Joe Carnahan’s Daredevil sizzle reel

Back in the days when 20th Century Fox still owned the film rights to the Man Without Fear, they were still trying to find a way to monetize the property. In came director Joe Carnahan (of A-Team fame) who had a gritty almost Grindhouse vision of the character on he big screen. He prepared a sizzle reel as proof of concept for the studio but sadly the rights were lost since the studio could not enter production before the rights went back to Marvel Studios.

I am grateful for the Netflix Daredevil series but this high concept trilogy would have been great.

I suggested a trilogy as follows. ‘Daredevil ‘73’ ‘Daredevil ‘79’ and ‘Daredevil ‘85’ where I was going to do a kind of ‘cultural libretto’ and make the music of those eras a kind of thematic arc . So the first one would be Classic Rock, the second one would be Punk Rock and the third film would be ‘New Wave.’

Daredevil debuts red costume

Daredevil (1964) #1 cover by Jack Kirby

Blinded by a radioactive isotope, Matt Murdock grew up in a world run by fear. He studied to be a lawyer and trained to be a vigilante to combat the criminals who controlled the streets. He discovered that to defeat his enemies, he would become a man without fear.

The popular red-costumed Marvel Comics hero will hit the small screen tomorrow. Anticipation is huge for this series, the first in a new set of four new programs (60 episodes total) including A.K.A. Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist culminating in a team-up called the Defenders.

This ‘street level Avengers’ series promises to be a new and exciting part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

… And no, it has nothing to do with the Ben Affleck movie.

Today, fans finally got a glimpse of the red costume.

Daredevil as designed by Wally Wood

“Marvel’s Daredevil” is a live action series that follows the journey of attorney Matt Murdock, who in a tragic accident was blinded as a boy but imbued with extraordinary senses. Murdock sets up practice in his old neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, New York where he now fights against injustice as a respected lawyer by day and masked vigilante at night.
Starring: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Vincent D’Onofrio

Netflix will release Daredevil’s first season for viewing on April 10th.

Daredevil shows no fear

To control a city ruled by crime, Daredevil becomes a man without fear.

Blinded by radiation in a moment of selfless courage, Matt Murdock was raised by his father, a prize fighter known as Battlin’ Jack Murdock. Matt was urged to be a better man and solve his problems with his head rather than his fists. Matt hit the books, but found that he had acquired a special radar sense that replaced his sight in remarkable ways. He trained as fighter and gymnast in secret, while his father attempted to cut ties with the crime boss known as the Fixer and and make it as an honest boxer. Finally, Battlin’ Jack was given the instruction to throw a bout and refused. He paid with his life and this taught Matt a valuable lesson, the overwhelming power of the criminal element.

Matt Murdock graduated law school and formed a practice with his old roommate ‘Foggy’ Nelson. The pair took on hard cases, always taking the side of the underdog. But when he found that some criminals escaped the law or bent the legal system, he took to the streets as Daredevil, a ruthless vigilante who moved like lightning and beat his foes into submission with a billy club.

But how can Matt equate his actions as Daredevil with his oath as a lawyer? How can he save his soul as he becomes embroiled in a dark realm of blood and violence? His path is not an easy one and it takes a will of iron and boundless courage to walk it.

First published in 1964 in a story by Bill Everett and Stan Lee, Daredevil came into popularity thanks to the stylish artwork of Gene Colan. He later rocketed into stardom when a young Frank Miller transformed the title into a film noir-ish homage to Will Eisner’s The Spirit. The new streaming series from Netflix will take on this vibe of a gritty and tortured man fighting against the Kingpin of crime.

The battle for the soul of Hell’s Kitchen has begun in the latest trailer for “Marvel’s Daredevil,” only on Netflix April 10!

Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) matches fists with the criminal element and wits with Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) in the action-packed preview for Marvel’s first 13-episode Netflix original series. Plus get a new look at Karen (Deborah Ann Woll), Foggy (Elden Hensen), Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson), Stick (Scott Glenn), and more!

While you wait for April 10 to roll around, follow @Daredevil on Twitter and like “Marvel’s Daredevil” on Facebook for all the news on the Man Without Fear.

More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/news/tv/24220/marvels_daredevil_battles_for_hells_kitchen_in_new_trailer#ixzz3U5ObjT7U

Daredevil – ‘Bless me father’ trailer debut

Blinded by a moment of bravery, Matt Murdock grew up in a world without justice, one that rewarded noble acts with a bullet in the head. Determined to not allow this world to escape retribution, he buried himself in his studies and transformed his body into a weapon. In a world of darkness and brutality, he delivers a clear message to the guilty that they have been judged. Dressed as a devil, he dares the criminal underworld to face the one thing they cannot beat, a man without fear.

The upcoming Netflix exclusive streaming series is heavily influenced by the gritty noirish Frank Miller work (and the outstanding issues by Bendis, Brubaker and Diggle). Blending the world of 70’s crime drama with superheroics… here comes Daredevil.

