The Flash (comic book)

The Flash

Cover of The Flash #105 (Feb-Mar 1959), the first number of the series. Art by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication date
No. of issues
Main character(s) (vol. 1, 3, 4, and 5)
Flash (Barry Allen)
(vol. 2)
Flash (Wally West)
Creative team
Created by John Broome
Carmine Infantino
Written by
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)

The Flash is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The character's first incarnation, Jay Garrick, first appeared in Flash Comics #1. When the Silver Age Flash Barry Allen was introduced, that character took over Flash Comics numbering and the series was retitled as The Flash.

Although the Flash is a mainstay in the DC Comics stable, the series has been canceled and rebooted eight times. The first series featuring Barry Allen was canceled at issue #350 in the event of the character's death in the universe altering event Crisis on Infinite Earths. When Wally West succeeded Allen as the Flash, a new series began with new numbering in June 1987. That series was briefly canceled in 2006 in the wake of the Infinite Crisis event, but was restarted with its original numbering in 2007, only to be canceled again in 2008 in the wake of Barry Allen's return in Final Crisis and The Flash: Rebirth. The series was revived for a third volume by writer Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul after the completion of the Blackest Night event in 2010. A fourth volume was launched in 2011 as part of The New 52. A fifth volume was launched in 2016 as part of DC Rebirth.

Publication history

Volume 1 (1959–1985)

Volume 1 starred Barry Allen as the Flash and the series assumed the numbering of the original Flash Comics with issue #105 (March 1959) written by John Broome and drawn by Carmine Infantino.[1] Comics historian Les Daniels noted that "The Flash" was a streamlined, modernized version of much that had gone before, but done with such care and flair that the character seemed new to a new generation of fans.[2] The Broome and Infantino collaboration saw the introduction of several supervillains many of whom became part of the Rogues. The Mirror Master first appeared in issue #105[1] and the following issue saw the debuts of Gorilla Grodd and the Pied Piper.[3] Captain Boomerang first challenged the Flash in issue #117 (December 1960)[4] and the 64th century villain Abra Kadabra was introduced in issue #128 (May 1962).[5] Another villain from the future, Professor Zoom first appeared in issue #139 (September 1963).[6]

Kid Flash and the Elongated Man were respectively introduced in issues #110 and 112 as allies of the Flash.[7] One of the most notable issues of this era was issue #123 (September 1961), which featured the story titled "Flash of Two Worlds".[8] In it, Allen meets his inspiration Jay Garrick, after accidentally being transported to a parallel universe where Garrick existed. In this previous continuity, Garrick and the other characters of the Golden Age only existed as comics characters in the mainline shared universe.[9] This brought about a new concept in the formative stage of what would become the DC Universe, and gave birth to the current conceptualization featuring it as a multiverse.[8]

Barry Allen married his longtime love interest Iris West in issue #165 (November 1966).[10] Infantino's last issue was #174 (November 1967) and the next issue saw Ross Andru become the new artist of the series as well as featuring the second race between the Flash and Superman, two characters known for their super-speed powers.[11]

The series presented metafictional stories featuring comics creators appearing within the Flash's adventures such as the "Flash — Fact Or Fiction" in issue #179 in which the Flash finds himself on "Earth Prime". He contacts the "one man on Earth who might believe his fantastic story and give him the money he needs. The editor of that Flash comic mag !" Julius Schwartz helps the Flash build a cosmic treadmill so that he can return home.[12] Several years later, the series' longtime writer Cary Bates wrote himself into the story in issue #228.[13] Four months after the cancellation of his own title, Green Lantern began a backup feature in The Flash #217 (Aug.-Sept. 1972) and appeared in most issues through The Flash #246 (Jan. 1977) until his own solo series was revived.[14] Schwartz, who had edited the title since 1959, left the series as of issue #269 (January 1979).[15]

Bates wrote The Flash #275 (July 1979) wherein the title character's wife, Iris West Allen was killed.[16] Don Heck became the artist of the series with issue #280 (Dec. 1979) and drew it until #295 (March 1981).[17] The Flash #300 (Aug. 1981) was in the Dollar Comics format and featured a story by Bates and Infantino.[18] Doctor Fate was featured in a series of back-up stories in The Flash from #306 (Feb. 1982) to #313 (Sept. 1982) written by Martin Pasko and Steve Gerber and drawn by Keith Giffen.[19] A major shakeup occurred in the title in the mid-1980s. The Flash inadvertently kills his wife's murderer, the Reverse-Flash, in The Flash #324 (Aug. 1983).[20] This led to an extended storyline titled "The Trial of the Flash" in which the hero must face the repercussions of his actions. Bates became the editor as well as the writer of The Flash title during this time and oversaw it until its cancellation in 1985.[21] "The Trial of the Flash" was collected in a volume of the Showcase Presents series in 2011.[22]

