Flashpoint Friday!

It was Flashpoint Friday in America yesterday so we got some new art and a few good interviews over at CBR, I urge you to check them out. On my part I stole some Emperor Aquaman artwork from The Source, enjoy!



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The Road to Flaspoint: The Flash #11

The penultimate issue of "The Flash" answers most of the questions that the previous one had raised, as well as beginning to build a clear road to Flashpoint.

We get to see some nice character moments in this issue, as Johns brings the core members of the Flash family together to give Barry Allen an intervention. Barry hasn't made time to slow down for his extended family since his return for the speed force, and last issue's breakdown between Barry and Bart drives the conflict.

Of course the murders taking place are integral to the plot of the comic, and probably the story of "Flashpoint" as well. I should never have doubted Geoff Johns.

This issue sees Francis Manapul take a break from art duties (perhaps due to the delayed schedule?) and instead brings in Scott Kolins. At first I was dismissive of Kolins' depiction of Barry and the other supporting characters, but he settles into a better style early into the issue and does a commendable job. The flashback scenes are really great, and the final page reveal is drawn with all the jagged style it deserves.

The final issue of "The Flash" hits shelves on the 11th of May along with the first issue of "Flashpoint", and I'm excited to see what sets up Barry's crossing over to the world of Flashpoint. Stay tuned for reviews of the final issue of "The Flash" and "Flashpoint" on the 11th of next month, it's going to be a busy day.

Flashpoint: Week Five (29/06/2011)

The final Wednesday in June (the fifth Wednesday?!) sees us off with two one-shots and another mini-series.

Project Superman #1

By: Scott Snyder Lowell Francis, Gene Ha

FLASH FACT! They experimented on him in a lab for years!

I'm not quite sold with this mini yet, I may just be getting the first issue. Still, it should be interesting to see how Superman is different having grown up in a lab. Nice cover too.

Green Arrow Industries #1

By: Pornsak Pichetshote, Mark Castiello, Viktor Kalvachev

FLASH FACT! He makes money from war!

A Green Arrow one-shot by people I've never heard of? Okay.

Canterbury Cricket #1

By: Mike Carlin, Rags Morales

FLASH FACT! His power is his curse!

A new character that looks like a cricket? Hell yes. I'm interested to see what this one is all about, and I can't go past "His power is his curse!". I also love to see a comic/character based in England, could it be my love of England? Or my Australian-ness?

NOTE: I should point out that all the Flashpoint mini-series coming out this month come with a free Flashpoint pin featuring the re-imagined logos of the core characters. To me that's a good enough reason to buy the first issue of any of them. Even Kid Flash Lost!

Flashpoint: Week Four (22/06/2011)

Week four of Flashpoint should be an interesting one, adding more to the world of Flashpoint, and more badges for me.

Lois Lane and the Resistance #1

By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Eddy Nunez, Sandra Hope

FLASH FACT! She is ready to reveal the Amazons' secret!

I'm hoping this'll be a kind of thriller comic book, with people trying to keep Lois quiet, type thing. We'll have to wait and see. Still, Etrigan's on the cover. I like Etrigan. He rhymes.

The Outsider #1

By: James Robinson, Javi Fernandez, Kevin Nowlan

FLASH FACT! He won't join the war! (It could dirty his new suit.)

The cover is enough to grab my interest, especially as I have no idea who the Outsider is. But he sounds smug, and therefore cool.

Kid Flash Lost Starring Barry Allen #1

By: Sterling Gates, Oliver Nome, Francis Manapul

FLASH FACT! Where is he? Or should we say when?

Honestly I'm not really interested in Kid Flash (I find him kind of annoying, I suppose), so I might not be getting every issue of this mini. I'm getting this for the pin.

Reverse Flash #1 (one-shot)

By: Sean Ryan, Joel Gomez, Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes

FLASH FACT! He's more powerful than ever!

I really like the Reverse Flash as a villain, so I'm always happy to see him pop up in a Flash comic. Even so, I'm surprised this is only a one-shot as the Reverse Flash is a major Flash villain and as "He's more powerful than ever!" I really want to see more.

NOTE: I should point out that all the Flashpoint mini-series coming out this month come with a free Flashpoint pin featuring the re-imagined logos of the core characters. To me that's a good enough reason to buy the first issue of any of them. Even Kid Flash Lost!

Flashpoint: Week Three (15/06/2011)

Week three of June brings us Deadman and Dick Grayson, Wonder Woman and Gorilla Grodd.

Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1

By: J.T. Krul, Mikel Janin, Cliff Chiang

FLASH FACT! For their last performance - an escape act!

The covers for this mini-series are all done like old fashioned circus posters, and they all look fantastic so far. It'll be interesting to see how Dick grew up with his parents, as well as the not-dead Deadman.

Wonder Woman and the Furies #1

By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Ed Benes, Scott Clark, David Beaty

FLASH FACT! If she can't have the world - no one will!

Alongside Emperor Aquaman, we've got extra Amazonian Wonder Woman. And it looks like she'll be teaming up with Hawkgirl and a few of the other premier DC women. Should be interesting.

Grodd of War #1 (one-shot)

By: Sean Ryan, Ig Guara, Francis Manapul

FLASH FACT! Africa belongs to him!

The first of the four one-shots for June, with a cover by the fantastic Francis Manapul. I'm not a fan of Gorilla Grodd, but if it's just a one-shot, why not get it?

NOTE: I should point out that all the Flashpoint mini-series coming out this month come with a free Flashpoint pin featuring the re-imagined logos of the core characters. To me that's a good enough reason to buy the first issue of any of them.

