CBR: Van Sciver: The "Rebirth" Of Cool

[CBR News]

Superstar artist Ethan Van Sciver defends for CBR News the return of Barry Allen
in "The Flash: Rebirth," shares his love of Jack Cole's Plastic Man, and discusses
his fondness for DC's bearded King of the Sea.


Full article here.

[$5 Milkshake]

Aquaman and Plastic Man are two of my favorite DC characters, and both are in real need of some love from the company.

As for Barry Allen....meh. I'm sort of interested I guess, but Wally's my Flash.

[newscott]

I was at the DC Nation panel in Toronto where this was brought up, and when I said to Dan Didio that Flash, to me, was Wally West, Ethan was very adamant about his need to bring back Barry.

I can kind of see how a CSI super-hero might be interesting, but I really have my doubts that relaunching the Flash again as Barry will help Wally West continue to be an interesting character. I think so much of reading Wally West is reading about his struggle to live up to his former mentor and friend.

If Barry comes back, then where does that leave Wally?

I think it just leaves him there, a copy. A double. And I think that's kind of sad.

Like I said, Ethan seemed really certain that this would be good for the Flash. But I'm certain he thinks the Flash = Barry Allen.

[Guru_Pitka]

I like Wally, but Barry Allen will always be the Flash in my eyes as well.

However, I absolutely want to see a solution where both Barry and Wally are equally vital parts of the DCU.

If Wally is the Flash and Barry is something new and creative, I will be ok with that too.

I'm going to hope they came up with a great solution that will make Barry and Wally fans both happy. Knowing of course, that at the extreme end of both camps are those that will not be happy unless the other fan base isn't.

[Lupek]

Darwyn Cooke and EVS on a Plasticman book would be fantastic!

The two things I am looking forward to the most in comics are the return of Barry Allen and Aquaman as done by Johns and EVS. Bring it!

And I always like EVS's interviews. He seems fun and he has brass balls for saying he is going to reinvent shtuff. Johns and EVS both have a vision of DC that appeals to me. And they make a great team. I'd love for them to one day create a Barbara Gordon/Batwoman Rebirth book.

Van Sciver has another project to complete before anything happens with Plas, and that’s next summer’s “Green Lantern: Blackest Night,” again with Geoff Johns. The artist will serve primarily as the cover artist for the third and final chapter of the creative team’s Green Lantern trilogy, which follows “Rebirth” and “The Sinestro Corps War.”

Is it confirmed either way whether Blackest Night is the end of a trilogy or the end of Johns and EVS's Green Lantern run?

[Guru_Pitka]

I can;t quote it, but I remember reading that Johns plans on being writer of Green Lantern after Darkest Night.

[Lupek]

I can;t quote it, but I remember reading that Johns plans on being writer of Green Lantern after Darkest Night.

thank goodness!

Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, Action Comics, JSA. That is a lot on his plate.

[Guru_Pitka]

thank goodness!

Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, Action Comics, JSA. That is a lot on his plate.

Found the quote:

CCI: Spotlight on Geoff Johns
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=17483

After this quick introduction, Sattler turned the panel over to audience questions, the answer to the first of which nearly brought down the house. When asked how long he intended to stay on "Green Lantern," Johns replied simply, "I'll be done on 'Green Lantern' when I'm dead."

[$5 Milkshake]

Found the quote:

CCI: Spotlight on Geoff Johns
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=17483

After this quick introduction, Sattler turned the panel over to audience questions, the answer to the first of which nearly brought down the house. When asked how long he intended to stay on "Green Lantern," Johns replied simply, "I'll be done on 'Green Lantern' when I'm dead."

I wish he'd make the same statement about Action Comics and JSA.

[maxschrek]

I was at the DC Nation panel in Toronto where this was brought up, and when I said to Dan Didio that Flash, to me, was Wally West, Ethan was very adamant about his need to bring back Barry.

