I’ve been a fan of the Flash for over 50 years…and THIS is the origin story I’ve been waiting for all this time! Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter have brought together elements from Flash tales throughout the years, creating a fresh take on Barry’s origin story that deserves every Flash fan’s attention. Yes, I’m gushing…and for good reason. Wanna know more? Follow us after the jump!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Crave Online has a preview of Justice League 3000 #8, out this week. “In this exclusive preview from Justice League 3000 # 8, writers J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen continue their collaboration with artist Howard Porter as the future League is rocked once again by a betrayal within their ranks. But according to the cover, there’s a new Flash on the way… and she’s pissed!” Cover by
DC’s July solicitations continue to roll out, including…
THE FLASH #33
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI and VAN JENSEN
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
BATMAN 75 variant cover
On sale JULY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Future Flash fights Future Trickster! In the present, Barry solves a murder case, but he’s about to be murdered by the killer himself! Will he be fast enough to save both timelines?
Umm…I’m guessing that’s the killer, not the future Trickster. I like the Ringo/Cardy street signs.
JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #8
On sale JULY 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTER
The mysterious leader of the Five is revealed as the villains attack the Justice League and lay waste to Cadmus, killing The Flash – again. But you can’t keep a good woman down! Wait…Did we say woman?
Remember that Justice League 3000 design that had fans wondering about the identity of a future Flash? Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis are still being cagey about just who the JL3000 are, but fan speculation has led them to reveal who they aren’t to MTV Geek:
Geek: Real talk: Is this Flash Wally West? Are we going to finally see him in a New 52 context?
DeMatteis: One thing I can say unequivocally: this is absolutely not Wally West.
Giffen: No! Too harsh? Sorry again, but I’ve got to kill this whole Wally thing before it gets out of hand. Wally never even crossed our minds. Nor Donna. Nor Stephanie. Nor Snapper, nor Binky, nor Casey the Cop, etc., etc.
They also clarify that these characters aren’t the Legion of Super-Heroes recast in a Justice League mold. “Superman is not Mon-el. Green Lantern is not Rond Vidar.” Flash, we can assume, is not Lightning Lad.
It’s just as well that they chose to nip this in the bud rather than let the speculation build up steam over the next few months, leading to massive disappointment from fans who were hoping for a return of Wally West as Flash, Donna Troy as Wonder Woman, etc. when they picked up the book and it didn’t line up with their expectations.
Presumably the red hair and green eyes in the design sketch simply reflect artist Howard Porter’s affinity for the character, since he drew several years of JLA with Grant Morrison and Wally West’s Flash series with Geoff Johns.
Through Comic Book Resources, DC Comics has revealed plans for Justice League 3000 by Keith Giffen, JM DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire. The ongoing series, launching in fall, will feature (at least) future versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and Green Lantern
So far, all they’ve really released is the creative team and Howard Porter’s designs, including this one for the Flash.
While the team is best known for the humorous “Bwahaha” Justice League International, they’ve written their share of serious stories as well. (You don’t get more serious than Giffen’s “Five Years Later” Legion.)
No doubt this is what’s behind both the end of the current Legion of Super-Heroes and the Justice Legion rumors: Presumably the LSH has been shifted to another timeframe, since I imagine the two concepts wouldn’t coexist very well.
Also, it’s worth noting: The Flash of JL3000 has red hair and green eyes. I’m not going to read too much into that. Other Wally West fans may be more optimistic, but I’ve been burned too many times to get my hopes up.
Updates: Giffen & DeMatteis talk to Newsarama, Giffen talks to CBR about the series.
