Reasons why the Flash's New Creative Team Is Perfect for Me

cover to The Flash #30 by Brett Booth

It was announced a few days ago that there will be a new creative team for The Flash starting with April's #30. This is fantastic news for a few reasons.




Is that Wally West on the cover?

Wally West's Return/Debut

Wally West was the Flash for two decades in the post-Crisis DC Universe until Barry Allen came back in Final Crisis. Barry then took over the reigns as Flash through the end of the pre-New 52 Universe and then for the past almost three years in the New 52, Barry Allen has been the only Flash (with Jay Garrick and Bart Allen both popping up but rarely interacting with Barry, if at all). People have been wanting...neigh, begging...for Wally to make a return to comics. The Flash Annual #3 (set to release April 30th, 2014) will deliver just what the fans want: Wally West. Wally West has always been my Flash. He was the Flash in the Justice League tv show that introduced me to comics in general. And even though Barry Allen had returned by the time I started reading mainstream comics, Wally was always the one I connected most with.




cover to Green Lantern Corps #24, issue written by Robert Venditti and Van Jensen

Robert Venditti/Van Jensen

After Geoff Johns left Green Lantern with #20, everyone was wondering who would step up to fill his shoes and how well they would do. Robert Venditti is the one who replaced Johns on the flagship GL title, and Van Jensen and Venditti have been co-writing the formerly Peter J. Tomasi-written Green Lantern Corps book as well. In my own personal opinion, they have done a fantastic job on the books. They have brought new life to the books in a much-needed way. I hope this is something that continues into the Flash and I have no reason to see why it shouldn't.

Brett Booth
I've been following Brett Booth's work since Teen Titans #1 in the New 52. I've followed him through Teen Titans, Nightwing, and Batman/Superman. I'll certainly be following him onto The Flash. Booth has become one of my favorite artists in the New 52. I even got to have a couple interviews with him right here on the blog. He's an all-around nice guy, but he's also got some extreme talent. I can't wait to see his work on the Flash because not only does he bring his a-game to every book he's done, Wally West is one of his favorite characters...so I know he'll do his absolute best to make it look absolutely amazing.

Post-Forever Evil Shake Ups in the DC Universe

cover to Justice League United #0 by Mike McKone

There have been several important shake ups to the DC Universe announced over the past few days in anticipation of the April 2014 solicitations (which are set to drop on Tuesday). Most notably are the ones from yesterday and today, which revolve around the Justice League books. Yesterday it was announced that Justice League United #0 will be released (with the creative team of Jeff Lemire and Mike McKone) and that will be replacing Justice League of America. The roster has been revealed to be a combination of several corners of the DC Universe. Coming over from JLA we have Martian Manhunter, Stargirl, Green Arrow, and Hawkman (not pictured). Also joining the team will be Adam Strange and his wife, Animal Man, Supergirl and a new character of Cree background. The team will apparently be based in northern Ontario, where the first adventure takes place. The first two story arcs will be space-focused though as they will be going to Rann and then Thanagar. The cover to Justice League United #0 is shown above.



cover to Justice League #30 by Ivan Reis

But perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of the post-Forever Evil announcements is this: Justice League #30 will feature the start of a new Justice League roster...including Lex Luthor, Captain Cold, and Shazam. Noticeably missing from the cover are Superman and the Flash. All of the other League-members seem to be sticking around though. It is understandable that Superman and Flash would leave the League considering the inclusion of Lex Luthor and Captain Cold to the team. It seems that Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis will continue on as the creative team for Justice League in the post-Forever Evil world.



cover to Aquaman and the Others #1 by Ivan Reis

Originally seen in the second story arc of the Aquaman series, the Others were introduced as the team Aquaman was on before the Justice League. They've been seen a few different times since that story arc. But starting in April, DC will be giving them an ongoing series from the creative team of writer Dan Jurgens and artist Lan Medina. This will not affect the regular Aquaman ongoing series by Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier. When this was announced a few days ago, I expected it to mean that he was leaving the Justice League book to go back to his own series.



cover to Secret Origins #1 by Lee Bermejo

DC hasn't had the best of luck with anthology books in the New 52. They tried at the beginning of the New 52 with DC Universe Presents...which starred characters like Black Lightning & Blue Devil and Deadman. But in April they're launching a new book called Secret Origins. The first issue will star Superman, Supergirl, and Nightwing's origins. The first issue will be written by Action Comics, Nightwing, and Supergirl scribes Greg Pak, Kyle Higgins, and Tony Bedard. There will be art from various artists. Here's the solicit for the book:

SECRET ORIGINS #1
Written by TONY BEDARD, KYLE HIGGINS and GREG PAK
Art by PAULO SIQUEIRA, WILL CONRAD and others
Cover by LEE BERMEJO
1:25 Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale APRIL 23 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
At last, the SECRET ORIGINS of the World’s Greatest Heroes in The New 52 can be revealed! This new series gets off to an awesome start with the origins of The Last Son of Krypton and Kara Zor-El, Supergirl, plus the first Robin, Dick Grayson.





cover to Teen Titans #30 by Kenneth Rocafort

Also, there has been at least one book announced as ending. Teen Titans will be ending with it's 30th issue, writer Scott Lobdell announced on ComicVine. This issue (and then the annual) will feature the final battle with N.O.W.H.E.R.E. to end Scott Lobdell's big overarching story arc. Noticeably missing from the cover are Solstice and Kid Flash, which leads to the question of whether they are staying in the future or not.

Also announced is Nightwing getting a new creative team in April. Writer Kyle Higgins took to Facebook to announce his departure from the series.



cover to the Flash #30 by Brett Booth

Another creative team shake up is that the Green Lantern Corps writing team of Van Jensen and Robert Venditti and artist Brett Booth will be the new creative team on the Flash starting with April's #30. Booth will do the Flash Annual #3 and then switch over to regular series artist. The book will focus on Barry taking back and helping rebuild Central and Keystone Cities as they were destroyed at the beginning of Forever Evil. Also, arguably more important than the new creative team and focus of the book, is the introduction of New 52 Wally West. He will be introduced in the Annual. It hasn't been said if he will become a regular cast member of the Flash book or if its just in the Annual. The cover to issue #30 of the Flash is shown above. The Annual's cover is shown below.




cover to the Flash Annual #3 by Brett Booth



Update: It appears that I forgot one! Sinestro is also getting an ongoing series starting in April! Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dale Eaglesham are starting a new ongoing series starring everybody's favorite Yellow Lantern. The series is set to focus on Sinestro as he tries to take control of his self-named Corps. The book will also co-star Lyssa Drak. This is now the sixth book to be part of the Green Lantern family of titles, alongside Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Red Lanterns, and Larfleeze. Below is the cover for that.

cover to Sinestro #1 by Dale Eaglesham