I can kind of see how a CSI super-hero might be interesting, but I really have my doubts that relaunching the Flash again as Barry will help Wally West continue to be an interesting character. I think so much of reading Wally West is reading about his struggle to live up to his former mentor and friend.

If Barry comes back, then where does that leave Wally?

I think it just leaves him there, a copy. A double. And I think that's kind of sad.

Like I said, Ethan seemed really certain that this would be good for the Flash. But I'm certain he thinks the Flash = Barry Allen.

I don't care abot Wally, for me Barry will always be THE Flash and Iìm so glad that they want to estabilish him as THE KING OF THE FLASHES. After 23 the time has finally came, can't wait to read rebirth!

[maxschrek]

I like Wally, but Barry Allen will always be the Flash in my eyes as well.

However, I absolutely want to see a solution where both Barry and Wally are equally vital parts of the DCU.

If Wally is the Flash and Barry is something new and creative, I will be ok with that too.

I'm going to hope they came up with a great solution that will make Barry and Wally fans both happy. Knowing of course, that at the extreme end of both camps are those that will not be happy unless the other fan base isn't.

Barry is back as THE KING OF FLASHES, THE STRONGEST FLASH. Wally will be flash too, like Jay, but there's only one king...

[DayWing]

I was at the DC Nation panel in Toronto where this was brought up, and when I said to Dan Didio that Flash, to me, was Wally West, Ethan was very adamant about his need to bring back Barry.

I can kind of see how a CSI super-hero might be interesting, but I really have my doubts that relaunching the Flash again as Barry will help Wally West continue to be an interesting character. I think so much of reading Wally West is reading about his struggle to live up to his former mentor and friend.

If Barry comes back, then where does that leave Wally?

I think it just leaves him there, a copy. A double. And I think that's kind of sad.

Like I said, Ethan seemed really certain that this would be good for the Flash. But I'm certain he thinks the Flash = Barry Allen.

The sad thing about it is while CSI shows are cool now, the secret ingredient are the storytellers who can back up the theory as much as they can. This may prove to be a challenge with some people. In the long run, Barry's stories may end up being just like other superheroics with little emphasis on CSI matters.

Having said that, as long as Geoff is writing, the stories should be top notch. And as long as he is involved, and if he is going the GLC way with all GLs having an important role now and then, Wally should be fine. Problem would be if some other writer takes over later on and can't seem to focus on quality stuff for all the Flashes, then someone may suffer.

Ah well, fandom works like this. Some day there would be a writer who grew up reading about Wally and Kyle and he or she may want to bring them back into focus. I just hope they treat Hal and Barry with respect the way Geoff is doing with all the characters because seriously all these characters are cool.

[Guru_Pitka]

Ah well, fandom works like this. Some day there would be a writer who grew up reading about Wally and Kyle and he or she may want to bring them back into focus. I just hope they treat Hal and Barry with respect the way Geoff is doing with all the characters because seriously all these characters are cool.

I'd give you positive karma for this post if we could do that here.

Great post!

[lead sharp]

“I mean what I say,” continued Van Sciver, as he sketched The Flash for a fan. “This is going to be a revolution for Flash comics ��" an absolute revolution. We will make this comic brand new.”

After Batman RIP is over I'm dumping DC for good.

Absolute revolution??? They've been retconning for the past lord knows how long how can this be a revolution?

Yes the characters are popular, yes there's no real harm in it and in the great scheme of things who cares?

But ultimately it is being done for three reasons. The characters ARE popular, more popular than their revamped versions so may well sell more. Two These are the most well known versions of the characters so when WB finally pull their thumbs out of their arses and make a JLA movie the characters will be more recognisable and three it's an easy path to take creatively.

Rather than have to think up new stuff and worry about how to market it they polish off old stuff and it markets itself.

[lead sharp]

Gil Kane is a hack and some guy who did 'Bog Swamp Demon' is the saviour of DC?

I'll have what he's having.