Category Archives: Flash News

No Wally West (or Lightning Lad) in Justice League 3000

Justice League 3000 Flash by Howard Porter

Remember that Justice League 3000 design that had fans wondering about the identity of a future Flash? Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis are still being cagey about just who the JL3000 are, but fan speculation has led them to reveal who they aren’t to MTV Geek:

Geek: Real talk: Is this Flash Wally West? Are we going to finally see him in a New 52 context?

DeMatteis: One thing I can say unequivocally: this is absolutely not Wally West.

Giffen: No! Too harsh? Sorry again, but I’ve got to kill this whole Wally thing before it gets out of hand. Wally never even crossed our minds. Nor Donna. Nor Stephanie. Nor Snapper, nor Binky, nor Casey the Cop, etc., etc.

They also clarify that these characters aren’t the Legion of Super-Heroes recast in a Justice League mold. “Superman is not Mon-el. Green Lantern is not Rond Vidar.” Flash, we can assume, is not Lightning Lad.

It’s just as well that they chose to nip this in the bud rather than let the speculation build up steam over the next few months, leading to massive disappointment from fans who were hoping for a return of Wally West as Flash, Donna Troy as Wonder Woman, etc. when they picked up the book and it didn’t line up with their expectations.

Presumably the red hair and green eyes in the design sketch simply reflect artist Howard Porter’s affinity for the character, since he drew several years of JLA with Grant Morrison and Wally West’s Flash series with Geoff Johns.

Flash Annual #2 First Look

DC has a preview of its July annuals, including Flash Annual #2, shipping July 31. The main story by Brian Buccellato and Sami Basri guest-stars Green Lantern, looking back at the first meeting (in new 52 continuity) of Hal Jordan and Barry Allen. Judging by the preview page, they don’t start off very well. (Do two heroes ever meet for the first time and start by, you know, working together?)

On a related note, last week Newsarama interviewed Nicole Dubuc about her back-up story in the book, about “a man who has lost his wife in a fire — and he blames the Flash for not saving her.”

Flash Annual #2 Preview Page

Iris Suits Up in Flash #22

Iris in the Speed Suit

The latest What’s New in the New 52 feature at DC’s website features two preview pages from Flash #22, coming at the end of the month. I saw the thumbnail and briefly wondered if we were getting a surprise return of Jesse Quick, then saw the headline and wondered whether Iris might have been keeping a secret from her time in the speed force. Bob Harris writes:

If you’ve been reading THE FLASH, you know that the current story arc features a mysterious “Speed Force killer.” Well, in order to keep his good friend safe from this elusive murderer, Barry must find a way to make Iris undetectable to whoever is committing these crimes. Using a method similar to how he constructed his own suit, Barry makes a special protective suit for Iris that will prevent the killer from sensing the Speed Force energy in her. And while Iris doesn’t have speed powers, this suit allows her to comfortably travel at super speed.

Click through to the article to see the second page of the preview, and Iris’ reaction to super-speed. Amazing art by Francis Manapul, but by now, who’s surprised by that?

Flash Beyond: Origin in Justice League Beyond Chapter 25

Justice League Beyond Chapter 25: The Flash Origin

If you’ve been wondering how Danica Williams became the future Flash in Justice League Beyond, wonder no longer: today’s digital installment of the series features her origin spotlight, as told by Derek Fridolfs and Marcus To, with a cover by Khary Randolph. There’s even a nice splash page of all the speedsters and Flash villains of the DC Animated Universe. (This series takes place in the same world as Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond, so there’s no Barry Allen, but there are some characters that I don’t recall seeing in the DCAU before.)

Flash #21 Preview is Up

Flash #21 Cover

DC Comics has released a preview of Flash #21 through Uproxx. Part 2 of “Reversed” features the first meeting of Flash (Barry Allen) and Kid Flash (Bart Allen) in the New 52 continuity. The Flash knows someone’s been killing people touched by the Speed Force, but doesn’t know who…so he starts with the only other speedster he knows about.

Unfortunately, the splash pages are shrunken down to a fairly narrow column, so it’s virtually impossible to read any of the narration boxes, but you can get a good sense of the art.

The Flash #21 by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato comes out next week.

A Future Flash Appears in Justice League 3000

Through Comic Book Resources, DC Comics has revealed plans for Justice League 3000 by Keith Giffen, JM DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire. The ongoing series, launching in fall, will feature (at least) future versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and Green Lantern

So far, all they’ve really released is the creative team and Howard Porter’s designs, including this one for the Flash.

Justice League 3000 Flash by Howard Porter

While the team is best known for the humorous “Bwahaha” Justice League International, they’ve written their share of serious stories as well. (You don’t get more serious than Giffen’s “Five Years Later” Legion.)

No doubt this is what’s behind both the end of the current Legion of Super-Heroes and the Justice Legion rumors: Presumably the LSH has been shifted to another timeframe, since I imagine the two concepts wouldn’t coexist very well.

Also, it’s worth noting: The Flash of JL3000 has red hair and green eyes. I’m not going to read too much into that. Other Wally West fans may be more optimistic, but I’ve been burned too many times to get my hopes up.

Updates: Giffen & DeMatteis talk to Newsarama, Giffen talks to CBR about the series.