Kubert Already Working on Flashpoint

Bleeding Cool managed to get a little bit more out of Andy Kubert about Flashpoint: he’s already working on the book even though it comes out in 2011, to make sure it’ll be finished on time.

The article also implies that it’s going to be a separate book from the ongoing Flash series.

Keep in mind that there are a lot of things we don’t know yet about the book. Really, all we know for certain is:

  • It’s coming out in 2011.
  • It’s by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert.
  • It’s about the Flashes.
  • Something is threatening time in the DC Universe.

Among the things we don’t know:

  • We don’t know whether it will permanently* change the Flash status quo.
  • We don’t know whether it will permanently change the Flash’s (or anyone else’s) history.
  • We don’t know whether it will be a self-contained story like Green Lantern: Recharge, a crossover between a couple of books like Sinestro Corps War, or a mega-event like Blackest Night.
  • We don’t know whether it will lead into, grow out of, or ignore the Kid Flash series DC says is still in the works.
  • We don’t know whether Flashpoint itself is a miniseries, a pair of bookends to a crossover, or even an original graphic novel.
  • We don’t even really know that it won’t be a major arc within the Flash series, unless someone has an exact quote from Andy Kubert or Geoff Johns. Bleeding Cool is, after all, a rumor site, and in an article full of statements like “it looks like…” and “I guess…,” the only definite information is the fact that Andy Kubert is already working on it.

Not that any of this will stop the Internet from jumping to conclusions, of course.

*Whatever “permanently” means in comics.

Anaheim Comic Con 2010 – Con Report & Photos

I had a better time than I expected at Wizard World’s first Anaheim Comic Con. Not surprisingly, it was similar to the last Wizard World Los Angeles, except without any comics publishers. (I guess they all went to C2E2.) Without Marvel, DC, etc., the con focused mostly on dealers, fan groups, artists and celebrities.

Read on: A Day at Anaheim Comic Con. Or check out my photos of the con on Flickr.

DC Direct Solicits for December 2010

DC Direct’s Solicits for December are out and there are some great Flash related releases coming up.

BLACKEST NIGHT: SERIES 8: BLACK LANTERN BLACK FLASH Action Figure

The hugely successful BLACKEST NIGHT action figure line continues!

Included in this eighth installment of the series are: Black Lantern Black Flash, Professor Zoom’s reanimated corpse, holds curious sway over The Flash’s other undead rogues; Orange Lantern Lex Luthor, the new Orange Power Ring seeks out Lex Luthor for his avarice and lust for power; Indigo Tribe The Atom, with compassion and sense of duty stronger than ever, Ray Palmer serves as the binding force uniting the spectrum of power; Sinestro Corps Member Scarecrow, delights in instilling fear in others and is rewarded with the Yellow Ring of Power.

The Black Lantern Black Flash figure stands at 6.75″ high, features multiple points of articulation and includes a display base. Character-appropriate accessories are also included.

4-color clamshell blister card packaging.

BLAMMOIDS!: SERIES 4: FLASH Mini Figure

Real compact – with real impact!

BLAM! A funky, chunky collection of boldly designed toys that pack a lot of punch in a squatty body!

POW! A striking, hyper-stylized twist on the world’s greatest heroes and their biggest foes. Too tough to call small – you’ll want to collect them all!

Packaged on a blister card, each measures approximately 2.5″ to 4″ tall with three points of articulation.

On Sale December 1, 2010

and his Zoom counterpart:

BLAMMOIDS!: SERIES 4: ZOOM Mini Figure

Real compact – with real impact!

BLAM! A funky, chunky collection of boldly designed toys that pack a lot of punch in a squatty body!

POW! A striking, hyper-stylized twist on the world’s greatest heroes and their biggest foes. Too tough to call small – you’ll want to collect them all!

Packaged on a blister card, each measures approximately 2.5″ to 4″ tall with three points of articulation.

On Sale December 1, 2010

The Black Lantern Reverse Flash is a must have for me. Especially since we have yet to get a proper Professor Zoom or Zoom in the DC Direct lines. Well except for that artist-specific, out of scale one coming up in the Classified Series. It’s a shame that I only own five Reverse Flashes. And none of them were made in the traditional sculpt. Two are from JLU(Justice Lords large and small figures), One is a Toyfare Exclusive from the 90s JLA Line, and the other two are from Infinite Heroes and DC Direct’s short lived Pocket Heroes line. I’m actually surprised we’ve yet to see a Zoom in the Minimates line either. I’m crossing my fingers that this Flash Relaunch leads to a DC Direct Flash Series similar to what they’ve been doing with Green Lantern. And then when the movie hits. Wow. I think we are in for a great next few years as far as collecting goes.

