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 Flash Archives, Volume 1
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| Author | Topic: Flash Archives, Volume 1 |
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NecessaryImpurity Member |
posted April 04, 2003 02:50 AM
 
I bought this last week, and just finished. Great book! When I go the store Friday for the new Spirit, I'll get Volume 2 if it's available. I was surprised how quickly the Rogues Gallery was developed. After just 8 issues, we already have Captain Cold, Mr. Element, Dr. Alchemy (more about them in a sec), Mirror Master, Pied Piper, and Grodd, Grodd, and more Grodd. Old Dude must have broken out in hives by the end of this book! When I was first introduced to Element/Alchemy in the early '70s, I had no idea his dual identities had actually debuted in back-to-back issues. That must have been revolutionary at the time. I'm curious to see how much he jumps from one identity to the other over the years. The art is gorgeous. Especially Kubert inks over Infantino, in Showcase #4. Wow! I'd have liked to see Kubert ink some other greats (maybe he did?) like Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. That would have been something to see. One thing that bugged me throught the book is that Infantino seems to confuse his lefts and rights. In the Mirror Master story, on page 138, Barry thinks that Wilkins, the teller, is wearing his ring on his rifgt hand, yet the hand looks like a left hand, with the ring on the middle finger. Did Giella move the ring in attempt to make it look like the right hand? Then in the Pied Piper story, on page 166, Barry appears to check his watch on his right hand in panel 3, but it's on his left hand in panel 4. Speaking of Barry's watch, that Dick Tracy model disappeared in a hurry. Broome's scripts are thoroughly rooted in sci-fi. Between technological super-vilains, androids, visitors from the future, visitors from other dimensions, underground civilizations (underground birdmen?!?!), hidden advanced civilizations (with a gorilla twist), ancient civilizations, and whatnot, Broome hauls out every sci-fi gimick in the bag. And does it well, too. But I gotta ask: what's a "thermal barrier"? Is this supposed to be the bow shock of compressed air that heats to a plasma, ala meteors? Never heard of a thermal barrier. Maybe this was a cutting-edge rocket science term in 1958? All in all, a fun book. Better than I was prepared for. I hope Volume 2 is at the store tomorrow. IP: Logged |
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James Friel Member |
posted April 04, 2003 02:57 AM
I envy your discovering this strip for the first time. I read this stuff as it came out, from the fourth Showcase issue on (I would have been 12 then), and it immediately became my favorite title (sometimes supplanted by Mystery In Space) until Fantastic Four came along. Believe it or not, it gets better. IP: Logged |
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KryptoSuperDog Member |
posted April 04, 2003 04:42 AM
I too, envy you. I discovered the strip when I bought the first Archive a couple of years ago. I would have been only 35 at the time. HAW HAW! Actually, I'd read plenty of reprints over the years, but it's so nice to see all of it in one place. I think they need to do a #4 this year. I think Flash Archives should be kept even with SA Green Lantern! IP: Logged |
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Carlo Member |
posted April 04, 2003 06:48 AM
yep, that IS gorgeous stuff, ain't it, NeccImpure... much as I love my Batman, geez, that Flash has a "fun" buncha rogues, huh? best... IP: Logged |
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CMCINTYRE3600 Member |
posted April 04, 2003 09:03 AM
This is one that I haven't been able to find at a decent price yet (I always resist buying an Archive for more than $35). But today is my birthday and it was one of the ones on my Amazon.com "wish list", so who knows, maybe I'll see it. I guess I am more of a Golden Age fan, but I have always dug Barry Allen, and the few early SA reprints I have do make me want more. Really looking forward to this series. IP: Logged |
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NecessaryImpurity Member |
posted April 04, 2003 12:35 PM
Happy Birthday, Chris! I hope an Archive is one your presents. IP: Logged |
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NecessaryImpurity Member |
posted April 04, 2003 09:14 PM
Volume 2 was available, so I'll have a review in a couple of days. IP: Logged |
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gmp Member |
posted April 04, 2003 10:26 PM
Taking all things into consideration (story, art, the rouge's gallery, etc.) Flash was arguably DC's best Silver Age super hero comic. It is amazing how quickly it all came together, as evidenced by his 1st volume archive. What's even more amazing, is that the 2nd and 3rd voloumes are even better. Glenn IP: Logged |
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Osgood Peabody Member |
posted April 04, 2003 10:38 PM
And the 4th volume, IMO, will be among the best Silver Age volumes past, present, or future: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dstepp14/silverageflash4.htm IP: Logged |
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Old Dude Member |
posted April 05, 2003 12:36 AM
Although I was already buying comics in 1956 (and I was only 7 then), I never saw Flash's Showcase appearances, nor did I find the first few issues of his own book. My first issue was contained the second Kid Flash story. I caught up with most of the stories with the first Flash Annual, and later reprints in the 80-pg and 100-pg. giants. But having them all in order in the archives, as the commercials say: Priceless! I'm set to buy at least two more volumes before they catch up to the point I originally lost interst in the character (Marvel was making all DC books look pretty sorry back then). IP: Logged |
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PeterCool Member |
posted April 05, 2003 07:10 AM
I wish they would fast track these and the GL volumes. IP: Logged |
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