Four Years of Speed Force

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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”

  7. 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. 🙂 😉

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  8. 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?

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    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.

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  9. 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!

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  11. 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!

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    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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