Flash in other media
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Throughout his 60 year history, the Flash has appeared in numerous media.
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[edit] Early animated appearances
A version of the Flash guest-starred in the animated series, The Adventures of Aquaman in 1967. Flash appeared off and on in the Super Friends series throughout its run from 1973 to 1985. Flash appeared in Challenge of the Super Friends, Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show, and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.
In 1979, he appeared in the live-action Legends of the Superheroes specials, played by actor Rod Haase.
[edit] The Flash TV series (1990-1991)
The Flash was a live action CBS television series that starred John Wesley Shipp and Amanda Pays. The Flash featured in the series was an amalgamation of the silver-age Flash, Barry Allen, and the modern-age Wally West. The only resemblances between the TV Barry Allen Flash and the comic book Barry Allen Flash were his name, his profession as a forensic scientist, and his love interest Iris (who was very short lived as a love interest in the television series). Most of the elements in the television show were taken directly from the main story line in the first Wally West Flash comic books: The S.T.A.R. labs researcher Tina McGee, her and her husband's research into speed, her husband's allegedly fatal accident with their speed research, the Flash's ravenous appetite, heat problems (which were mitigated by the TV show Flash suit), and speed limit on the order of the speed of sound were all elements from the main Wally West comic book storyline.
The Flash's most famous villain in the series was the Trickster, played by Mark Hamill, which oddly foreshadowed Hamill's subsequent success at voicing the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and, later, the Trickster in Justice League Unlimited. Captain Cold, played by Michael Champion, and Mirror Master, played by David Cassidy, also appeared in their own episodes. The complete series was released as a DVD set by Warner Bros. in 2006.
[edit] Justice League of America pilot (1997)
The Flash (Barry Allen) was in a CBS live-action pilot called Justice League of America, portrayed by Kenny Johnston. The pilot did not air in the United States.
[edit] DC Animated Universe
The Flash appeared in Superman: The Animated Series, voiced by Charlie Schlatter, in the second-season episode "Speed Demons". As in the traditional comic book storylines, the Flash and Superman race to find out who is faster, but the Weather Wizard gets in the way, which causes the two to work together. He also appears in Batman: Gotham Adventures #25 due to a theft in Central City leading him to Gotham.
The Flash in the Justice League animated series is voiced by Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor on the television series Smallville). This Flash is Wally West; however he is an amalgamation of Barry Allen and Wally (in Justice League Unlimited, Wally is a forensic scientist, which was Barry's profession. Wally in the comics is an auto mechanic). Michael Rosenbaum also voiced Kid Flash for a Fall 2005 episode of Teen Titans animated series entitled "Lightspeed". He later appeared in a cameo in the episode "Calling all Titans" and then he reappeared fully in the episode "Titans Together".
Some fans[citation needed] criticized the Justice League animated series characterization of the Flash, mainly due to the chauvinistic dialogue in early episodes. However, others argued[citation needed] that he provided a needed foil to the other characters; his humorous attitude and setting reflects Silver Age roots. The importance of the Flash as the "heart" of the Justice League was shown in the episode "A Better World", when his death in an alternate timeline triggered a series of events which turned that alternate League (the "Justice Lords") into virtual dictators of Earth. He has also proven key in saving the day in a few episodes, such as Divided We Fall, in which he defeated the fused Brainiac/Lex Luthor when all the other six founding Justice League members could not. In the process, he was drawn into the Speed Force (the first explicit use of the concept in the DCAU), and barely managed to escape. The episode "Flash and Substance" is centered on the opening of the Flash Museum. Many of the Flash's rogues make cameos in this episode, while focusing on Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, Captain Cold, and The Trickster (voiced by Mark Hamill). Linda Park also appears as a reporter covering the museum opening. Mirror Master alludes that Wally West may not have been the only Flash stating to the rest of the Rogues, "We've all been stopped by a Flash."[1]
[edit] The Batman
The Flash appeared at the end of the Season 4 finale The Joining as one of the members of the Justice League. The Flash was properly introduced in the episode A Mirror Darkly to help Batman battle Mirror Master. Also Charlie Schlatter reprised the role of Flash from the above Superman episode Speed Demons. This Flash is probobly Wally West.
