This Week: Flashpoint #5 (w/Preview)

The epic concludes, and the next era in DC Comics begins. USA Today has an article on the relaunch and a preview of Flashpoint #5.

Flashpoint #5


Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE; Covers by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE; 1:25 Black and white variant covers A by ANDY KUBERT; Variant cover B by RAGS MORALES

FLASH FACT: The war between the Amazons and the Atlantians has arrived. The battle between Diana of Themyscira and Emperor Aquaman will tear this world apart – unless The Flash can fix it!
DC Universe 40pg. Color $3.99 US

Justice League #1

Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS; 1:25 Variant cover by DAVID FINCH

Comics superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee make history! In a universe where super heroes are strange and new, Batman has discovered a dark evil that requires him to unite the World Greatest Heroes!
DC Universe 40pg. Color $3.99 US

Flash Quick Hits: Fan Expo

A few bits of info have come out of Toronto this weekend.

The Justice Society returns in a James Robinson/Nicola Scott series set at an unspecified time period on Earth-2.

A the New 52 Panel, Francis Manapul explained that they want to make the new Flash series “introspective and at the same time, a kick-ass action book.” Newsarama’s report adds that he “came up with some incredible death traps for him to overcome, with more than just his speed.”

Francis Manapul and Yanick Paquette (Swamp Thing) also appeared on a Drawing the New 52 panel, in which Manapul talked about his approach to redesigning the Flash’s Rogues, explaining, “It’s about making the characters interesting, and also making them a legitimate [threat] to Flash. Not just about their powers.”

Custom Gold Flash Ring

Roberto Vindell sent in pictures of his custom gold Flash ring.


Roberto explains:

I’m a huge flash fan, and I’ve always wanted a ring like Barry’s. So I collected all my old gold, and my mom took it to Nicaragua along with my plastic flash ring that I got with issue 1 of Barry’s relaunch. The jeweler did an amazing job duplicating it for me. It came out awesome and I never take it off! I feel like the Flash now!

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Annotations: The Trial of the Flash, #324 – “The Slayer and the Slain!”

Welcome to the second installment in our annotations of the collected edition of The Trial of the Flash!  We’ve been breaking down related stories leading up to this month’s release of the massive tome that is Showcase Presents: The Trial of the Flash.  In addition, we’ve interviewed author Cary Bates about the buildup and the Trial itself, plus shown you what won’t be included in the collection.  For last week, and previous issues, click here.

Links to artwork and research are included throughout this post.  This time around, since the reprint is widely available, the format will be a little different.  For legal analysis of the story, something I will not attempt, go here.

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This Week: Kid Flash Lost #3, Teen Titans #100 and more

It’s a week of endings, as the last pre-reboot DC comics arrive in stores. First up is Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #3, with Teen Titans #100, Justice Society of America #54, and several collections appearing.

Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #3

In order to catch up to his grandfather, Bart Allen will have to race against the speed force itself. As he is bounced around through time collecting multi-dimensional speed force energy from various members of the Flash family, Bart needs to gain all of the necessary tools to reach Barry in time to deliver a message that could save the universe. But will he be able to reach the world’s last hope for restoration before the speed force catches up to him?

In FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST #3, Bart Allen finally realizes the personal sacrifice he must make in order to save his family and the people he loves. By Sterling Gates, Oliver Nome, Scott Kolins and Trevor Scott, the final issue in this miniseries races into stores on Wednesday.

Other Comics

  • Teen Titans #100 featuring Bart Allen and Inertia (and a variant cover that may prove to be Wally West’s final cover appearance as The Flash for a long time)
  • Justice Society of America #54 featuring what may be Jay Garrick’s final appearance until DC decides to revive the JSA.

Reprints

  • DC Universe Legacies (HC) – a history of the old DCU
  • DC Comics Presents: JLA: Heaven’s Ladder

Manapul and Buccellato Talk Flash at Comic Vine, on Blog

Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, the creative team behind DC’s new Flash, talk to Comic Vine about the new series and unveil a page of exclusive artwork from the second issue.  The duo answers questions about villains new and old, the challenges in handling both writing and art duties and the application of “super-speed thinking” as seen in the solicitation for issue #2.

CV: Does Barry always think at super-speed or does he have to activate the Speed Force?

FM: This is something we’ll be dealing with in our first arc. We know he physically taps into the Speed Force, but we haven’t quite seen the extent of what he could do if his mind tapped into it as well. This is a pretty major theme we plan to tackle, which has lent it self extremely well to visual experimentation.

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