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Post by golddragon71 on Oct 28, 2018 0:48:12 GMT -5
Man! I just found this tonight and it is awesome. From Last Year's Crossover...Crisis on Earth X Eobard Thawne and Earth 2's Harrison Wells
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Post by golddragon71 on Oct 24, 2018 12:33:24 GMT -5
As Promised, it’s time for Wally Flash Banner by Michael Kramer, on Flickr And this time we’re talking about DC Rebirth Titans #1 RebirthTitans1.1 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr However, before we do, I have to confess something…. I knew next to nothing about the TeenTitans/Titans insofar as their comic history is concerned. In fact, prior to the New Titans/Batman crossover: A Lonely Place of Dying, I had never picked up a Titans comic. With that said…. We begin with Wally West remembering his time in the Teen Titans. RebirthTitans1.2 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr I knew most of these characters off-hand except the cute redhead in the Green Dress….. Wally recalls taking a group photo with the gang (much the way Barry does in the first season episode of the Flash The Sound and the Fury) RebirthTitans1.3 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr However, in the present…… Screen Shot 2018-10-24 at 1.16.07 PM by Michael Kramer, on Flickr Wally is missing from the group photo! We now find Wally in a darkened apartment at night in some city. (Gotham perhaps?) Wally is looking over Titans pictures and is wearing his new suit. a voice off-page asks who he is and Wally finds himself face to face with Nightwing. Nightwing jumps to attack Wally but…. RebirthTitans1.4 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr Nightwing recovers and suddenly he finds himself recalling Wally as a friend. However before the two of them can discuss the matter the other members of the old Teen Titans are on the scene. RebirthTitans1.5 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr Believing Wally has attacked Nightwing, the group goes on the offensive. Wally evades them at first but after making physical contact with Each member, Memories start to resurface. garth remembers his plan to leave the surface world behind. Roy remembers showing Wally his own place. donna remembers assisting Wally in a practical Joke on Roy and Lilith (The redhead) remembers her sobbing in Wally’s arms and his kissing her. The team now all recall having Wally as a friend and Wally finally feels like his return home is complete. RebirthTitans1.7 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr Once everyone stops and settles down, Wally explains how he was trapped outside of time. He believes the Speed Force helped his friends remember him once they made contact. Nightwing explains what his memory was…. RebirthTitans1.6 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr Wally blames some outside force that caused him to be forgotten which the Titans to believe to be Mister Twister. Wally isn’t as sure about who is really responsible. However he does believe that whoever it was, will try again. However Wally picks up the group photo that was taken at the beginning and…. RebirthTitans1.8 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr Well that was Awesome. Like I said before I never knew much about Titans history. And while I’m sure a lot of what happened here was created solely for this issue, It did make me look back at some of the characters and stories from the old days. Wally’s return to his friends is a pure joy to watch and it opens up some interesting story-telling doors. (For one thing, I wanted to learn more about Wally’s relationship with Lilith.) The best part of the book is the fact that each member of the team has a “moment” with Wally. He’s not just Nightwing’s best friend, he’s really everybody’s best friend on one level or another. Well that’s all for this week. Next Time The Team tries to get into Wally’s head to learn what caused the disappearance of their speedy friend Screen Shot 2018-10-24 at 1.27.55 PM by Michael Kramer, on Flickr and an old enemy resurfaces.
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Post by golddragon71 on Oct 10, 2018 1:10:15 GMT -5
After two and a half years.... Wally Flash Banner by Michael Kramer, on Flickr returns! I was hoping that if I ever decided to restart this thread it would be as a companion piece to a New comic series starring Wally as The Flash. (Not as a replacement to The Flash starring Barry Allen. but as a companion series running on alternating weeks. Instead this thread must be resurrected to act as a tribute page to a comic hero that is being constantly short-changed by the the powers that be at DC Comics. However, i'm not a negativist. i intend to keep this thread going as a celebration of all things Wally. I've chosen to open it as a new thread however because i thought. The old thread served it's purpose for that period of time. it was meant to keep Wally's memory alive in a time when he was erased from existence. This new thread marks my return as well. I really fell off message boards a lot in the last two and a half years. Now, However I'm a bit more motivated in reinvigorating this place. There are so many sites that really only focus on the show and the current run of the comics. every podcast i see is only interested in doing play by plays of the shows and don't even mention the comics except to explain where this character and that come from. Hopefully we can get people excited about all aspects of the flash. Not just the Barry and Wally crowds but also the jay, Bart, johnny and Jesse Quick fans as well (and even to those new fans who are just starting to figure out that Flash isn't just an old Queen song!) For now however, we're going to go back to 2016 and the DC Comics Rebirth specials had just hit the stands. Screen Shot 2018-10-10 at 1.30.09 AM by Michael Kramer, on Flickr For weeks, DC had been promoting the upcoming special witha clip show that featured many familiar faces. including Classic Wally West from his First issue in 1987. Geoff Johns narrated some of it emphasizing the importance of legacy in the DC Universe. at first, i was skeptical of this new event as I thought it was meant to do little more than to establish the New52 Wally West as the New kid flash and as a permanent replacement for our classic Wally. After all, at the end of the Rebirth segment we don't see Classic wally, we see a lineup of new and old DC Comic heroes and Nu Wally is there in full costume alongside damian Wayne as Robin and Jon Kent as the new Superboy. dc-rebirth-177743 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr When the morning came for the issue to be released i had wait up until 3:00AM to read it on mu iPad. (i preordered it.) As i swiped from panel to panel, i found myself realizing that this story was being seen through the eyes of the long Absent Wally West. Screen Shot 2018-10-10 at 2.01.08 AM by Michael Kramer, on Flickr As I read on i found myself slightly worried. Wally was