Category Archives: Flash News

Lots of Upcoming Flash Collections: Waid, Manapul, Johns, Silver Age & New 52

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The Beat has a list of upcoming DC collections for Fall 2016 — including some surprising Flash collections!

As expected, Flash Vol.9 comes out in hardcover, and Flash vol.8 in softcover. Also as expected is the third volume of The Flash by Geoff Johns. But there’s also an art book of Flash by Francis Manapul featuring the entire Manapul/Buccellato run that started the New 52…and there’s a 400-page Flash by Mark Waid!

Details:

Flash Vol.8: Zoom (softcover)

November 22, 2016
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
Venditti, Jensen, Booth, Rapmund
Flash Sneak Peek & Flash #41-47

Just when Barry’s life had returned to something that resembled normal, one of the most powerful and dangerous foes emerges. Professor Zoom and his team of acolytes have broken Barry’s father out of prison for some unknown reason and Barry must stop them before his life, reputation, and family are torn apart.

Flash Vol.9 (hardcover)

November 22, 2016
$24.99 USD, $29.99 CAD
Venditti, Jensen, Merino
Flash #48-52. (That sounds short, but #50 is going to be oversized.)

In the aftermath his recent clash with Zoom, The Flash finds himself on the run…from the law! And the task force charged with arresting him is made up of his enemies, The Rogues! Including villains like Captain Cold, Weather Wizard and Mirror Master, the Scarlet Speedster must clear his name all while a new enemy emerges: the Riddler!

The Flash by Mark Waid Book One

September 13, 2016. 400 pages, softcover.
$24.99 USD, $29.99 CAD

Superstar writer Mark Waid’s run on THE FLASH is now re-collected in a new series of graphic novels, beginning with THE FLASH BY MARK WAID BOOK ONE!

When Wally West, the adolescent nephew of the Flash’s fiancée, accidentally gained powers of superspeed, he became the Scarlet Speedster’s sidekick. Growing up as his hero’s protégé, Kid Flash had a childhood of amazing action and adventure. But on the day that The Flash died, Wally’s carefree adolescence abruptly ended and his life as an adult began.

THE FLASH BY MARK WAID BOOK ONE looks back at Wally’s earliest days as the Kid Flash and explores the gamut of his emotions and experiences from his first day as a child hero to his succession of Barry Allen as the new Flash. A journey full of humor and drama, this story shows just how much Wally West loves being the fastest man alive.

I’ve got to say, I wasn’t expecting to see this for a long time!

The Flash by Francis Manapul Unwrapped

November 1, 2016, hardcover
The Flash #1-25 (2011 series)
$34.99 USD, $41.99 CAD

For the first time ever, experience Francis Manapul’s acclaimed run on THE FLASH through beautifully reprinted original line drawings that showcase the artist’s masterful skill and creative vision without any inks or colors laid over them.

THE FLASH BY FRANCIS MANAPUL UNWRAPPED collects the artist’s entire body of work on the revered reintroduction of the Fastest Man Alive that he spearheaded with best-selling writer Brian Buccellato (BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS). Not only will this collection inspire with its gorgeously reproduced pencil work, but it also acts as the perfect entry point into the world of the Scarlet Speedster.

The Flash By Geoff Johns Book Three

November 1, 2016, softcover
$24.99 USD, $29.99 CAD
The Flash #189-200 (1987 series)

In this third volume of his best-selling take on THE FLASH, critically acclaimed writer and Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, Geoff Johns takes the Fastest Man Alive on the most thrilling run of his life!

Try to keep up with the Flash as he races through Iron Heights Prison as he tries to take down a rampaging Gorilla Grodd. Go on a fantastical journey featuring the Flash and Hawkman taking on the fairy tale horrors of the Brothers Grimm. And, in the epic storyline BLITZ, find out the secret history of the villainous Professor Zoom!

The Flash By Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato Omnibus

December 13, 2016. Hardcover, 480 pages
$75.00 USD, $85.00 CAD
Flash #1-25 (2011 series)

A mysterious and powerful Speed-Force killer has left a trail of bodies in his wake and only Barry has the power to stop him. But when the killer stays one step ahead of him, Barry finds himself face-to-face with the Teen Titans and Kid Flash for the first time. All this will lead to a confrontation with the Flash’s most deadly foe, the Reverse Flash!

The Flash: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 2

December 13, 2016, Hardcover
$75.00 USD, $85.00 CAD
Collects THE FLASH #133-161.

This new graphic novel series collects the early stories of the Flash from the start of the 1960s, including the Flash’s battles with some of his best-known foes: Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Pied Piper, Reverse-Flash, Heat Wave, Trickster, Weather Wizard and more. This collection also guest-stars Kid Flash, the Golden Age Flash, the Elongated Man (super-sleuth Ralph Dibny), and Green Lantern.

Flash Announcements From DC Rebirth

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b044_-_flash_1_fls_cv1_r2 Today DC unveiled many of the details about their upcoming relaunch, DC Rebirth. This includes a new creative team on The Flash book, as well as a few hints about what we’ll be seeing in it. The new title will be written by Joshua Williamson with art by Carmine Di Giandomencio and Neil Googe, and will ship twice monthly starting in June.

More news and details behind the jump.

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The Flash Renewed for Season 3

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Not that this will surprise anyone, but the CW has officially renewed “The Flash” for a third season!

