Last week, Dan Didio stated that only two ongoing DC series would tie into Flashpoint directly. The Flash is obvious, and given Booster Gold’s mission and the connections in Time Masters: Vanishing Point, his series seemed a good bet for the second one. DC confirmed it this morning: Booster Gold #44 will be a Flashpoint prelude written by Dan Jurgens. Newsarama has more.
Speed Force is keeping a running tally of the Flashpoint creative teams as information comes out.
Nothing really new in this interview at SciFiNow, though the writer does talk about the athleticism inherent in a film about a hero who runs really fast, and the approach to the character.
The Flash – to me – is about pure expression. Flash is untethered to the limitations of time and space – he can be everywhere at once and with that, I think, comes a certain freedom. Who hasn’t wanted to be faster? To get someplace quicker?
Interestingly, that reminds me of something Mark Waid has said about the appeal of the Flash. “No one gets up in the moming and says, ‘Gee, I wish I could throw power blasts out of my hands.’ However, everybody in the world knows what it’s like to miss the bus.”
As for getting people to look past “He runs fast,” Guggenheim explains:
Well, it’s all about who the character – in this case, Barry Allen – is before he gets his powers. We spent a lot of time talking about who Barry is and, specifically, why he’s the kind of guy we want to see get these powers bestowed on him. What’s missing in his life? What problems does he have? What personal foibles? And how are all those things impacted by the ability to run fast?
I’ll admit, this sounds a lot more appropriate for the Flash than taking inspiration from Se7en and Silence of the Lambs.
Head over to SciFiNow to read the whole interview.
And the Flashpoint news keeps coming! In addition to the character teaser and the cover, DC announced a line of Flashpoint action figures.
Today, we’re unveiling FLASHPOINT action figures based on DC Comics’ superhero publishing event of the summer. DC Direct’s Jim Fletcher, Shawn Knapp, Evan Metcalf, John Santagada, Brian Walters and Bryon Webster have worked closely with FLASHPOINT writer Geoff Johns’ concepts and artist Andy Kubert’s designs to bring you four awesome figures based on characters central to the FLASHPOINT story.
Sculptors Derek Miller (Wonder Woman), Karen Palinko (Batman and Flash) and Jonathan Matthews (Cyborg) have captured the energy and excitement that drives FLASHPOINT.
Head over to The Source or…
DC has another Flashpoint tease today: the cover to issue #1.
We’ve seen the image before. It’s the one they used to announce the 14 miniseries last week. This time, the Andy Kubert/Sandra Hope art is in full color.
That’s clearly Aquaman, Cyborg and Batman in the background. I can’t place the one in armor on the right – maybe Wonder Woman? Update: Thanks, Lia. Definitely Wonder Woman!
The red/blue contrast really makes the Flash pop out of the cover.
I’ve got to admit, it’s cool to really see the Flash at the center of one of DC’s big events!
DC has posted another Flashpoint teaser at The Source, asking five questions:
When did Cyborg become our protector of Truth, Justice and the American Way?
Why is Citizen Cold the greatest hero of Central City?
Where will the Ravager strike next?
Who is the Outsider and why is he better than you?
What is top secret?
As a reminder, I’m keeping track of the Flashpoint creative teams as they’re revealed.
Today’s guest post is the fifth in a series of interviews by Greg Elias on The Art of Speed.
Since the launch of the latest ongoing Flash series last summer, artist Francis Manapul has illustrated some of the most elaborate speed sequences in the character’s history. Teamed with Writer/DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and colorist Brian Buccellato, Manapul came to the Flash title following runs on Legion of Super-Heroes and Adventure Comics, as well as two issues of Superman/Batman. His work is instantly recognizable: deceptively simple and atmospheric, at once well-suited to the tone of Johns’ Flash stories and unlike any artist to previously work on the title. Together with Johns, he has set the pace for a renewed Central City and the feel of this Flash book.
With his first six issues, The Dastardly Death of the Rogues, collected for release on February 15, Manapul is set to begin his next chapter on February 9 with Flash #9. This story is billed as a lead-in to the upcoming Flashpoint event, and features the debut of Hot Pursuit, a new speedster first revealed in the final pages of Flash #6.
We spoke with the Manapul via email, where he revealed some of the building blocks for his Flash, including super-speed innovations and previously unseen designs for Hot Pursuit!