“Flash” #6 variant cover by Mike Choi revealed
DC Comics’ Source blog has revealed Mike Choi’s variant cover for “The Flash” #6, on sale Feb. 22.
“’The Flash’ is one of my favorite books right now, so it was a real pleasure and honor to get the chance to work on a cover for the title,” Choi told The Source. “I’m good friends with both [series writers and artists] Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, whom I’ve known pretty much my entire career, my first professional gig being the follow-up to Francis’ run on WITCHBLADE for Top Cow, with Brian being my colorist on the book, so of course this was a title I was definitely rooting for. Hopefully I’ve done just a little bit to add something to their book and its run.”
As hinted at in this variant cover to issue #6, Captain Cold returns in issue #7 of “The Flash.”
- Matt Price
DC Universe Online welcomes the Flash
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced today the upcoming launch of its second Downloadable Content (DLC) pack for DC Universe Online. “Lightning Strikes,” set to be released worldwide later this year, will include a new adventure with super-speedster The Flash.
The pack will launch simultaneously on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC, and will also introduce the game’s eighth power set: electricity powers.
“In this DLC pack, fans have the opportunity to immerse themselves in another great character and action-packed story from the DC Universe,” said Jens Andersen, Creative Director for DC Universe Online, in a news release. “With exciting gameplay, a new power set and new locations to share with your friends, we packed a whole new kind of fun into this DLC pack and are eager for our players to dive into another legendary adventure.”
The pack will also feature The Flash-themed characters and content with new maps and features, including, as described by SOE:
Central City – An all-new map that offers players a more open world experience that provides on-going gameplay, with solo and group missions.
The Flash Museum Duo – Players can now experience the Central City of today and tomorrow. In The Flash Museum Duo, players can travel back in time to the very moment when Barry Allen became The Flash and battle foes inside the Central City Police Station!
Electricity Powers – Players now have the opportunity to get the new Electricity Power set for current and new characters. The new Electricity Power set allows players to leverage the lightning power of electricity and use new types of attacks in combat. Electricity Powers include the Tesla Ball, which creates a floating ball of electricity that zaps nearby enemies; the Shockwave, which shoots streams of electric bolts at enemies; and Ionic Drain, which drains energy from the environment to replenish a player’s health while simultaneously damaging surrounding enemies.
New Gear – Players can earn all-new gear sets including the new Zoom-inspired gear set for villains, and the new Black Lightning-inspired gear set for heroes.
New Characters – Lightning Strikes brings players new iconic DC Universe characters including Livewire, Black Lightning, The Top, The Trickster, Static and more. New characters — such as Livewire — will be featured as new “Inspired By” options for players who can choose to create a new character inspired by some of DC Universe’s legendary characters. Additional new characters — such as Black Lighting — serve as a bounty mission that players can fight if they choose to be a villain.
The pack will be free for “Legendary” players, and available for $9.99 for free and premium players through the PlayStation Network Store, through the in-game Marketplace and on PC from the DC Universe Online website.
- Matt Price
Superman #1, Aquaman #1 among this week’s releases from DC Comics’ The New 52
Superman gets a new No. 1 as George Perez sets up the Daily Planet as a news organization that’s now a branch of a larger multimedia corporation. For possibly obvious reasons, I love the Daily Planet part of the Superman mythos, and I’d love to see Perez dig into modern journalism. Aquaman #1 is also a treat, as Geoff Johns puts the potential questions of the readership in the mouth of a semi-obnoxious blogger who questions the King of the Seas.
Here’s the list of releases that are part of DC Comics’ The New 52 hitting shelves today:
# ALL-STAR WESTERN #1
# AQUAMAN #1
# BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1
# BLACKHAWKS #1
# THE FLASH #1
# THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1
# GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #1
# I, VAMPIRE #1
# JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
# THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
# SUPERMAN #1
# TEEN TITANS #1
# VOODOO #1
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for the Superman theme, which you can play along while you read “Superman” #1 if you like.
