Wednesday, January 31, 2007

On Sale: Teen Titans #43

On sale today from DC Comics is Teen Titans #43. Written by Geoff Johns, the anticipated issue pits the Titans East--a team of teen villains that includes the evil speedster Inertia--against their heroic counterparts.

Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Tony Daniel and Jonathan Glapion; Cover by Tony Daniel. Part one of the eagerly anticipated "Titans East" story! Led by Deathstroke, a Teen Titans team consisting of Batgirl, Risk, Match, Alter Boy, Enigma, Sun Girl and Inertia is out to chew gum and kick butt… and guess what? They're all out of gum! DC Universe. 32pg. Color. $2.99 US. On Sale January 31, 2007.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

No Movement on Flash Film

According to MTV News via the World Entertainment News Network, actor Ryan Reynolds wants to play the fastest man alive on the big screen but isn't expecting The Flash feature film to become a reality. As impatient fans are well aware, the project doesn't seem to currently have any forward momentum.

Ryan Reynolds' dreams of playing superhero the Flash on the big screen have run out of steam--the Blade: Trinity star fears the movie will never see the light of day. Reynolds boasted about playing the sought-after role in interviews last year but now accepts the project may have run its course. He tells MTV News, "It isn't something that I can imagine happening, but I know it's something a lot of comic-book fans are excited for. I get asked about it all the time, and if you even utter a word about it, it's all over the Internet. It's so completely out of my control. It's in the hands of the dark overlords of Warner Brothers... If they do make it, I'd still love to be a part of it."

Meanwhile, in a recent Film Junk poll that asked online readers to rank the comic book characters they were most eager to see on silver screen, the scarlet speedster came in fourth place with ten percent of the vote. Will Warner Bros. allow The Flash to take its place alongside the likes of Batman Begins and Superman Returns?

1. Green Lantern — 25.2%
2. The Avengers — 20.2%
3. Marvel Zombies — 10.9%
4. The Flash — 10.1%
5. Lobo — 9.2%
6. Preacher — 8.4%
7. She-Hulk — 6.7%
8. Y The Last Man — 5.0%
9. Transmetropolitan — 2.5%
10. The Authority — 1.7%

Monday, January 29, 2007

Clue

DC Comics is being rather enigmatic with the release of their most recent teaser, a poster featuring an odd line-up of characters which was accompanied only by the cryptic quotation: "Let the battle cry be heard in the land, a shout of great destruction..." Newsarama has posted a high-resolution version of the image for readers, noting that many of the secrets and clues hidden in the composition become evident only upon close examination. Naturally, I looked first to the scarlet speedster's eyes. Lo and behold, when one loads the high-resolution version of the teaser it can be seen that the Flash perched to one side of the State of Liberty's fallen crown has bright blue eyes. In other words, we're looking at the one and only Barry Allen and not his grandson! What does it all mean?

Thursday, January 25, 2007

The 800-Pound Gorilla

What hidden metropolis unwittingly unleashed history's most atrocious ape? Why, Gorilla City, of course! Silver Age Comics has a look back at The Flash #106-108, those classic issues that introduced us to the megalomaniacal Gorilla Grodd.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Market Watch

Looking for a back issue that's gaining comic market momentum? According to their website, the Wizard Market Watch is keeping its eye on Impulse #50, featuring the first appearance of Inertia. As Wizard notes, the cloned speedster has been appearing frequently of late in the DC Universe, and it's a safe bet that his role in the Flash's Rogues Gallery will only become more prominent as Bart Allen settles into the scarlet speedster's costume.

Wizard Price Guide magicians David Paggi and Rickey Purdin take readers behind the scenes to let them know what comics they should be paying attention to and what books are moving in stores around the world... He’s been giving Bart Allen some crap for the last few issues of Flash: The Fastest Man Alive, but don’t forget that Inertia, the evil “Reverse Kid Flash,” will soon up his villain cache as a member of the Titans East in the next arc of Teen Titans. Inertia first appeared in Impulse #50, so get out there and find out why this little jerk angers Flash so much before his debut starts racing away from back-issue bins.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Year-End Sales

Diamond Comics Distributors have released their 2006 Year-End Sales Charts and Market Share Report. DC's series relaunch bumped The Flash into the top fifty; The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 comes in at number forty-one on the report of the year's best-selling comic books, just behind the fifth issue of Alex Ross's Justice series and ahead of 52 #8. Visit Diamond or Newsarama for the complete sales report.