having trouble pulling himself out of the speed Force and without a proper lightning rod like his relationship with linda park, Wally would be pulled back into oblivion as part of the speed Force. Screen Shot 2018-10-10 at 1.45.19 AM by Michael Kramer, on Flickr Of course when classic Wally watches over his younger cousin Wallace, discover the joy of using his newfound super speed power to save a little girl, my concerns started becoming fears. Convergence had been a big fake out that gave us a pre-Flash:Rebirth Wally west along with his kids Jai and Iris II only to cast them back into oblivion with no real hope that we would ever see them again. Surely Rebirth wasn't going to be another such fake-out where classic wally would lead us around on tour of DC's post 52 landscape and then vanish forever.... Screen Shot 2018-10-10 at 1.47.51 AM by Michael Kramer, on Flickr fortunately, this was NOT the case and Wally appeared to Barry. Screen Shot 2018-10-10 at 1.48.53 AM by Michael Kramer, on Flickr When Barry and Wally parted ways after their joyful reunion I was beyond ecstatic! I couldn't wait to see what came next. (i found it very hard to sleep the rest of that night as i envisioned all of the possibilities that laid ahead. Well, that's all for this week! Join me in two when i examine Wally's reunion with the Original TITANS! DC-Rebirth-Titans-Wally-West by Michael Kramer, on Flickr
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Post by golddragon71 on Sept 30, 2018 19:34:33 GMT -5
So after Two and a half years of ahving Wally back, it seems we're in danger of losing him again. In order to maintain support for Wally (and in the hopes of getting him his own book, I've decided to re-instate WWAD Banner 2.0 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr Now, as always this thread is never meant as means to disrespect Barry Allen. it is strictly designed as a tribute to Wally West. (Don't forget, Wally himself was Barry's #1 Fan!) I'm hoping that recent events in DC Comics (*Cough*Heroes in Crisis!*Cough*) isn't the true end of Wally's run. saty tuned here every week that a new issue of the Flash is out. See you all next time!
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Post by golddragon71 on Sept 28, 2018 20:43:37 GMT -5
This past year, DC Universe Online decided to try and redo the death of Superman. As part of the event scenario you enter an altered Metropolis where Doomsday rampages around regularly. while you go about your various daily missions, you can investigate green tokens spread out over the area. These are recorded by Supergirl and tell about her life. Now, at one particular Investigation spot Supergirl mentions falling in a great crisis and then somehow returning.....WHAT THE WHAT?!? Supergirl actually remembers pre-crisis continuity?!? of course the comics never reference this at all but the developers really threw me over when they suddenly had Supergirl remembering her previous life. Now in Rebirth Wally remembers his pre-Flashpoint life and so does Iris. (actually, Iris may also be able to recall her pre-crisis life as well.)
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Post by golddragon71 on Jan 8, 2018 18:49:14 GMT -5
It was the show that introduced me to the scarlet Speedster! the 1990s Flash starring John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen aka the Flash Although only a one-season wonder that aired during my senior year in High School, It came at a time when Comic book films and Television shows were getting a larger degree of respect. Sadly, there was very little merchandise to support it. you could buy a few posters here and there, and a One issue Comic book special with an episode guide. Long after the series was off the air, the pilot movie and a few episodes were released on home video. Now in all this, the only toy to speak of was a repackaged figure from Toybiz's abysmal DC Super Heroes Line that came off as a knock off Super Powers collection but without the quality. (or quantity. A few years later Hasbro would release a Dark Crimson repaint of Comic Book Flash (at the time) Wally West as part of it's Total justice/JLA line (and I often put that figure in front of firont of what little Flash TV merchandise was available to me) Fans still petitioned for the series to be released and eventually it was. (In fact, if I recall correctly, a commemorative soundtrack actually came out first). Then it was announced that a new Flash TV series would be released and that John Wesley Shipp would play a supporting role. (Many people argued he should be Jay Garrick, and while that did eventually happen, I was glad it didn't occur until almost two years in, and that his primary role was that of Barry's Father Henry Allen. When the first figures began to hit the shelves from DC Collectibles and Mattel respectively, I started mentioning how great it would be to have a classic 90's TV Barry to stand next to his younger counterpart. When NECA toys released first a Michael Keaton Batman in 7" I started bombarding their facebook pages of Mr. Shipp's flash in the hopes that since DC Collectibles wouldn't do the old series, (they seemed more focused on the newer series) they'd give NECA the go-ahead. Sadly nothing came of it and NECa lost the right to even do a few special "Surprise Holiday Season" 7" DC movie/TV figures. In the last few months we've even seen DC Collectibles fall of the TV figure bandwagon. Legends of Tomorrow's Atom was delayed nearly nine months from his original release date last spring to this past fall. The only Flash figures we got was a repackaged Single figure of Flash from Last year's Flash/Arrow two-pack and a Kid Flash.(There has yet been no sign of a Season 5 Arrow figure. Mattel on the other hand has been busy with DCEU movie figures Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman and Justice League. in addition they've done a few figures of the flash TV series Flash from Seasons 1 and 2, Reverse flash, Zoom and Jay Garrick. But not the real Jay played by JWS. instead, they gave us the Teddy Sears Jay Garrick Imposter.. Then, out of the blue! I see this on Toynewsi.com World-Greatest-DC_Figures-01__scaled_600 by Michael Kramer, on Flickr This images has popped up online showing what appears to be new 6" figures from Mattel featuring Lynda Carter Wonder Woman, Val Kilmer Batman & John Wesley Shipp Flash. According to They're Action Figures, these will be part of a new $30 line called World's Greatest. The figures will feature alternate hands, accessories and display bases. They state the UPC will be 887961605495. They also say these figures will be released next month. We will try and get better images and more details on this as they become available. Now of course also getting a Lynda Carter wonder Woman as part of the series is also a huge win (I'm less thrilled about the Val Kilmer Batman but I prefer to look on the bright side) Still, my mind is reeling at finally having an actual John Wesley Shipp Flash figure in hand! I can't wait to see who's in the next wave!
