Category Archives: Flash News

Flashpoint World Map & Grodd the Conqueror

Among today’s Flashpoint Friday articles at The Source are this map of the world of Flashpoint showing trouble spots, and an interview with Sean Ryan about his one-shot: Grodd of War.

It seems that in a world without a Flash, Grodd took control of Gorilla City and began expanding his empire, conquering the whole of Africa by the time Flashpoint begins. But everything’s come too easily, and he just isn’t satisfied without a challenge.

Other articles posted today include interviews about The World of Flashpoint and Frankenstein and the Creature Commandos. CBR has a good round-up of the day, including both DC’s releases and fan reactions.

Quick Hits: Flash Actors in Dallas, Help Moose Baumann & More

Flash Sales Level Off in April 2011

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ICv2 has posted their sales estimates for April, and The Flash volume three appears to be leveling out at around 55,000 copies an issue…just in time to get canceled for Flashpoint. Both issues landed in the top 20 comics for the month.

For comparison, Flash: The Fastest Man Alive bottomed out at 46K before climbing slightly to 47K, then getting a Countdown-infused sales boost for the final issue, while the post-Countdown relaunch dropped to around 26K before it was canceled to make way for Flash: Rebirth.

So despite the delays, and despite the Flashpoint-induced “cancellation,” this seems to be the most successful Flash relaunch in 5 years by numbers alone. Looking at sales rankings, it’s been consistently in the top 20 — something that hasn’t been true of The Flash in a long time.

I think the credit can be summed up in two words: Geoff Johns. The Flash vol.2 took a big hit when Mark Waid left, dropping from 40K to below 30K when this virtually unknown writer took over, but Johns slowly built up the readership until it hit around 50K when he left. (Then DC decided to cancel the series, printed a fill-in that had been sitting on the shelf and commissioned a 4-issue “finale” that dropped rapidly to 40K, thus giving legions of fans the mistaken impression that it had been canceled for sales.)

Issue	Rank	Month	Units Sold	% Change
Flash v.3 #1	2	April 2010	100,903
Flash v.3 #2	12	May 2010	76,560	(-24.1%)
Flash v.3 #3	11	June 2010	68,799	(-10.1%)
Flash v.3 #4	15	July 2010	64,832	(-5.8%)
Flash v.3 #5	14	September 2010	62,063	(-4.3%)
Flash v.3 #6	15	November 2010	57,673	(-7.1%)
Flash v.3 #7	12	December 2010	56,304	(-2.4%)
Flash v.3 #8	18	December 2010	53,975	(-4.1%)
Flash v.3 #9	9	February 2011	55,980	(+3.7%)
Flash v.3 #10	18	April 2011	54,953	(-1.8%)
Flash v.3 #11	19	April 2011	54,633	(-0.6%)

In other speedster news, Velocity #4 sold an estimated 5,247 copies, almost exactly the number sold of issue #3. Apparently those who were reading the book were committed, regardless of delays.

Brightest Day White Lantern Flash Available Online UPDATED

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Hello, Speed Readers. Just a couple updates on the Graphitti Designs Convention Exclusive Brightest Day White Lantern Flash Action Figure courtesy of Action Figure Insider. Some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that the figure is now available on Graphitti Designs official webpage, Graphittidesigns.com. The figure is 20 dollars and is only available in limited quantities. Great news for those who could not get out to C2E2 or Wondercon to get them the first time.

Unfortunately this also means that they will not be available at the upcoming San Diego Comic Con or New York Comic Con as DC Direct exclusives. So if you were patiently waiting for these chances to grab the figure you may have to seize the day now and get one while the getting is good. The price for the figure on eBay floats between 40 and 140 dollars so I would suggest getting it from Graphitti now.

Anyone planning on picking one up now that they are available online?

****UPDATE****

It looks like Graphitti Designs have officially sold out of their stock of White Lantern Flash Action Figures as the link I posted earlier this morning now points to a unavailable product page. Sorry for those that missed out. Anyone else manage to snag one before they sold out?

–Devin “Flash” Johnson

DC Retroactive Flash Comics for August

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DC has released covers and slightly more detailed descriptions of the 1980s and 1990s-themed Retroactive Flash specials in their August solicitations, along with the official info on the “Road to Flashpoint” collection.

DC RETROACTIVE: THE FLASH – THE ’80S #1
Written by WILLIAM MESSNER-LOEBS
Art and cover by GREG LAROCQUE

From the minds that brought you the Scarlet Speedster’s adventures in the 1980s comes a brand new adventure from that exciting era, along with a classic tale from that same decade.

ONE-SHOT • On sale AUGUST 3 • 56 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T

This cover should put to rest any question about which Flash is starring in this issue.

DC RETROACTIVE: THE FLASH – THE ’90S #1
Written by BRIAN AUGUSTYN
Art and cover by MIKE BOWDEN

During the ’90s, Wally West took the title “The Fastest Man Alive” to a whole new level. Join the the writer who turned the sidekick into a hero in his own right for another race against evil, along with a classic tale from that decade.

ONE-SHOT • On sale AUGUST 17 • 56 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T

At the time DC solicited the 1970s special, they didn’t have a cover yet and posted style guide art instead.

THE FLASH: THE ROAD TO FLASHPOINT HC
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by FRANCIS MANAPUL and SCOTT KOLINS
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

Make way for Hot Pursuit – the latest speedster to come out of the Speed Force! He’s here to make sure no one breaks the speed limit – hero or villain! And just wait until you see whose face is under Hot Pursuit’s helmet!

This hardcover collection of THE FLASH #8-12 leads up to FLASHPOINT, the biggest comic-book event for summer 2011!

On sale OCTOBER 26 • 128 pg, FC, $22.99 US

Flashpoint #1 Sells Out; Flash #10 & 11 in Top 20

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A couple of quick sales items:

The Source is reporting that Flashpoint #1 has sold out at the distributor. You may be able to still find copies at your local comic shop, but they won’t be able to order any more. DC doesn’t say so in the announcement, but you can probably expect a second printing soon.

Diamond Comic Distributors has posted their sales rankings for April, and The Flash takes two spots in the top 20 by units sold. Flash #10 is #18 for the month, and Flash #11 is #19. No doubt ICv2 will have number estimates up soon.

Update: Previews confirms the second printing, coming June 15.