*whew* Comics Beat rounds up DC’s upcoming collections, and there’s a ton of Flash stuff coming up!

The Flash: A Celebration of 75 years
Gardner Fox, Geoff Johns, Carmine Infantino
On Sale Date: January 20, 2015
$75.00 USD / $85.00 CAD
400 pages Hardback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes
9781401251789, 1401251781

Summary: Introduced in 1940, The Flash burst onto the comic book scene with an explosive debut akin to his super-speed powers. He was an instant smash-hit success, as the lightning bolt insignia upon his chest became synonymous with the term “superhero”. Even as seven decades have passed, The Flash is still a vibrant part of the DC Comics lore and an integral part of the genre.

THE FLASH: A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS collects a wide range of stories featuring the Scarlet Speedster, ranging his seven decades as a mainstay in the DC Comics universe. From the original Flash, Jay Garrick, to his successors Barry Allen and Wally West, the mantle of this beloved hero has made him burst beyond the printed page into a pop culture symbol. This anthology graphic novel collects stories from the industry’s legendary talents, including Gardner Fox, John Broome and Geoff Johns.

This is totally going on my wish list for next year! I hope it’s more than just a collection of stories (though I’ll get it for that anyway), and has articles about the artists and writers and characters over the years. I’d love this to be a combination of Greatest Stories, Flash Companion, and DC: 75 Years of Modern Mythmaking. I also hope that it actually does justice to all the Flashes. The last “Greatest Flash Stories” collection was short on page space and focused almost entirely on (a) early Barry Allen and (b) a giant team-up one-shot from the 1970s.

The Flash Omnibus Vol. 1
Robert Kanigher, John Broome, Carmine Infantino
On Sale Date: September 30, 2014
$99.99 USD / $112.00 CAD
864 pages Hardback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes
9781401251499, 1401251498
Summary: This massive title collects the earliest Silver Age adventures of The Flash, just in time for his debut as the star of the new series THE FLASH on the CW network. Stories include the origin of The Flash, the first appearances of his sidekick, Kid Flash, fellow detective The Elongated Man, and much more.
Collects SHOWCASE #4, 8, 13 and 14 and THE FLASH #105-132.

I’m less enthused by this collection. The same material has been reprinted in several volumes of Flash Archives, Flash Chronicles, and Showcase Presents: The Flash. Every time DC comes up with a new reprint format, they start over at the beginning. The only reason the Showcase books got past the mid-1960s is that they did an extra volume focusing on the Trial of the Flash. I’m beginning to wonder if DC will ever get around to reprinting that 20-year gap between the mid-1960s and the Trial in the mid-1980s. Those stories aren’t even available digitally yet.

That said, if you don’t have the out-of-print Flash Archives, this is a good place to start. And the timing should get them into bookstores ahead of the Flash TV show if it gets picked up.

New 52 Collections

Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion
Brian Buccellato, Scott Hepburn, Patrick Zircher
On Sale Date: September 30, 2014
$16.99 USD / $19.99 CAD
192 pages Paperback / softback / Trade paperback (US)
Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes
9781401249410, 1401249418

Summary: A tie-in to the crossover event FOREVER EVIL! The Rogues-the Flash’s gallery of villains-call no man boss, but a new evil threat might not leave them much choice! Will they fall in line, or refuse and risk certain death? Will the Rogues be able to take on the Crime Syndicate together?

Written by THE FLASH scribe Brian Buccellato, FOREVER EVIL: ROGUES REBELLION brings the Scarlet Speedster’s infamous foes into unfamiliar territory: as heroes! Collects issues #1-6, THE FLASH #23.1 and #23.3.

Interesting that they’re going straight to TP on the Forever Evil tie-ins.

The Flash Vol. 4: Reverse (The New 52)
Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato
On Sale Date: February 3, 2015
$16.99 USD / $19.99 CAD
176 pages Paperback / softback / Trade paperback (US)
Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes
9781401249496, 1401249493

Summary: The fourth volume of Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul’s New 52 breakout hit – The Flash!

A mysterious and powerful Speed-Force killer has left a trail of bodies in his wake and only Barry has the power to stop him. But when the killer stays one step ahea Barry finds himself face to face with the Teen Titans and Kid Flash for the first time. All this will lead to a confrontation with the Flash’s most deadly foe, The Reverse Flash!

This final volume of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s mammoth run on the Scarlet Speedster is here in THE FLASH VOL. 4: REVERSE. Collects issues #20-25, REVERSE FLASH #23.2.

The HC is out in August 2014.

The Flash Vol. 5 (The New 52)
Brian Buccellato, Patrick Zircher
On Sale Date: February 3, 2015
$14.99 USD / $17.99 CAD
144 pages Paperback / softback / Trade paperback (US)
Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes
9781401249502, 1401249507

Summary: The fifth volume of the New 52 breakout hit – The Flash! Find out how Barry Allen adjusts after his epic battle with The Reverse Flash! Also, find out how The Flash and Green Lantern first met in THE FLASH Annual #2 included in this volume.

Collects THE FLASH #26-29 and THE FLASH Annual #2.

This gives the Manapul/Buccellato run a solid set of books: Four volumes of Manapul/Buccellato, one of Buccellato solo writing with other artists, and Rogues Rebellion, allowing a clean start for the new team with volume 6.

Teen Titans Vol. 5: The Trial of Kid Flash (The New 52)
Scott Lobdell, Tyler Kirkham, Art Thibert
On Sale Date: February 10, 2015
$16.99 USD / $19.99 CAD
208 pages Paperback / softback / Trade paperback (US)
Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes
9781401250539, 140125053X

Summary: New York Times best-selling writer Scott Lobdell continues his tenure on Teen Titans with this latest volume tyng into the cataclysmic events of FOREVER EVIL.

The Teen Titans’ fall through the time stream as seen in FOREVER EVIL. But is this the help they’ve been looking for, or are things about to go from bad to worse? Plus: The secrets of Kid Flash’s origin begin here!

Collects TEEN TITANS #24-30, TEEN TITANS Annual #2.