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Post by golddragon71 on Dec 14, 2017 1:36:12 GMT -5
having just read the latest issue of Titans I have to say Wally Sr and Wally Jr make a great team! i'd like to someday see Bart get his Rebirth though and have Impulse and Kid Flash run missions together.
BTW I'm back!
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Post by golddragon71 on Jan 24, 2017 19:33:43 GMT -5
From the Original TV Series
Barry walking Earl past a movie thereafter playing Superman the Movie and the 89 Batman(Earl wants to go in)) Hey, Earl...EARL! C'mon! Don't we get enough of that?!? huh?!? (Barry spots a drug deal going on...)whoa whoa whoa...I think we know thgese guys...(The deal turns into a bust which goes badly for the two cops in charge. Barry changes into the Flash and ties Earl to a Fire Hydrant...Earl whines backing away from Flash) Flash: Don't look at me like that!
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Post by golddragon71 on Jan 24, 2017 19:20:34 GMT -5
Hey all, Ever since Tru Wally came Back last year I've been kinda quiet. I certainly share in the blame, as I haven't really posted anything worthwhile since Rebirth (Unlike certain elected officials, once I win, I shut up and enjoy my victory) still with all the great stuff going on in the Flash-related side of the DC Universe, you'd think there'd be some regular noise going on... I mean, we've got two Flash-Centric books going on with Flash and Titans (until Titans starts to focus on Donna, Roy/Arsenal or Tempest) We have the Flash TV series of course (and there hasn't been any activity in the "other media" thread in a while either) and of course we Have Flash coming to the big screen this year in the Justice League movie and then in his own solo feature later on next year (or the year after...) let's bring this forum back to life huh?
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Post by golddragon71 on Sept 17, 2016 2:35:02 GMT -5
i didn't bother creating a poll here I just wanted to know what any of you consider your definitive theme for the Scarlet Speedster(s)? For Barry my view is always the 1990 Main Title theme. For Wally it's the Pilot End Titles/racetrack theme. For Bart it's the New Flash theme from the CW. For everyone running together it's "I have to Try" from the Flash 2014- season 1 soundtrack For Jay Garrick in the New series it's a combo of The opening to Flash 2014 and classic 1990 Flash
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Post by golddragon71 on May 25, 2016 13:41:36 GMT -5
It’s a day of CELEBRATION here on WARNING!!!!! This Month’s installment has SPOILERS!!!!! IF YOU HAVEN”T READ DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH #1…(or the Spoiler heavy articles surrounding it) DO NOT READ THIS ENTRY!!!!!! I never thought it would come to this. In fact, i thought I was going to have a harder time than before when pictures of nuWally in the Classic Kid Flash suit started circulating. I've made a conscious effort over the last five years to stay hopeful and really fight the feeling of hopelessness that we'd never see Classic Wally again. And DC hasn't made things easy on that front either. First there was the whole Wally who? bit they pulled at the Comic Con panels when the New52 was starting. then the whole litany of follow up comments/excuses "No plans for Wally...concentrating on the Iconic Flash, Barry Allen (Tell that to everyone who sings the Flash Gordon theme whenever Flash is mentioned…Barry Allen isn’t as Iconic as the Defender of the Universe)....Wally's history too bogged down in Barry association..Barry's on the TV show.....plans for him to be in the movie.....etc" Then The ending of the Animated Series, Young Justice....Wally dies Barry Allen style saving the world because he's not fast enough?!? (talk about twisting the knife!) Everyone had ideas about where in the Multiverse was Wally West? i wrote two short story ideas down. One where Wally was stuck in a Limbo not unlike the Metrolpois that played home to the Golden Age Superman and Lois Lane, Superbly Prime and Alexander Luthor from COIE-Infinite Crisis The other Being a story where Wally had returned to the New52 DCU in secret and was known to his Aunt Iris but was as yet unrecognized by Barry Allen. With a mysterious Evil force that has altered the Universe to their own malicious Ends (Part of me wanted to have various characters call this central Villain “The Idiot!” at various points as a not so subtle reference to my own derisive nickname for Dan Didio (Didio(t)=D-Idiot) Then Came Convergance.... I gotta say, it really felt like Didio and Lee were giving the fans a wildly royal Middle finger by having a Pre-Flash:Rebirth Wally Jai and Iris II appear for the Convergence event and then shuffling them off unceremoniously back into Limbo. I was on the verge of dropping everything DC presently offered several times by this