[edit] Smallville
The Flash made guest appearances in the television series Smallville, in the fourth-season episode "Run" (first aired October 20, 2004) and in the sixth season in the episode "Justice" (first aired on January 18, 2007). He is played by Kyle Gallner. He is portrayed as a self-centered teenager who uses his powers for personal gain. He goes by the name Bart Allen, but is shown to be carrying multiple ID cards also identifying him as Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, and Wally West. His speed during his first episode run-in with Clark makes it clearly apparent that his super-speed ability and potential surpasses Clark's completely as he is seen running backwards but able to keep Clark completely at bay as he attempts to tag Bart. Beyond that, Bart merely uses more of his power and disappears completely in plain sight of Clark, leaving him behind, bewildered but content. Their mutual respect made it apparent that they had become friends towards the end (as Superman and Flash are good friends in the future), with allusions being made to forming a "league" one day. It is mentioned that he got his powers through an accident, rather than genetics as in the actual comics, though it should be noted that at least one of the Flashes has gotten his powers through an accident. This incarnation of The Flash is also one of the few characters on Smallville who is not a 'Meteor Freak', meaning they have not acquired their powers through Kryptonite-related means via one of Smallville's infamous meteor showers.
Although commercials for "Run" billed him as "the Flash", he is never called by this name in the episode. Instead, in "Justice", he has been given the codename "Impulse". Like in the comics, Bart did not pick this name himself. In his second appearance, Bart has grown up some, but maintained roughly the same personality. However, he is now using his powers to help others. Along with Aquaman, Green Arrow and Cyborg, he now works to stop one of Lex Luthor's evil side projects, 33.1.
[edit] Film
In December 2004, David S. Goyer was attached to write and direct a superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character The Flash.[2] Goyer expressed interest in having actor Ryan Reynolds portray Wally West,[3] with Reynolds expressing his own interest in the role.[4] In June 2005, Goyer was still developing the first script draft for The Flash and had yet to finalize negotiations with Reynolds.[5] In February 2007, Goyer departed from the project, citing creative differences with the studio.[6] Goyer's script was considered dark-themed,[7] including both Barry Allen and Wally West as The Flash and drawing on seminal comicbook runs by Mike Baron, Mark Waid, and Geoff Johns.[8]
Later in February 2007, director Shawn Levy was announced to be attached to The Flash and to oversee the writing of the new draft, which would use elements of Goyer's script.[7] Ryan Reynolds expressed interest in the role once more of The Flash if the new script's incarnation was Wally West.[9]
In October 2007, director David Dobkin said that he was signed on to direct The Flash, replacing Shawn Levy. Dobkin said that the film would work as a spin-off from the upcoming Justice League of America film. He said that the incarnation of the Flash would be Wally West.[10] In a recent issue of Wizard the Flash was placed for a 2008 release date.[11]
[edit] Justice League
It was reported that Adam Brody would have portrayed the Flash in the Justice League film as well as Zoe Kazan as Iris West-Allen.[citation needed] The film, however, has been effectively terminated.[citation needed]
[edit] Other appearances
- Wally West appeared in the Justice League Task Force Super NES fighting game.
- Wally West appeared in a novel Stop Motion, written by Mark Schultz.
- The Flash was a video game that was released on the Sega Master System in 1993. An unrelated Game Boy game was also released.
- The Flash is a featured playable character in the video game, Justice League Heroes. In addition, there is a spinoff for Game Boy Advance with The Flash as the main hero.
- Barry Allen appears in the direct-to-video movie Justice League: The New Frontier and is central to the story. Jay Garrick also makes a small appearance during the opening credits of the movie.
[edit] In popular culture
- In the Simpsons episode New Kids On The Bleech, Comic Book Guy dresses up like the Flash and even stated, "No one can outrun The Flash" until he gets stuck into an open manhole. In the earlier episode Marge Versus The Monorail, Lyle Lanley, when addressing a classroom of children is asked whether his monorail can outrun The Flash. After replying in the affirmative, he is asked if Superman can outrun The Flash, which he also confirms.
