Iris Suits Up in Flash #22

Iris in the Speed Suit

The latest What’s New in the New 52 feature at DC’s website features two preview pages from Flash #22, coming at the end of the month. I saw the thumbnail and briefly wondered if we were getting a surprise return of Jesse Quick, then saw the headline and wondered whether Iris might have been keeping a secret from her time in the speed force. Bob Harris writes:

If you’ve been reading THE FLASH, you know that the current story arc features a mysterious “Speed Force killer.” Well, in order to keep his good friend safe from this elusive murderer, Barry must find a way to make Iris undetectable to whoever is committing these crimes. Using a method similar to how he constructed his own suit, Barry makes a special protective suit for Iris that will prevent the killer from sensing the Speed Force energy in her. And while Iris doesn’t have speed powers, this suit allows her to comfortably travel at super speed.

Click through to the article to see the second page of the preview, and Iris’ reaction to super-speed. Amazing art by Francis Manapul, but by now, who’s surprised by that?

This Week: Earth 2 and Cobalt Blue

Out this week is Earth 2 #14: The bells of war ring loudly as Green Lantern, The Flash and Doctor Fate attack Steppenwolf head on— with the future of Earth 2 hanging in the balance!

Written by: James Robinson
Art by: Nicola Scott, Trevor Scott
Cover by: Juan Do

Also, the digital rereleases start up again with Flash #149, Part 5/6 of Chain Lightning. In the future, Wally West and Barry Allen must fight a thousand years of possessed speedsters, including their own friends and family.

Beyond Origins: The Flash of the Beyond Universe (Review)

20130630-143635.jpgThe latest installment of Justice League Beyond, Chapter 25, gives us the origin of the newest Flash, Dani Williams. This character has already shone in her previous appearances with the future Justice League, and now we finally get the full scoop on this very interesting addition to the Flash legacy.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!

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Flash Beyond: Origin in Justice League Beyond Chapter 25

Justice League Beyond Chapter 25: The Flash Origin

If you’ve been wondering how Danica Williams became the future Flash in Justice League Beyond, wonder no longer: today’s digital installment of the series features her origin spotlight, as told by Derek Fridolfs and Marcus To, with a cover by Khary Randolph. There’s even a nice splash page of all the speedsters and Flash villains of the DC Animated Universe. (This series takes place in the same world as Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond, so there’s no Barry Allen, but there are some characters that I don’t recall seeing in the DCAU before.)

“Titans Together!” Raven, Kid Flash and all the Titans Against The Trigon Bros! (Review of Issue #21)

TT 21 coverThis was a truly action-packed issue of Teen Titans, and for once every member of the team had their chance to shine in the same issue.  If you like great battles, this is definitely an issue of TT you don’t want to miss!  This is a team finally learning how to work together in a way they haven’t done before in the New 52, and they are proving to be a most formidable group.  But, can even this level of teamwork succeed…or even survive…against the sons of Trigon?

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!

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What The Flash #21 Says About Bart…and Each of Us (Commentary)

Flash 21 coverNote: This is an opinion piece, and it represents just my own opinion here…

I have been very interested in the reactions to The Flash #21, and in the variety of reviews for this issue.  Some have been glowing (including my review) and some have been not-so-glowing, which happens to a lot of comics these days…but the source of the debate seems a bit more consistent than with other issues.  It comes down in no small measure to the characterization of Bart Allen and how different fans feel about his depiction in this issue.  I stand by my review for reasons I’ll explain in must a moment…but I do understand how others feel about this subject.  It hearkens back to the debates about the launch of the New 52, and to other changes in continuity over the years – and it says a lot about how we feel about these wonderful characters and about continuity changes in general.

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