A speedster is dead. Barry Allen, the newly returned Flash, must find out who -- or what -- is responsible. But Barry has his own secrets haunting him, and if he's not careful those secrets could very well send him hurtling back into oblivion. Click on the pages below to experience part of the second issue of writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver's reinvention of the Scarlet Speedster.
FLASH: REBIRTH #2 goes on sale 5/6.
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Well, we made it through Monday in a relatively functional state. What do the Internets have to say?
First off, Jerome Maida of THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS talks up the first issue of FLASH: REBIRTH:
As presented here, Allen is both a more noble Batman and a darker, edgier version of Superman. The book devotes time to giving the reader insight as to who Barry Allen is and why we should care. The book briefly shows the impact his return is having on his friends, foes and family, while also delving a bit into his past to see what drives him to do the things he does.
• Continuing their focused BATTLE FOR THE COWL coverage, IGN talks to writer/artist Tony Daniel about the second issue of the mini-series and previews ORACLE #2.
• Comic Book Resources gives the latest issue of BOOSTER GOLD high marks.
David Betancourt, over at THE WASHINGTON POST's "Comic Riffs" blog, spoke to Dan DiDio about some of the bigger storylines percolating in the DCU in 2009, including BATTLE FOR THE COWL, FLASH: REBIRTH and SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON:
DB: It seems like you're making Superman choose between two worlds. Is this your way of showing that despite growing up on Earth he'll never be human?
DD: Absolutely. One of the things we find interesting--and we did a lot of research on this as we were building the storyline--this is one of the first times we ever pushed a story where we brought all of the Kryptonians back, and really made them a part of the DC universe. And more importantly a part of Superman's world. One of the things we like to see in this is showing how unique Superman is by putting him against people who are just as super powered as he is.
Believe it or not, stuff happens elsewhere on the Internet. Crazy, huh? Here are a few things worth looking at.
• The guys at iFanboy have posted a video interview with FLASH: REBIRTH writer Geoff Johns discussing the new series. The interview was conducted the day the first issue hit, during Johns' signing at Jim Hanley's Universe. Additionally, IGN eviews FLASH: REBIRTH via their SMASH!! podcast. And if that's not enough REBIRTH for you, AIN'T IT COOL NEWS also gives the first issue a strong review.
• Greg Rucka discusses THE QUESTION co-feature, which will appear in DETECTIVE COMICS starting in June.
• Got a question for Dan DiDio? Newsarama is collecting the latest batch.
You've seen the preview, read the interviews and bought the first issue -- but I doubt you've had your fill of FLASH: REBIRTH. It's Barry Allen, back from the dead. But why? We're obviously not going to spoil that here, but we will give you new, pretty art to look at. Here's the cover to FLASH: REBIRTH #4, by Van Sciver plus an interior page from FLASH: REBIRTH #2.
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In an effort to prevent you from spiraling into any kind of Monday morning sadness, here's a quick roundup of notable news that hit over the weekend:
• Geoff Johns continued to talk up FLASH: REBIRTH, this time with io9's Graeme McMillan:
Why bring back Barry Allen?
Because the world needs heroes.
Bringing back Barry Allen, that was something that grew out of everything we were doing with Final Crisis with Grant [Morrison] and everything. You know, Grant and I had talked a lot about this, too, when we were working together on DC Universe Zero way back when, about what was going on with the Flash Universe, and more specifically the DC Universe.
With Final Crisis, it was a full circle from Crisis on Infinite Earths, and with Darkseid representing the ultimate evil, and Grant really playing the theme that Darkseid really is evil incarnate without room for any grays, Barry Allen was by all accounts considered the greatest force for good in the DC Universe, and so he was brought back to combat that as a signal of ushering in the new age of heroes back in the day with Showcase #4. Barry represents that.
• FLASH: REBIRTH artist Ethan Van Sciver stopped by BLOG@NEWSARAMA as well, talking to Russ Burlingame about the mini-series.
• IGN also spoke to GREEN LANTERN and BLACKEST NIGHT editor Eddie Berganza about the upcoming mega-event:
IGN Comics: Obviously you have an interesting situation with Blackest Night running alongside Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps – can you give us an idea of the focus of each title? Will they weave together or are their stories pretty distinct? Is Blackest Night a "big DCU picture" idea with GL and GLC focusing strictly on Hal Jordan and his friends?
