The Official Flash Thread - Part 2

[Timstuff]

^ Exactly. Hal had to prove that he was a good guy again, and he had to deal with the fact that he'd been made to do so much evil while under Parallax's control. With Barry, ever since he died he's become one of the most overhyped characters in existence. The way some of the DC characters remember him, he's not just "the fallen friend who made the ultimate sacrifice," but rather some messianic god of speed who no-one can possibly replace. When he came back, there wasn't much room to make it into a dramatic ordeal, so Johns had to invent the BS about Barry's mother being murdered, his father being framed, and him turning himself into the Flash through time travel. Essentially, Johns concluded that the only way to make Barry's return interesting was to make him his own grandpa.

 

[HighFivingMF]

him turning himself into the Flash through time travel.

When did that happen?

 

[ChickenScratch]

^ Exactly. Hal had to prove that he was a good guy again, and he had to deal with the fact that he'd been made to do so much evil while under Parallax's control. With Barry, ever since he died he's become one of the most overhyped characters in existence. The way some of the DC characters remember him, he's not just "the fallen friend who made the ultimate sacrifice," but rather some messianic god of speed who no-one can possibly replace. When he came back, there wasn't much room to make it into a dramatic ordeal, so Johns had to invent the BS about Barry's mother being murdered, his father being framed, and him turning himself into the Flash through time travel. Essentially, Johns concluded that the only way to make Barry's return interesting was to make him his own grandpa.

Yup, you pretty much got it. I'm a Barry fan myself, but I see the reverence for the character as being important in the whole DC universe itself. He died in one of the most memorable storylines and that alone should keep him in the survivors minds.

He was also a sort of messiah figure I think. He had all this power and unlike Wally, he could fully utilize the speed force and manipulate it really well. He's no more godlike in comparison to Superman, Wonder Woman, etc, but he was the first to sacrifice himself in battle. I think storywise, they have to keep that in mind even now.

 

[The Morningstar]

No, Wally discovered the SF. But now they brought Barry back and retconned it so Barry is what created the Speed Force or some ****. Straight away there is a retcon that cheapens and lessons one of Wally's accomplishments. This is undeniable. See the thing is, if a character can't stand on his own merits, if a character can't be elevated... without knocking other characters down... that's bad writing. It's like what Jeph Loeb did with the Red Hulk.

DC is just trying really really hard to tell us all that Barry is awesome and the most brilliant Flash ever. But... they ain't really showing it. It's like these little zombies believe everything Johns and Didio tell them.

"Well Barry has been dead for 25 years and no one really gave a ****. But really, he's the DEFINITIVE Flash. All over Flash's are below him!"

Then all the fans are like "Oh wow Geoff Johns is so awesome i'm going to believe anything and everything he says! I'll gobble up anything with his name on it!"

Child please. I've never been a massive fan of Barry, but, his older comics, before Rebirth, he was a much more interesting character. Under Johns pen, he is as dull as dishwater. Even though Johns and co are telling us he's really awesome.

 

[The Morningstar]

While I don't like Barry, I think the poll has changed because of Barry coming back. I remember Wally was in a larger lead before Barry came back. I dont really think it is about character preference , because Ive seen people say they prefer Wally but Barry should be Flash, it's more about whose the current Flash

Well that is exactly my problem. People are buying into this Barry Allen propaganda. Just because Johns and Didio has come out and said Barry is the definitive Flash (even though he's never actually shown it...) all these Geoff Johns fans will gobble that up without questioning it. Most of these people have probably never even read a comic featuring Barry Allen until Johns brought him back.

Barry is less interesting now, under Geoff Johns' pen, than he was before he came back. But people will still gobble it up because Barry has be MARKETED as THE Flash. Shunting Wally off into limbo so he has no chance of overshadowing Barry is all part of this marketing ploy.

 

[ChickenScratch]

No, Wally discovered the SF. But now they brought Barry back and retconned it so Barry is what created the Speed Force or some ****. Straight away there is a retcon that cheapens and lessons one of Wally's accomplishments. This is undeniable. See the thing is, if a character can't stand on his own merits, if a character can't be elevated... without knocking other characters down... that's bad writing. It's like what Jeph Loeb did with the Red Hulk.

