5 Reasons Wally West Should Appear in The Flash TV Show

Today’s guest post is by Steve Henel

On July 30th, the news broke that a live action Flash series would soon be joining the successful “Arrow” show currently being broadcast on the CW network. The character of Barry Allen, now appearing in comics as the “New 52” version of the famous speedster, will be introduced on Arrow before spinning off into his own adventures. As most comic fans know, Barry Allen is not the only person to wear the crimson and yellow, and the question of whether or not he is the most popular (or most “iconic” as DC has branded him) is still a matter of heated debate. His comic book sidekick-turned-successor Wally West is both a fan favorite character and the Flash many people best remember, due to his appearances in the animated Justice League, Teen Titans, and Young Justice cartoons. Of course Barry will be the star of the new Flash series, and he is certainly the face of the franchise that Dan Didio and Geoff Johns want the world to see.

That being said, there are many reasons why including Wally West in the CW show makes a lot of sense. These range from the simple storytelling potential he provides to the ways that he can attract fans who have never picked up a comic book before. For several years, the DC powers-that-be have purposely kept Wally out of comic books, partially due to the fear that another Flash would take the focus away from Barry Allen and make him appear less special as a superhero. This opinion piece is meant to reveal just how Wally West could actually enhance and deepen the appeal of Barry Allen in a television show. Here then, are 5 reasons to include Wally as a member of the supporting cast: Continue reading →

“Arrow’s” Grant Gustin Talks Flash

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Grant Gustin, cast as Barry Allen on “Arrow” and positioned for a possible Flash spin-off, spoke with E Online last Friday about running, the iconic costume (yes, we will see it, but not in the first two episodes which take place before he becomes the Flash), and researching the character by reading Geoff Johns’ comics.

Thanks to The Dude for the link.

Preview Art for Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #1

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DC Comics has released four pages of preview art from the first issue of Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion. The miniseries will run alongside the main Forever Evil event. Brian Buccellato writes. Patrick Zircher and Scott Hepburn draw the first two issues, with Scott Hepburn taking over solo art duties in issue three.

The Rogues Have a Code – Review of The Rogues #1

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This is one “Villains Month” comic that I truly wish was a permanent ongoing series…not just a mini series but a full-fledged ongoing a la Gail Simone’s old Secret Six (though I am looking forward to Rogues Rebellion). The Flash #23.3 aka The Rogues #1 has the look and feel of an excellent series first issue, giving us a New 52 version of what has made the Rogues great for decades. These are the ultimate blue-collar crooks, not bent on world domination but on making a living the “honest” way…by robbery, of course. Their code against killing makes them almost completely unique, especially in the DC Universe. These colorful crooks are more human, even with their newer meta-powers, than most villains found anywhere else in comics…and it makes one almost cheer for them at times. This is only part of why there are so many Rogues fans out there…and this issue captures the essence of what has made the group so great for so many years.

LIGHT SPOILERS ONLY

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This Week: Rogues round out Villains Month, Impulse hangs up his boots

The Flash #23.3 / The Rogues #1
Mirror Master behind glass, Glider in a coma and the Trickster behind bars in Iron Heights. Captain Cold tries to rally the team, but the Rogues haven’t forgiven him yet for the positions they’re in. And when the Crime Syndicate invites them to join their side and unite with the villains of the DC Universe, one of the team won’t be able to answer the call. Will the rest choose a criminal life or stick to the Rogues Code?

Brian Buccellato and Patrick Zircher. Preview available.

In digital back-issues, DC releases another issue at ComiXology:

Impulse #78
After “Our Worlds at War,” Impulse is ready to give up heroing for good. But can he stay out of the game when White Lightning returns?

Todd Dezago, Carlo Barberi, cover by Ethan van Sciver

Christos Gage on his Upcoming Flash Issue

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CBR interviews Christos Gage, who will be writing The Flash #26 after Francis Manapul’s and Brian Buccellato’s run ends with #25. He talks about how long he’s been a fan of the Flash (big fan of Barry Allen from the old days, enjoyed Wally’s series but it just wasn’t the same), and about the difference between retelling classic stories (a Batman story he wrote based on Flash #300 is what got the editor’s attention to do a Flash issue) and breaking new ground.

Gage drops a few hints about the story. As the solicitation says, the Flash loses someone important to him, and has to go somewhere where his normal super-speed tricks won’t help him: the air. As for the story’s villain:

It’s a new character, Spitfire, but she’s kind of a reimagining of a very obscure Golden Age villain called the Sky Pirate. She’s a crazy, murderous aviatrix. I love that word, “aviatrix.”

I was hoping in all the talk of retelling classic stories that he’d say something about “Nobody Dies,” the William Messner-Loebs/Greg LaRocque story from Flash #54 in which Wally West jumps out of an airplane to save someone and must figure out how to use his super-speed to keep them alive in the air, which is still cited by fans as one of the best single-issue stories of the series, but maybe he missed that month. (If you missed it too, you can read it at ComiXology for $1.99.) I’m sure the story’s different enough, but when you’re specifically talking about new ideas and re-imagining old ones, it’s a bit odd to not acknowledge that the high-concept hook has been done before.

Speed Force

Tracking the Flash – the Fastest Man Alive