point and concentrating on collecting back issues from the good old days. Then there were rumors that wally West was finally being set up to join the DCNU. It would be a de-aged Wally though…. A teenager who would go on to become Kid Flash eventually. At this point everyone started thinking about how Wally should be introduced and get his powers. Should it be the same way as before? Barry and Iris are no longer a couple so how will this change the dynamic between Barry and Wally? My personal ideas included taking a page from Justice League Unlimited and having Wally be a Junior Lab Rat under Barry’s supervision at the Crime Lab (similar to Greg Saunders to Gil Grissom on CSI) His powers would come as a result of a fight between Barry and the rogues (I specifically thought Weather Wizard would be a perfect choice for generating the necessary conditions) It then started leaking out that Wally would be different. And when the differences were clarified it immediately started a war of words. Wally was being Racially shifted from Caucasian to African American. long-time fans were furious that an established character was being casually flipped. While stalwart Anti-Wally commenters were saying Barry is THE FLASH! there’s no need for Wally at all. Others still said there should be a Non-Caucasian Speedster but that it should be a wholly original character and not just an altered character from before. (Funny that no-one raised these comments about Wally Weeks aka Ripcord in G.I.Joe) Worse than his racial alteration, Wally’s attitude would be drastically altered. instead of Being the President (and sole member) of the Flash fan club in his hometown of Blue Valley Nebraska, NuWally would be instead, an inner City Kid who hated the Flash for putting his Uncle(now Father) Daniel West behind bars. NuWally would be a far cry from his Classic predecessor. The character eventually shifted back into a proper flash-Fan but he still wasn’t what long-time fans wanted. I suggested that somewhere NuWally had an older half-Brother that was more recognizable and that eventually NuWally would take a different name. (Julio Mendez? btw that idea’s still on the table!) Then, a few short months ago, Wally was struck by an energy blast caused by Barry’s Vibration powers backfiring against a forcefield. (and it was a little too similar to my previously mentioned ideas of how a New52-ized version of Classic Wally could be empowered.) I actually posted a comment on this occurrence and the idea that maybe DC was reading my posts on the message boards it was revealed that Dc would be launching Rebirth and cancelling all of the long-running Titles in order to restart them with New #1s My first thought was...."So from now on, no title is allowed more than 52 issues just to bring in new fans every 4-5 years? This is just about the last straw! It was later revealed that the Pre-Flashpoint Superman would be joining this universe after the events in rebirth. this interested me and re-ignited the flickering match of hope that TruWally would return. After all, Pre-Flashpoint Earth would be surprised to meet NuWally wouldn't he? I started thinking about the possibilities of Bringing TruWally back again (maybe the way Justice league Unlimited had swapped John Stewart for Hal jordan in the once and future thing) Unfortunately I read about a month or so ago that NuWally was here to stay despite the fans fervent wishes to bring back TruWally. Well this past weekend, a Preview of Today’s DC rebirth #1 would finally include the return of Classic Wally West in all his glory. Wearing his recognizable Kid Flash uniform but still retaining his Pre-Flashpoint memories. Interestingly Wally’s return has elements my Limbo story and the idea of the dark overseer to the New52’s creation from the second short. Geoff Johns, who wrote the book made a bold statement that he would personally refund the money of any one who bought the book and weren’t satisfied. (I commented saying that there are some who would buy the book and verbally tear it to shreds just to rip into Johns for the sake of ripping into a person) I personally am not such a person as A) I’ve always tried to be the High-Road taking voice of reason and positive constructive ideas and B I really enjoyed the story i was reading (to the point that I actually willingly bought it both Digitally and in Hard-Copy!) I’m really on the fence about continuing on with this thread. the whole purpose was always to keep Classic Wally West Appreciation alive so that we would get him back as he was or close to it anyway. needless to say the Impact may have been negligible but the desired result has been achieved. should i say Mission accomplished and be done with it? Or should i continue on and focus now on the Classic/Wally/NuWally adventures and see what comes out of this. let me know what you think. Until Next time…(if there is one!) May the Speed Force be with you!
