Newsarama interviews the Flash creative team about the upcoming Flash #0, which will update Barry Allen’s origin, and what’s coming in the second year of the New 52 Flash.
Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato have been re-introducing the Rogues one at a time through Flash #6-12, building toward a major event in Flash Annual #1 in August. After that, Flash #0 will retell the Flash’s origin. Together, the Annual and the #0 issue will answer a number of readers’ questions, like: How did the Rogues get internal powers? Who raised Barry after his mother was killed and his father framed?
Manapul: In issue #0, people are finally going to see what happened after he lost his parents, and what happened right after he got hit by lightning. The Barry Allen we’ve been writing since we took over the book last year has a past that hasn’t been revealed, and it’s an important part of why he does what he does. So we’ve addressed a lot of those things head-on in the #0 issue.
They also make the point that the New 52 Barry Allen is very different in personality from the pre-Flashpoint Barry Allen, and one of their goals with the new origin story is to solidly ground him in this timeline.
Manapul: Well, we’ve created a lot more emotional ties to this particular timeline for Barry Allen. There’s no way he could ever see himself going back in time to screw up time or to save his mom or anything like that. So we’re giving him a very strong emotional anchor in this timeline to hold that line, to never go back to the past.
Again and again they return to the theme of moving forward, rather than backward, including in the way they look, well, back at the Flash’s origin.
Buccellato: … I know the story of his mother was told in Flash: Rebirth, and that’s a valid reason for his choice to become a hero. But we felt like we needed to go a little bit deeper.
…
Like Francis said, our Barry is more forward-moving and less reflective and looking back. So we needed to show why he’s that way and why we did this subtle shift in Barry’s personality and motivation.
Francis Manapul confirms that he’s back on art for #12, #0, and beyond, and Brian Buccellato confirms that amidst all the creative changes of the New 52, they’re sticking around. “We have a big plan for what we’re doing on the Flash…”
So what does come next? All we know is it will spin out of the Flash Annual, and one hint: “War is coming to Central City.”
Read the full interview at Newsarama.
I have complete faith in these guys. They say the right things, and the work backs it up.
I’m a little bummed that they feel the need to justify his actions though. I’m not against making Barry deeper, but part of why I love the Flashes so much is because they always helped people because they thought it was the right thing to do. I always thought that they were unique in the hero world because of that.
Oh well, I guess I’ll reserve judgement until I see what they come up with.
These guys are fantastic,I hope they stay on the book for a very, VERY long time. Looking forward to the origin, it’s about time! Hope they give an explanation for the suit finally.
Again with the beautifully dynamic artwork. 🙂
One thing…can anyone make out what the action sequence has to do with pigeons? (I keep thinking sudden pigeon poop causes major traffic accident, but that can’t be it.)
Clearly, it is a new Rogue: Captain Squawk.
Enemy of Flash statues everywhere!
I’m sure his origin is tied to the Flash Museum.
Very excited for year two! Hope they stick around for even longer.
I’ve really enjoyed their first year and I hope they have many more together.
I’m going to guess that Professor Zoom shows up fairly soon after #0.
Interesting questions about the Rogues’ new abilities and who raised Barry after his parents’ disaster. Sounds as if Manapul and Co. have some new twists to add to Barry’s origin. I’m looking forward to this.
Just a very funny thought but humor me (plus I really miss Wally).
What if Barry became a foster kid? And his foster family became the Park-Wests? What if Wally and his family (yup plus his twins) got transported to the past from future and while they’re stuck, they sought the help of Ira West. Wally pretended to be a brother of his. Then he learned of what happened to Barry so they took care of him (it’s pay back for the kindness the man showed to him as a kid) and try to keep as much of his mentor’s past as intact as possible (Idk, like preventing Barry to become another Batman?). But then at some point in time, they got transported back to the future and Barry was left with no family again (though he kept being friend with Ira’s daughter Iris)
Idk but I could dream of this happening, right? DC’s ideas about Barry as being the one and only Flash won’t be ruined because Wally’s cameo would just be of a civilian/foster father/man from the future and not the Flash. It would fit with their plans and would pacify the fans who were missing Wally. XD