DC is just trying really really hard to tell us all that Barry is awesome and the most brilliant Flash ever. But... they ain't really showing it. It's like these little zombies believe everything Johns and Didio tell them.

"Well Barry has been dead for 25 years and no one really gave a ****. But really, he's the DEFINITIVE Flash. All over Flash's are below him!"

Then all the fans are like "Oh wow Geoff Johns is so awesome i'm going to believe anything and everything he says! I'll gobble up anything with his name on it!"

Child please. I've never been a massive fan of Barry, but, his older comics, before Rebirth, he was a much more interesting character. Under Johns pen, he is as dull as dishwater. Even though Johns and co are telling us he's really awesome.

Yes, Wally did discover it, but even now he has not unlocked it's full capabilities. I remember even in one of the Flash novels Wally was transported into the SF and it was Barry's spirit that gifted him temporarily with all the knowledge of how to use it so he could defeat the villain.

 

[Timstuff]

Yes, Wally did discover it, but even now he has not unlocked it's full capabilities. I remember even in one of the Flash novels Wally was transported into the SF and it was Barry's spirit that gifted him temporarily with all the knowledge of how to use it so he could defeat the villain.

That's fine, if it's in the context of Barry being dead. It's like Obi-Wan Kenobi becoming one with the force-- he's more knowledgeable about it than he was in life, but that does not mean that he is the ultimate Jedi or that Luke will never surpass him. When you bring Barry back and make him out to be superior than Wally, the only way to do it is by cheapening Wally's character because the last 20+ years of comics have been about Wally trying to catch up with Barry. It's like "So Wally thinks he's special for discovering the speed force? OH YEAH? Well guess what beeotches, Barry Allen CREATED the speed force, so suck it!"

 

[ChickenScratch]

It's not an Obi Wan situation because Barry had full use before he died. He didnt die then merge with the force. I used that as an example of Wally finally getting to use the speed force and how he got to it.

Even now Wally cannot pass through solids without making it explode soon after.

 

[protocida]

It is not because Barry Allen "created" the Speed Force - He didn't even know he did - that Wally's discoveries about it were "cheapned". The Speed Force is pure movement. Pure energy. Wally mastered something left behind by Barry. A final gift. Now, Barry is learning the same ropes. He still can't do half of the things Wally did because he didn't even know that he was the avatar of the Speed Force until he returned from it.

 

[NotFadeAway]

Johns is good at writing The Flash...but he hasnt been recently to me


Even though I'd really prefer a movie and I think movie is the way to go. Superspeed is easiest (and maybe the cheapest, Im not sure) superpower to show on TV. In the show No Ordinary Family they were able to pull superspeed off well in almost every episode

I enjoyed Johns work on Green Lantern very much. Maybe it's my Wally love, but I wish he had just stayed on Green Lantern.

I'm going to go against the grain, but as far as Wally West is concerned, I'd rather give him a television show than a movie. Like you, I think super speed is the easiest and cheapest superpower to pull off on television. And if you look back to Mark Waid's Born to Run and the very essence of Wally's story of taking up Barry's mantle, the story and character progressions needed for a compelling television show are in place. Throw in that the Flash has a deep rogues gallery. I'd like a show about the Flash: Legacy with Barry dying at the end of the pilot and Wally taking up the mantle while being mentored by an aging Jay Garrick. Typical elseworld fashion.The first season could utilize Hunter Zolomon as the villian and even go as far as Zolomon posing as the Flash for a stint while Wally struggles out of the gate, slowly easing into the role, and you build toward a bad ass Wally/Zolomon showdown at the end of the season. Season Two introduces the Rogues.

Granted, these are just my ideas. Since I am not a television producer, wanting a Wally West television show would hinge on it being done correctly. Not like these recent Wonder Woman nonsense or even Smallville. I'd like to the Legacy aspect, Wally taking up Barry's mantle, Waids touch, and then hand it over to Lost writers Damon Linedelof and Carlton Cuse, comic book fans who hinted during the show at an appreciation for The Flash.

The other DC hero perfect for television is Green Arrow.

 

[Derrick9592]

Something I did recently, just to give an idea on what the movie should look like. Also it's Bradley Cooper in the mask as Barry Allen.

 

[NotFadeAway]

Something I did recently, just to give an idea on what the movie should look like. Also it's Bradley Cooper in the mask as Barry Allen.

