Solicitation for Flash #0

[xBarryxAllenx]

The solicitations for the Zero Month comics are out from DC, and here's the text Newsarama quotes describing The Flash #0:

• At last, it’s the origin of The Flash!
• The loss of his mother put Barry Allen on the road to becoming a hero, but only when he gains his powers will he understand her most important lesson.

...and the promotional cover (likely to be replaced prior to publication):


I'm looking forward to this one!

[Savitar]

I am looking forward to seeing how Manapul and Co. handle this 'new' origin.

But I don't like the tragedy change per se. Barry's original motivation was, he gained powers, the most obvious and correct use for them was to help people and society in general. That's the kind of person Barry was, noble and righteous. Is that such a bad role model these days?

Apparently so according to DC. Tragedy makes a character more relevant, relatable, and sells more books. *sigh*

[xBarryxAllenx]

You have a good point. I think that they sort of wrote themselves into this box with Flashpoint, though. They sort of left it that leaving Barry's mother alive basically messes up the rest of the entire universe. While I would love to see the "original" origin, I do have quite a bit of trust that Manapul and Buccellatto will handle this revision well.

Interestingly enough, there is an article over at Comic Vine that discusses this very topic - the idea that there has to be tragedy (specifically being left an orphan) in order to become a hero. Here's the link:

www.comicvine.com/news/off-my-mind-the-connection-between-orphans-and-superheroes/144810/

[jonqcitizen]

I'm with you Savitar, but as the world has changed since Barry Allen was doused with chemicals in his crime lab, so must his origin. Just being an honorable and do-the-right-thing Man doesn't work for selling comic books these days (apparently).

I'm sure that lack of tragedy was to blame in the Green Lantern Movie's box office failures. Really, this is all Batman's fault!! lol.