has been around so long. Thanks for keeping us on top of Flash news all this time! Congrats!

    Reply
  4. Collected Editions

    Happy anniversary! I enjoy the site, but even more I appreciate what a good nettizen you are — all the links you share, all the support you give my site and others. Thanks and congrats!

    Reply
    1. Kelson Post author

      Thank you! I think the greatest strength of the web is its interconnectedness. That’s why it’s called a web, after all, and not simply a library. I’m glad to know it’s appreciated!

      Reply

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