To add to the excitement, this image has leaked on what the traditional red suit may look like:

The series is set to hit Netflix on April 10 with the full 13 episode first season. Daredevil stars Charlie Cox as the titular hero, alongside Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Scott Glenn as Stick, Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk.

Here comes Daredevil, the Man Without Fear

The Marvel Universe is about to get even bigger on the small screen with a new line of series exclusively produced for Netflix featuring Jessica Jones, Power Man and Iron Fist, ending with a unified team, the Defenders. Announced earlier this year, we finally got a glimpse of Daredevil at the NYCC along with some excellent concept art by Marvel CCO Joe Quesada.

With DC Entertainment taking the TV screens by storm with Arrow, Gotham, Flash as well as Constantine, there is definitely an audience for comic book-themed programs. Just… please make this better than Agents of SH.I.E.L.D.

Official press release below:

“Marvel’s Daredevil” follows the journey of Matt Murdock, who was blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, now fighting against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the super hero Daredevil in modern day Hell’s Kitchen, New York City.

Marvel’s first original series on Netflix is Executive Produced by series Showrunner Steven S. DeKnight (“Spartacus,” “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer,” “Angel”) and Drew Goddard (“Cabin in the Woods,” “Lost,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” in addition to writing the first two episodes of “Marvel’s Daredevil”), along with Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Smallville,” “Heroes”).

“Marvel’s Daredevil” is produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix

For more information on “Marvel’s Daredevil,” and the other exciting new Marvel Television series coming to Netflix, stay tuned to Marvel.com.

More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/news/tv/23447/nycc_2014_marvels_daredevil_comes_to_illustrated_life_in_new_concept_art#ixzz3G2EPYET0

Here’s a brief announcement from Comic Book Cast on the first look at Daredevil in his earliest costume:

Dexter star Michael C. Hall cast as Daredevil for new Defenders Netflix series?

Make no mistake, Daredevil is Marvel’s Batman. He’s slick, he’s cool, tragic and a street-level hero living in a world populated by mutants, gods and weird killer robots from space. In spite of his short-comings (being a pugilist/martial artist rather than a marksman, web slinger or armored avenger), he is still respected by the superhero community and feared by supervillains. His horns are well-earned.

All that being said, you would think that given the popularity of the superhero genre, he would be a major hit of the cinematic universe/ The guardian of Hell’s Kitchen (when he’s not in San Francisco) has of course already been seen on TV (in the Trial of the Incredible Hulk) and on the big screen (in the Daredevil feature film), each with varied results. However, Marvel Entertainment had regained the rights of their red-hued vigilante and rather than make another attempt at a big screen adaptation, they are instead using Daredevil as part of a new TV series set on the streets of New York City.

This summer filming will begin of the new Daredevil… In the mean time, rumors rule the web.

Via WebProNews:

The creators of Netflix’s upcoming Daredevil series have apparently turned their focus on Dexter‘s Michael C. Hall, and want him to play The Man Without Fear. The report comes from The creators of Netflix’s upcoming Daredevil series have apparently turned their focus the Marvel Cinematic Universe, an incredibly popular Facebook fan page devoted to all things Marvel–from small screen to silver screen. They quote a reliable source, but this is obviously just a rumor at this point. “This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel’s brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty,” said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment at the time of the announcement. “This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what’s sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure.”

Last November, Netflix and Disney announced that they were developing multiple original series centered on Marvel characters. The first one to debut will be the Daredevil series, but there will be a total of at least four different shows and at least one miniseries. Other characters to get their own Netflix original include Jessica Jones, Iron First, and Luke Cage.

 

This has yet to be reported anywhere other than the Facebook page, but… it’s a great notion that would give the project some much-needed clout. Dexter star Michael C. Hall has a strong fan following and is sure to bring some attention to a new Daredevil series, especially anyone still suffering from Affleck-lash (copyright). What Defenders series? Well, apparently there will be four new ongoing 13-part Marvel programs exclusive to Netflix, culminating in a team film The Defenders.

The project will include nearly 60 one-hour episodes focused on the 4 Defenders characters: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist

Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a mini-series event in which the Marvel characters from the first four series team up as “The Defenders,” much like “The Avengers.”

More on Marvel.com

Just in time for Daredevil-mania comes news of a ‘first person perspective’  videogame for XBox One and the PS4!

Click for details!

More as it comes…

Daredevil hits the road with Mark Waid and Peter Krause

Mark Waid’s critically acclaimed and fan favorite run on Daredevil may be nearing its end, but there is time for one last road trip. I have been a fan of the horned crime fighter since he swung from the rooftops under the pen of Frank Miller. But I have to admit that Waid has brought a special kind of freewheeling fun to the title that has made it a stand out read from month to month.

I am sad to see Waid but am excited to see what he will deliver with artist Peter Krause in their Infinite Comics series.

Hit the Road with Daredevil

Mark Waid and Peter Krause send Matt Murdock cross country in a pivotal Infinite Comics adventure!
By Jim Beard

Roadtrips bring new vistas and fresh ways of looking at the world, but they can also come fraught with unfamiliar dangers. Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, may be finding out the hard way in a brand-new Marvel Infinite Comics experience, DAREDEVIL: ROAD WARRIOR.