40. Justice #5 ($3.50) DC
41. Flash: Fastest Man Alive #1 ($2.99) DC
42. Civil War Front Line #3 ($2.99) Marvel
43. 52 Week #8 ($2.50) DC
44. Superman/Batman #26 ($3.99) DC
45. Amazing Spider-Man #534 CW ($2.99) Marvel
46. New Avengers #15 ($2.50) Marvel
47. New Avengers #20 ($2.99) Marvel
48. New Avengers #19 ($2.99) Marvel
49. Astonishing X-Men #17 ($2.99) Marvel

Monday, January 22, 2007

The Other-Earth Flash

In the latest episode of The Fred Hembeck Show, the cartoonist reflects on his first comic book encounters with Jay Garrick and the other Golden Age heroes of the Justice Society of America whilst presenting his personal recreations of some classic comic covers.

...Included in that landmark issue was perhaps the single most important Silver Age story of all (at least, up to that point in time, with the emergence of a certain foursome still a few months off)--the origin of The Flash. We all remember what Barry Allen was reading early on in that tale, don’t we class? Uh huh--an issue of Flash Comics! Only, not one featuring the sleek-domed red-garbed speedster we kids were familiar with during the dawning days of JFK’s administration, but rather a fellow adorned with a Mercury-styled helmet dating all the way back to midway into FDR’s White House tenure! I couldn’t help but be curious--who was this guy? Little over a month later, my question would be answered. July 20th saw the release of my second ever issue of The Flash, #123, featuring the justifiably legendary "Flash Of Two Worlds"...

Thursday, January 18, 2007

On Air: "Justice"

Be sure to tune your telly to the CW tonight at 8:00pm for the long-awaited premiere of "Justice." Bart Allen, the fastest young man alive, returns to Smallville to help his super friends Clark, Arthur, Vic, and Oliver create the Justice League. Based on the CW's synopsis of the episode, it sounds as if Bart will become the latest in a long line of heroes to be captured and tortured by the insidious Lex Luthor--played, of course, by Michael Rosenbaum, the familiar voice of the scarlet speedster on the animated Justice League! Hopefully, he'll also have a chance to strut his stuff at super speed. At the very least, the episode promises plenty of action. (At right is a promotional photo featuring my two all-time favorite comic characters: Aquaman and the Flash. It thrills me just to see them standing side-by-side!)

The Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) sends out for reinforcements and Bart Allen, a.k.a. Impulse (guest star Kyle Gallner), Aquaman (guest star Alan Ritchson) and Cyborg (guest star Lee Thompson Young) return to Smallville to help him take down LuthorCorp's secret lab. During a break-in at the LuthorCorp facility, Bart is captured and tortured by Lex (Michael Rosenbaum), and Clark (Tom Welling) sets off to rescue him but is felled by meteor rock. An alarmed Chloe (Allison Mack) goes to Oliver for help and the newly formed 'Justice League' springs into action to rescue Clark and Bart. Kristin Kreuk, Erica Durance, John Glover and Annette O'Toole also star. The episode was written and directed by Steven S. DeKnight.
Update: It appears as if the first twelve minutes of Smallville's "Justice" have been posted online for promotional purposes. You can watch them now exclusively at Yahoo!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Interview: Paul Kupperberg

Today the always-amazing Aquaman Shrine has posted an unexpected treat for its readers. There you'll find an all-new full-length interview with Paul Kupperberg, a man who has written for nearly every major DC Comics hero--including the Flash. He also served a stint as editor on the scarlet speedster's title. In the interview, Kupperberg shares his thoughts on being granted the opportunity to work with DC's cavalcade of characters and reflects on some of his favorite stories.


PK: "It sounds corny, but writing any and all the DC characters was fun. I've been a reader since I was like five years old and fan since, I guess, I read Jules Feiffer's book, The Great Comic Book Heroes, which turned me on to the history of the form. I was reading Wonder Woman when I was six years old because I liked the Andru and Esposito art, I devoured the Jack Schiff Batman stories, Martian Manhunter, Weisinger's Superman...everything by Julie Schwartz. Green Lantern, the Atom, Flash, Hawkman, Adam Strange, the JLA. Showcase. The Brave and the Bold. This stuff was iconic and huge to me and when I finally got my chance to write these guys, any of these guys, how could it not be fun? Scary, yes, but hugely fun. I remember initially freezing up on a couple of assignments over the years, particularly the first time I got to write Superman. To this day, I still get a thrill over the fact that I actually got to write all these characters... and they even paid me for it."

