Tag Archives: Flash: Rebirth

How Many Speedsters?

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With the promos suggesting that Flash: Rebirth will see speedsters killed at an alarming rate, the question naturally arises: How many speedsters are there to kill?

Assuming we’re looking only at modern-day characters in the mainstream DC Universe, and not bringing in anyone from the future or alternate realities, we have…

Major Players:

  • Flash: Jay Garrick – the original. And the only major Flash who has not already “died” at some point.
  • Flash: Barry Allen – not likely to die, given that DC is building a major relaunch around him.
  • Flash: Wally West – depends on whether you believe DC about how he’ll have a major part in the DC Universe over the next year.
  • Kid Flash: Bart Allen – They just brought him back. It would be silly to kill him off again this soon. Not that I’d put it past DC…
  • Liberty Belle/Jesse Quick (Jesse Chambers) – she’s focusing on the Liberty Belle legacy these days, plus it would be bad form to kill off the only major female speedster. Again, not that I’d put it past DC…
  • Max Mercury – Rival’s spirit has taken possession of his body, so he’s not dead…though his spirit seems to be hanging around the Speed Force last we looked.

Likely Possibilities for Dead Speedsters:

  • The Rival – last seen in possession of Max’s body
  • Savitar – technically already dead, but only in the sense that Barry was.
  • Blue Trinity – Christina is alive as of Salvation Run, and the other two members are unaccounted for.
  • Flash: John Fox – technically a future Flash, he’s visited the present day enough that he would make an impression on long-term readers.
  • Kapitalist Kouriers – Cassiopeia’s death kicked off Dead Heat. Presumably the other two members are still around.
  • Zoom II – just depowered in Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge
  • Mas y Menos – appeared in the DCU during 52 and haven’t been used much
  • Captain Boomerang, Jr. – can manage limited super-speed
  • Baroness Blitzkrieg – villain introduced in the Geoff Johns-penned Justice Society of America

Long Shots:

  • Speed Demon – hasn’t had his powers in years, and likes it that way
  • Professor Zoom – dead, but with Barry returning and Zoom II being de-powered, it wouldn’t surprise me to see another dead character return to life – though killing him again right away seems unlikely.
  • Blitzen (Shadow Cabinet) – with the Milestone characters being incorporated into the DCU, she’s presumably on the table…but it wouldn’t make sense to kill someone off immediately after getting the rights to the character.
  • Blur – genetically engineered Martian/human hybrid, seen briefly in the Son of Vulcan miniseries
  • Jay Garrick clone – created by the Brotherhood of Evil in Outsiders; probably degenerated by now
  • Edit: Well-Spoken Sonic Lightning Flash of the Super Young Team – introduced in Final Crisis, not only is he a new character, but his team will be appearing in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance at the same time as Flash: Rebirth.
  • Anyone from Doralla Kon’s dimension, which runs at a different speed than Earth’s universe.  She hasn’t appeared since 1965, but odd ideas from the Silver Age have been cropping up quite a bit in DC comics lately.

Wow…there are more speedsters in the DCU than I thought.

Flash: Rebirth #3 Solicit

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Newsarama has a preview of DC’s June Solicitations, featuring The Flash: Rebirth #3.

The Flash: Rebirth #3

Flash: Rebirth #3Written by Geoff Johns
Art and covers by Ethan Van Sciver

At last, the answer to the question that’s plagued DC fans for decades: Who’s faster, Superman or The Flash? Call your bookie and bet the farm, because you’ve never seen a run like this – and if speedsters keep dying at the pace they’re going, you might never see another one again!

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

On sale June 10 • 3 of 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Comment #1. That question of who’s faster? It’s been answered many times over. It’s always close, and if there’s a winner, it’s always the Flash.

Comment #2. Nothing says “Bringing back Flash from the dead” like “Killing off a bunch of Flashes.” I swear DC is trying to kill my interest in this book a little more every time they release new information about it.

Didio on Flash Numbering

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So, will the post-Rebirth relaunch of The Flash start with #1, #351, #600…? Dan Didio answers in the latest 20 Answers and 1 Question at Newsarama.

14) The Flash relaunch after Flash: Rebirth. Will that continue with the old numbering, or will it launch with a new #1?

DD: There’s a strength to a #1 when we present it in initial sales, it creates that sense that this is a wonderful jump-on point. Everyone always comes and asks us what the best ways to attract new readers is, and one of the best methods we’ve got is putting a “#1” on something, because it helps the readers to feel that they’re getting in on the ground floor.

Conversely, the continuing numbering, once you get past those early numbers, those higher numbers creates that sense of history for those characters and gives the sense that they have longevity.

So we’re still discussing it, but I imagine you’re going to see a new Flash #1 after the end of Rebirth [emphasis added] – but we are discussing the overall numbering. The more interesting question is, if we do go to the original numbering, what number would we pick it up at? Some people would argue, with a good point, that the Wally West issues should add in there, but should the Bart issues? It’s an interesting argument. Right now, though, I’m thinking you’ll see a Flash #1 for sure.

