Tag Archives: Collections

Impulse TPB Gets Release Date & Description

Impulse #1

Thanks to Collected Editions for spotting this: The Amazon listing for Impulse Vol. 1: Runs in the Family features a new description and a release date of March 5, 2013. If the date is not a placeholder (and doesn’t change), the collection should arrive in comic shops the previous Wednesday, February 27.

The teenage grandson of the Flash, Impulse was born and raised in a “video game” virtual environment in the 30th century. But when the rash teenager was transported back to the 20th century, his entire life changed. This humorous book profiles Impulse’s earliest adventures in rural Alabama under the tutelage of elder speedster Max Mercury. Oblivious to the concept of actions having consequences, the reckless youth must come to terms with both his incredible powers and the absurd situations that their use can result in, all the while trying to cope with the insanity of high school. In this new edition of Impulse’s adventures, the teen speedster meets teen villain White Lightning, Blockbuster, and, from the 30th century, Legion of Super-Heroes member XS.

DC’s announcement last month indicates that the book will collect Impulse #1-6, 8-9 and 12-13.

Impulse TPB & Flash Chronicles vol.4 coming in 2013

Impulse #1

DC has posted a list of collections for Spring 2013, including this surprise:

Impulse Vol. 1: Runs in the Family TP
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Humberto Ramos, Wayne Faucher and Brad Vancata
Collects: IMPULSE #1-6, 8-9 and 12-13
$19.99 US, 240 pg
March 2013

It’s been 15 years since DC first tried collecting Impulse in Reckless Youth. That book collected Bart Allen’s three-part debut from Flash #92-94, plus the first six issues of his solo series. A few years back, during Flash: Rebirth, they capitalized on Ethan Van Sciver’s name by releasing the oddly titled The Flash (Featuring Impulse): Mercury Falling, which collected Impulse #62–67.

These issues feature the first appearance of White Lightning, guest appearances by XS of the DnA Legion of Super-Heroes, and several stories focusing on Bart’s circle of friends at school.

So, what’s missing?

  • Impulse #7 is a fill-in by Martin Pasko, Nick Gnazzo and Mark Stegbauer in which Impulse battles a villain called Gridlock.
  • Impulse #10-11 are part of the “Dead Heat” crossover with The Flash, and were previously collected (again, over a decade ago) in Flash: Dead Heat. Dead Heat is also out of print, but I’m encouraged by the fact that DC has been re-releasing the Wally West series digitally, and the fact that they’re actually reprinting something by Mark Waid here.

Update! (July): The book is now available for pre-order.

Also coming next year:

The Flash Chronicles Vol. 4 TP
Writers: John Broome
Artists: Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella
Collects: THE FLASH #119-124
$14.99 US, 160 pg
April 2013

This brings the Chronicles series of Silver Age reprints up to 1961, and the Flash Chronicles v.1-4 line up with Flash Archives v.1-3. This collection features the Mirror Master, the Trickster, the Top (with the now-infamous Atomic Grenade!) and Captain Boomerang (launching the Flash into space), as well as well-known stories “Land of the Golden Giants” and the classic “Flash of Two Worlds!”

Upcoming Flash Collections: Move Forward (New 52 vol.1) & Showcase Presents vol.4

Showcase Presents: The Flash vol.4

DC Comics’ full solicitations are up for September 2012 monthlies and the next few months of collections.

Flash HC: Move Forward (New 52)THE FLASH VOL. 1: MOVE FORWARD HC

Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale NOVEMBER 7 • 192 pg, FC, $24.99 US

  • In this first DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 collection of THE FLASH, Mob Rule wages a campaign of crime across Central City, plunging the city into darkness! The only way The Flash can save his city is to make his brain function even faster than before – but as much as it helps him, it also comes at a steep price.
  • Collects issues #1-8 of the original monthly series.

DC first told us about this collection back in January, but didn’t announce a firm release date at the time. Collecting Flash v.4 #1-8 covers the opening “Mob Rule” arc, the two-parter with Captain Cold, and the one-shot in the Speed Force introducing Turbine.

