Category Archives: Creators

Francis Manapul Draws Seven Warriors at BOOM!

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CBR reports that BOOM! studios will release Seven Warriors, written by Michaël Le Galli art by Francis Manapul.

Step into the world of 7 WARRIORS and follow seven beautiful women in 6th century Libya. The capitol of an ancient nation is surrounded by the Persian and Byzantine armies, and only these seven soldiers are chosen to save the heir to the kingdom. Seven Warriors. Seven…sexy, gorgeous women! An exquisitely rendered tale in the vein of 300, written by Michaël Le Galli and drawn by Francis Manapul.

For those concerned about the artist’s commitment to the Flash, there’s nothing to worry about. The article doesn’t make it clear, but the book is actually a re-release. It was originally published in French as the graphic novel Sept Guerrières in 2008, and is now being translated for the English-reading audience.

The first issue is due for a November release.

Cary Bates Flash-es Back at Newsarama

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Newsarama interviews Cary Bates about his work on The Flash and Justice League of America back in the 1970s, and his upcoming DC Retroactive specials revisiting those books.

With the books closer to release (DC Retroactive: The Flash: The 70s comes out next week), he’s able to say a little more than he did in our interview back in May, plus of course we weren’t asking him about the JLA! There’s some strange spoilery information about “Son of Grodd,” but what really caught my eye was what Bates said about the timeframe of the DC Retrocative books:

The deadlines for the retro books were very tight, so once I signed on I had to come up with the plots for both books within 24 hours.

24 hours! Wow! I’d gotten the impression that the Retroactive specials were a last-minute addition to the schedule, and this seems to confirm it. My suspicion: After DC decided to push full-steam-ahead on the reboot/relaunch/whatever it actually is, they decided to give the previous versions of the major characters a “last hurrah” before moving on.

When you’re done reading the Newsarama interview, jump back and check out our two-part interview in which Cary Bates talks more about his 1970s Flash run, the Death of Iris Allen, and where The Flash would have gone if it hadn’t been canceled during Crisis on Infinite Earths.

The Flash vs. Mob Rule

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The Source asks Francis Manapul a few questions about his upcoming Flash series, and he lets a few more details spill…including a bit about the villain in the first story: a group called Mob Rule.

My favorite bit: when he says the biggest surprise working on the book was “The potential with experimentation of visual storytelling.”

Interview: Greg LaRocque on DC Retroactive: The Flash – The ’80s

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Starting in July, DC Comics Retroactive series will bring back classic creators to the characters they helped define.  Covering the last three decades of the 20th Century, the three Flash issues will feature writer Cary Bates (1970s), writer William Messner-Loebs and artist Greg LaRocque (1980s), and writer Brian Augustyn (1990s).


LaRocque was the penciller on Flash for the entirety of Messner-Loebs’ tenure from 1988 – 1991, and illustrated a portion of Mark Waid’s run including the classic “Born to Run” and “The Return of Barry Allen”.  In all, LaRocque pencilled nearly 60 issues of Flash over a five-year stretch.

We’ve previously interviewed LaRocque about his work on “The Return of Barry Allen,” and contacted him via email when the Retroactive issue was announced.  Once the artwork was complete, he provided us with some details.  He also posted preview images on Facebook last week, and those are included below along with the solicited cover.  See what the man has to say after the jump…

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Francis Manapul Wins Shuster Award

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The 2011 Joe Shuster Awards were presented at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo on Saturday, and Flash artist (and soon-to-be co-writer) Francis Manapul has won the award for Outstanding Comic Book Artist.

The summary reads:

In 2009, Francis Manapul adopted an ink-wash style that semi-renders his figures and backgrounds, and combined the new approach with his already solid skills as a comics penciler to add a depth and tonality to his environments that gives his work a unique quality. His work on the Flash in 2010 is both mature in its storytelling and some of the best use of his new technique so far.

The Joe Shuster Awards are given to honor outstanding Canadian comics creators, and are named after Superman co-creator Joe Shuster.

This is Francis Manapul’s second nomination (he was previously nominated in 2010) and first win for the award.

Congratulations to Francis Manapul!

First Peek At Greg LaRocque’s Retroactive Flash

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Greg LaRocque, popular artist on the Flash in the ’90s, has given us our first look at some art from his upcoming Retroactive ’80s Flash project via The Flash & Other Members of the Speed Force group on Facebook:

 

 

Greg looks to be as sharp as ever. I really can’t wait for this to come out especially in light of recent events and announcements. This definitely lifted my spirits! Thank you Greg! And thank you Aaron Louis Kessler!

You can also read an exclusive Speed Force interview with Greg HERE!

Be sure to check out The Flash Retroactive ’80s one shot due out in August. Especially if you are in need of some classic Wally goodness. I know I am.

 

–Devin “Flash” Johnson