Bradley Cooper would be a good choice for Barry Allen, although I think he is the perfect Guy Gardner/Green Lantern and could even be a good Green Arrow.

Barry, in my opinion, has a long list of actors that could play him well. Wally though, I have a harder time casting. In all honesty, Michael Rosenbaum would be perfect and NOT because he voiced the character on JL. Rosey has everything I would want for the character. But he is just too old.

 

[Timstuff]

Chris Pine would be a good Wally, but I'm not sure if he is interested in playing a Superhero since he already has his big "franchise" role in Star Trek. Anton Yelchin could work well too if they want to go with a late teens / early 20s Wally.

 

[Panthro]

Something I did recently, just to give an idea on what the movie should look like. Also it's Bradley Cooper in the mask as Barry Allen.

Nice manip, but I still don't see Cooper as Barry. If anything, he should be Guy Gardner.

I've never been a massive fan of Barry, but, his older comics, before Rebirth, he was a much more interesting character. Under Johns pen, he is as dull as dishwater.

I don't know about that. Except for external hype Johns' Barry doesn't seem all that different from the way Mark Waid wrote him in "JLA: Year One", "Flash/Green Lantern: The Brave & The Bold", and/or Darwyn Cooke's "The New Frontier". Barry's character bios always boiled him down to "mild mannered nice guy hero" and despite some questionable plots (can Barry Allen actually still be a mild mannered nice guy without the normal childhood he originally had - one of the things that differentiated him from his pal Hal Jordan), I think Johns writes that aspect of him well enough (of course, that's exactly why most fans hate Barry - we all know heroes who aren't lovable smart asses and/or grim & gritty types are not worthy of the attention of fans).

 

[MadVillainy]

Aaron Stanton or Matthew Morrison are my top choices for Barry. Cooper seems like more of the GA, GL, or Wally type. That's what he's best at

 

[Project862006]

what about Joel Edgerton for Barry he seems to be getting some big roles lately and is a star on the rise

 

[MadVillainy]

Can he play charismatic well?

 

[Octoberist]

OMG I was gonna suggest him. I think Joelbis intense and humane, ad can add great weight to the Flash.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Chris Pine would be a good Wally, but I'm not sure if he is interested in playing a Superhero since he already has his big "franchise" role in Star Trek. Anton Yelchin could work well too if they want to go with a late teens / early 20s Wally.

Oooo...I like that.

Having a franchise role in Star Trek and a CB movie is not unprecedented. See Patrick Stewart.

 

[Karelia]

Here's a nice little easter egg popping up in the Green Lantern movie

DC Comic book writer Geoff Johns told us that the mythology for the film is all there, they even have the Guardian scar and it's all true to the comics. Also you will see some sort of easter egg in the movie; "There is a billboard for Central City somewhere in the movie, so Central City does exist" explained Johns.

 

[Breogan]

Most of you are casting way to old for Wally, if he’s even hinted at in the movie at all it will be as a kid. And by the time they get to Wally (if they even want to go there) as an actual adult Flash, most everyone picked here would be to old.

As for as Bradley Cooper, he doesn’t play just one type, check him out in Alias as Will Tippin, he pretty much personifies a Barry Allen.
He’d be perfect.

 

[Breogan]

"There is a billboard for Central City somewhere in the movie, so Central City does exist" explained Johns.

That’s great*, although if they are heading towards a vision of combined universe, I wish they (or he Geoff Johns) would state it as such, or actually moved ahead on it with more conviction, maybe with some actual plot set up.
Right now the billboard is a nice visual nod but that’s about it, means nothing as far as a Flash film.

*[And yes I know the person who posted it Karelia is only pointing it out for what it is, and in that spirit alone, and isn’t suggesting it means anything towards a Flash film, I did not suggest he/she or anyone said it did. My comment is an aside to that.
It is great the billboard will be there and thanks for posting it.]

 

[protocida]

Unlike Marvel, DC is going one step at the time.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

Bradley Cooper or Ryan Gosling would be great for The Flash

 

[Airwings]

I present Devon Sawa as police scientist Barry Allen 2013. He will be the same age as Ryan Reynolds in Green Lantern 2011. Not too old, in other words.