The Official Flash Thread

[Mr. Earle]

So why is Barry so great anyway?
Could anyone care to write a few things about each Flash so that we can distinguish their characters?

 

[solidsnake86]

The last time barry was written was in the 80s so its not a matter of why was barry so great. All of these characters are dependent on the writers who helm the project. So in 4years from now if johns does half of what he did in green lantern I don't think it will be an issue. I think its easy to dismiss his character if he hasnt had any modern stories. That being said I don't really know enough about his character, the poster kevin smith seems like he does so he can probably fill you in. But I would say I find his origin far more interesting and a lot of potential waiting to be tapped.

 

[Timstuff]

You re like asking for Lois to die so that Clark will be with Lana. I mean... get serious man!

Ah, shipping... Gotta love it.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Ah, shipping... Gotta love it.

I wasnt shipping. I was only saying that each character is written with an ultimate love interest. You cant kill Lois/Selina/MJ for Lana/Talia/Felicia just because you like it.

 

[Drakon]

Why not? They killed Gwen for MJ.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Why not? They killed Gwen for MJ.

But i dont think that Gwen was ever going to be his top love interest. I think it was MJ all along.
Am i right?

 

[Drakon]

I'm not sure. I wasn't there. But I know that she was created by Lee/Ditko, as was Spider-Man, so it wouldn't be unheard of.

From the MJ Wiki:

"According to co-creator Stan Lee, Mary Jane was originally intended to be simply a rival for Gwen Stacy for the affections of Peter Parker. Lee had always intended for Gwen Stacy to be Spider-Man's one true love, although fans vocally supported the feisty Mary Jane over the non-offensive Gwen Stacy.[6] The pairing of Mary Jane and Peter Parker became one of the most prominent couples in the superhero genre."

 

[Webhead2006]

yea i still say its easier for flash to start at the start with barry, include wally in some fasion to be a supporting character in the film series. Then you never know if in sequel or 3rd film they might want to have him be flash. Its all up to the story and direction they want to take with the chacters. I still say i want each character to be themselfs and have and be written like thier characters are. I dont want to see oh he is named barry but has wally looks and barry's job or visc versa and all that.

I said this before this is a hard thing for characters where their has been many using the mantle of the character. So which ones has/deserve to be used first or at all in a movie/movie series.

 

[Timstuff]

Just as rules are written to be broken, tropes are written to be subverted.

Gwen and MJ are Peter's Betty and Veronica, respectively. The Veronica in such relationships is usally hip and cool, while the Betty is usually "just a nice girl" (aka boring), and the Betty is usually positioned as being the main character's ultimate love interest. MJ subverts this trope since she is the fun and hip one, and is the one Peter ultimately ended up with (until Marvel had to go muck it up with all that One More Day BS). Another trope is "the first girl wins," implying that the first love interest of (or even the first girl introduced to), which MJ also subverts (and really, how many guys in real life actually end up with the first girl they liked?). The reason Gwen got killed off was because she really didn't have much going for her. She lacked the sass and spunk of other comic book women, and didn't keep up with Peter's personality as well as MJ.

 

[The Batman]

Your assuming the WB cares about the fans and frankly Wally fans. I think we'll see Wally because of Geoff Johns but thats it. Also, I think the most telling reason why people are saying its going to be barry is that they basically went ahead and brought him back in the comics, his death was one of the untouchable ones, they still did it.

How many flash fans are there to care about, his book was cancelled, obviously because of quality but you make it sound as if there are a million of them. On a good day you'd be lucky to have about 85,000 people buy a flash comic book. Even if they were all Wally fans thats not enough to make the movie.

This. WB dosent care whether or not Wally is the film flash or not. This is just like the fanboys on the superman boards wanting 1986 superman. its not.going.to.happen. A flash movie is going to reflect on today's flash. Today's flash is Barry Allen. If he's a hit, he'll get 2 more movies to star in.

 

[Timstuff]

We don't even know how Barry will affect the comics, though. It should be interesting to see what kind of buyer wars ensue when Barry and Wally have their own monthly titles. It's going to be a classic game of "who's got better sales?"

Also, if Warner Bros. doesn't care about Wally fans, why should they care about Barry fans when Wally has at least as many fans as Barry? If they really don't care they'll just compromise and make an amalgamation character, since that would be easier than trying to please both sets of fans.