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Post by golddragon71 on Apr 20, 2016 18:53:17 GMT -5
Hey all, , It’s another …. And after reading today’s issue of the FLASH With NuWally’s back-up story I thought it was appropriate that we went Back in Time to the Early Days of TruWally’s career as Kid Flash First off is of Course Wally’s origin. in FLASH #110 Wally is introduced fairly quickly. Barry is expecting Iris who has someone she wants to introduce to Barry Iris is hoping Barry can introduce Wally to his hero (iris is still not yet aware of Barry’s Identity) Barry Explains to Wally that Flash sometimes uses Barry’s Home Laboratory as a base and suggests Wally go introduce himself When Wally turns away to dos Barry quickly changes into his Flash suit, speeds past Wally and phases through the Wall to be present as the flash Wally immediately starts asking questions about Flash’s powers and Flash explains how he got them, when….. Copy-cat origins at this point in DC’s History were mind-numbingly common which is why i can see them wanting to change Wally’s up a bit for the New52 version Flash tests Wally’s speed and then presents him with a spare ring and costume…. While Flash is out Kid-Flash catches a radio broadcast about Zoo animals escaping and he rushes over to help and practice using his speed After Kid Flash has all the animals safely re-caged we find that his name has gotten out ( without any on-page introduction.) (Perhaps Flash did some statement to the press when he arrived after Kid Flash left the scene?) In the Next Issue, Wally Has his First solo adventure… Wally wakes up thinking the events of the last issue were just a dream. However, when he hears the school-bell ring…. Wally is thrilled with the realization that he really is Kid Flash and almost gives himself away in Gym class On his way Home Wally runs into one of his friends who is in a “Gang” (It’ll be interesting to see if NuWally has an updated experience with present day gangbangers) Kid Flash phases into the clubhouse and uses his speed to watch the secret meeting unseen The Crows throw rocks at the Eagles clubhouse causing a second “rumble” when a fire breaks out due to a kerosene lamp being knocked over Kid Flash speeds into action and.. After the Fire is snuffed out by Kid Flash’s whirlwind Wally writes down an account of the day’s adventure and goes to mail the letter (Interesting that Wally has no problem delivering mail without postage! In the screen tests for Superman the Movie, that was a big No-No according to the Man of Steel!) The Flash is impressed with Wally’s account and decides that Wally has proven himself worthy as a protege. Final Comments: Wally’s steadfast morality is unquestioningly established early on here. Right from the start all he can think of after he receives his powers is how he can help people. It also seems that in the early days Wally had as much of a habit of wearing bowties as his mentor. SpeedForce.org noted that TV-Wally was invited to live “at Home” in the latest episode but as yet was still not entrusted with Barry’s dual identity. I’m sure this is a temporary situation and it seems it will be dealt with very soon but I should point out that Wally had to wait several months after becoming Kid Flash the First time around before he would be let in on the big secret. (But that’s a few posts down the road!) For now I will say that It’s nice that NuWally’s getting his own little Back-up storyline the same way TruWally did. I certainly hope that this will continue after Rebirth (I also hope we’ll eventually get an All-Flash or Speed Force book that opens the Door to the Pre-Flashpoint DCU proper and lets us have TruWally OG-Barry and the rest still running around as they were…but that’s why I’m still keeping up this Blog)
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Post by golddragon71 on Feb 14, 2016 0:12:15 GMT -5
The issue you're looking for is Flash #101 It takes place immediately after Terminal Velocity. Here's the cover... here's the last two pages
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Post by golddragon71 on Feb 12, 2016 1:26:22 GMT -5
OK I know it’s been a while but Today…. Returns! I was supposed to get this out a few days ago when FLASH 48 hit the stands but I was struggling with direction. Initially I was going to continue with the BLITZ! storyline. Eventually i may get to that but I kinda lost my taste for it with the three month hiatus and wanted a fresh topic rather than just another multi part Epic. So What then? Well in the last day or so I’ve seen a few different articles about the Flash One in particular touted Wally as the Best Flash there is. Another article posted a similar opinion about Barry. The Most amazing aspect i saw to the two articles was that neither was about tearing down the Flashes that were not the focal point of the article! The Pro-Barry Allen article was nothing but complimentary about Wally West (even though the writer favored Barry personally Likewise the Pro Wally article was only too happy to show that Barry Allen and the Flash legacy as a whole were internal components to Wally’s Run I have seen way too many people tear down Wally to promote Barry. as if Barry allen was the only valid Flash in the DCU and everyone else was just riding his coattails. Likewise I’ve seen so many people pshaw Barry allen as obsolete and boring while conveniently forgetting that No one was happier to see Barry Allen return (for real) than Wally West! (Wally was the sole member of the Flash fan club growing up) For me, I started on flash in 1990 with the TV show. At the time I had never read any of the Flash comics. Going back in my mind, the First Flash comic I read was the TV tie in Special DC Comics did. a short time later (the following summer, to be precise) I picked up the Flash Annual which was more based on it’s being tied in to the first of what would be several yearly cross-over annual events. This of course would eventually lead me to starting in on Flash around the time of Gorilla Warfare (the original story of that name which was a crossover with Green Lantern) and then into the Return of Barry Allen. I began my DC based figure collection with the TOY BIZ Batman and DC Comics Superheroes line…(The first non Batman related figure in that i bought was The Flash) and shortly after starting college I began collecting Super Powers and every subsequent DC figure line that would come out (in each line Flash was the First Member purchased) Now at this time, i never heard anyone ever seriously bad-mouth Wally. (I’m sure there must have been some rumbling early on but by the time I jumped in I generally accepted the status quo that Barry Allen was the Flash and that Wally West is the Flash. But then the internet was just being born in the early 90’s and it wasn’t as big a social community as it is now) In looking back at the old Letter columns I find that many of the readers are more interested in seeing Wally wear either his Kid Flash duds or a new suit. (One letter writer wanted all of DC’s heroes to age “realistically” (not be perpetual teenagers and/or mid-late 20somethings) Flash forward to the