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Upcoming: Showcase Presents (Vol. 1)

Also on DC's slate for the spring is the first volume of Showcase Presents: The Flash, a massive black-and-white trade paperback collecting the Silver Age adventures of the scarlet speedster. For those readers who have been waiting for an affordable archive that will offer them a look at some of the early issues of this classic character's historic title, this is the way to go. You'll get over five hundred pages of comics for $16.99, and nothing captures the spirit of the great Silver Age like those stories featuring the Flash in combat with his Rogues.

Written by Robert Kanigher, John Broome and Gardner Fox; Art by Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella and various; Cover by Infantino & Giella. Over 500 pages of classic adventures are included in this value-priced volume! The Fastest Man Alive stars in these fantastic tales from late 1950s and into the 1960s! This collection features the Flash in battle against the Mirror Master, the Trickster, Captain Cold and many other villains! Advance-solicited; 512 pg. B&W. $16.99 US. On Sale May 16.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Upcoming: The Flash #11

DC Comics has announced their April solicitations and offered us our first peek at The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #11. It looks as if Marc Guggenheim will continue to anchor the new Flash's adventures to a proud tradition by bringing back all of our favorite foes--the Rogues. Personally, I'm looking forward to this more than anything that has happened since the title's relaunch. A description for the issue and its beautiful cover artwork--evocative of all those Silver Age classics--have been posted at Newsarama, Comics Continuum, and Wizard.

Written by Marc Guggenheim; Art by Ron Adrian & Art Thibert; Cover by Ethan Van Sciver. The top Rogues haven’t been on speaking terms for a while, so who’s uniting them as one voice to take down the Flash? This issue kicks off a battle so brutal, we had to call it “Full Throttle”! DC Universe. 32 pg. Color. $2.99 US. On Sale April 18.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Kyle Gallner as Impulse

The countdown to Smallville's "Justice" continues. Today the Comics Continuum has posted a few further details about next week's episode, confirming Bart Allen's superhero identity and presenting a proper portrait of the Smallville Justice League.

The CW has confirmed that Bart Allen will be known as Impulse, and not the Flash, in the upcoming "Justice" episode of Smallville. The network has also released a group image of the heroes from the episode. The image shows, from left, Kyle Gallner as Bart Allen/Impluse; Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow; Tom Welling as Clark Kent; Alan Ritchson as Arthur Curry/Aquaman; and Lee Thompson Young as Victor Stone/Cyborg. "Justice" is scheduled to air on January 18, and sources have told the Continuum that at least one of the characters will appear on Smallville again before the end of the sixth season.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Which Superhero Are You?

You are The Flash
The Flash
100%
Spider-Man
60%
Hulk
50%
Green Lantern
50%
Catwoman
50%
Iron Man
50%
Wonder Woman
40%
Robin
40%
Superman
30%
Batman
20%
Supergirl
20%

Fast, athletic and flirtatious.

(Aright, so I had to manipulate my answers on the quiz to end up with the crimson comet here. All you have to do, really, is admit to eschewing capes, being able to run fast, possessing only one true talent, and being a relentless flirt. Imagine that.)

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Interview: Marc Guggenheim

Comic Book Resources has posted a lengthy interview with Marc Guggenheim. The new Flash scribe discusses what drew him to the title and drops some tantalizing hints regarding his plans for the title in the coming months. Guggenheim promises plenty of action and excitement, noting that readers should expect meaningful changes in the title character's life, guest appearances from familiar supporting cast and other superheroes, and some big plans for the traditional Rogues Gallery!

Over the years in the DC Universe there has been one heroic legacy that people have literally picked up and ran with; the legacy of the Flash. Beginning this February in DC Comics' The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #9, a new writer begins chronicling the adventures of the newest Flash, Bart Allen. CBR News spoke with writer Marc Guggenheim about his plans for the Fastest Man Alive...

