Category Archives: Flash News

Impulse’s Origin Explored in Smallville Season 11 (Preview)

Smallville Season 11 #9 Cover by Scott Kolins

TV Guide has an article about Bart Allen’s return to Smallville, including a preview of the new storyline, “Haunted.” Smallville Season 11 takes place in the TV show continuity, where Bart Allen is a founding member of the Justice League under the code name Impulse, though his origin was left extremely vague. So vague, in fact, that Bart himself doesn’t remember how he got his powers beyond there being an accident and a “flash of light.”

The new arc, “Haunted,” will explore the origins of Bart’s ability to run at super speed. “There’s something that has been haunting Bart for some time, some baggage he’s been carrying,” says writer Bryan Q. Miller of the title. “Everyone in our story is being haunted — physically, metaphorically — by some element of their past.”

Other story elements involve Lex Luthor attempting to recover his own lost memories, and Chloe’s quest to learn about her doppelganger from Earth-2. Miller goes on:

“Haunted” will have more direct connections to the television show than Season 11’s earlier stories. “It’s the first time we are relying heavily on previous Smallville series history,” Miller says. “This arc has many more roots in specific episodes and mythology from the series.”

Check out a view of Bart’s new costume after the cut: Continue reading

Flash Vol.2: Rogues Revolution HC in August 2013 (UPDATED)

Flash vol.2: Rogues Revolution

The New 52 Flash continues to speed onto your bookshelves! Collected Editions spotted a number of upcoming DC collections yesterday, including the Amazon listings for Flash vol.2: Rogues Revolution (HC) and Flash vol.1: Move Forward (TPB). Both are listed for August 20, and if that’s not a placeholder date, that most likely means an August 14, 2013 release in comic shops.*

Here’s how the listing describes the book:

Struck by a bolt of lightning and doused in chemicals, Central City Police scientist Barry Allen was transformed into the fastest man alive. Tapping into the energy field called The Speed Force, he applies a tenacious sense of justice to protect an serve the world as The Flash!

The Flash’s Rogue’s Gallery are back–but they are more powerful than ever and they’re each looking to take down the Fastest Man Alive! Who is behind their sudden organization and why are they also after their former leader, Captain Cold? The Flash must think fast if he can outrun and survive their attack!

It doesn’t say which issues are included, but it clearly includes at least #9-12 plus the Annual. The main question is whether the #0 origin issue will be included at the end of this volume or the beginning of the next. Logically, it might make more sense to group it with “Gorilla Warfare,” though in terms of book structure, it might be better as an epilogue than a prologue. There’s certainly room for it in this one if the 160 page count is correct.

UPDATE: DC’s July/August list is up including both books. Rogues Revolution contains Flash #0, #9-12 and Flash Annual 1.

This is the first mention I can recall of the collection’s title. The issues being collected didn’t have an overarching title, and this one fits — with major changes to the Rogues, and a change in leadership — and calls back to the title of Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge.

*Amazon gets their new releases on the bookstore schedule, which is Tuesdays, so they lag 6 days behind the official release date.

Flash Chronicles Vol.4 in April

Flash Chronicles v.4

THE FLASH CHRONICLES VOL. 4 TP
Written by JOHN BROOME
Art by CARMINE INFANTINO and JOE GIELLA
Cover by CARMINE INFANTINO and MURPHY ANDERSON
On sale APRIL 10 • 160 pg, FC, $14.99 US

In this fourth volume collecting The Flash’s 1960s adventures in chronological order, the Fastest Man Alive battles Mirror Master, The Trickster and Captain Boomerang. This volume includes “Flash of Two Worlds,” in which The Flash first meets his Golden Age predecessor.

Collects THE FLASH #119-124.

DC’s full March 2013 solicitations include an exact release date for this collection, previously announced for “April”. In addition to the stories mentioned above, these issues are notable for containing “The Land of the Golden Giants” and the first appearance of the Top.

The book is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Impulse and Jay Garrick in Smallville Season 11 #11

Smallville Season 11 #11

DC’s “Beyond the New 52” solicitations for March 2013 are up at Newsarama.

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #11
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by PERE PEREZ
Cover by SCOTT KOLINS
On sale MARCH 6 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

  • All-new digital adventures in print for the first time!
  • In order to face Bart’s demons, Superman and Impulse confront a reluctant ally: the JSA’s Jay Garrick!
  • Lois’s investigation into Lex takes a surprising turn.
  • Chloe’s journey through her doppelgänger’s memories turns dangerous.

This marks the third print issue in a row to feature Impulse. I’m not 100% certain, but I believe the digital issues that will be collected in #9 should be hitting ComiXology this month.

Trickster Returns in Flash #18 (March 2013) – Solicitation & Cover

The Justice League Group solicitations are up at CBR, including…

THE FLASH #18
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by MARCIO TAKARA
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:25 B&W Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale MARCH 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.

  • The Trickster is accused of murder! Can The Flash help solve his case?
  • Plus, a surprising twist ending that will rock the world of…DIAL H?

This is the first of two stand-alone issues between Gorilla Warfare and the upcoming Reverse-Flash storyline during which Francis Manapul is taking a break. He’ll be back as co-writer and artist with #20.

Hey, waitaminute, is that Turbine in a new T-themed costume?