The Source asks Francis Manapul a few questions about his upcoming Flash series, and he lets a few more details spill…including a bit about the villain in the first story: a group called Mob Rule.
My favorite bit: when he says the biggest surprise working on the book was “The potential with experimentation of visual storytelling.”
The webcomic Shortpacked! explains all the extra detail on the Flash’s new, post-relaunch boots. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?
Read the whole strip for Batman’s reaction.
Hmm, I wonder if the chin guard helps him breathe in space?
iFanboy asked Francis Manapul how super-speed would make his life better. He answered, and DC sent them the finished artwork from the page showing how the Flash’s costume comes together in the relaunched DCU.
Click through to the interview for a larger image….or head over to the artist’s new Tumblr blog and check out the original inks for the page!
DC released art from the upcoming Flash relaunch over the weekend at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, and guest Francis Manapul revealed a few scraps of information.
First up: This amazing splash page from Flash #1 at CBR.
Be sure to click through and see the high-resolution version. It’s absolutely incredible. (Have I mentioned how much I like Francis Manapul’s art lately?)
Bleeding Cool reports from the DC Nation panel:
Francis Manapul confirmed Barry Allen is the Flash, with no word on the rest of Flash family, but that to expect Wally West at some point. A new villain was created for first arc, but Grodd will be along shortly. The costume will stil be kept in the ring, but will form around him in a different fashion. Flash’s costume is generated in pieces and fits together along the seams of the Jim Lee design, with lightning comes out of the seams.
I’m glad to hear that the first arc’s villain really is a new villain, and it should be interesting to see how Barry deals with the newer, more savage Grodd of modern times (or will Grodd himself be re-invented again?).
I think this is the first mention I’ve seen that Wally West actually exists in the post-relaunch universe, but I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for him to show up. DC’s used up all the benefit of my doubt regarding Wally over the last couple of years, just like they came dangerously close to using up all the benefit of my doubt regarding The Flash until they announced Manapul and Buccellato as the creative team.
Anyway, back to the costume. Bleeding Cool also has a set of blurry photos from the panel, originally posted at The Daily Blam, including another fully-colored view of the costume and a few panels of it forming up.
UPDATE: The Source has released a clear image of the costume in the post congratulating Manapul and Fiona Staples on their Shuster awards.
I like the boots better in this version. They look less clunky than they did in the Converse ad.
The mask still bugs me, though, not just the chin strap but the corners at the cheeks that have become narrow slits in this version. I think I figured out why: it makes his face look too closed. The closed-off look worked for Walter West and sort of works with Wally’s new costume, but in general I think the Flash’s face should be more open.
DC has started running a series of ads for Converse shoes featuring different versions of their characters from the Golden Age through the upcoming September relaunch, under the slogan, “Classic Heroes. Classic Shoes.” The Flash ad, seen in pictures at Bleeding Cool, gives us another look at the new Flash costume, and our first view of his boots. [UPDATE: Here’s a better scan that I made from Flashpoint: Legion of Doom]
Personally, I think the new boot design (like all the seams on the costume) is a bit busy, but I’ve seen far worse.
The poses are so similar that I’m pretty sure they’re all new art, but whoever did these drawings did a great job mimicking the styles of particular artists over the decades.
Update: We have an explanation for the boots! (Sort of.)
We conclude our series reacting to DC Comics’ relaunch announcements. After covering the Justice League, Green Lantern, Batman, Dark, Teen and Edge series, we look at DC’s flagship: Superman.
Action Comics · Superman · Supergirl · Superboy