New 52 and suddenly there’s this massive pro-Barry movement yelling and screaming that they finally got the real Flash back and that Wally West was nothing more than a presumptuous pretender who had no right to exist let alone operate as a Flash at all Wait…what?!? Wally had been the Flash for twenty five years by that point! He had a rough start sure! but his run had really developed into one of the must-read titles! Wally was even the Flash on the popular Justice League cartoon. so where had all this hate come from? Barry’s return seemed to be a starting gun for a war that actually eclipsed the Hal vs Kyle fanbases a few years earlier in Green Lantern. (actually i think Hal’s return might have started the Pro-Barry rumbling) Now it was only natural that Barry take the lead in the Flash books from that point on. (After all, since Barry’s “death”, Forensic Police Work had taken on a huge following with the general public through shows like forensic files, the CSI franchise etc… Plus, as a hero who had been “officially” out of action for all that time, Barry was due some time in the spotlight. Then came Flashpoint and the New 52! Flashpoint itself was readable for what it was as a Barry Allen story (although I was annoyed that Eobard Thawne had gotten killed towards the end as he had just been resurrected a year earlier and i was looking forward to big Speed Force vs the Zooms stories) However, by that point, the rumbling had already gotten out that Wally West was being shifted out from being a supporting character to a total Persona non Grata. (In addition it seemed that DC’s powers that be were interested in phasing out all of the longtime readers. Basically, we were being brushed into the corner or under the carpet and walked away from. Anyone who posted a pro-Wally point of view on the “official” DC Message boards or the DC Social Media platforms was a whiner who needed to “Get over it!” Around that time i started my Pro-Wally crusade. I wrote questions to Mattel execs asking for a Wally West as the Flash figure from their DCUC line. I made it a habit to change my profile pic and Cover photo’s to support the pro-Wally movement and within a year I was writing this blog. Now I don’t hate Barry! I have to keep repeating that, because it seems that Barry-purists won’t see Wally’s fans as anything but totally anti-Barry zealots. I’m actually a huge fan of Barry Allen. (Remember Once again, Wally West himself was Barry Allen’s biggest fan!) I read the Flash every month and I enjoy most if not every single issue I read. I love the TV show. (Of which Barry is the star) In fact, in many ways, I feel as if I’ve come full circle as it was the 1990 TV show that introduced me to the Flash in the first place. But after almost five Years of the New52 Flash and now a new version of Wally West (and a very different one at that! but that’s a topic for another time.) I still can’t help but wish we could get Wally West back as he originally was. (for a while I entertained ideas of a time changing event that would revert the New52 to it’s pre-Flashpoint settings but allowing certain characters to retain their existence in slightly altered forms NuWally would become a recently revealed Half-brother to Classic adult Wally and would now be a DCU proper version of Julio Mendez (this is an alteration to an earlier idea I had about bringing Classic Wally into the New52 before Nu Wally was announced) Well, I’ve about said all i want to for this month. See you next time.
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So!
Oct 29, 2015 9:10:39 GMT -5
Post by golddragon71 on Oct 29, 2015 9:10:39 GMT -5
I think you covered most of the important stuff Rowbot. welcome aboard.
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Post by golddragon71 on Oct 28, 2015 14:30:30 GMT -5
This month in We jump ahead a few years and look at Wally’s own Reverse Flash known simply as ZOOM!Here’s the story so far… Wally has Married Linda and they’re expecting their First child. Unfortunately not everyone’s life in Wally’s Circle has been as lucky. Hunter Zolomon a former F.B.I. agent has been working with the Flash and the Keystone City Police for the last few months as their Meta-human profiler. During a recent attack on the city by Gorilla Grodd Hunter had been severely injured and lost the use of his legs. Hunter asked Wally to use the Time Treadmill to go back and prevent Hunter’s injuries. Wally of course refused. in desperation Hunter went to the Flash Museum and attempted to activate the treadmill himself. This takes us into Part One of The Blitz storyline in this Month’s issue…. Hunter Zolomon is in the hospital thinking about his career as a profiler which he took up to find an answer why his father murdered his mother. (hmmmm sounds familiar) in Hunter’s mind Wally doesn’t understand tragedy. Hunter dwells on how his growing up was quiet and his parents never spoke. Hunter went on to college and met a girl named Ashley. They became a couple graduated college and joined the F.B.I. where her father was an Agent that specialized in Metahuman criminal psychology. Hunter and Ashley would go on to be married. a few weeks later tragedy would strike. In the hospital Hunter finds himself getting hot and thirsty having spilled his glass of water Hunter views Flash’s refusal as being a reaction to fear. He remembers Eobard Thawne the Reverse Flash who was Barry Allen’s enemy It’s interesting to note here that while Hunter acknowledges the reality of time travel and even wanted to use it to erase the tragedies of his own life he’s unwilling to accept that Barry Allen stayed in another time period for his own retirement. Hunter continues his own history by remembering that he had chosen to follow in his Father-in-Law’s footsteps by becoming a profiler that focused on Rogue Metahumans and costumed Criminals. hunter was growing Over confident as a result of his success in the field until a Circus Clown turned Serial killer had begun murdering former associates in Kansas city. Hunter suddenly realizes that his water glass never hit the ground. also… Hunter steps out into the hall to find everything frozen in place Hunter thinks at first that he’s losing touch with reality until he realizes that this is his opportunity to teach wally West a lesson in Tragedy. This is the beginning of several different themes in the Flash that would transition from Wally’s world, to Barry’s. The theme of a Father murdering a Mother leaving their son alone in the world. The theme of having a Villain working against a hero to “Make him a better hero” and finally, the theme of having a hero be required to endure a great tragedy. (The Batman-ization of Heroes) The thing is: As much as I personally disagree with these concepts as they apply to heroes i find that Hunter Solomon aka ZOOM II follows a rule that is paramount for Villains in any kind of Fiction This rule was first expressed by P.S. Michael Hayes known as the leader of the Wrestling Team: the Fabulous Freebirds. “A Bad Guy Has to believe he’s right. No Matter how screwed up his logic might be.” Well, we’ll see where this Logic leads next month. Until then, Happy Halloween!