I actually posed the question of what number picking things up with Flash number should start, and the argument in the room was very clear as to whether or not we would jump from Barry’s original run to this new run of Barry…but for right now, I feel very comfortable in saying that after Flash Rebirth, there will be a new Flash #1 – who that Flash is, I still can’t say.

“I still can’t say.” Yeah. As if anyone believes that they would go to all this effort to bring Barry back with a big event miniseries and relaunch, then put someone else behind the mask.

Also Flash-related in this round: a discussion of in-house advertising and why a sure-bet like Flash: Rebirth got a valuable double-page ad in last month’s DC books. And regarding “co-features,” he points out that they’ve been choosing characters for backup features whom they believe could carry their own ongoing or mini-series.

Co-Features, or How To Make All Flash Fans Happy

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Over the past month, DC has announced a (somewhat) new format for some of its books: the co-feature. It’s essentially the same as the classic lead+backup format, except that the lead story is a full 22 pages.* The upcoming Doom Patrol relaunch will co-feature the Metal Men, and now Booster Gold and Teen Titans will be getting Blue Beetle and Ravager backups. The books will jump to $3.99, but they’ll have more story pages than the standard $2.99 book.

Thinking about this, I realized: This is the perfect way to satisfy all Flash fans! Relaunch the series after Flash: Rebirth as a co-feature book. Make the lead 22-page story focus on Barry Allen. Make the backup story focus on Wally West, or rotate through Wally, Jay and Bart. I’ve been vocal in my displeasure at losing a regular series focusing on Wally, but I would buy this in a hot second with no complaints (unless the stories turned out bad, of course). It also seems more viable in this market than a second Flash book.

So how about you, readers? Does this sound like a good idea?

Edit: Went to post this on ComicBloc and realized that The Speedster posted the same idea a week ago. And I responded in the thread. Clearly I need either more sleep or more coffee.

*It’s not clear how long the backups are, but I’m guessing probably 12 or 16. 16 would make it roughly equivalent to a 40-page book, which is the format that Final Crisis and tie-ins like Rogues Revenge have used.

Van Scivers: Local Hero and Signing

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Two items of note:

First, Sharis Van Sciver, wife of Flash: Rebirth artist Ethan Van Sciver, is in the news today for leading a growling dog away from a group of school children. The dog, which showed signs of abuse and had apparently broken its chain and escaped, bit her hand, but her injuries are minor. (via Blog@Newsarama)

Second, Flash fans in the Orlando, Florida area should take note: Ethan Van Sciver will be doing a free signing for Flash: Rebirth at A Comic Shop in Winter Park, Florida (that’s the actual name of the store) on April 3.

Flash News from MegaCon

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It seems that MegaCon revealed more Flash news, as Dan DiDio and Ethan Van Sciver both chose Florida over San Francisco.

Newsarama posts from DC Universe:

Next up, DiDio introduced Ethan Van Sciver—who spoke at length about Flash: Rebirth which hits shelves next month. Van Sciver expressed his enthusiasm for the project and working with Geoff Johns by saying, “This is the book that Geoff and I have been waiting to do our entire careers—we’re returning Barry Allen to the DC Universe,” which was followed by an eruption of cheers and applause from the audience. Indicating that could not talk at length about the project, Van Sciver still managed to tease the audience, “In the first issue, Barry Allen will discover a dead Flash that will lead him to investigate real truths and the scary reality of being a Flash.” He paused, “The only other thing I’ll mention: Issue #3— Superman/ Flash race,” which drew another round of applause from the audience.

Yeah, because that’s what the Flash mythos needs: even more death. 🙄

DiDio asked the audience potentially re-numbering a Flash monthly title. A fan reasoned, “Either 598 or 351—depending on which Flash is in the book.” The panel marveled at how quickly the fan had responded with the numbers.

They shouldn’t be surprised — fans have hashed the topic to death online, long before bringing it to the panel!

There was a short discussion regarding George Perez’s earlier work on New Teen Titans when it was pointed out that two fans in costume, one dressed as Wally West/Flash and the other dressed as Starfire, were both creations from Perez’s first run on New Teen Titans. They were asked to come to the stage—Perez greeted them both warmly and said, “Who knew that creating Starfire would lead to having women dress up like her at conventions…” drawing a healthy amount of laughter from the audience.

Um…no, Kid Flash was not a George Perez creation. He did draw Wally in New Teen Titans, of course…

Also from DC Nation:

QUESTION: DC has been bringing back characters – Barry Allen Flash, Oliver Queen Green Arrow – each had characters existing that took their place. Is there a reason they don’t take on their own identity? Such as the multiple Atoms, the multiple Flashes, the multiple Green Arrows…

DD – Sounds like a great idea for a story some day!