Shortly before Barry Allen's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths, the series was cancelled with issue #350 (October 1985). In the final issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wally West, previously known as Allen's sidekick Kid Flash, stated his intent to take up his uncle's mantle as the Flash.[23]

Volume 2 (1987–2006, 2007–2008)

Featuring Wally West as the main character, the Flash mostly operated out of Keystone City. The second series was launched by writer Mike Baron and artist Jackson Guice in June 1987.[24] Featuring long runs most notably by writers Mark Waid and Geoff Johns, the second volume originally went in a different direction from the series starring Barry Allen by making Wally West more flawed. This Flash could not constantly maintain his super-speed because of his hypermetabolism, and would consume gargantuan amounts of food in order to continue operating at top speed. This metabolic limitation would later be continued into Barry Allen's character for the brief television series The Flash broadcast in 1990-91, as well as The Flash series which debuted in 2014, though to a lesser degree.

Mark Waid's tenure on the title in the 1990s brought back more traditional Flash aspects from Barry Allen's era by reforming the Rogues, some of which were new incarnations of old characters, and bringing more of a sci-fi/fantasy aspect that had been lost in Flash titles since Allen's departure. Waid made Wally West much more powerful in an attempt to take him out of Barry Allen and Jay Garrick's shadows. Waid and artist Mike Wieringo introduced Impulse in issue #92 (July 1994).[25] Wally West married Linda Park in issue #142 (October 1998).[26]

When writer Geoff Johns stepped aboard with issue #164 (September 2000), he refocused the character on some of the Silver Age aspects by spending single issues on building the psychology of the various Rogues.[27][28] Johns created Zoom, the third of the Reverse-Flashes, and fleshed out the environmental character of Keystone City in an attempt to make it unique in comparison to other fictional DC cities such as Metropolis or Gotham City.[29]

In the wake of the "One Year Later" event and Wally West's disappearance in Infinite Crisis, DC canceled The Flash vol. 2 with issue #230 (March 2006) in favor of a new series starring Bart Allen as the Flash. The new series, titled The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive, ran only 13 issues and ended with Bart's death.[30] Mark Waid returned to the title briefly in 2007 with the series resuming with #231 to bring about the return of Wally West but the series was canceled again at issue #247 in late 2008 with the return of Barry Allen in the event series Final Crisis.[31][32] Spinning out of Final Crisis, writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver created The Flash: Rebirth, a 6-issue mini-series bringing Barry Allen back to a leading role in the DC Universe as the primary Flash.[33][34] Barry Allen is also an integral character in the crossover event Blackest Night, and had a self-titled limited series tying into the main event.[35]

Volume 3 (2010–2011)

Variant incentive cover for The Flash vol. 3, #1 (June 2010).
Art by Tony Harris.

In 2010, DC Comics announced that after the completion of The Flash: Rebirth and Blackest Night, Geoff Johns would return to writing a new Flash ongoing series with artist Francis Manapul.[36] In January 2010, DC Comics announced that the series' opening arc would be launched under the banner of Brightest Day, a line-wide aftermath story to the crossover "Blackest Night".[37] In April 2010, DC released The Flash: Secret Files and Origins 2010 one-shot, setting the stage for the status quo of the new series. It was followed one week later with the release of The Flash vol. 3 #1. On June 1, 2011, it was announced that all series taking place within the shared DC Universe would be either canceled or relaunched with new #1 issues, after a new continuity was created in the wake of the Flashpoint event. The Flash was no exception, and the first issue of the new series was released on September 2011.

Volume 4 (2011–2016)

DC Comics relaunched The Flash with issue #1 in September 2011, with writing and art handled by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato as part of DC's company-wide title relaunch, The New 52.[38] As with all of the titles associated with the DC relaunch, Barry Allen appears to be about five years younger than the previous incarnation of the character. Superheroes at large have appeared only in the past five years, and are viewed with at best, suspicion, and at worst, outright hostility. In this new continuity, Barry's marriage to Iris West never took place, and he is instead in a relationship with longtime co-worker Patty Spivot. In this new series, the Flash draws deeper into the Speed Force, enhancing his mental abilities while still trying to get a full grasp on his powers, which he doesn't yet exert total control over.

As revealed in issue #0 of this series, Barry Allen's father was placed in prison for the murder of his mother. While the evidence seems to indicate his father's guilt, Barry makes proving his father's innocence a priority. The murder occurred shortly after Barry returned victorious from a school spelling bee, and Barry placed the trophy he won on his mother's grave in her memory. Barry is also part of the main cast of the relaunched Justice League series, making his debut in the series' second issue.

Writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen and artist Brett Booth became the new creative team on The Flash as of issue #30 (June 2014).[39]

Volume 5 (2016–present)

As part of the DC Rebirth relaunch, The Flash was restarted with a new series. The DC Universe: Rebirth Special returned the character Wally West as The Flash to the main continuity after being replaced following the Flashpoint limited series. In the New 52, Wally remained Iris West's nephew, but became an African American teen with no access to the Speed Force. In The Flash vol. 5 #1 (Aug. 2016), this Wally was retconned to being the son of a different brother of Iris West. The original Wally was revealed to be trapped in the Speed Force until he finally found Barry, who remembered him. The new series by writer Joshua Williamson and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico focuses on Barry dealing with unraveling the cause of this loss of 10 years with Wally, as well as taking on the new villain Godspeed. Meanwhile, Wally do the same in Titans issues. Both, Wally and Barry are called The Flash.[40]

Collected editions

The Flash vol. 1

The Flash vol. 2

The Flash vol. 3

The Flash vol. 4 (The New 52)

The Flash vol. 5 (Rebirth)

References

  1. 1 2 Irvine, Alex; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1950s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. In March 1959, The Flash was back, care of writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino. The series continued the numbering from Flash Comics and gave Barry Allen his own title. Issue #105 also debuted the Mirror Master.
  2. ↑ Daniels, Les (1995). "Flashback The Return of the Super Hero". DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes. New York, New York: Bulfinch Press. p. 117. ISBN 0-8212-2076-4.
  3. ↑ Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 94: "Two popular villains debuted in The Flash #106...'Menace of the Super-Gorilla' saw Barry Allen battle Gorilla Grodd...[and] in 'The Pied Piper of Peril', Hartley Rathaway...hired himself out to criminals as the Pied Piper and became Allen's nemesis."
  4. ↑ McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 101: "Writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino kept even the Flash off-balance when they introduced George 'Digger' Harkness and his hand-held rebounding weaponry."
  5. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 105: "A failed stage magician from the 64th century, Abra Kadabra debuted in this story by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino."
  6. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 109: "This issue saw 25th-century criminal Eobard Thawne use his era's advanced science on an old Flash costume. The suit gave Thawne reverse super-speed."
  7. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 100: "Editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino introduced the Elongated Man, a stretchable super-sleuth."
  8. 1 2 McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 103: "This classic Silver Age story resurrected the Golden Age Flash and provided a foundation for the Multiverse from which he and the Silver Age Flash would hail."
  9. ↑ Fox, Gardner (w), Infantino, Carmine (p), Giella, Joe (i). "Flash of Two Worlds!" The Flash 123 (September 1961)
  10. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 119: "Barry Allen and iris West's wedding day...was [DC's] most anticipated...Writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino were the team behind the nuptials in the story 'One Bridegroom Too Many!'"
  11. ↑ Bridwell, E. Nelson (w), Andru, Ross (p), Esposito, Mike (i). "The Race to the End of the Universe" The Flash 175 (December 1967)
  12. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 130: "Trapped on 'Earth-Prime', the Flash knew only one man could possibly help him: DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz."
  13. ↑ Bates, Cary (w), Novick, Irv (p), Blaisdell, Tex (i). "The Day I Saved the Life of the Flash" The Flash 228 (July–August 1974)
  14. ↑ Greenberger, Robert (May 2013). "Green Lantern The Emerald Backups". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (64): 3–9.
  15. ↑ Julius Schwartz (editor) at the Grand Comics Database
  16. ↑ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 182: "Life for the Fastest Man Alive screeched to a halt after writer Cary Bates and artist Alex Saviuk played 'The Last Dance' for the Flash's wife, Iris West Allen."
  17. ↑ Coates, John (2014). Don Heck: A Work of Art. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 978-1605490588.
  18. ↑ Weiss, Brett (December 2013). "The Flash #300". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (69): 58–60.
  19. ↑ Riley, Shannon E. (May 2013). "A Matter of (Dr.) Fate Martin Pasko and Keith Giffen Discuss Their Magical Flash Backup Series". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (64): 64–68.
  20. ↑ Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 203: "Written by Cary Bates, with art by Flash legend Carmine Infantino, the story saw...[the Flash] accidentally break the Reverse-Flash's neck."
  21. ↑ Cary Bates (editor) at the Grand Comics Database
  22. ↑ Bates, Cary (2011). Showcase Presents: Trial of the Flash. DC Comics. p. 592. ISBN 1-4012-3182-9.
  23. ↑ Wolfman, Marv (w), Pérez, George (p), Ordway, Jerry (i). "Final Crisis" Crisis on Infinite Earths 12 (March 1986)
  24. ↑ Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 228: "Written by Mike Baron, with art by Jackson Guice, the Flash's new adventures began with his twentieth birthday party."
  25. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 265: "The brainchild of writer Mark Waid and artist Mike Wieringo, Impulse burst onto the scene at quite a pace. Young Bart Allen, the grandson of the Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen, was raised in a future timeline."
  26. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 285: "Wally West was going to marry his longtime love interest Linda Park...thanks to writers Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn, and artist Pop Mhan."