 

[annie.j88]

barry allen is a g. nuff said

 

[Mr. Earle]

I'm not sure. I wasn't there. But I know that she was created by Lee/Ditko, as was Spider-Man, so it wouldn't be unheard of.

From the MJ Wiki:

"According to co-creator Stan Lee, Mary Jane was originally intended to be simply a rival for Gwen Stacy for the affections of Peter Parker. Lee had always intended for Gwen Stacy to be Spider-Man's one true love, although fans vocally supported the feisty Mary Jane over the non-offensive Gwen Stacy.[6] The pairing of Mary Jane and Peter Parker became one of the most prominent couples in the superhero genre."

Thanks a lot Drakon. So it seems that back then they hadnt chosen yet who would be Spidey's ultimate love interest. But now MJ has Lois status in the franchise, so they cant kill her off.

This. WB dosent care whether or not Wally is the film flash or not. This is just like the fanboys on the superman boards wanting 1986 superman. its not.going.to.happen. A flash movie is going to reflect on today's flash. Today's flash is Barry Allen. If he's a hit, he'll get 2 more movies to star in.

Today we have 2 flashes. In Blackest Night Barry and Wally worked together. Basically its the equivalent of killing Bruce Wayne in the 80ies, and have Dick become batman for over 20 years. Now that the fans have gotten to love him, BAM Bruce is back to **** things up.
Sorry if i dont like the tactics.

We don't even know how Barry will affect the comics, though. It should be interesting to see what kind of buyer wars ensue when Barry and Wally have their own monthly titles. It's going to be a classic game of "who's got better sales?"

Also, if Warner Bros. doesn't care about Wally fans, why should they care about Barry fans when Wally has at least as many fans as Barry? If they really don't care they'll just compromise and make an amalgamation character, since that would be easier than trying to please both sets of fans.

I dont get why they would bring back a dead character. Why does Wally need to prove himself in the sales department (which btw i dont think he'll have to since there wont be two flash titles anyway) when he was chosen in the 80ies to be the new flash.
Did they really run out of ideas for stories?

Anyway, i still think that they should adapt the current comics Flash. And that is Wally. I still havent found the post that proves that the Zorro way cant work, so i still support the idea. The movie franchise would start with him taking over as Barry dies and having to step (more like run) out of his shadow.

Also, from what i understand, Wally is not that much of a jokester in the comics as he was in JLU. But, give him a lighter tone (not as much as in JLU though) and you have a very different franchise. Not everything has to be grimdark. We have Batman for that. Superman and Hal will be the wise, serious guys, so why cant the Flash have a more spiderman-esque attidude and be something different? The way i understand it Barry is as serious and wise as Hal and Clark and his movies would be the same thing as the others only with different superpowers. Wally could provide a movie franchise with a different atmosphere than that.
I hope you get my point because i know i didnt phrase it that well.

 

[flash13]

I really think the movie should have both Barry and Wally. David Goyer was doing it and I think Geoff Johns is going to do something similar. He likes both characters and I'm sure he'll make sure they do it right. It would be awesome to see two Flashes in a movie instead of one.

 

[Flash Facts]

I guess those who understand Barry's power will always have a bit of a chuckle at the Wally fans.

Wally never totally understood the speed force, Barry did. What was a mystery to Wally was common place for Barry. Hell, Wally could never pass through a solid without it blowing up, while Barry was like a red ninja.

Incorrect.

 

[Octoberist]

I do really think that some people aren't giving Barry a chance. He's been back for less than a year and has been out of continuity for the past 25. He was never given the chance to 'evolve' as a character in modern times.

 

[solidsnake86]

We don't even know how Barry will affect the comics, though. It should be interesting to see what kind of buyer wars ensue when Barry and Wally have their own monthly titles. It's going to be a classic game of "who's got better sales?"

Also, if Warner Bros. doesn't care about Wally fans, why should they care about Barry fans when Wally has at least as many fans as Barry? If they really don't care they'll just compromise and make an amalgamation character, since that would be easier than trying to please both sets of fans.

There isnt going to be a buyer war because, if I'm not mistaken, Barry and Wally will be in the same book with Wally having the back up story and Barry having the main story. The second flash title will be about bart I think, not to sure though. So basically, and rather smartly, if your a wally fan your forced to support barry.

 

[Octoberist]

why people shouldn't be support it? Wally is still around..it's not he's died!