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Post by golddragon71 on Sept 28, 2015 11:15:39 GMT -5
Last week I picked up the TV version of Captain Cold This week I received the New52 Heroes vs Villains Flash and Captain Cold Now as everyone knows i've already had that flash figure for some time (about a year and a half or so...) but recently, the earpiece on one side broke off. the problem with that is that since the shiny Flash was exclusive to the set it wasn't worth getting a full set, nor was it worth paying some of the high prices that the figure has been available for as a single. when the pair of figures came up this past week for only $30 however,.... well I couldn't resist! Thus completing my Cold Front... as well as adding the older shiny Flash to my Wally West Section (which is where he belongs anyway!)
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Post by golddragon71 on Sept 23, 2015 12:53:08 GMT -5
Ok It’s finally here! The Final Chapter in in We start (as we have so many times before during this storyline) with Wally Giving a recap of the events of the last six issues. (as much as I love Mark Waid’s work particularly on Flash, even I was getting tired of The story so far at this point!.) Intercut with Wally’s plot summary is The Reverse Flash coming in to deliver a death Blow as they proceed to fight Wally wants to know how Thawne beat death. preferably without dying himself Thawne then tells Wally that he hasn’t met Barry Allen yet (From Thawne’s perspective everything that’s happening with him is before…) Thawne starts his story by asking Wally if he’s ever been to the 25th Century Wally doesn’t believe the statement but listens as Thawne continues Thawne then explained how he had replicated Barry’s accident to gain the Super-Speed powers Unused to the difficulties of Time travel, Thawne found himself ravaged by the experience and when he arrived he found himself Thawne then found his way to the Flash museum depressed at having missed his chance to meet his hero. Upon seeing the exhibit however, Thawne was horrified to learn the identity and fate of the Reverse Flash. The shock of seeing his own death as well as his still being disoriented by his time travel experience pushed Thawne into a traumatized state of delusion whereupon he believed… It was after that. Wally recognizes that this is why Hal Jordan’s Ring detected no deceit from “Barry” when he first reappeared. It was because Thawne himself believed in his dellsion to such a degree that he made it the truth. Thawne is able to guess Wally’s plan at that point (to Return Thawne to his own time so that he lives out his destiny.) Thawne goes to destroy the cosmic treadmill to prevent it but Wally talks him out of it not because of a time paradox but because part of Thawne’s fanboy obsession won’t allow him to destroy the Holy grail of Flash collectibles! At this moment, Hal, Johnny Quick and Max Mercury arrive to prevent him from Killing Wally. Zoom gloats about how Hal’s ring is useless against someone clad in yellow as well as being able to vibrate through solid walls. with Thawne gone, Wally and the others re-group at Jay’s hospital room. Wally is prepared to go after Thawne but he insists that the others hold back and only come in to help if he fails to stop the reverse Flash. Wally explains that Thawne’s boom was instrumental in his being able to pass as Barry for as long as he did. Johnny looks at the copyright date and Author Credit and sees something totally unexpected It’s at that moment that Linda Park appears on the news in an interview with the mayor. unfortunately , Thawne arrives killing the Mayor and then bragging about how he, NOT Barry Allen, is responsible for the terrorism he has committed against Central City…. Wally races across town instantly yup! I did it again. (Actually this was my first mingling of a classic Wally Page and a New52 Barry cover and I have to say it came out way better than I could have hoped (actually i like it even better than the original page because it really looks as if Flash is totally out of his league in this fight to the point where he can’t even lift a hand to defend himself against reverse Flash’s onslaught) Thawne runs off once more while Linda tends to Wally. Wally admits to himself that Max was right all along about being afraid of replacing Barry rather than succeeding him but Wally realizes that he has a worse fear…. Wally is now on an even footing with Thawne who is rattled at the thought of suddenly having a tougher fight on his hands. Thawne smashes Barry’s statue in Wally’s direction causing him to slip on the wet cement while evading the shards of broken marble. Thawne’s confidence is shattered by the near miss, Wally is able to slap his former tormentor around berating Thawne for trying to drag Barry’s name through the mud. Thawne in sheer desperation claims to be Barry allen but Wally responds Thawne whimpers for Wally to go ahead and finish him but Wally chooses instead to go to the cosmic treadmill and threatens to terrorize Thawne’s life at every turn Thawne races to the cosmic treadmill and races back to his own time stream terrified. it’s then that Hal and the others arrive and congratulate Wally on his trick. Wally tells them he didn’t time travel just yet he only jumped