With the Flash tackling both the world of costumed heroics and a burgeoning career in law enforcement readers can expect Guggenheim’s stories in The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive to be a mixture of superhero action and human drama. “With the Flash, I'm trying to tell big super-hero stories that still have, in each issue, some quiet, character moments. So far, I'd have to say that my run is kind of old school. Big villains. Big heroics. The occasional DCU cameo. All interspersed with soap opera elements and subplots (remember those?) that will build up to a huge story. I don't have a time frame on my Flash run, but I'm really striving to make it as big and iconic as I can possibly muster. I really want to leave my mark on the character, whenever I end up leaving -- which I hope won't be for a good long while."

Friday, January 05, 2007

Thursday, January 04, 2007

JLA/JSA

Wizard has posted an interview with Geoff Johns and Brad Meltzer previewing the upcoming JLA/JSA crossover. Among the promised highlights is Hal Jordan teaming up with Jay Garrick. As Meltzer comments, there's nothing like a bold, brave team-up between the Flash and Green Lantern.

The Justice League of America and Justice Society of America have had two dozen official team-ups since their first meeting back in 1963, but writers Geoff Johns and Brad Meltzer aim to make the latest encounter between DC’s two biggest teams in 2007 something special...

After a rocky few pre-Rebirth years for Hal Jordan, teaming up with some old friends among the JSA will be a treat for the Emerald Gladiator.“We get to see Hal Jordan with Jay Garrick, and there’s nothing like a Green Lantern-Flash team-up,” gushes Meltzer. “[Hal] respects that older generation of heroes. These are his teachers. When he gets to see Jay Garrick run, it touches a very emotional chord for him.”

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Mentor and Protégé

Lorendiac of the Toon Zone Forum has posted an interesting article that carefully outlines the "10 Types of Superhero Successors." The first category on the ten-item list is "The Carefully Groomed Protégé," and the example used to illustrate the point is an obvious one. Wally West assumed the mantle of the scarlet speedster after spending decades as a faithful sidekick. When Barry Allen died, a worthy successor was ready and waiting. How can we explain the fact that readers seem unwilling to readily accept Bart Allen as the Flash, then? Is it simply because the relaunched book has been poorly written? Or is it because it sometimes feels as if this new Bart fits more appropriately into one of the other nine types of successors? At the very least, Wally's exit from the DC Universe was needlessly swift and awkward, and Bart's unexpected transformation during the events of Infinite Crisis has left us with a superhero successor that seems unfriendly and outright unfamiliar.

In 1985, Barry Allen died during the events of “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” Wally West soon took over the role. He was probably about twenty years old at the time. (Dick Grayson, his contemporary, a fellow founder of the original Teen Titans, was stated to be “twenty” during the events of COIE.) If we buy the version of Wally’s origin story that was later offered by Mark Waid in the "Born to Run" story arc (a four-part flashback sequence in the Flash title in the early 90s), then Wally got his speedster powers at the tender age of ten. So from Wally’s perspective, he had been Kid Flash for about ten years before moving up to take over his mentor’s role; and from the perspective of veteran DC readers, he had actually been training for this moment for about 26 years!

Diehard fans of the Silver Age Flash naturally were unhappy about Barry’s sacrifice, but as far as I have heard, it was generally accepted that if you granted the assumption that someone was going to “inherit” the mantle of the Flash now that Barry was gone, then that “someone” obviously ought to be Wally. No one (to the best of my knowledge) ever made a convincing argument in the late 80s that some other character would have been a better and more deserving choice! No one denied that Barry would have approved of Wally’s decision to keep the Flash tradition alive, had Barry still been around to actually comment on it...

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Casting Call

Who would you like to see potray the Flash? Wizard wants to know. With a feature film version of The Flash potentially on the horizon, director David Goyer needs to find the right man to don the scarlet speedster's yellow boots as the quick-witted Wally West. Goyer has already announced his choice--and he's succeeded in convincing me--but, until production begins, nothing is certain and fan debate rages on. Who has what it takes to be the fastest man alive? Should it be Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Sean William Scott, or Jesse Metcalfe? Visit Wizard Universe and vote.


This Week's Poll: We want to know who you'd like to see play some of the most popular characters from comics. Four actors or actresses have been selected for each of the characters, based upon various connections to the production or character, fan recommendation or simply a similarity to their comics counterpart. The results of the poll will be announced two weeks from today on Wizard Universe.

Monday, January 01, 2007