CW actually renewed their entire slate, from new shows like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” to double-digit veteran “Supernatural.” That means we’re also getting a fifth season of “Arrow,” a third season of “iZombie,” and a second season of “Legends of Tomorrow.” Add in CBS renewing Supergirl for a second season, and it’s clear DC Entertainment has had another successful year of TV shows! (No word yet on renewals for Gotham or Lucifer, but they seem safe.)

“Flash” and “Arrow” were safe bets for renewal, but there’s been discussion as to whether “Legends of Tomorrow” can keep up the scale of the crazy sci-fi adventure on an ongoing basis. I’ve been worried about “iZombie” because it reminds me so much of “Pushing Daisies,” which barely squeaked into half a second season, and I’m thrilled that they’ll be continuing for a third year!

So…after the Flash stops Zoom at the end of this season, what super-speed feats, adventures, guest stars and threats do you want to see in season three?

Flash goes twice-monthly after DC Universe: Rebirth

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DC Universe: Rebirth is revealed. After the New 52 line reaches issue #52 in May, an 80-page special “DC Universe: Rebirth” sets the stage for a rolling update of the new DC line:

  • 32 ongoing series total, 17 of them twice-monthly, ALL of them $2.99.
  • Not every series will start the same month. They’ll roll out a few at a time starting in June and running through fall.
  • Everything is renumbering at #1…except for Action Comics and Detective Comics, which will pick up their original numbering.
  • 23 books will kick off with a “Rebirth” special before the new ongoing begins.

Flash: Rebirth and Flash #1 both hit in June. Both? Yep, Flash is one of the 17 comics that will ship twice a month.

As for the shape of the DC Universe going forward, Dan Didio says it’s “designed to bring back the best of DC’s past, embrace the stories we currently love and move the entire epic universe into the future. We are returning to the essence of the DCU.”

CBR has an interview with Geoff Johns in which he says it’s less like “Crisis” or “Flashpoint,” and more like “Green Lantern: Rebirth” and “Flash: Rebirth.”

“DC Universe: Rebirth” is about bringing back what makes the DC Universe the DC Universe. There are certain things, like legacy, that are missing. There are other things that I don’t want to totally spoil. But there are a lot of things in there that I think are unique to the DC Universe, and really need to be pushed back to the forefront.

DC continues to insist that they’re not going for a total reboot. It sounds more like they’re re-incorporating parts of the DCU that the New 52 abandoned. A merging of the pre-Flashpoint and New 52 universes, perhaps? (The new line does include Gotham Academy and Red Hood & the Outlaws.)

CBR has the full list of titles in the new lineup.

I’m really not sure what to think at this point. Knowing the titles is one thing. What I really want to know is the tones they’re going for, what elements are staying, going, or returning, who’s working on these books, etc. Also the page count: If they’re cutting pages again, going twice-monthly isn’t quite as appealing.

I do think that launching with a one-shot instead of dragging out the transformation over six months to a year is a good move. I frankly don’t have the patience to drag myself through six issues of rearranging furniture again. Conversely, I also think it’s a good idea to stagger the roll-out so that people aren’t overwhelmed by 52 choices in one month.

What do you think, based on what we know so far? Good move? Bad? Reply hazy, try again?

Flash vs. The Riddler in May’s Flash #52

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Flash #52 Cover

From DC’s May Solicitations:

THE FLASH #52
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI and VAN JENSEN
Art by JESUS MERINO
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
New 52 Tribute Variant cover by JESUS MERINO
On sale MAY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

The Riddler has seized control of Central City. If The Flash moves, he’ll put everyone he loves in mortal danger. To save the city—and himself—he’ll need help from the unlikeliest of allies.

A few things come to mind in relation to recent rumors and hints from DC. We know that Van Jensen is leaving the book (no response yet from Venditti), though it was suggested that he was leaving after #51. It looks like #52 is his actual final issue.

Speaking of final issues, contrary to rumors that “Rebirth” might be another line-wide renumbering, none of DC’s main books is marked as “final issue” in the solicitations. That’s not proof of anything, of course, given that we know at least Starfire is ending (Conner and Palmiotti have said that they’ve wrapped up a 12-issue plan and the book is ending with it), and a lot of the summaries sound like they could be either finales or epilogues.

Then again, there are several miniseries that aren’t quite done, and Teen Titans #20 promises that a “game-changing epic begins.”

We still don’t know exactly what “Rebirth” — excuse me, #Rebirth — is, so even if it does turn out to be another reboot, relaunch or renumbering, it looks like it won’t be quite so hard a line as Flashpoint/New 52 or even Convergence/DC You.

Changes Coming to the Flash Comics

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Van Jensen, half of the current Flash comic book writing team, has announced that he’s leaving the book after Flash #51.

As for the future, a bigger change is in the works. DC has teased some sort of “Rebirth”. Those original New 52 series are almost to issue 52. And another long-running creative team, Snyder and Capullo, are leaving Batman the same month.

There are rumors of a relaunch refocusing DC’s comics line to emphasize those characters who have the most media presence: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Suicide Squad in this year’s movies, Flash, Arrow and presumably Supergirl in TV. This of course has led to speculation of a return to previous continuity, though that seems more like wishful thinking to me than anything solid.

That said, superhero comics are wrapped in an ever-tightening circle of nostalgia, with new ideas jettisoned for old ones on a regular basis. Whether you consider this a return to form or a step backwards depends on whether you liked the particular changes involved.