  27. ↑ Johns, Geoff (w), Unzueta, Angel (p), Hazlewood, Doug (i). "Lightning in a Bottle" The Flash v2, 164 (September 2000)
  28. ↑ Johns, Geoff (w), Snejbjerg, Peter (p), Snejbjerg, Peter (i). "Rogue Profile: Heat Wave" The Flash v2, 218 (March 2005)
  29. ↑ Johns, Geoff (w), Kolins, Scott (p), Hazlewood, Doug (i). "Rogue Profile: Zoom" The Flash v2, 197 (June 2003)
  30. ↑ Guggenheim, Marc (w), Daniel, Tony (p), Glapion, Jonathan; Alquiza, Marlo; Daniel, Tony (i). "Full Throttle: Conclusion" The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive 13 (August 2007)
  31. ↑ Burnett, Alan (w), Barberi, Carlo; Calafiore, Jim; Coelho, Andre (p), Eguren, Jacob; Geraci, Drew; Coelho, Andre (i). "This Was Your Life, Wally West, Part Four: Incubation" The Flash v2, 247 (February 2009)
  32. ↑ Morrison, Grant (w), Jones, J. G. (p), Jones, J. G. (i). "Ticket to Bludhaven" Final Crisis 2 (August 2008)
  33. ↑ Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 337: "Writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver...joined forces again to relaunch Barry Allen as the Flash."
  34. ↑ John, Geoff (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). "Lightning Strikes Twice" The Flash: Rebirth 1 (June 2009)
  35. ↑ Johns, Geoff (w), Kolins, Scott (p), Kolins, Scott (i). "This is the Flash" Blackest Night: The Flash 1 (February 2010)
  36. ↑ Segura, Alex (September 8, 2009). "The Dastardly Death of the Rogues!". The Source. DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012. Writer Geoff Johns would be writing a new ongoing Flash series? One thing we didn't mention was the name of his artistic collaborator. Johns will be teaming up with none other than superstar artist Francis Manapul to chronicle the adventures of the Scarlet Speedster next year.
  37. ↑ Segura, Alex (January 11, 2010). "DCU in 2010: More on Brightest Day: The Flash". The Source. DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  38. ↑ The Flash vol. 4 at the Grand Comics Database
  39. ↑ Truitt, Brian (January 13, 2014). "The Flash speeds into a big breakout year in 2014". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Speeding Ahead Joshua Williamson Leaps Aboard The Flash". DC Comics. May 16, 2016. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016.
  41. ↑ "The Flash Archives Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  42. ↑ "The Flash Archives Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  43. ↑ "The Flash Archives Volume 3". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  44. ↑ "The Flash Archives Volume 4". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  45. ↑ "The Flash Archives Volume 5". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  46. ↑ "The Flash Archives Volume 6". DC Comics. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  47. ↑ "The Flash Chronicles Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  48. ↑ "The Flash Chronicles Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  49. ↑ "The Flash Chronicles Volume 3". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  50. ↑ "The Flash Chronicles Volume 4". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 11, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  51. ↑ "The Flash Omnibus Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Flash Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Flash Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  54. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Flash Volume 3". DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  55. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Flash Volume 4". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  56. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Trial of The Flash". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  57. ↑ "The Flash: Born to Run". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  58. ↑ "The Flash: Emergency Stop". DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  59. ↑ "The Flash: The Human Race". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  60. ↑ "The Flash: Wonderland". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  61. ↑ "The Flash: Blood Will Run". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  62. ↑ "The Flash: Rogues". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  63. ↑ "The Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  64. ↑ "The Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  65. ↑ "The Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns Volume 3". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  66. ↑ "The Flash: Rebirth". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  67. ↑ "The Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  68. ↑ "The Flash: The Road to Flashpoint". DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  69. ↑ "The Flash: Move Forward". DC Comics. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  70. ↑ "The Flash: Rogues Revolution". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  71. ↑ "The Flash: Gorilla Warfare". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  72. ↑ "The Flash: Reverse". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  73. ↑ "The Flash: History Lessons". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  74. ↑ "The Flash: Out of Time". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  75. ↑ "The Flash: Savage World". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  76. ↑ "The Flash: Zoom". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  77. ↑ "The Flash: Full Stop". DC Comics. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  78. ↑ "The Flash by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato Omnibus". DC Comics. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  79. ↑ "The Flash: Lightning Strikes Twice". DC Comics. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  80. ↑ "The Flash: Speed of Darkness". DC Comics. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  81. ↑ "The Flash: Rogues Reloaded". DC Comics. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
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