I was hoping to get more responses to this one, but only 25 people responded — of whom 9 had never been to a con.
Poll Result: Convention Distance
7 Replies
Flash: Rebirth #5 Now Due November 18
It looks like Flash: Rebirth #5 won’t be out next week after all. Reader Perplexio wrote in to point out that DC’s website now shows a release date of November 18.
The funny thing is, I checked it two hours ago and it still said November 11. It’s starting to feel like I should check it on an hourly basis!
No change on the release dates for Flash: Rebirth #6 or the first two issues of Blackest Night: The Flash.
The current schedule looks like this:
| Flash: Rebirth #5 | November 18, 2009 |
| Blackest Night: The Flash #1 | December 2, 2009 |
| Flash: Rebirth #6 | December 23, 2009 |
| Blackest Night: The Flash #2 | January 13, 2010 |
It’s beginning to look less and less likely that Flash: Rebirth will finish this year. With no comics shipping the week of December 30, even a one-week slip on issue #6 will push it into January.
Quick Notes: Reading Wheel of Time, Schedules, Poll
Last week, the new Wheel of Time novel, The Gathering Storm, came out. This is the first of three books that will conclude the epic fantasy series, based on the late Robert Jordan’s unfinished manuscript and extensive notes. My wife finished it over the weekend, so now it’s my turn. If I don’t post later this week, it’s because I’m reading, not writing! (Actually, I’ll probably post a couple more “classic” items from my other blog. I have a few left over that I didn’t use in September.)
At 5PM EST today, Diamond will post their shipping lists for this week and next. If Flash: Rebirth #5 is on the list, it’s almost certain that it’ll arrive in stores next week. Update: So much for that idea.
I’m not sure what time it closes today, but my poll on conventions and travel distance is still open. If you haven’t voted, please stop in and let me know the farthest you’ve traveled for a con.
Happy Halloween!
Update: A couple of Halloween-themed posts over at my other blog:
Keeping Comics on Schedule
By now the delays on Flash: Rebirth #4-6 have become legendary. But the book is hardly alone. Just this week, I picked up issues of Dynamo 5 and Ignition City that, despite the series starting on a monthly schedule, came out several months after the previous issue. In fact, a lot of the independent comics I read don’t seem to have a strict schedule. Rather than soliciting them monthly and then rescheduling them the way DC often does, they seem to solicit them as they’re ready.
On the plus side, it’s less frustrating for the reader who doesn’t see a particular issue get scheduled, then delayed repeatedly. On the minus side, the reader has no clue when to expect more.
Solutions
If the goal is to keep a book to a regular schedule, some of the ways I’ve seen to keep it from falling behind include: Continue reading
Speed Reading: Dezago, Manapul, Reviews and More
It’s been a busy week, and while I’ve got a couple of posts I’m working on, nothing’s quite close to ready. So what to do? Of course! Some mid-week linkblogging!
Interviews
Here are a couple of interviews with upcoming Flash artist Francis Manapul: one at Multiversity Comics, and one at Comic Book Resources. He talks about trying different ways to portray the hero’s speed, and adds:
…for me, the trickiest part is making sure my Barry Allen looks different from my Wally West. Having grown up with Wally, my natural portrayal of The Flash tends to look like him. As I get more familiar with Barry, I know I’ll get my footing and get it right.
Update: CBR has followed up by interviewing Scott Kolins, artist on Blackest Night: The Flash (starting in December) and the Wally West “second feature” stories in the upcoming monthly book.
Robot6 interviews Todd Dezago, former Impulse writer, on Perhapanauts and its recent Halloween Spooktacular. At the end he reveals what’s next for the series: another special in Spring, followed a few months later by the next major story: “Fourshadowing.” (After “First Blood,” “Second Chances,” and “Triangle.”)
Reviews
Weekly Crisis reviews a bunch of collections including Flash: Ignition.
Several sites have reviews last week’s Brave and the Bold starring Flash (Barry Allen) and the Blackhawks. The Savage Critics didn’t like it. 4thLetter really didn’t like it.
DoubleDCoverage reviews last week’s books including the DC Universe Halloween Special, which featured a Kid Flash story and a Flash vs. Superman race.
Commentary
Daily Scans finds it odd that, early in his career, Jay Garrick didn’t hide his identity very well.
Art
Kid Flash sketch by Teen Titans artist Yildiray Cinar. (via SpeedsterSite)