One of the themes in “Thy Kingdom Come,” the storyline that’s been running through Justice Society of America this year, has been exploring the link between the present-day DC Universe with the future shown in the groundbreaking 1996 miniseries Kingdom Come. This week’s Justice Society of America #21 looks into the mystery of the Kingdom Come version of the Flash. Continue reading
In this week’s 20 Questions w/ Dan Didio, DC’s Executive Editor is asked about the status of Bart Allen (Impulse/Kid Flash/Flash) and Conner Kent (Superboy). His answer:
I think there’s always value in a Kid Flash and a Superboy.
A classic sidestep. But then they may both be back very soon.
As far as Conner goes, there’s speculation that he is the Kryptonian Nightwing who just appeared in “New Krypton” (bolstered by DiDio’s remark earlier in the column that he “is a character that we’ve known in the DCU for a little while, but he’s new to the Nightwing costume as well.”)
And Bart? There’s still the question of the Lightning Rod from the Justice League/Justice Society of America crossover, “The Lightning Saga.” It was supposed to resurrect someone, and All-Flash #1 showed that it activated at virtually the exact moment of his death. We’re supposed to find out who was resurrected in Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #3…two months from now. (It was originally supposed to be out in October, but it’s been pushed back to January 14, 2009. I wouldn’t count on it making that date.)
In last week’s Trinity #25, a surprise guest star showed up: Barry Allen. Morgaine Le Fay and Enigma have altered history so that Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman never existed. In this timeline, the Justice Society International became a force that took protecting the world too far.
Spoilers for Trinity #25: Continue reading
Comics sales continued to drop in October, and The Flash was no exception.
02/2008: Flash #237 — 37,719 (- 9.0%) 03/2008: Flash #238 — 35,606 (- 5.6%) 04/2008: Flash #239 — 33,741 (- 5.2%) 05/2008: Flash #240 — 31,944 (- 5.3%) 06/2008: Flash #241 — 30,810 (- 3.6%) 07/2008: Flash #242 — 30,325 (- 1.5%) 08/2008: Flash #243 — 29,647 (- 2.2%) 09/2008: Flash #244 — 29,180 (- 1.6%) 10/2008: Flash #245 — 28,085 (- 3.8%)
The combined effects of the recession, poor reaction to the current run on the book, and a feeling that everything from now until April is just filler* — Flash: Rebirth was announced just days after this issue was solicited in July, so this is likely the first issue for which sales responded to the announcement — have combined to produce the largest drop in several months.
Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge, on the other hand, actually saw a slight increase in sales over the previous issue after the standard second-issue drop.
07/2008: Rogues Revenge #1 — 62,482 08/2008: Rogues Revenge #2 — 54,404 (- 12.9%) 10/2008: Rogues Revenge #3 — 55,056 (+ 1.2%)
Given Geoff Johns’ presence on both mini-series, this looks promising for Flash: Rebirth.(link via The Beat)
*You know what else was “just filler” prior to a relaunch? Alan Moore & Curt Swan’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” Now considered a classic Superman story. I’m not saying the current storyline compares, I’m just pointing out that “filler” isn’t always mediocre, and the current trend among fans to follow only “important” books can cause us to miss out on good stories.
DC’s website lists several more Final Crisis–related delays.
Unless the final issue Final Crisis itself gets pushed back even further (as rumored by this week’s Lying in the Gutters), it looks like Legion of Three Worlds will keep going several months beyond the main series.
Once again, there aren’t any Flash comics in February, with the current series ending in December and Flash: Rebirth launching in April. But the Flashes aren’t missing from the DC line that month, appearing in their usual team books and in Trinity.
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art and cover by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund
Featuring an “Origins and Omens” backup story! Part 3 of the 4-part “Reality Lost” arc finds Booster Gold transported back to a seminal day in the history of The Flash! Here’s a hint: it has to do with a bolt of lightning and a chemical bath!
On sale February 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Team books, events, collections, action figures and more after the cut. Continue reading