Monthly Archives: August 2013

Flash Collections Update: Gorilla Warfare & Reverse

Flash #13: Gorilla WarfareTwo updates on upcoming Flash collections.

First up, Collected Editions has located a ton of upcoming DC Comics collections for 2013/2014, including Flash Vol. 4: Reverse, featuring issues #20-24 and the Villains Month Gorilla Grodd and Reverse Flash issues. Reverse Flash makes sense, but Grodd is an odd choice except in the need-to-put-it-somewhere sense. The link to the Reverse entry is down, though, which may be related to this next piece of information.

ComicList’s latest DC Comics Extended Forecast notes that orders for December’s hardcover of Flash vol.3: Gorilla Warfare have been canceled and the book will be resolicited later. As Collected Editions points out, this could indicate a content change. It was originally solicited featurng Flash #13-19, which collects the 5-part “Gorilla Warfare” in #13-17 and a two-part Trickster story in #18-19 with teases for the Reverse Flash.

Pure speculation here, but maybe DC is re-arranging these as follows:

  • Flash Vol.3: Gorilla Warfare – Flash #13-17 and Villains Month Grodd.
  • Flash Vol.4: Reverse – Flash #18-24 and Villains Month Reverse Flash.

It would make more sense than the current breakdown, and put six issues in one book and eight in the next. The only drawback I see is that the Reverse collection would open with the Trickster two-parter instead of jumping straight into the main story that lends its title to the volume.

This Week: Reverse-Flash in Flash #23 & the Folded Man

The latest issue of The Flash comes out this week, featuring the long-awaited reveal of the new Reverse-Flash’s identity. DC has a preview of the issue available.Flash #23 (final cover)

Reverse-Flash wants all the power he can get his hands on. But why does he need a monopoly on the Speed Force? Barry Allen makes a desperate attempt to save Iris from this ruthless killer —and you can’t be sure who will be left standing by this issue’s end! Plus, learn the shocking true identity of Reverse-Flash! From the New York Times bestselling creative team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, THE FLASH #23 speeds into stores this Wednesday.

Update: Team books!

Justice League #23 wraps up “Trinity War.”

TRINITY WAR CHAPTER 6! Trinity War concludes! But that doesn’t mean all ends well for our heroes. The secret behind Pandora’s Box is revealed and it means the end of the Justice Leagues!

Teen Titans #23 is also out, and DC has a preview of that as well.

Kid Flash is being pulled into a mysterious vortex, and his cries for help set off a chain reaction. Each Titan on the scene lends their strength to the last, but will it be enough? Wonder Girl, Bunker, Beast Boy, Solstice and then Superboy all become part of the tug of war – with Kid Flash stuck in the middle! (Scott Lobdell, Robson Rocha, Wayne Faucher)

And in digital back-issues, the Dark Flash saga continues.

Flash #153 Flash confronts the Folded Man, whose suit allows him to switch between 2D, 3D and 4D space. In the mean time, Linda finds herself in a parallel world where Walter West is wanted by the law. (summary from comics.org)

Mark Waid, Brian Augustyn, Paul Pelletier, Jose Marzan, Jr.

Trinity War Update! (Review of JLA #7 and JL Dark #23)

JLA 7 cover JL Dark 23 cover Time to catch up on Trinity War!  There are a few things becoming clear in this story arc that spans all the Justice League titles – most especially that there will be long-standing effects on the entire DC Universe from this series.  This tale is picking up speed as it goes along, and it is actually improving in quality as it picks up the pace.  Let’s start with JLA #7, and then we’ll take a quick jump to JL Dark #23 (Note how the covers are matching up, just as the first three installments made one picture…wonder what the last part of THIS picture will be):

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD

Continue reading

This Week: Trinity War 5/6, Impulse vs. White Lightning

Flash comics out this week:

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23

TRINITY WAR CHAPTER 5! The Justice Leagues continues to fracture as the murder of a hero is solved—and the line between justice and vengeance blurs as they head off to find those responsible!

Written by Jeff Lemire, art by Mikel Janin, cover by Doug Mahnke, variant cover by Mikel Janin and Doug Mahnke

And in digital backissues at ComiXology:

IMPULSE #76

Bart’s back from the future with a new super-power, but before he can adjust to life without his best friend, he’ll have to stop the schemes of White Lightning.

Written by Todd Dezago, art by Ethan Van Sciver and Prentis Rollins

How Will the Flash’s Villains Month Comics Be Collected?

Flash comics for Villains Month

From Collected Editions we get the news that not all of DC Comics’ Villains Month issues will be collected in trades, “only the ones that fully tie into an ongoing series.” (Dan Didio)

This has me wondering about the three Flash villain issues.

Reverse Flash appears to be essentially part 5 of the 6-part Reverse Flash story currently running through The Flash, so it’s safe to say it’ll be included in The Flash Vol.4: Reverse.

The Rogues is billed as having a Forever Evil connection and is by the same creative team as Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion, so it seems likely to appear as a prologue in the collected edition of that series.

Grodd, however? It’s hard to say. Based on the way DC put the Captain Cold two-parter in with Mob Rule for the Move Forward collection, and tossed in the Trickster two-parter with Gorilla Warfare, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it in the pages of Reverse.

Incidentally, when I asked Brian Buccellato about it, he sidestepped the question (it may not be decided yet anyway), but he and Retcon Punch got into a gorilla pun war that can’t be missed.

This Week: Two Collections & Dark Flash

Flash comics out this week:

Update: I must remember not to rush these posts. I somehow got the wrong pair of collections listed.

Gorilla Warfare (hardcover)

When Grodd and his gorilla army descend on Central City, The Flash will have to contend with a threat unlike any he’s faced before: murderous, ruthless and without principle. With mammoth strength and mind-control powers, Grodd will not stop until he conquers the city with its heroes blood on his hands. Knowing he cannot defeat this new foe alone, The Flash will need the help of his former enemies, the Rogues, if he wants to keep himself and Central City alive. This new hardcover collects THE FLASH #13-19.

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato, art by Francis Manapul, Marcus To, Ryan Winn, Marcio Takara

Rogues Revolution (paperback hardcover)

The Rogues Gallery is united for the first time in The New 52 in this title collecting issues #0, 9-12 and THE FLASH ANNUAL #1! Who is behind their sudden organization, and why are they after their Captain Cold?

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato, art by Francis Manapul, Scott Kolins, Marcus To, Marcio Takara

Move Forward (paperback)

Barry Allen fights an enemy who can be everywhere at once, then battles the newly self-powered Captain Cold.

Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato.

In current comics…

Trinity War continues in Justice League of America #7.

And in digital backissues….

Flash #152 beginning the Dark Flash Saga.

A new logo, a new costume, and a new Flash begin a startling new era for the Fastest Man Alive! There’s a super-fast stranger in town, and he’s calling himself the Flash. But who is this world-weary, battle-scarred hero in a fearsome, nearly all-black costume?

Written by Mark Waid & Brian Augustyn, art by Paul Pelletier, cover by Steve Lightle.