In an article at USA Today, DC Comics announced some major Flash news.
First, the new creative team will be co-writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen (Green Lantern Corps) with artist Brett Booth (Teen Titans). They’ll take over with Flash #30 on April 23.
Venditti on the appeal of the Flash: “From a very young age, one of the first things you want to be able to do is run fast,” the writer says. “You don’t want to fly, you don’t want to have a ring that makes constructs out of light. It’s just a simple, basic thing: ‘I want to be able to run fast.'”
Second, Flash Annual #3 hits the following week…and will reintroduce Wally West, DC’s original Kid Flash and the main Flash from 1986-2008.
This isn’t a cryptic remark from Dan Didio. This is a clear statement in a national newspaper. Wally West is returning. In what form, in what role, remains to be seen. This black-suited speedster could be him, or it could be someone else. Brett Booth has long championed the idea of bringing Wally West into the New 52, and went so far as to design a costume for him back when the New 52 was young.
(Images via Newsarama)
@SpeedForceOrg is the suit black or blue? It looks dark blue to me
Whoa.
Yeah, I’d say blue, too. Anyway, it’s good to hear of an actual indefinite – I daren’t write ‘permanent’ – Flash team but oh my word, I wish the lightning clutter would go from the costumes.
If this is a joke it’s not funny!
So is Captain Cold changing his costume as well, or is that a flashback before he went sleeveless?
Cautiously optimistic but not holding my breath for good results.
I’m on Team Cautious Optimism. Now please bring Piper back properly. Thank you.
WTF? (Why The Face?). This leaves me unsettled. The writers are okay….. I guess. Booth, no thanks.
Based on the timing and the second picture above, Wally will be in the future.
Looks alternate timeline sort of thing to me. Grodd has a gold bolt, cold has go go boots and mittens…
If they tone down the lightning effects in the interior art I like it, but he does look really edgy and grim dark, which…
I mean Barry sort of is a bit of a jokes yet now and has that aspect of Wally in him… But if the new Wally is all epic and stoic fans are gonna flip out. Hopefully that scary face look is just when his powers are engaged
I’m betting Wally figures in Five Years Later.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=49638
Only if Giffen was lying in last week’s interview on Future’s End: “Let’s get this up front: No, we’re not using goddamn Wally.”
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=50132
Huh. Missed that 😀
The costume isn’t terrible, but I’ll have to see it without the lightning effects to really get a good idea of how it looks. Also, an appearance in an annual isn’t anywhere near as reassuring as a team book or part of a miniseries event. It seems like his first appearance is being squandered in a one and done story. Still, I’m excited to have him back, and even if his return isn’t the epic story we all want it to be, there are way too many Wally West fans writing for DC for that to remain the case for long. So long as he is kept active, that is.
@SpeedForceOrg how many more books can Brett Booth do at once?
Great, Good to see him finally back.
Well… I suppose the deep freeze last week across the United States managed to freeze hell over as well.
We’ve all been clamoring for Wally to come back. Now we have to start worrying, “Uh-oh, what are the going to do to him?”. 🙂
Shag
Well, Hell, Michigan certainly froze over! That would explain a lot, actually…
While I am truly excited for the return of Wally West I am, however skeptical. I have not agreed with a few of the revamped origins for a few characters so I’ll admit that I am a bit hesitant. However, I believe DC has heard the cries for Wally’s return so I’m confident that they won’t do anything tragic with his origins.
As for the costume I love it. Wally needs something to differentiate himself from Barry and be his own hero. I guess this costume took inspiration from Blue Lantern Barry, which is all right to me. I wish the best of luck to the new creative team and I look forward to the upcoming issues.
Well, that didn’t take long at all. Hopefully Wally will be something other than just another guy who runs fast. The costume on the Annual cover (if that is indeed Wally) is pretty slick, and the cyber look gives it a different vibe.
Most of all I hope that the stories are good, and that the creative team remains stable if they are.
“Not long?” Are we counting the years when he was still in-continuity after Rebirth, but nobody could be bothered to put him in anything more exciting than a picnic?
I wonder if Len is going back to sleeves now that he’s been depowered?
This is just awesome. We Have Jay, we have Barry, we have Bart, and now Wally is coming back, this is just Spectacular news! His new suit is pretty neat, can’t wait to see more of it. definetly reminds me of Pullocks suit in the old Flash tv series.
Now we Just need Max Mercury and Jesse Quick to make the family whole again. 😀
My Guess is that they’re making him into a cross between Wally and Max Mercury. It may also stand to reason that Wally will still mainline the Speed Force but when he gets to the more extreme velocities he goes into a living energy mode hence the glowing skin. I’m starting to see some real possibilities here and while I was apprehensive last night I’m quickly growing more enthusiastic.
Not a Wally fan. But I am guessing that he will be a Flash from the future and a descendent of Daniel West. The story (in the annual) will most likely serve as an introduction. The ongoing question is what will his future/ongoing use be.
I will come out of ‘comics retirement’ and get this one for sure. Hope he at least has red hair.
The solicitation from Comicsology seems to suggest that the blue-suited person could be Barry Allen from the future.
“The start of a major new arc for the Fastest Man Alive! In the future, The Flash is a broken man. His powers have failed him time and again at great cost to him and the city he has sworn to protect. Now he’s coming back to 2014 to stop the one event that destroyed his life. Meanwhile, in the present, Barry Allen must contend with thieves trying to capitalize on the devastation of FOREVER EVIL. It’s a tale of two timelines that ushers in one of DC’s most storied characters…featuring The New 52 debut of WALLY WEST!”
Yes!
The time is right for that second Flash book.
WALLY!
After complaining for so long, I’m now terrified that DC are reintroducing Wally in the ‘New 52’.
Wally from the future?? I’m hearing alarm bells already.
There are so many ways for this to suck. I’m currently reading the Teen Titans new take on Kid Flash and have been underwhelmed.
@SpeedForceOrg Ho Hum. Just another week. 😉
FINALLY!!!