Tag Archives: Solicitations

Flash vs. The Riddler in May’s Flash #52

Flash #52 Cover

From DC’s May Solicitations:

THE FLASH #52
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI and VAN JENSEN
Art by JESUS MERINO
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
New 52 Tribute Variant cover by JESUS MERINO
On sale MAY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

The Riddler has seized control of Central City. If The Flash moves, he’ll put everyone he loves in mortal danger. To save the city—and himself—he’ll need help from the unlikeliest of allies.

A few things come to mind in relation to recent rumors and hints from DC. We know that Van Jensen is leaving the book (no response yet from Venditti), though it was suggested that he was leaving after #51. It looks like #52 is his actual final issue.

Speaking of final issues, contrary to rumors that “Rebirth” might be another line-wide renumbering, none of DC’s main books is marked as “final issue” in the solicitations. That’s not proof of anything, of course, given that we know at least Starfire is ending (Conner and Palmiotti have said that they’ve wrapped up a 12-issue plan and the book is ending with it), and a lot of the summaries sound like they could be either finales or epilogues.

Then again, there are several miniseries that aren’t quite done, and Teen Titans #20 promises that a “game-changing epic begins.”

We still don’t know exactly what “Rebirth” — excuse me, #Rebirth — is, so even if it does turn out to be another reboot, relaunch or renumbering, it looks like it won’t be quite so hard a line as Flashpoint/New 52 or even Convergence/DC You.

Flash by Mark Waid Collection Finally in the Works

Flash #62: Born to Run Part 1DC Comics has been releasing collections of the Geoff Johns and Morrison/Millar runs on the Wally West Flash series, but the classic stories by Mark Waid have been out of print for years. (They are available digitally, though.) That will FINALLY change toward the end of the year. Lee Hiley spotted an Amazon listing for a paperback collection of Flash by Mark Waid Book One, scheduled for September 13, 2016.

It’s clearly just a placeholder — there’s no cover, description, or page count, so we can only speculate as to what might be included. The recent Flash By Geoff Johns Book One covered 13 regular issues plus three longer specials, so let’s figure on around 15-16 issues’ worth.

Flash #62-65: “Born to Run,” the four-part retelling of Wally West’s origin and his first summer as Kid Flash, is a safe bet.

Flash #66 is an Aquaman quest spot.

Flash #67-68 feature a new take on Abra Kadabra’s origin, as the Flash follows him to his home era.

Flash #69-70 and Green Lantern #30-31 have Wally West and Hal Jordan teaming up against Hector Hammond and Gorilla Grodd for “Gorilla Warfare.”

Flash #71-72 are a Dr. Alchemy story, looking at what happens when a new villain gets his hands on the Philosopher’s Stone.

Flash #73 features Jay Garrick’s return to the recurring cast, after the Justice Society was brought back from an editorially-imposed limbo. There’s also a Christmas get-together with a surprising guest at the very end of the issue as a cliffhanger.

That’s twelve issues (not counting the Green Lantern half of “Gorilla Warfare”), and #74 starts off the epic “Return of Barry Allen” (Flash #74-79). They might add six more issues, but I think it’s more likely that they’ll stop at #72 or #73 and fit in two annuals:

Flash Annual 4 (1991) is a tie-in to “Armageddon 2001” and looks at a possible future in which Wally West has spent years retired in the Witness Protection Program. When one of his old enemies finds him, they kidnap his son, forcing him out into the open.

Flash Annual 5 (1992) ties into “Eclipso: The Darkness Within.” Golden Glider recruits three other Rogues to rob a museum and they all double-cross each other. The gem she wants to steal drags them into the larger story running through that summer’s annuals.

The Riddler trades Gotham for Central City in Flash #51

Flash #51

From DC’s April 2016 solicitations:

THE FLASH #51
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI and VAN JENSEN
Art by JESUS MERINO
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR. and DANNY MIKI
On sale APRIL 27 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

The Flash’s world is in utter chaos: he’s wanted by the police, headed by his adoptive father. His enemies, The Rogues, have been deputized to take him in. And it couldn’t be a worse time for The Riddler to stake his claim as the most dangerous man in Central City!

Flash Meets Scooby-Doo

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #15

SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #15
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art and cover by DARIO BRIZUELA
On sale MARCH 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E

Sure, The Flash runs faster than anyone on Earth. But Scooby and Shaggy run away faster than anyone on Earth! And it’s no wonder why, when the gang accompanies the Scarlet Speedster to the heart of Africa to come face to snout with that talking, anthropoid apparition—the Ghost of Gorilla City!

More at DC’s March 2016 solicitations at Newsarama.

Flash #50 in March

Flash #50

THE FLASH #50
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI and VAN JENSEN
Art by JESUS MERINO
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by DUNCAN FEGREDO
On sale MARCH 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T

In our massive 50th issue, The Flash must win back the trust of Central City! But to do so, he needs to outrun the police force that’s been charged with bringing him down—with the awesome power of the Rogues behind it all!

Looks like the fugitive Flash story is only three issues, which is kind of a relief. (I’ve never been a fan of that kind of story.)

More at DC’s March 2016 solicitations at Newsarama.

Rogues Deputized in Flash #49 (Feb 2016)

Flash #49

DC’s February 2016 solicitations are out, including…

THE FLASH #49
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI and VAN JENSEN
Art by JESUS MERINO
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
On sale FEBRUARY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

On the run from a police task force assigned to take him out, The Flash must face the CCPD’s newest deputies: The Rogues. As you can tell from the cover, it does not go particularly well.