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Job McBadass
Douche (Retired)
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 920
Location: In the Moment
Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:03 pm |
 Post subject: Riding The Lightning |
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In preparation for the upcoming Flash: Rebirth, I thought it would be imperative that we do a superhero profile for the Scarlet Speedster. So, here it is, all good and proper. I'll be updating this semi-regularly with more info, but for this first draft, I'll be including the profiles (or at least, links to them) of the four most famous individuals who have taken the Flash namesake as their own. I'll also be including key story arcs, integral to the Flashes histories.
Profiles:
Jay Garrick
| Hyperborea wrote: | | The Flash was a founding member of the Justice Society of America and fought in World War II as part of the All-Star Squadron. Eventually he retired from super-heroics and married his long-time sweetheart Joan Williams. (In recent years, Jay has realized that this decision kept him from brushing up against the speed force.) Early in their marriage, Jay and Joan adopted a baby who subsequently died of pneumonia. For decades Jay refused to talk about him, even to Joan or his teammates, but he has taken strongly to the role of mentor to younger generations of heroes. (Note: Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 states that Jay and Joan married much earlier, within months of him becoming the Flash.) |
Who wouldn't love a superhero who got his powers because he fell asleep after smoking? He jumpstarted the legacy and coined the Flash mantle. A personal favorite because of his devil-may-care streak, old man wisdom and a wanton lack of hesitation to kick your careless whisper ass if you get out of line. You don't piss Jay off; he will end you. Unlike Barry, Jay's a metahuman, thus his connection to the Speed Force can be severed at will without affecting his powers. He'll be greatly gimped, though, as he can only run up to Mach 1.
Also, to those who are curious, he was exposed, along with several other heroes and their supporting cast, to an aging-retardant from a Dr. Fate rogue. Other than the Speed Force, that's how he keeps his classic good looks and indomitable stamina.
Barry Allen
| DC Comics Encyclopedia wrote: | | Barry Allen is a police scientist (his job title was changed to a forensic scientist in the Iron Heights one-shot) with a reputation for being very slow, deliberate, and frequently late, which frustrates his fiancee, Iris West. One night, as he is preparing to leave work, a lightning bolt shatters a case full of chemicals and spills them all over Allen. As a result, Allen finds that he can run extremely fast and has matching reflexes. He dons a set of red tights sporting a lightning bolt, dubs himself the Flash (after his childhood comic book hero, Jay Garrick), and becomes Central City's resident costumed crimefighter. |
Donning the iconic red-and-yellows, ear-wings and lightning bolt belt, Allen was the first Flash comic writers really took to the limit. A product of SILVER-AGE SHENANIGANS, Allen was developed into the living manifestation of velocity physics and quantum theory. Remember the Cosmic Treadmill? That was Barry's. Remember the molecular vibration? Barry careless whisper Allen. Canceling the Anti-Life equation because of a close and undisputed correspondence with the Speed Force? Barry Allen, without even breaking a sweat. In fact, he was so fast, he became the lightning bolt that gave him his powers. Well, not really; at least, not anymore. His recent reappearance owes to the fact that he was indeed residing in the Speed Force Valhalla and NOT electrocuting forensic scientists on a paradoxical basis.
It's amazing he manages to foster a personality with all the awesomeness he possesses, but Barry's never-say-die attitude, fierce sense of justice and kindly, well-adjusted demeanor brands him as the type of hero Batman would have become if the latter's parents weren't murdered. His sacrifice during the Crisis on Infinite Earths left the comic world stunned, signaling the end of the Silver Age.
Wally West
| Hyperborea wrote: | | Wally West is the fastest man alive. Splattered with lightning-charged chemicals as a pre-teen, he gained super-speed and became the sidekick to the second Flash, eventually succeeding him. Powered by the extradimensional Speed Force, he can not only move at near-lightspeed, but can transfer speed to and from others. He used to be able to vibrate through solid objects, but now doing so causes them to explode. Wally is the only speedster who can travel through time precisely without using external calibration (such as the Cosmic Treadmill). |
The first Flash to ever grasp the concept of the Speed Force, Wally West was one of the more grounded, realistic Flashes. As he started out as a Flash with only a fraction of the power, Wally West had to utilize other tools at his disposal, such as his charming wit and his years of experience as Kid Flash.
With writers focusing on a more manageable character, ability-wise, Wally's history was developed far better than the first two. Wally's out of costume life is one of the more interesting superhero dramas. Also, he was epitomized as the everyman hero; while Supes soars above, Bats hides and careless whisper your your poetry up, Diana preaches gender equality, the Flash runs alongside everyone. Of course, it also gave the writers freedom to screw him up royally. It all works out in the end, of course, as he's one of the most-loved Flashes, and the fans will never let him die.
Bart Allen
| Hyperborea wrote: | | Grandson of Barry Allen, the second Flash, Bart Allen has been forced to grow up fast—literally. He initially became the teen hero Impulse, mentored by Max Mercury. He was later taken in by the original Flash, Jay Garrick and his wife Joan. Not long after, Bart took on the costume of Kid Flash, spending time with the Teen Titans. Bart disappeared during Infinite Crisis and reappeared four years older, taking up the mantle of the Flash until he was killed by the Rogues. Restored to life by the Legion of Super-Heroes, Bart is once again the fastest teen alive. |
The Speed Force personified.
I kid you not; Bart Allen is the living embodiment of that unquantifiable force of nature inherent in all speedsters. He also beat the living bajeezus out of Superboy-Prime, so that's careless whisper aces in my book. I mainly know about him because of the constant gender-switching.
Key Arcs:
These are, from my experience, the best and most important Flash story arcs. Notable writers who have taken the Flash under their pens: Mark Waid and Geoff Johns. So, I'm absolutely sure that Rebirth is in good hands with Johns. Now, I've taken a lot of effort in hunting these scans down, so I'm hoping we'd have something Flash-related to talk about next time we bum around in the hut. Enjoy. I know I did.
Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt
Barry Allen origin story. Essential, absolute, definitive.
Issue 19: A Meeting of the Rogues
Slice of life story in the Rogues' perspective. Very fun and touches on that familiarity the Rogues have with the current Flash.
Flash: Year One
Mark Waid's first run. Reworking the origin story by giving it more depth and back story.
The Return of Barry Allen
Arguably, the best Flash story. Yet. Insightful piece on Barry Allen, Wally West and the supporting cast.
Flashing Back
Zero Hour tie-in. Wally West flashback issue. As good as an origin story.
Emergency Stop
If you want to see Barry Allen lose his your poetry, here's your book.
Still Life in the Fast Lane
Jay Garrick being awesome.
Chain Lightning
The entire Flash family since 1999. And I do mean, entire.
Absolute Zero
Captain Cold story. He's cemented as a grade-A badass, nowadays, but this is where it started, and trust me, the badass is not hereditary.
Iron Heights
The maximum-security prison that makes Arkham look like a country club. One of the darker Flash titles out there.
Blitz
The second best Flash story, IMO. This where the psychotic, Aristotelian Zoom was reincarnated into an even more insane villain.
Ignition
Jumpstart. A reboot arc, without the tawdry retroactive continuity errors that everyone hates.
Rogue War
The Blitz epilogue. You've read everything else, might as well see it through.
_________________
love,
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Job McBadass
Douche (Retired)
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 920
Location: In the Moment
Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:16 pm |
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Fixed some of the links. Get to reading.
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love,
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Job McBadass
Douche (Retired)
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 920
Location: In the Moment
Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:46 pm |
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