This weekend I updated a couple of entries on Flash: Those Who Ride the Lightning including the profiles for Captain Boomerang and Captain Boomerang, Jr. I also updated the Variant Covers list for the current series, adding the covers for Flash #4 and the second printing of Flash #1 (Thanks, Hyperion09!).
DC has posted six new variant covers at The Source, including this Ivan Reis cover for Action Comics #892. Part of DC’s 75th Anniversary series, it homages the cover to the very first Superman/Flash race in Superman #199 by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson.
As shown here, the cover has been referenced at least once before, for the first race between Superman and Wally West in The Adventures of Superman #463 (1990) by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding.
It’s interesting to look at the three covers together and see just how comic book art styles have changed over the past four decades.
Top Cow has released its list of Comic-Con Exclusives, including a variant edition of Velocity #1.
I’m not sure, but I think this might be the first cover for the series that features her new costume (which I have to assume is glued on). The standard covers for #1 and #2 were originally going to be pin-up variants for the series that was scrapped, and had her previous costume. The ChrisCross variant was originally going to be a standard cover for that series, and featured a new costume that ChrisCross designed.
I like the detail of her holding up the Comic-Con badge, but…sometimes I wonder whether there are two Kenneth Rocaforts: the one who draws the incredible interior art, and the one who draws the covers that belong on something like Maxim. Yeah, I know it’s Top Cow, but I always feel like I need to explain that no, really, I read it for the articles.
As for the issue itself, I thought it was quite good.
I’ve updated the Iris West Allen profile and added Flash #3 to the variant cover list. I’ll probably take another pass at Iris soon, first to give her a more current headshot, then to simplify the biography. Even after the changes I made today, it’s still very focused on her time traveling days.
DC has posted seven upcoming variant covers at The Source, including Scott Kolins’ take on The Flash #4.
Unless you count the unfinished cover used to solicit Flash: Rebirth #6, This is Barry Allen’s first unmasked cover appearance in a year and definitely the first since the relaunch. I like the sign’s homage to the classic Robert Kanigher/Carmine Infantino team from the dawn of the Silver Age.
I’m really starting to wonder how long DC plans to keep releasing these 1:10 variants. They’ve got one listed all the way out through the current solicitations for issue #6. Since none of the alternate covers we’ve seen so far have anything to do with the story, I suspect DC just asked a bunch of artists to draw a Flash cover and they’ve been working through the set.
The Flash #4 ships either July 28 or August 4. Diamond reported a delay last month, but that change has dropped off their shipping updates list, and DC’s website still shows the July 28 date.
One aspect of the upcoming JLA/JSA crossover is that Liberty Belle will be moving from the Justice Society to the Justice League as Jesse Quick. Check out this this variant cover for Justice League of America #46:
Wow!
I’ve mostly lost interest in the current Justice League series. From what I’ve seen of it, the book has been too focused on shuffling the roster and supporting crossovers. And after the Cry For Justice fiasco (though I get the impression that the worst of it was editorially decreed), I’d made a conscious decision to avoid James Robinson’s run.
But you know what?
I think I’m picking up this comic, if I can find a copy with the variant cover at a reasonable price.
Jesse Quick + Liberty Belle + Francis Manapul. Seriously.
Justice League of America #46 arrives in stores June 30.
Update: Francis Manapul has posted the uncolored artwork.
