Into the Fire Pits With Captain Steel! (Review of Earth 2 #13)

IMG_0428This issue of Earth 2 reveals more about the first “new wonder” of the World Army…and it isn’t who you think.  Nope, not Atom…but Captain Steel!  This New 52 Captain Steel has an excellent and tragic origin story, one that gives him the opportunity to truly shine.  You won’t see Jay this issue, nor will you follow-up on the cliffhanger from the Annual with Scott and Barda…but it is a story well worth reading, and it expands the wonderful new Earth 2 that James Robinson has imagined for his fans.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD! PLEASE READ THE ISSUE BEFORE GOING FURTHER!

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Rogues #1 & Reverse-Flash #1 Join Villains Month

Flash 23.3: The Rogues #1

Newsarama has revealed the full slate of Flash comics for DC’s Villains Month in September. In addition to Grodd #1, announced yesterday, we’ll see The Rogues #1 and Reverse Flash #1.

THE FLASH #23.1: GRODD
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by CHRIS BATISTA
3-D motion cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL (giant animated GIF preview)
On sale SEPTEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

Grodd believed he was destined to become the bearer of light—until The Flash raced onto the scene! What will Grodd do now that The Flash has disappeared with the rest of the world’s heroes? Conquest is on the horizon as the world becomes—Forever Evil!

THE FLASH #23.2: REVERSE-FLASH
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and
BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by FRANCIS MANAPUL
3-D motion cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale SEPTEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

Discover the untold origin of Reverse-Flash! Who is he, and what is his relationship to Barry Allen? Secrets are revealed and questions answered as we race through the history of Reverse-Flash right through to Forever Evil!

This is exactly what I was expecting: a spotlight issue tying into the 6-part “Reversed” story.

THE FLASH #23.3: THE ROGUES
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by PATRICK ZIRCHER
3-D motion cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale SEPTEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

The Rogues have their rules and their ways of doing business—so what do they think of the Secret Society’s claims that the Justice League is dead, and that the world’s villains need to unite? It’s a culture clash that won’t end quietly!

Won’t end quietly? That’s for sure! In October, the Rogues move into their own five-issue miniseries by the same creative team, Forever Evil: Rogues. Continue reading

Grodd #1 for Villains Month & Forever Evil: Rogues Mini

Flash #23.1 / Grodd #1 (still)

DC Comics has officially announced the long-rumored Villains month for the second anniversary of the New 52, and the launch of the seven-part Forever Evil event miniseries by Geoff Johns and David Finch.

For Villains Month, each ongoing series will be taken over by a villain for September.

Flash #23.1 has become Grodd #1, which appears to drop in the middle of the 6-part “Reversed.” The covers will be lenticular 3D. It’s a big file, so instead of pasting it in, I’m linking to the animated GIF of the Grodd cover.

Additionally, three five-issue miniseries will launch in October, including one that will be of interest to fans of the Scarlet Speedster:

Forever Evil: Rogues. Writer Brian Buccellato (The Flash) and Patrick Zircher (Suicide Squad) put the spotlight on the Flash’s colorful and infamous gang of Rogues, led by Captain Cold — a particular favorite of Johns, the former Flash writer, as well as Finch. “I just love his mask,” the artist says. “He looks very steely and a little bit dead in the eye, which is very evil.”

Via The Source. Update: Additional coverage of Forever Evil & Villains Month at The Beat, Newsarama and CBR.

Update: Two more one-shots have been announced: Reverse Flash & The Rogues.

Media Blitz! Manapul and Buccellato Talk Reverse-Flash and Kid Flash at MTV Geek

Friday saw a new interview surface over at MTV Geek featuring the Flash creative duo of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato.  Within, the two discuss the currently-unfolding arc featuring the debut of the New 52 iteration of the Reverse-Flash, the Flash debut of Kid Flash and other recent developments.

Flash #20 Final Cover

For highlights, follow the jump!

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New Heroes, New Dangers…New Batman for Earth 2! (review of Annual)

Earth 2 Annual 1 coverThe heroes of Earth 2 are growing in number, with appearances by Captain Steel, Mister Miracle and Barda…and a mysterious new Batman!  This Annual does a great job of setting the table for stories to come…if only we could get a little more from James Robinson on this excellent title.

Okay, let’s get this out of the way first…here is the transcript of everything Jay Garrick did in this issue.

Don’t worry, he wasn’t the only person who didn’t show up in the Annual, as Doctor Fate was nowhere to be seen and Hawkgirl appeared only briefly.  Even so, this was an excellent issue and presents events that will soon affect the life of our favorite Earth 2 speedster, so let’s move forward with the review.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD! Continue reading