Category Archives: Flash News

New FLASH Creative Team, Annual 3, and yes, Wally West

In an article at USA Today, DC Comics announced some major Flash news.

First, the new creative team will be co-writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen (Green Lantern Corps) with artist Brett Booth (Teen Titans). They’ll take over with Flash #30 on April 23.

Venditti on the appeal of the Flash: “From a very young age, one of the first things you want to be able to do is run fast,” the writer says. “You don’t want to fly, you don’t want to have a ring that makes constructs out of light. It’s just a simple, basic thing: ‘I want to be able to run fast.'”

Flash #30

Second, Flash Annual #3 hits the following week…and will reintroduce Wally West, DC’s original Kid Flash and the main Flash from 1986-2008.

Flash Annual #3

This isn’t a cryptic remark from Dan Didio. This is a clear statement in a national newspaper. Wally West is returning. In what form, in what role, remains to be seen. This black-suited speedster could be him, or it could be someone else. Brett Booth has long championed the idea of bringing Wally West into the New 52, and went so far as to design a costume for him back when the New 52 was young.

(Images via Newsarama)

Preview is up for Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #4

Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #4

Comic Vine has a preview of Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #4, due in stores next Wednesday.

The Rogues just can’t catch a break! On the run from the Crime Syndicate and the Secret Society, the Rogues are forced into a showdown with an army of escapees from Arkham Asylum!

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Scott Hepburn, Andre Coelho
Cover by: Declan Shalvey

Flash TV/Movie Rumor Update: Script Review, Audition Tape

Superhero Movie News has what purports to be a detailed-spoiler-filled review of the leaked Flash movie script by Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim, based on a story by Guggenheim, Green and Greg Berlanti. It’s interesting, particularly where reviewer Michael J. Petty compares it to the Green Lantern movie script by the same team…and to elements that have already worked their way into Arrow.

Speaking of the Arrowverse, a video surfaced briefly, claiming to be an audition tape for the role of Iris West in the Flash TV show pilot before it was taken down.

MTV analyses the video and the script review in extensive detail. (TBH, I’ve only skimmed it myself so far.) You’ll want to read the whole article at MTV, but beware…there are SPOILERS galore (for a movie that may or may not ever be made in that form).

Two things to consider:

  • Movie scripts go through many revisions before being produced, and the Flash film has been scrapped and restarted a number of times since it was announced nine years ago.
  • Auditions sometimes use early drafts and sometimes use scripts that are specific to the audition, and not intended to be filmed for the final product.

Flash TV Update: Casting Rumors

Hi everyone! Just a quick update on the Flash TV pilot news and rumors.

First up: John Wesley Shipp (Barry Allen from the 1990s TV show) talks about Grant Gustin and Flash on the Out Loud and Live Podcast.

Speaking of podcasts, The Flash Podcast has an episode discussing the possible role of the Flash in the evolving DC Cinematic universe.

Bludhaven Banter indicates a Detective Eddie Thawne will be part of the cast for the TV pilot, a recent transfer to Central City from Keystone. Sure sounds like a cover identity for the Reverse-Flash, doesn’t it? (via Flash TV News.)

Moviehole reports on another character planned for the pilot: Cisco Ramon, a.k.a. Vibe. (via Spinoff)

Superhero Movie News reports that Ernie Hudson may be up for Detective West. Geeks who grew up in thw 1980s will best remember him from Ghostbusters. (also via Flash TV News)

Update: Word of the Nerd also rounds up casting rumors and comments on the lineup. Something I’d missed in Bludhaven Banter’s Thawne scoop was that there’s also rumored to be an openly gay character among the regular/recurring cast. Could Hartley Rathaway a.k.a. the Pied Piper be making his way to the screen as well?

Preview is up for Flash #26 (next week)

Flash #26

Flash #26 comes out next week, but you can see a preview of the issue at DC Comics’ blog.

Barry Allen is hot on the tail of Spitfire after investigating the death of his mentor, Dr. Carlson. But to catch the villain responsible, The Flash must figure out how to use his powers in the one place where they do him little good: the sky! Spitfire is sure to escape unless The Flash can go airborne! A special standalone issue, THE FLASH #26, written by Christos N. Gage and illustrated by Neil Googe, will be available in stores on December 31.

This is a done-in-one story. #27-29 will be a three-parter guest starring Deadman, by Brian Buccellato and Patrick Zircher. The new post-Forever Evil creative team hasn’t been announced yet.

Comics vs TV Audience Size

Food for thought:

The Flash has been consistently selling about 38-39,000 copies of each issue since May (with a spike for Villains Month). And that’s a typical mid-range book, successful enough that DC is putting the creative team on Detective Comics. Digital figures aren’t available, but articles typically estimate digital sales at about 15% of print sales across the board. So let’s say around 44K between print and digital.

“Arrow” reportedly pulled in 3.17 million viewers for “The Scientist” guest-starring Barry Allen.

A lot more people watch TV than read comics.