Berganza: Ideally, we're giving you complete stories in each title, but if you read them as a whole you are getting a larger view of this threat that is spreading death throughout the universe.
Both GL and GLC will be looking at it from the perspective of the Green Lanterns and the Guardians, and how all the new Corps are affected by it. BN itself will be about how the Black Lanterns are terrorizing the rest of the heroes of the DCU, and you see Hal interacting with them.
A few points of interest to click on as you settle in for the last day of the work week:
Comic Book Resources and IGN both talk to writer Geoff Johns about FLASH: REBIRTH #1, which hit this week and features artwork from Ethan Van Sciver.
On taking on the huge task of reintegrating Barry Allen into the DCU, Johns tells CBR:
CBR: When it was revealed that Barry Allen was coming back from the dead, it almost broke the internet. Even mainstream media was running the story. Do you consider it an honor to be responsible for his return?
Yes, and it’s a challenge. A lot of readers come with pre-conceived notions and, obviously, this is the most controversial return since Bucky Barnes. But I love The Flash, I love his villains, I love every character behind the lightning so getting back to Flash and the Flash universe and diving back in, I did without hesitation when I finally found the story and the direction.
And over at IGN, he explains why Barry Allen matters:
IGN Comics: For those who never really went back and read all the comics of the Barry Allen Flash era, can you explain what you believe makes him so different than Jay, Wally and Bart?
Johns: Jay Garrick for me is kind of like the father figure. He's everybody's dad in JSA, and I've always played him as a father figure that you could talk to. He's the guy who is really supportive and would reach out and help you. Wally West is the sidekick made good. He's grown up and now has his own family. He's kind of come full circle from a kid to now raising kids himself – and kids that he can't necessarily relate to. With Bart it was one thing, because he was this kid who was a little bit unwieldy but still had super speed. So on one hand Wally could relate to Bart and could see this impulsive kid and what made him this way, and what super speed could do to you when you're young.
Well, that was fast. No pun intended.
After a day on the stands, the first issue of writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver's FLASH: REBIRTH mini-series has sold out. But no worries, you still will be able to find a copy if you've been lax in your LCS visits. There are probably a few copies still in stores, and the second printing -- which sports a new Van Sciver cover -- hits on 4/29. Check it:
FLASH: REBIRTH #1 has been out a little over a day and the reviews are beginning to pour in. David Pepose, over at NEWSARAMA, had this to say in his "Best Shots" review of the issue:
Johns' main strength in Flash is the same he had with Green Lantern: he knows what makes Barry Allen tick. While Hal is a study in recklessness and charismatic defiance, Barry is a little more down to earth. "This man refused to believe the line between good and evil blurred like the scarlet and gold he wore." Methinks this might be a theme, one that may even be as resonant as overcoming fear. Of course, it remains to be seen if Johns can make this more laid-back character into as engrossing a protagonist as Green Lantern: it is true that the scenes where Barry mopes are a little on the slow side... even for a man who is perpetually late.
The art in this is pretty fantastic. Ethan Van Sciver proves that you can't rush quality -- while some of his crowd scenes are a little too busy for my liking, he more than makes up for it with the simplistic beauty of a Flash in high speed. The scene of Barry and Hal walking through the Flash Museum, passing by a larger than life statue of them both that screams "The Brave and the Bold" while subtly showing Wally West's Rogues' Gallery is a stroke of genius on both creators' part. Also -- Van Sciver's cartoony statue of Impulse is a great Easter Egg for fans of the original run.
FLASH: REBIRTH #1 is on sale now. You can find a preview right here.
The headline says it all. Welcome to our little piece of Internet real estate. I know, I know -- you've clicked the link and are already wondering just what you've gotten yourself into. Well, allow me a moment to give you the quick DC Universe: The Source 101 -- after which you can feel free to dive into the pile of goodies we've got up on the page already. There's plenty to look through, and more to come.
Basically, The Source is your one-stop shop for all things DC Universe -- news, previews, behind-the-scenes info and a direct pipeline to the creators and editors putting together your favorite DC Comics. Whether it's a first look at an upcoming issue of FLASH: REBIRTH, a quick chat with BATMAN Group Editor Michael Marts, a preliminary sketch from our upcoming RAVAGER co-feature or a link to some of the great content happening elsewhere on the web discussing our stuff, you can find it all here on a regular basis. So, strap in, bookmark the page, post some comments and add the RSS feed. Most importantly, sit back and enjoy your regular dose of DC Universe news.
