It used to be a joke, “As long as you keep buying late books, we’ll keep making ’em.” It’s not a joke anymore: you stopped buying ’em. We need to get our schedule under control.
— Dan Didio at DC Nation, C2E2 (as reported by CBR).
Some linkblogging for the weekend:
Flashy links:
Flashpoint and other comics:
C2E2. Not much Flash or Flashpoint news out of C2E2. DC was being very cagey about both. That said, we now know that Hunter Zolomon is in Flashpoint, and while DC would rather tweak Wally West’s fans than answer any questions about him, we do know that he gets chased by someone with a white lantern ring in a tie-in.
So haw many Flash comics have there been, anyway?
With the news that DC is canceling the current Flash series in the lead-up to Flashpoint, speculation has turned to the inevitable relaunch that we’ll see afterward.
Now, DC could just pick up the numbering where they left off, as if the book had simply been on hiatus (like many of us expected)…but that sort of puts a lie to the statement that “Issue 12 will be the final issue of THE FLASH.”
DC could also restart at #1…again. But is that really what they want to do after Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 in 2006, All-Flash #1 in 2007, Flash: Rebirth #1 in 2009, and Flash #1 in 2010?
So the prospect of renumbering raises its head again. It’s a natural with The Flash. After all, Barry Allen’s 1959 launch started at #105, picking up the numbering from where Jay Garrick’s series left off in 1949, and Wally West’s 2007 launch picked up right where it left off the year before. And with books like Wonder Woman, Spider-Man and Thor adding up the totals from multiple relaunches, it seems a clear possibility.
So, if we added up all the Flash comics, what number would we be at?
350 issues of Flash Comics starring Jay Garrick and The Flash starring Barry Allen
247 issues of The Flash starring Wally West (not counting #0, #1,000,000, or #1/2, all of which would have been numbered out of sequence anyway).
13 issues of Flash: The Fastest Man Alive starring Bart Allen
12 issues of The Flash starring Barry Allen.
That’s 622 issues there, making the next one Flash #623. Though if you include Flash #0 and #1,000,000, which were part of the monthly series (but not #1/2, which was a promotional giveaway from Wizard Magazine), that would bring the total to 624, making the next one #625.
You could also make a case for including a few others:
1 issue of All-Flash, since it filled the monthly slot and bridged the gap between the end of Flash:TFMA and the 2007 relaunch.
6 issues of Flash: Rebirth, since it replaced the monthly series and served as the primary Flash book for 2009.
I wouldn’t include the annuals, or the 1970 Flash Spectacular, or the original Flashpoint miniseries, or the two Flash 80 Page Giants, or the four Flash Secret Files books. I also wouldn’t include Blackest Night: The Flash or Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge. These are all miniseries or specials that feel separate from the main Flash series, though I’d consider Blackest Night: The Flash a possible candidate.
That brings it to 629 issues.
Could we be looking at a post-Flashpoint launch of Flash #625 or Flash #630?
A somewhat less controversial bit of Flashpoint news: All Flashpoint-related titles will be available digitally 4 weeks after the in-store arrival of the print version, released on Fridays to keep the “Flashpoint Friday” theme going.
Personally I think this would be a great opportunity to do day-and-date releases, but DC and Marvel seem desperately afraid that digital comics will destroy the retail market, so they keep hobbling the digital market so that it can’t reach its potential.
Ever popped onto a news site and found yourself saying, “Wait…what?” That was my reaction when I read this at The Source. They’re answering a fan question from fhiz:
Johns wrote that Booster Gold was the only ongoing to tie into Flashpoint, so where does that leave his book, The Flash?
The Source explains:
Great question, fhiz. While the effects of FLASHPOINT will be felt throughout BOOSTER GOLD even after the series concludes, we can’t quite say the same for THE FLASH past issue #12… Why’s that?
Issue 12 will be the final issue of THE FLASH.
It’s just as well they turned off comments the other day, or the fans would be going nuts!
I was sort of half-expecting DC to put The Flash on hiatus during Flashpoint. But to outright make #12 the final issue? Especially since they’ve already solicited #13? That’s a surprise. Not only is it an extremely short run for such a high-profile (and apparently successful) relaunch, but it if it’s canceled now, it makes it shorter than the ill-fated Flash: The Fastest Man Alive back in 2006–2007.
I guess we can look forward to yet another relaunch after Flashpoint ends.
Update: More comments at at Robot6, Comic Bloc, CBR….
DC Comics’ official blog, The Source announced earlier this morning that an exclusive White Lantern Flash action figure will be sold this weekend at C2E2 and later at WonderCon. Distributed by popular pop culture t-shirt company, Graphitti Designs and limited to 1000 pieces, this is sure to be a big collector’s item one day. Of course we fans have actually known about the figure for quite sometime but this is the first official statement and pictures regarding it. Take a look:
They chose the smallest picture ever to show off the figure on the site here is a slightly clearer one courtesy of AFI:
I don’t fully get the whole White Lantern thing as I have not been following Brightest Day at all really, but not a bad figure. It is obviously a repaint of the DC Direct Blue Lantern Flash released a bit ago and that is not a bad thing at all. In fact that figure is probably one of the best sculpted DC Direct Flash figures in years, so I have no problem with them reusing it.
The design elements of the costume itself are pretty interesting, especially the choice of Wally’s belt instead of Barry’s classic straight across design. I don’t particularly like when they mix and match elements of Wally and Barry (as in the case of Young Justice’s Flash) but it definitely works better for the overall look. I can’t wait to see this figure up close and personal though, I have a feeling that the pictures don’t do the piece justice.
Oddly enough, DC left out the information about pricing. I believe it will be going for around 18 dollars or so. Availability of the exclusive will be limited to one item per guest. A number of websites and sellers on evilBay are offering preorders for the item for those that can’t make it out to the Cons. The prices however range from as low as 16.99 on some websites to as high as 70 dollars on evilBay.
Does anyone else plan on picking up White Lantern Flash?
Thanks for reading,