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Flash teasers for The New 52 show redesigned Barry Allen
The new “Flash” series, written and drawn by Francis Manapul, ships Sept. 28, and the DC Comics blog has revealed these teaser images. Click past the cut for some cool icon-style teasers. While I still find myself missing Wally West, I do think this new Barry Allen Flash series will be worth a look! And like Collected Editions wrote: Wally West will be back. We may not know when, but that’s the good thing about comics: Almost everybody comes back around again. As it is, Mr. West can celebrate having one of the most consistent ongoing series of all time with the post-Crisis “Flash” series.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images.
Showcase: The Trial of the Flash featured 1980s soap-opera elements
The two-plus-year storyline “Trial of the Flash,” primarily by Cary Bates and Carmine Infantino, was collected in a black-and-white Showcase edition by DC Comics last month.
DC Comics reveals Flash 1 variants
With DC Comics’ The New 52 about to kick off, DC has revealed two new variants for “The Flash” #1. Ivan Reis and Tim Townsend drew the above-pictured cover. Click past the cut for the variant by Francis Manapul, which is an alternate-color scheme variant of the main cover.
- Matt Price
Oklahoma’s Sterling Gates returns with “Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost” #1
Tulsa-born Sterling Gates has his first comic-book release since the end of his acclaimed “Supergirl” run today, with the release of “Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost” No. 1, the first in a three-part limited series. The series has ties to DC’s “Flashpoint,” the large summer event written by Geoff Johns.
“KID FLASH LOST is a FLASHPOINT mystery, as Bart and the mysterious character known as Hot Pursuit try to unravel what has happened when the world they wake up in is not their own. Bart will deal with many of the character threads set up in Geoff Johns’ “Road to Flashpoint” storyarc even as he confronts the greatest danger the 31st century has ever seen,” Gates said at DC Comics’ Source blog.
“Kid Flash Lost” is one of 16 “Flashpoint” miniseries. The first issue of each is shipping with a promotional button featuring the series’ logo.
The issue is illustrated by Oliver Nome and Trevor Scott.
Gates, who graduated from the University of Oklahoma, has also written “Green Lantern Corps” for the publisher, and co-wrote the 2010 miniseries “War of the Supermen,” which spun out of DC’s Free Comic Book Day issue.
In September, he’ll write “Hawk and Dove” as part of DC’s relaunch of its line. That book will be illustrated by Rob Liefeld (“Youngblood”).
- Matt Price
Flashpoint: Citizen Cold 1, Ultimate Spider-Man 159, other quick comic book reviews
Flashpoint: Citizen Cold 1.
In this Flashpoint mini, written and drawn by Scott Kolins, Captain Cold is instead Citizen Cold, supposed protector of Central City. But this celebrated hero still has what appears to be a cold heart. And even though it’s an alternate world, you may be surprised by this issue’s ending. The dialogue’s a little awkward, but Kolins’ art remains solid. And Kolins has a good handle on the Rogues, so Flash fans will probably want to check this one out.
Thor: Tales of Asgard giveaway; DC Comics relaunch; death at Marvel; Valiant Comics to return
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price have a giveaway of “Thor: Tales of Asgard” with this week’s Planet 46 Comics podcast. Just leave a comment below with your favorite Thor character.
Also this week:
Matt and Kyle discuss the DC Comics relaunch (we say “reboot” a few times because we filmed this before
the “this is not a reboot” e-mail). We look at the Marvel Comics death in Fear Itself #3 and its possible impact. We discuss the planned 2012 return of Valiant Comics with former Marvel Comics CEO Peter Cuneo. And we discuss X-Men: First Class.
REVIEW FILE: Flashpoint #2, Amazing Spider-Man #663, Criminal: Last of the Innocent #1
Comics read in 2011: 741. Still to go: 1270
Oklahoma’s Sterling Gates announced as writer for Kid Flash miniseries
Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates has been announced as the writer for the Flashpoint tie-in miniseries”Kid Flash Lost Starring Bart Allen” No. 1.
The announcement, at DC Comics’ Source blog, also shares that the covers for the series will be by Francis Manapul and the art by Oliver Nome.