I really don’t know what these Blammoids are or what the point of them is but I will definitely be picking up both the Flash and Zoom. I have a feeling it’s going to be a slow month for Flash collectibles anyway. Unless DC Direct or Mattel kicks it up with a *crosses fingers* Flash line or Flash-heavy DCUC release.

I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of the last three heroclix I need from the recent release. Expect a full write up when they get here.

Devin “The Flash” Johnson

Design and Win Your Own Flash Ring Contest to End at Midnight Tonight!

Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances the Design and Win Your Own Flash Ring Contest will be ending at the end of the day, 4/19/2010. All entries must be in by 12:00am Pacific Time to be counted and sent on to ArrobaSilver for the final judging of the contest.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause anyone and I wish all of the current entrants good luck in the contest. The winner will be announced in the very near future and I will keep you all posted on the date.

Thanks again for all the great entries we have received thus far and remember you still have until 12:00am Pacific Time to get those last entries in.

You can find the rest of the contest details HERE

Thank you for your understanding. Any further inquiries can be sent to devintheflashjohnson@yahoo.com or designyourownflashring@yahoo.com

Thanks again.

Devin “The Flash” Johnson

P.S. ArrobaSilver is still offering 10% off for all readers of Speedforce.org. They have a plethora of officially licensed Flash and Justice League Rings and other jewelry available. Enter GA001 at checkout to apply the discount.

Flash Hints from C2E2

DC has been really cagey with Flash news lately, since the new direction is just getting started, but they’ve let a few hints slip at C2E2. Here’s a round-up from Newsarama and CBR’s coverage of the event.

DC Nation was light on Flash information…though Dan Didio joked that “as far as dead meaning dead in the DCU, once we get to Nightwing and Wally West, yes.”

At the Brightest Day panel on Saturday, Geoff Johns answered a fan who was upset that Flash #1 had a “Brightest Day” banner, but didn’t tie into the book:

Johns said, “It was a good issue, wasn’t is?” before explaining that the book would tie in to what happens in “Brightest Day” in some small ways, though “I didn’t want to start Flash #1 with a white power battery. I wanted him to fight the Trickster.” Sattler added “The bannering on the books is about a theme in the DCU…the stories are important to Brightest Day’s central story.”

He told another fan, who was confused about the number of Zooms running around, “If you look at Reverse Flash, I try to do everything in reverse…”

At the DC Universe panel, Ian Sattler answered a question about a Flash Secret Origin story by saying, “Sooner than you think.” Wally West will make an appearance in Justice League.

Robinson also said that he’s “very excited about bringing Jesse Quick to the team.”

Finally, at Sunday’s Flash/Green Lantern panel, Geoff Johns declined to answer questions about the current arc or about Flashpoint. He has plans for Wally West and the West Twins. We will “eventually” see the Tornado Twins and John Fox, but there are no plans for Inertia (he’s “really dead”) or Walter West (“but never say never”).

Someone else asked why the resurrected Captain Boomerang is already in jail, “Or is this based on his previous crimes?” Johns said yes. “Is there a legal precedent in the DCU for culpability for crimes you’ve committed before you’re resurrected?” “I’ll have Boomerang complain to the guards.”

The most interesting remark I found in the write-up was this:

“The Rogues always told Wally there was a mutual respect between them and Barry, and that was a lie.”

The funniest, though: Someone asked about Mopee. No one on the panel knew who he was, except Geoff Johns, who sighed and joked that he’ll be in issue #715.

Missed Opportunity: Hostess Fruit Pie Corps!

This frivolous complaints about Blackest Night thread is a fun read. My favorite is on page 4, with these two comments.

Greg Owens:

Nekron was not defeated by the use of delicious Hostess Fruit Pies. Complete and utter failure on DC’s part.

ADGood:

Not just fruit pies, but a fruit pie corps. Seven different-colored pies to represent the flavor spectrum.

I can just imagine DC trying to work the low-rent villains and nonsensical plots from those Hostess ads that were all over late 1970s/early 1980s comics into modern continuity…only to make them all darker and edgier.