 

[flash13]

Yeah at least he's not dead.... yet.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Why dont they bring back Blue Beetle while they re at it? Who cares about the new kid when the old one was a beloved character? **** the new kid. Lets bring back the old guy for nostalgia and increased sales that will last a few months until we reach that point again when there is nothing else to do with the character and we kill him again.

 

[Octoberist]

i think you're painting it in broad strokes, Mr. Earle.

I do agree however that bringing back characters is a numbers game. With Hal Jordan, it worked really well. With The Flash, it's too early too tell with Barry Allen.

 

[MadVillainy]

We don't even know how Barry will affect the comics, though. It should be interesting to see what kind of buyer wars ensue when Barry and Wally have their own monthly titles. It's going to be a classic game of "who's got better sales?"

Also, if Warner Bros. doesn't care about Wally fans, why should they care about Barry fans when Wally has at least as many fans as Barry? If they really don't care they'll just compromise and make an amalgamation character, since that would be easier than trying to please both sets of fans.

Barry and Wally will share a comic, I think. And I hope they dont make an amalgamation of the 2

Anyway, i still think that they should adapt the current comics Flash. And that is Wally. I still havent found the post that proves that the Zorro way cant work, so i still support the idea. The movie franchise would start with him taking over as Barry dies and having to step (more like run) out of his shadow.

Also, from what i understand, Wally is not that much of a jokester in the comics as he was in JLU. But, give him a lighter tone (not as much as in JLU though) and you have a very different franchise. Not everything has to be grimdark. We have Batman for that. Superman and Hal will be the wise, serious guys, so why cant the Flash have a more spiderman-esque attidude and be something different? The way i understand it Barry is as serious and wise as Hal and Clark and his movies would be the same thing as the others only with different superpowers. Wally could provide a movie franchise with a different atmosphere than that.
I hope you get my point because i know i didnt phrase it that well.

The comic book Flash I guess is technically Barry and I understand your point in your final paragraph

I really think the movie should have both Barry and Wally. David Goyer was doing it and I think Geoff Johns is going to do something similar. He likes both characters and I'm sure he'll make sure they do it right. It would be awesome to see two Flashes in a movie instead of one.

I REALLY want to read Goyer's script from what Ive read its similar to what I want. Wallly as the main one but Barry is still a BIG character

Incorrect.

Very incorrect

I do really think that some people aren't giving Barry a chance. He's been back for less than a year and has been out of continuity for the past 25. He was never given the chance to 'evolve' as a character in modern times.

I mean you could say that ppl aren't giving Wally a chance either

Why dont they bring back Blue Beetle while they re at it? Who cares about the new kid when the old one was a beloved character? **** the new kid. Lets bring back the old guy for nostalgia and increased sales that will last a few months until we reach that point again when there is nothing else to do with the character and we kill him again.

Comic book death has always been a joke, more now than ever.

 

[Octoberist]

i mean, to me, it's about reasonable. I do like Wally a lot though because I think Barry (so far) has always been a straight laced character, while Wally is almost the Peter Parker/Human Torch type character for DC.

 

[MadVillainy]

I respect Barry and hes not a terrible character, but to me he is far more uninteresting than all the other heroes in the big 7

I mean first he was: My parents were cool to me. Everything was fine. I was late alot then I became a hero

and thats original that but its boring to me

Now hes: I died when my Dad killed my mom

which we've all heard before

 

[Timstuff]

I think Wally's story is one that people can better identify with, and it also has a touch of wish fulfillment tempered with a real-life sense of responsibility. He was an unpopular geek at school who idolized his favorite superhero, and ultimately ends up becoming him. Also, the father/son dynamic between Wally and Barry is interesting, because one could interpret it as Wally idolizing The Flash because he subconciously sees his uncle in him, who is the other hero in Wally's life. It's sort of like in Spider-Man how Mary Jane knows that Peter Parker is Spider-Man, even though it's not conscious, and that's part of why she is drawn to both of them.

Ultimately though, Wally is a more fun character IMO. The real Wally is not as wild and reckless as the Flash from JLU (who, as Kevin Smith is always quick to point out, gets his personality mostly from Bart), but he is somewhere in between Barry and Bart which IMO is a good balance for a leading character. He's funny and can get in a fast quip if he wants to (and it makes sense that the fastest man alive should have a fast mouth), but he's not a dumb ass who doesn't know when to shut up.