Flashpoint UPDATE

I thought I'd break up the monotony of listing my Flashpoint picks by featuring some awesome artwork I just saw over at DC's The Source Blog.

First up we have the finished cover for the first issue of Batman - Knight of Vengeance:

And then we get some more of Badass Emperor Aquaman:

I cannot wait for this event to hit.

Flashpoint: Week Two (08/06/2011)

This is the week that Flashpoint gets interesting for me, with three mini-series premiering and the second issue of the main series hitting the stands.

Flashpoint #2

By: Geoff Johns, Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope

The world-changing miniseries continues! Where are the World's Greatest Super Heroes? Barry Allen is on a mission to find out or die trying - and that may be what's happening as he tries to make lightning strike twice!

Meanwhile, around the submerged Paris, the pirate Deathstroke confronts Emperor Aquaman!

As if the cover isn't enough to get you excited, the solicitation promises Deathstroke vs. Emperor Aquman, something I'm looking forward to quite a bit.

NOTE: This issue is shipping with a free Flaspoint ring (the same quality as the Green Lantern ones, don't get too exicted). Still, enough to make non-believers pick up the second issue.

Emperor Aquaman #1

By: Tony Bedard, Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes

FLASH FACT! He will drown the world - then rule it!

This is probably the mini-series that I'm most looking forward to. Aquaman is a hard character to get the reader to take seriously, but adding this kind of militaristic quality to him might make it work.

Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #1

By: Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Bennett, John Dell

FLASH FACT! He will stop at nothing to find his lost treasure!

I'm not a usual reader of... whatever comic that Deathstroke is in? I know he's a master assassin/fighter type person, but the pirate angle has my interest. Mostly I'm reading this to see some more of the dynamic/battle between Deathstroke and Emperor Aquaman.

Citizen Cold #1

By: Scott Kolins

FLASH FACT! He loves someone he should not!

FLASH FACT! I'm only buying this for the pin! Still, could be interesting.

NOTE again: I should point out that all the Flashpoint mini-series coming out this month come with a free Flashpoint pin featuring the re-imagined logos of the core characters. To me that's a good enough reason to buy the first issue of any of them. Especially Citizen Cold!

Flashpoint: Week One (01/06/2011)

While the first issue of Flashpoint hits shelves on the 11th of May, the next event for DC doesn't get into full swing until June when the 16 mini-series and 4 one-shot comics roll out. Over the next week I'll be updating the blog with a list of the Flashpoint comics I'll be purchasing week-by-week in the month of June all of which I intend to review when I get them. So here we go:

Batman - Knight of Vengeance #1

By: Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, Dave Johnson

FLASH FACT! He spends his days running Wayne Casinos!

This one looks like it'll be good, you can't really go wrong with Batman. I'm guessing that Wayne Industries is just being replaced by Wayne Casinos, maybe Batman's parents weren't the philanthropists we've come to know in the regular DC universe.

The World of Flashpoint #1

By: Rex Ogle, Paulo Siquiera, Shane Davis

FLASH FACT! Everything you know changed in a flash - but how?

While this mini-series may not be integral to understanding the world of Flashpoint, it should provide a good overview of all the other mini-series that DC is pumping out. And with a cover like that, how can it not be exciting?

NOTE: I should point out that all the Flashpoint mini-series coming out this month come with a free Flaspoint pin featuring the re-imagined logos of the core characters. To me that's a good enough reason to buy the first issue of any of them.

The Road to Flaspoint: The Flash #10

Last issue gave us the final page reveal of Hot Pursuit's identity: none other than Barry Allen. Of course it's the Barry Allen of a parallel universe, but still, shock!

This issue sees Barry trying to keep up with Hot Pursuit, who has the ability to steal the Speed Force from Barry to power his Cosmic Motorcycle (very Tron), as well as solve the murder of the Elongated Kid. Kid Flash raises an interesting point involving Barry and his continued avoidance of his own "Flash family", something that will surely come to a head as we dive into Flashpoint. Will he escape to the parallel universe of Flashpoint for good?

Honestly, the murder plot seems to slow the story down, as readers will definately be more interested in Hot Pursuit and the actual 'Road to Flashpoint', but of course it all ties together. Ace blood analyst and friend of Barry Allen, Patty Spivot is reintroduced in this issue, but whether she'll stick around will have to wait until next issue.

As usual Manapul's art is pretty spot on, but this issue doesn't give him much of a chance to spread his artistic wings.

Of course this issue gives us the obligatory ad for Flashpoint, showcasing the Reverse Flash. Why is that only a one-shot? I can understand the Gorilla Grodd and Canturbury Cricket one-shots, but you'd think Reverse Flash would at least get a three issue mini-series.

Pushing it to the Limit

Alright, I'm back.

It seems impossible, I know, but here we are. This year is going to be a doozy, by all means. University is in its third year, so the assignments are harder and require more thinking. I'm editing the Verandah Journal, which is going to be great experience but also a hard job, even with the great people I'm working with. And if that wasn't enough, I'm the president of a club at university, and it we want to get it up and running properly it's going to be a lot of effort and paperwork. And then there's my job, which (somewhat thankfully) I'm not getting much work from lately.

BUT, there is a light shining on the horizon. A new dawn is coming and it will flame across he land and illuminate all the dark places in the universe. Heroes will rise and villains will fall. Reviews will be written, and comprehensive information will be obtained. A storm is coming, and I'm going to stand in the eye and scream for more.

Flashpoint is coming, so stay tuned.