The Barry Loophole

[sethcohen]

Marv Wolfman, DC Comics Editor-in-Chief and scribe for the Crisis on Infinite Earths, has repeatedly stated (first hinted at in his introduction to the original Crisis collected edition hardcover, then fully explicated on his website [1]) that he left a loophole in the script wherein the Barry Allen Flash could be re-introduced, without a retcon necessary, into DC Universe continuity. This loophole would have featured Barry being pulled out of time at some period during his desperate run to annihalate the anti-matter cannon, but, knowing that he would someday have to return to the time loop, he would become ever more determined to use his speed to help others, cramming everything that he could into the little time he had left before he would have to return and die.

why wasnt this ever used? this could have been an awesome way to relaunch the flash... i wouldnt have minded wally being gone if bart had brought barry back from the speed force rather than him coming back and being the flash... what do you guys think?

 

[yenaled]

That was used. That's his story.

He was pulled out of the time stream - went to live the rest of his life in the future - when traveling back to die he visits Wally West three times. Then dies in COIE.

 

[OA blaster]

why wasnt this ever used? this could have been an awesome way to relaunch the flash... i wouldnt have minded wally being gone if bart had brought barry back from the speed force rather than him coming back and being the flash... what do you guys think?

sorry but the chance of a Barry return has been screwed up by the return of Hal Jordan:gl:

 

[sethcohen]

That was used. That's his story.

He was pulled out of the time stream - went to live the rest of his life in the future - when traveling back to die he visits Wally West three times. Then dies in COIE.

damn me for taking almost 10 years off of comics... i miss all the good stuff... i use trades and wikipedia to know whats up... im working on JLA trades right now...

 

[Union Jack]

it'd be nice to have barry back again...evryone else has returned...lets have the greatest brave and the bold team up again..hal and barry!

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Did Barry ever make all his visits to Wally? The only one I can remember off the top of my head was the one after Wally's fight with Zoom.

 

[Dwarf lord]

Did Barry ever make all his visits to Wally? The only one I can remember off the top of my head was the one after Wally's fight with Zoom.

I guess maybe. He came at the end of Blitz, during Rogue War, and Infinite Crisis... Infinite Crisis wrapped up too many subplots from other books. They just tacked them in and they sucked because of that.

As for my answer to the poll, it's a no, but I dislike Bart as Flash, so I'm not voting.

 

[yenaled]

The Spectre/Hal visit in Blitz when Barry appeared was the first.

End of Rouge War doesn't count as it was a younger Barry who didn't even know Wally had become the Flash.

Infinite Crisis it was Barry appearing from the Speed Force and not him appearing back through time. He also appeared to Bart and Not Wally so again - it doesn't count.

So yeah; he's really only appeared once.

In my opinion anyway.

 

[Dwarf lord]

The Spectre/Hal visit in Blitz when Barry appeared was the first.

End of Rouge War doesn't count as it was a younger Barry who didn't even know Wally had become the Flash.

Infinite Crisis it was Barry appearing from the Speed Force and not him appearing back through time. He also appeared to Bart and Not Wally so again - it doesn't count.

So yeah; he's really only appeared once.

In my opinion anyway.

I'm sure Didio will count that, if he even remembers the whole subplot

 

[Harlekin]

I'm pretty sure Rogue War is counted, but Infinite Crisis isn't, because really, Barry was helping Bart and didn't even see Wally. I would also really hate it if they brought Barry back.

 

[Kitsune]

How about an option "No... but replacing the Flash with the Kid Flash, yet again, is craptastically unoriginal"

That's where my vote would go.

 

[Purple Man]

This loophole would be perfect for Meltzers JLA. How would the super hero community treat what little time they have with Barry? By this time I would hope that Wally was already back.

How he feels about Hal Jordans salvation, his own death, his role in Identity Crisis, the Top, Infinite Crisis, all interesting things that could be explored.

I never liked Barry, nor thought he should come back until I started reading this thread. It would be very interesting.

 

[sethcohen]

i think bringing him back would have been better than rushing bart into being the flash

 

[drastic_quench]

i think bringing him back would have been better than rushing bart into being the flash

Anything would've. Zolomon would've been a better Flash storywise.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Zolomon would've been a kick-ass Flash. Although, personally, I was holding out hope that the return of alternate realities post-IC might've meant a return for good ol' Walter West. He was easily the most powerful of the Flashes and my personal favorite.

 

[WompuM]

I think whole "Barry is better dead" cliche is very true. He is the one character who actually stayed dead. I'm looking at you bucky jason and hal. I mean, wesley dodds might be coming back. red tornado and hawkman are back. A dead superhero legend is neccessary in DCU.

 

[The Leaguer]

This thread would have much more interesting discussion of the title was "The Barry Poophole."

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I think whole "Barry is better dead" cliche is very true. He is the one character who actually stayed dead. I'm looking at you bucky jason and hal. I mean, wesley dodds might be coming back. red tornado and hawkman are back. A dead superhero legend is neccessary in DCU.

Wesley Dodds might be coming back?

 

[The Leaguer]

Didn't you get the email?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

No.

 

[The Leaguer]

Wesley's coming back as a cyborg with kittens for arms.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Just when I thought he couldn't get any more awesome...

 

[The Leaguer]

He has a laser sword that shoots more laser swords.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Wesley will officially be the greatest thing ever to exist upon his return.

 

[The Leaguer]

He will wrap issues of Ion around his kittens and punch people in the face.