off the treadmill and hid to convince Thawne he was. Wally explains that when Thawne arrives back in his own time , his inexperience with time travel will leave him amnesiac about his experiences. Even if he does have some moment of the trip… A few days later Wally and linda are walking past the Flash museum Wally reflects on disappointment of “Barry’s Return but admits that it did help him come to terms with Barry’s memory and also that , if nothing else, some good news came out of it. iris West was due to return sometime in the not so distant future as she was the the author of Barry’s Biography or would be as the publication date in the book shows that it would be written in 1997 (about four years from that point.) Wally chooses to throw the book away rather than read about his own future. Well, It’s been an awesome ride! One of the things I liked best about the storyline is that it did two things. It solidified Wally’s right to wear the uniform of the Flash more than any adventure so far and it also gave us an opening for Barry Allen’s eventual genuine return. granted it would prove to be a very long time getting to that point but at least there was an element of hope. The End of the story did not have “Barry’s Dead! Let’s move on already!” written all over it. See you all next Time!
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Post by golddragon71 on Sept 14, 2015 11:59:18 GMT -5
back in 08 as I was preparing to move from Maryland to new Jersey, i found that my collection would have to be cut in half. As a result of the hurried nature of the exodus certain items that should have been retained were lost..... some have since been replaced Today one very important piece in particular has returned to my museum Hailed by Eobard Thawne as the Holy Grail* of Flash collectibles.... The Cosmic Treadmill! Seen here with Silver Age Barry Allen Flash and with current TV Flash Grant Gustin as Barry Allen WOW! Time Travel really changes you ....(in a FLASH!) (* FLASH #79 (1987-2009)
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Post by golddragon71 on Aug 28, 2015 9:23:02 GMT -5
In this week’s we examine the second to last chapter of with and we start with Wally West trying to learn a mathematical formula (to this day i’ve never really figured out how exactly to say that as i’m Not sure whether it’s Three- ex-two or three- times-two by/times 9YZ by/times 4A ….I’m sure that as it’s a mathematical formula, the terminology has to be precise) It’s at this moment that Wally is formally introduced to Max Mercury aka the Original Quicksilver Jay explains that Max was fast enough to save Jay and the two High-Steel workers from “Flash’s” attack last issue. Max tells Wally that he shouldn’t think so much about using his speed but rather that he should just let it happen. Wally is unimpressed so far but then Max asks why Wally isn’t as fast of Barry? Wally turns to jay and asks what bits of advice he can give but Jay tells him “Not a one” With That, Wally pulls out the book he bought from the wino in the alley He explains the importance of it and then reads the Owners name plate in the front cover. Jay reacts immediately to the true Identity of the “Flash” they’ve been dealing with. Wally has developed a plan for getting answers but he needs the veteran speedsters to buy time for him to set “Flash” up. As all this is going on “Flash” has decided he needs some help in taking over Central City. (at the time this issue had come out I had managed to get The pilot movie on VHS so my first reaction to seeing this was “Barry’s pulling a page from Nick Pike’s Dark rider playbook!”) It’s at this point that Jay, Johnny and Max show up. Johnny and Max work at disarming and corralling the inmates while Jay goes after “Barry” Wally on the other hand is at the Flash museum searching it for something. Jay manages to hold his own against the renegade “Flash but that ends when… As Johnny and Max go to help Jay “Barry” races off swearing to level the city….not as “Barry Allen” but as the One, True Flash! “Barry” arrives at the Flash Museum digging through the debris searching for something. “Barry” touches the secret button on the ring but the costume that ejects from the ring is not what he expected. Wally asks if it looks familiar… Wally congratulates “Barry” on his deception explaining that his tale of traumatic amnesia fooled everyone. Finally! the Big reveal! I looked back at the letters page for this issue* and found that some fans believed that all the changes in Barry’s life had really gotten to him others believed it wasn’t Barry at all.One suggested it might be a clone with faulty memories. an idea that was played with in the Return of Superman storyline. The thing that excited me was the idea that we had one more book to go (The first part of which would explain the hows/whys of Thawne’s return and a major showdown! My thinking at the time was that we might still get the real Barry back after all for a last minute save! Sorry this week’s installment was so slow getting up. Next month’s WILL Be on Time (and just in Time for the New season of the Flash!) *(I have them all on my bookshelf along with the tail end of Barry’s Original run (complete from315-350) and NuBarry’s current Run)
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