The Flash: Move Forward is available for pre-order now.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE FLASH VOL. 4 TP

Written by JOHN BROOME, GARDNER FOX, E. NELSON BRIDWELL, CARY BATES and FRANK ROBBINS
Art by CARMINE INFANTINO, ROSS ANDRU and others
Cover by CARMINE INFANTINO and JOE GIELLA
On sale OCTOBER 24 • 528 pg, B&W, $19.99 US

  • The Flash faces Heat Wave, Gorilla Grodd and Captain Cold, and meets Green Lantern, Superman and the Golden Age Flash!
  • Collects THE FLASH #162-184.

Let’s take a quick look at what’s in here. Barry Allen and Iris West’s wedding…Reverse-Flash…oh, no, it’s the Mopee story!…a three-Flash team-up with Wally West and Jay Garrick…the Stupendous Triumph of the Six Super-Villains with the now-iconic, frequently-homaged cover of the Rogues standing over the Flash’s dead body…the second Superman/Flash race (the first was in the pages of Superman)…the Giant-Head Flash…Cary Bates’ first Flash story, introducing Earth-Prime…the Samuroids…and the Most Tragic Day. They stories 1966-1968, as the Flash inches its way from Silver-Age goofiness toward the more serious (but still odd) Bronze Age.

Showcase Presents: The Flash vol.4 is also available for pre-order.

Question on Flash Omnibus Binding

Who here has bought the Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns collections? Reader Nick wrote in to ask about the size and quality of the binding on the first two volumes.

If you have photos, that would be even better. You can post a link to an image host in the comments, or send them to me by email (speedforce at pobox dot com) and I’ll add them to the main post.

Update: Josh has sent in these photos, adding, “Flash omnibus volume 2 is a much larger than volume 1. Two hundred pages larger, in fact.”

Thanks, Josh!

Release Date for Road to Flashpoint TP

The softcover collection of the end of the 2010-2011 Flash series has been given a September 26 release date in DC’s latest solicitations. The hardcover came out last fall, and the trade paperback was announced in January with only the month listed.

THE FLASH VOL. 2: THE ROAD TO FLASHPOINT
Written by GEOFF JOHNS and SCOTT KOLINS
Art by FRANCIS MANAPUL and SCOTT KOLINS
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale SEPTEMBER 26 • 120 pg, FC, $14.99 US

  • Make way for Hot Pursuit – the latest speedster to come out of the Speed Force!
  • Collects THE FLASH #8-12!

Return to the Silver Age in Flash Chronicles Volume 3

I’ve been wondering whether DC planned on continuing the Flash Chronicles line of reprints. With the return of the Archives this year, I should have guessed we’d see a new Chronicles volume soon, and in fact, volume three is listed in DC’s July+ solicitations.

THE FLASH CHRONICLES VOL. 3 TP
Written by JOHN BROOME and GARDNER FOX
Art by CARMINE INFANTINO, JOE GIELLA and MURPHY ANDERSON
Cover by CARMINE INFANTINO and MURPHY ANDERSON
On sale AUGUST 8 • 160 pg, FC, $14.99 US

  • In this third collection of 1960s adventures in chronological order, the Fastest Man Alive battles Rogues including The Trickster, Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Gorilla Grodd and more.
  • Collecting THE FLASH #113-118.

Update: It’s available for pre-order.

DC has three series of reprints designed to start at the beginning (or at least the beginning of the Silver Age) and collect everything in chronological order:

  • Archives: High-quality, hardcover, color reprints, typically about 200 pages, relatively expensive. For people who want a book that will last. Five volumes so far, with a sixth on its way.
  • Showcase Presents: Cheap, black and white paperbacks on newsprint, around 500-600 pages, for people who just want to read the stories. Currently on three volumes in the early 1960s, plus one featuring the Trial of the Flash in the 1980s.
  • Chronicles: Cheaper, color paperbacks, more like a typical collected edition of more recent comics.

I keep meaning to work out the math of just how many volumes each of these lines would need to reprint the entire 1956-1986 Barry Allen Flash series (including the four Showcase issues early on) — and how long it would take to complete them at DC’s current rate of publication.