- In 2002, the lead con-man character in the movie Catch Me If You Can played by Leonardo DiCaprio used the alias "Barry Allen" to elude G-man Tom Hanks in reference to his love for the comic book.
- In the 2003 movie Daddy Day Care, Jimmy Bennett plays a boy who thinks he is the Flash and refuses to take off his costume, plus a sugar rush actually allows him to go super speed for a while.
- The band "Jim's Big Ego" has a song entitled The Ballad of Barry Allen, about the Flash.
- In the first season of the hit TV series Lost, the character Walt Lloyd is seen reading the Spanish version of a Flash comic "Flash/Green Lantern: Faster Friends #1" on several occasions. In the third season episode "Catch–22", Charlie and Hurley are seen debating the question of whether the Flash could defeat Superman in a footrace.
- During WrestleMania XX, Rey Mysterio wore a 'Flash-like' costume.
- In the novel Assault on the Senses (novel), three characters share their names with three Flash alter egos--Jay, Barry and Wally--and each have personalities representative of the character they're respectively inspired by.
- In the "Jimmy Neutron" episode "N-Men", Jimmy's friend Sheen Estevez gains Flash-like powers and goes by the name Vibrating Lad.
- In the South Park episode "Imaginationland," The Flash can be seen as one of the characters in Imaginationland.
- Flash appeared in the Robot Chicken episode "Losin' the Wobble" voiced by Nathan Fillion. He, Superman, and Wonder Woman were unable to stop Reverse-Flash which leads to them talking about their reverse opponents. It wasn't revealed if this version of the Flash was revealed to be Barry Allen or Wally West.
- In The Big Bang Theory episode The Middle Earth Paradigm the four guys all go to a Halloween party dressed as The Flash. The character of Sheldon is also frequently seen to be wearing a Flash t-shirt.
- A guy dressed as The Flash was one of the superheroes on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- At Six Flags theme parks, which frequently use DC super-heroes around their park, visitors can spend additional money to buy "The Flash Pass" which allows them speed through lines to certain attractions. Promotions for the pass frequently feature The Flash himself.
[edit] References
- ^ Justice League Unlimited, episode #31 "Flash and Substance."
- ^ Claude Brodesser; Cathy Dunkley. "WB shines Flash light", Variety, 2004-12-16. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ Clint Morris. "Exclusive Interview: David Goyer", Moviehole.net, 2004-12-18. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ "Wizard World L.A.: Ryan Reynolds", Comics Continuum, 2005-03-20. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ Jeff Otto. "Goyer on Flash & Thor", IGN, 2005-06-05. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ "No Flash for David Goyer", ComingSoon.net, 2007-02-03. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ a b Borys Kit. "News 'Flash': Levy to helm", The Hollywood Reporter, 2007-02-05. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ "Goyer Ankles The Flash", IGN, 2007-02-03. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ David Sgargetta. "Exclusive Interview : Ryan Reynolds", Moviehole.net, 2007-02-09. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ Shawn Adler. "David Dobkin Takes ‘Flash’ Reins, Spills Details", MTV, 2007-10-27. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ {{Wizard # 196 February '08| author=Rickey Pudin| title=THE DARK KNIGHT| publisher=Wizard Entertainment |date= 2008-02
[edit] External links
- Alan Kistler's Profile On: The Flash - An analysis of the history of the Flash by comic book historian Alan Kistler.
- Silver Age Flash Toonopedia entry
- Crimson Lightning - an online index to the comic book adventures of the Flash.
- The Flash: The Continuity Pages
- The Flash JLResource.com entry
- The Flash: Those Who Ride The Lightning - Fan site with information about the super-speed characters of the DC Universe.
- Index to Barry Allen's Earth-1 adventures
- The Unofficial Flash Biography
- Aquaman in movie after all
- The JLA movie info
- Superman Homepage JLA biography
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