FLASH: REBIRTH rant (for the few comic readers out there)

[thehefner]

So. THE FLASH: REBIRTH # 1 just came out.

Over the past few months, I've become so increasingly sick and tired of all the damn whines of "Barry isn't MY Flash!" and/or "Barry should stay dead!" and/or "Barry is a bad/boring character!" that--even though I myself am not particularly fond of Barry, I like him okay--it got to the point where I almost wanted REBIRTH to be good to spite all those people.

Johns had succeeded in delivering... pretty much exactly the book they expected. And so far, that's really, really disappointing.

It wasn't really until I read this that I realized what a Barry Allen comic should be. Because Barry ISN'T teh_drama und angst. He's the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I think a Barry Allen comic should be like ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, but from the everyman perspective. It should be pure awe, joy, wonder, and fun. It should be the Silver Age, made modern.

And to anyone who says that can't happen... again, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN. A brilliant, universally-beloved book featuring another character that people say is boring, outdated, bad, or not relatable.

And really, folks. Barry's not relatable? Guys, he's the only major DC superhero who's a comic geek!!! A great Barry Allen comic is possible, and the more I hear people complain, the more I feel that it must happen. A great Barry Allen FLASH comic--like ALL-STAR SUPERMAN and the upcoming WEDNESDAY COMICS--should feel like a breath a fresh air after all the pointless crossovers and ugly melodrama infecting today's mainstream comics.

Hopefully we'll get it someday, and soon. In the meantime, I fear the pointless and misguided fan-bitching just ain't gonna cease.

OTOH, at least this one person has offered some refreshing perspective on this whole thing, and with that in mind, I shall continue to give Johns the benefit of the doubt. If he can do for FLASH what he did for GL, hopefully the raves shall drown out the haters.

Comments

[kagome654.livejournal.com]

I haven't had a chance to read it yet (I've been too busy to pick up my books), but I can't say that I'm impressed by what I have seen and heard. badficwriter may have a point about Johns recreating Barry for the modern era, in which case we shouldn't be surprised that he's not his more lighthearted Waid style self, but I'm still a little dispointed.

Though I did see Ethan Van Sciver reply in a post at CBR that the readers should not mourn Barry's bowties, suggesting that they're likely to return. Hopefully that means that part of Barry's old school charm will return as well.

In the meantime I'm just going to ignore the haters...and maybe poke them with a stick every once in a while.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I was and am looking forward to your thoughts on this. And badfic's thoughts are helping remind me that this is Johns' (and DiDio's) story to tell, not mine, and that it may ye yield awesomeness to come. There is potential! It's not bad at all, it's just... jarring to see Barry Allen be the dark and humorless one alongside Hal Jordan.

Yes, please continue the ignoring and occasional poking. I'll try to do the same. Addressing them is shaping up to be a full-time job, and damn it, I don't even like Barry enough to warrant that kind of time and attention. It's just the principle of the thing, dang it!

[shadowlongknife.livejournal.com]

I'm just...speaking personally, I'm not liking the level of editorial fiat at DC, and bringing back Barry smacks of a Didio decision, not a Grant or Geoff decision, and we know Johns is too good a company man to actually complain about it in any way.

But I could be reading entirely too much into things, which I freely admit, and I will be picking it up to at least give it a shot, because I do love me some Flash.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Truth be told, I wouldn't put it beyond either of them. But I could certainly believe it was DiDio-mandated. I suppose time will tell just how personally devoted to this Johns is compared to GL, which I imagine he'll still be writing for years to come.

[swimpenguin.livejournal.com]

I'm just eagerly awaiting Morrison and Quitely's Batman and Robin:
http://www.akirathedon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/batman-and-robin-cover-art.jpg

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I'm very cautious. I hated the vast majority of Morrison's BATMAN run so far, with the exception of the Club of Heroes arc with J.H. Williams III. The reason, I think, is because Williams is the only artist Morrison worked with in his run, as opposed to illustrators both good (Kubert) and bad (Daniel). Morrison dearly, desperately needs true artists to bring his mad visions to life.

And Quitely *is* an artist. No doubt. So this does indeed have potential to be awesome. I'm just apprehensive. Morrison's Silver Age stuff is perfect for Superman, but so far, I hate it in his Batman. But Quitely just might be what we need to pull it off.

[swimpenguin.livejournal.com]

I get what you mean-I think I just had an initial naive hope that the magic worked in All Star Superman (does Quitely have magical powers to curb Morrison's crazy shit tendencies?) would repeat with the new Batman and wipe clean all that Black Hand of Death Club or whatever tripe.

[pondering-duck.livejournal.com]

I have heard that there is an issue of Marvel Civil War where much of Stamford, CT is destroyed because of a superhuman battle. I don't know if you know this but I practically grew up in Stamford. Do you know what issue this is in. I'd like to at least look at it if not buy it.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Oh really? haha. Yeah, CIVIL WAR # 1, which can be found in the CIVIL WAR trade. Just flip through it at the shop, but save your money for far more deserving comics.

To this day in the Marvel Universe, "Stamford" is their buzzworld equivalent of our "9/11."

"This isn't our way!" "That was BEFORE Stamford!" Doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Although not all of Stamford is destroyed. Just a whole bunch of kids.