So let's talk about The Flash.

Back in the early 80's, when DC was reintroducing Firestorm as a backup for a few issues of The Flash, I picked up those issues (specifically FOR Firestorm). I found that I also liked The Flash, but when Firestorm got his second run with his own title I stopped buying The Flash. (Well, I was also not a big DC buyer - I was a Marvel guy - so continuing with The Flash wasn't a priority.)

Fast forward 40 years and I'm getting into stuff that I've passed on the first time around. Green Lantern, Batman, Deathstroke, Booster Gold, Superman, etc. Next up - The Flash.

I've bought a few random titles. The Flashpoint series in the individual trades, 3 of the Eaglemoss UK Flash collections, and, just last week, Savage Velocity, the trade covering Wally West's first run as THE Flash. I'm only a couple issues in to that one, and I'm fairly impressed. I also picked up the Rebirth trade as well to support a local shop.

So the question becomes, where do I go from here? What are some of the better Flash trades/compilations, and why would you recommend them?

Important note, I prefer more of a classic art style (based on the late 60's and 70's styles).

I have seen a bit of a fragmentation of Flash fans - some prefer Barry Allen, some prefer Wally West. Barry Allen was the Flash when I was a kid and a teenager, so I lean that way myself, but I do like what I've read of Wally West as the Flash, too.

Generally speaking I'm not a DC guy, but I love the 1987 Wally West Flash series. Mark Waid and Geoff Johns are the two most notable writers on that series. A lot of the artwork is very 90's, but from what I've read, it's the best the Flash has ever been. The Johns/Scott Kolins run is my favorite. When Barry came back about 13-14 years ago, it was never the same.

Next month DC will be releasing the Death of Iris West which reprints Flash 270-284 which was a major story at that time. DC has also released Flash: the Silver Age stories in four different omnibus. There is also a Flash the silver age trade paperback that reprints his showcase appearances and also Flash 105-113 (if you want something other than an omnibus).

Sounds cool! I will definitely pick that up.

I hope they reprint the era where those Firestorm backup stories came from. The Flash stories that I read were good.

I’m most familiar with Carmine Infantino-era Barry Allen, but I thought the volume of Geoff Johns I read was pretty good. I bought a bunch of Mark Waid on sale but haven’t gotten to it.

I prefer Barry Allen myself but some of the best Flash comics in the modern era were by Mark Waid and Geoff Johns. Waid's run has been collected in trade paperbacks. Three large omnibuses collect Johns' Flash run, which is probably the best starting point today if you've never read many Flash comics.

Some of the Barry Allen stories were kinda goofy, but I always liked his rogues gallery.

I just bought the first two trade paperbacks from the Johns era on ebay today. Got a pretty good deal.

If I like them I'll keep going with the trades (or, if I can find a good deal, I'll get the omnibi).

Just to follow up on my earlier post, if you want to sample the Mark Waid run, "The Return of Barry Allen" is one of best DC stories of the 90's. It's also the story that more or less cemented Wally as the Flash. It looks like the tpb is out of print, but the story is featured in the Flash by Mark Waid book 2.

Also, I mentioned I'm a big fan of the Johns/Kolins collaboration. Here are some pics of the original art I own from this run. This has nothing to do with the actual story content, but I figured I'd share since it seems relevant.

Flash 170 title page:


Flash 180 title page


Flash 184 DPS:


Final Crisis: Rogues Revenge 1 splash:


Flash vs. Zoom private commission:


Johns/Kolins omnibus remarque:

I guess it's also here...




Which is a book that I do have. I've got three of those Eaglemoss Flash collections.

I'm a huge fan of the Mark Waid run on The Flash.

I was hooked by The Return of Barry Allen and really enjoyed the whole Mark Waid run after that. When he left the title, I thought I’d drop it because nothing could possibly measure up to his multi-year run.

But the next issue began a compelling Wonderland story arc by some guy named Geoff Johns. He continued building on that, month after month. It was a different take from Waid but very detailed, intricate, and compelling.

Flash fans were spoiled by those two multi-year long runs over more than a decade. I don’t think they’ve been surpassed, in aggregate, since then, even subsequent stints by both Waid and Johns. They both introduced things that are foundational for the modern-day Flash mythos. Waid solidified the Flash family and introduced the Speed Force and Impulse. Johns modernized and expanded the Rogues Gallery.

One of my favorite memories is when I met both Waid and Johns on the same day at San Diego Comic-con. I had them each sign the first issue of their Flash run that I’d bought. I complimented Waid on his run, and he said it was some of his favorite and most personal work.

I just ordered this one on ebay for $14, shipped...