Category Archives: Timely

Farewell, Joe Kubert

Flash #190 cover by Joe Kubert

Legendary artist Joe Kubert passed away this morning at the age of 85. His long association with DC Comics goes back to the early 1940s, where he had an extended run as the artist on the Golden-Age Hawkman, including the Hawkman-themed Flash Comics covers. (Flash and Hawkman shared the spotlight for the series, and alternated covers.) During this time, he also drew several Flash stories and Flash-themed covers, notably featuring the Thorn.

Flash #190 cover by Joe Kubert

In 1969, he returned briefly to The Flash to draw a series of covers, shocking both in their themes and in their rugged contrast from the sleeker lines usually associated with the character.

Flash 50th Anniversary Special

In 1990, Kubert drew the cover to the Flash 50th Anniversary Special, and in 2006, he inked his son Andy Kubert’s cover for Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1. I believe this makes him the only artist to professionally draw all four Flashes during the time they were active as the main Flash.

Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 Variant Cover by Andy Kubert and Joe Kubert

While most associated with Sgt. Rock and war comics, Kubert’s career spanned many characters and genres. He was active to the end, through the Kubert School and his own art. His most recent work was just published last week in Before Watchmen: Nite Owl, and DC recently announced a Joe Kubert Presents anthology miniseries.

Mark Evanier remembers Joe Kubert on his blog, News From Me. First Comics News has a retrospective on his career and is collecting remembrances from others in the industry. CSBG has a gallery of great Joe Kubert covers. Update: The Washington Post has a retrospective with remembrances from other comics professionals, and The Beat looks back on his “unparalleled life”. Update: More reactions at Progressive Ruin, Being Carter Hall, Fire and Water Podcast.

(Covers via comics.org.)

Jesse Quick Returns in Ame-Comi

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Jesse Quick as the Flash in Ame-Comi: Duela Dent #2

Speedster Jesse Quick is back – not in the New 52, but in the digital-first series Ame-Comi as that universe’s Flash.

If you’re not familiar with the title, it started out as a statue line in which DC’s major female characters were re-imagined as anime characters*. They next moved on to adapting female characters who were similar to more well-known male characters: Jesse Quick as the Flash, Duela Dent as the Joker, etc.**

Earlier this summer, DC launched a weekly comic book online featuring these versions of their characters. Wonder Woman has the first spotlight miniseries, then Batgirl, Duela Dent and currently Power Girl. @TheFlashReborn points out that Jesse Quick makes an appearance as the Flash in Ame-Comi: Duela Dent #2.

There’s one more “solo” miniseries starring Supergirl, and then it rolls over into an ongoing Ame-Comi series. Here’s hoping the Flash will get some time in the spotlight soon.

New chapters of Ame-Comi go up online every Monday on ComiXology, and will appear in print starting in October.

*As I understand it, “ame-comi” is a Japanese term for American comics, so the terminology is sort of backwards – it’s an American interpretation of how the Japanese might adapt an American comic book character.

**Eventually they moved into stranger territory, like repainting Jesse Quick as the Black Flash.

Last Day of Campaign: Help Artist Oliver Nome!

I previously wrote about the campaign to help Oliver Nome pay for his brain tumor surgery. Flash fans will recognize Nome from Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost last summer. Some of his other recent work includes Fathom: Kiana and Executive Assistant: Lotus at Aspen Comics.

Being a freelance artist, he doesn’t have health insurance, and cancer treatment is expensive. Not just the surgery to remove the tumor, but the recovery process and, as it turns out, radiation and chemotherapy. His agent set up a donation campaign to raise $20,000 by July 30, with rewards including original art and prints by Nome and his friends.

They’re almost at the goal, with only a few hours left. If you haven’t contributed already, please help out now. Even $1 helps.

Splash page from Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #2.

Comic-Con 2012 Photos are Up!

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I’ve finished posting my photos from Comic-Con 2012 on Flickr! I kind of wish I hadn’t already used the “Flash photography” pun.

Also, I just want to add: I was originally annoyed at the hotel we ended up staying at, just because it made logistics a lot more complicated. (I wanted something convenient to both the convention and the zoo, and we got neither.) But the view made up for it:

Speeding to San Diego: Plans for Comic-Con

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It’s that time of year again! Comics and other pop culture fans of all stripes are descending on San Diego, California this week for Comic Con International.

Speed Force will be there: I’ll be on the floor myself three days out of four, and of course we’ll be monitoring the news coming from the con.

If you want a fan’s eye view of the con and can’t wait for the blog updates, keep an eye on…

Live updates at @SpeedForceOrg on Twitter. That’s where I’ll be posting live during the day.
Photos on Flickr, posted nightly if I have time, or by the end of the weekend. (Here are my galleries of photos from past conventions.)

Flash news will go up here on Speed Force as time permits, and my full convention write-up will go on K-Squared Ramblings as usual.

Amazingly, this will be the tenth San Diego Comic-Con I’ve reported on online. Check out my past convention coverage (write-ups, photos and more) if you’re interested in how the con (and my approach to it) has changed.

Contest entries closed

Hope you got in your entry, because the time for submitting them is done. Kelson will set up a poll for everyone to vote on sometime tonight or tomorrow. Voting will last 48 hours, and remember, there’ll be four winners.

But hey, if you didn’t get a chance to submit something for the contest, we’d still love to hear about your favourite Flash-related memory anyway! That’s what fandom’s all about!

Update: ~~Vote for the top 4 here~~!

Update 2: The results are in!