Letters to The Flash #35

Lest there should be any confusion or recrimination, the delay was entirely my fault. I thought I had the writing more under control than I did, and my long-suffering editor was a hero about the whole thing. Sorry, folks, I'll endeavour to make sure it doesn't happen again!

5 stars! Excellent issue. I just love Barry, always have-- and this is the first fanfic I've read that I actually LIKED Cold and Weather Wizard. Before tonight, I've only read one, maybe two issues of Flash here-- I'm so going to go back and read previous Flash issues if this is an example of what I have been missing.

Read Legacy of the Lightning. It's absolutely fantastic!

Glider is a fun character who I'm a big fan of, and the dramatic potential of her as the one person really able to get under Cold's skin felt too good to let lie, particualrly with her connection to Weather Wizard on the DC2. She'll have a big role in things going forward!



The future? He's already a problem in the present! But yes, next week we dive into the life of Wolfe to finally explore his hatred of the Flash, give him some depth... and, well, let's just say for a deal that will shake the foundations of Barry's world!



I think I nearly died when Charlie showed it to me; he really is the best editor anyone can ask for- tolerating my tardiness and finding the most astonishing covers in unlikely places. Yes, that cover is a work of art!



And we're always glad to hear from you, Pat, especially when you say stuff as nice as this!



As Charlie knows, to his eternal eye-rolling, I love the Flash universe. All of it. Love it, love it, love it, more than everything else in DC comics and a hefty chunk of Marvel rolled in together. So I share your affection for Barry!



As I've said before, the Rogues are infinitely fascinating to me as being in that netherland between being good and being really evil, not quite fitting into either- or rather, refusing to allow themselves to be boxed in like that! But yeah, the closing scene of this issue pretty much wrote itself- because while Cold and Mardon do some pretty bad things, some things are off limits, and that includes going after family.

Hmm, say- they don't like going after family, Glider threatened Barry's family, Mardon killed his own brother, there was a conflict here between brother and sister, we met the Candyman's sister.... I wonder if families are going to be a major theme of the book going forward?



From issue #24 it's stupendous- before that, kinda crap. No, I kid, that's when I took over writing duties. I think The Flash on the DC2 has quite a consistent record, with effectively three extended 'run's on the title so far- Charlie's, Seb's, and mine- all of which have been distinct, and I've enjoyed the two I can judge objectively a lot- punctuated by quite high quality one-shot or two-parter issues from other writers. It also tended to remain new reader friendly. I've kind of ruined that a bit by weighing it down with subplots, mind you, but that's what the 'Previously' is there for.

But if you want to see the events that led to this issue, everything happening in 'The Flash' now spins out of the 'Legacy of the Lightning' story that kicked off with a prologue in issue #29.



I remain ecstatic at the incredibly glowing reviews this got, and the fact that the first issue won 'Best issue of 2008' on the DC2, a real honour! This may soon become one of a few tales it's even easier to read than ever before- though as to how... well, that's all still secret and tenative.



Overarching arc? I have no idea what you're talking about; you appear to be suggesting that this title has a firm direction which it is committed to and is leading to a 'big' story for the Flash; what a ridiculous notion indeed! What writer would be crazy/stupid enough to do two big stories in two-three years!?



Which deepens next issue, true believers!



The thing I'm really trying to do here is to expand the Flash's world in new directions while still telling a story, rather than writing handbook entries. Hopefully though, when the book is eventually prised from my cold, dead hands, there's room for my successor to head in any number of directions that wouldn't have been open before. That's my real aim here; not just to tell good stories, but to try to make it possible to tell even more!



Charlie, I feel we've reached a point in our relationship where I can say that frankly, we both know that's a flight of fantasy on your part.

I'm giving up on this title.


I'm giving up on trying to figure out different ways to say that this title is consistently top notch. It is always on the bottom of my "to read" list". (I always save my most anticipated read for the last of the week - granted I'm a week behind).

This title, and writer, never cease to amaze me. Pulling so many different little threads together and building off the issues that have come before. THIS is the type of writing that I would be chomping at the bit to read every month, if it came out on the stands.

The cover is one of the most simplistic and beautiful I've seen around here as well.

I cannot say enough good things about this title. Other than it makes me jealous to see such flawlesness in exacution.

Sorry it took me so long to get to this issue, but it was certainly worth the wait!

This was a pretty standard story of an almost classic Silver Age nature: Rogues rob bank, Flash stops them. But what elevates it is the superb characterization, from Barry to Cold to even the hoi poloi of the Twin Cities. The reader is really sucked into this issue, commiserating with Barry, and eager to like Cold and the Rogues (okay, I admit, I am becomming a convert )--- who were as cool as the other side of the pillow in this issue!

Golden Glider is crazy, cruel--- and a little sympathetic, given what the Candyman put her through. That cover is beautiful, but given the description of the action in this issue, I could actually imagine Carmine Infantino drawing this (especially the scene where she's skating on air).

Lots of dramatic potential to be mined from the current situation in the Twin Cities, but it was good to get away from the angst and back into good old fashioned superheroic head-bustin'.

And Brian, I know how you feel--- The Flash is one of those DC2 titles I read for a dose of humility (of course, New Outsiders is another one, FYI), one from which I get not only some thrills from, but also a real sense of enjoyment. Keep up the good work, Kev, and see ya next issue!

Five stars!