The series marks the end of an era for writer Mark Waid’s acclaimed run with the Man Without Fear, and also the first major Marvel project for artist Peter Krause. Together, the two creators plan to set the hero on a path to destiny and in a way that only Infinite Comics can portray.

Marvel.com: Mark, how does it feel for you after your run on DAREDEVIL to be sending him off on this journey?

Mark Waid: Exhilarating. Up until now, every time we’ve taken Matt out of New York, it’s been in service of awful, awful things. This feels more like the beginning of a grand journey. Which does not discount the eventuality of awful, awful things, of course; no one wants to read a Daredevil story where everything goes smoothly for him.

Marvel.com: Is Matt at his best or worst when he’s not in the big city?

Mark Waid: Neither; just a fish out of water. He enjoys the countryside, but he’s adapted so well to the concrete canyons of New York that he finds flatlands to the horizon somewhat disturbing; nothing for his radar sense to bounce off of.

Marvel.com: Overall, what kind of story is ROAD WARRIOR? Where’s Matt’s head as he goes into it?

Mark Waid: Matt’s beginning a whole new chapter in his life following the events of DAREDEVIL #36, and he’s excited but apprehensive at the same time. You can be a Man Without Fear and still be a little worried about where the next paycheck is coming from. ROAD WARRIOR is a coast-to-coast adventure/chase with thrills aplenty.

Marvel.com: Will he take any of his supporting cast with him on this journey?

Mark Waid: He will, yes. But I can’t yet tell you who. Spoilers!

Marvel.com: What have you learned from your other Infinite Comics projects that you bring to this one?

Mark Waid: Hopefully, how to pace a story and give the readers a satisfying experience with each chapter while at the same time telling an overall larger story. The Infinite toolbox offers up a lot of new and interesting ways to “see” the world through Daredevil’s eyes, and I’m really stoked about pursuing those with my partner in crime, Peter Krause!

Marvel.com: Speaking of your partner-in-crimefighting, what’s the greatest thing about working with Peter on this, his first Marvel series?

Mark Waid: Seeing him draw his favorite Marvel character, Daredevil! He’s been dreaming of this all his life—I know how he feels—and he’s bringing everything to the drawing table. Not just his love of DD, but also all the digital comics techniques he and I have been developing on our own over at Thrillbent.com; all those come into play, as well. Couldn’t ask for a better partner than the man who helped me launch Thrillbent!

Marvel.com: Okay, Peter; time to step up to the microphone. How does it feel to be working on your first big project for Marvel?

Peter Krause: Not only my first big project for Marvel, my first project of any size or type for Marvel. When I exchanged emails with DAREDEVIL editor Stephen Wacker, I joked that I was the oldest Marvel rookie ever. And I am drawing my favorite character in the Marvel universe! That is exciting.

Marvel.com: How would you quantify your working relationship with Mark? What does he do that best compliments your own work?

Peter Krause: I’ve worked regularly with Mark over the last five years, first on Irredeemable for BOOM! and now on our weekly strip Insufferable at Thrillbent.com. I value that relationship. If I have a strong feeling about a script or character, I know Mark will consider that when writing. And if he wants a particular visual for a scene, I’m happy to accommodate.

That said there are always artistic challenges in a Mark Waid script. That is welcome; how else is one to grow as an artist?

Marvel.com: So, what about Daredevil as a character excites you as an artist? And what will your DD be like?

Peter Krause: The basic concept just grabbed me as a kid: the hero has what some might think of as the ultimate disability, yet he is this sleek, acrobatic vision. And that all-red costume is one of the best in comics. Add in the rooftop staging, the cool villains—and Foggy, the ultimate friend—what’s not to like?

As far as what my Daredevil will be like, we’ll have to see. I want to convey that sleekness that is inherent in the character and a bit of Matt’s vulnerability as well.

Marvel.com: So, then; favorite DD artists of the past?

Peter Krause: I grew up on the Gene Colan version of DD, so Mr. Colan’s take on him will always be number one. But there is an incredible list of artists that have drawn Daredevil: Frank Miller and Klaus Janson, Michael Lark, Wally Wood, Cary Nord, Alex Maleev, Lee Weeks, etc. I have the David Mazzucchelli DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Artist Edition from Marvel/IDW and it’s incredible. I’ve spent hours with that book.

I’m also a big fan of the two most recent artists on the series, Paolo Rivera and Chris Samnee. They’ve set a high standard. I’m a wee bit intimidated!

More on Marvel.com

Recommended:

Daredevil by Mark Waid, Vol. 1

Daredevil, Vol. 2

Daredevil, Vol. 3

Daredevil Volume 4

Here comes Daredevil the man without a film studio

Daredevil by Gabriele Dell’Otto

I have previously proclaimed my love for Daredevil as one of the most impressive street-level vigilantes in comics. Thanks to my brother’s collection, I came into the series at a time when he was popular with readers and receiving unparalleled attention from the media. The comic started as a kind of Spider-Man meets Barnaby Jones series in which a blind lawyer took the law into his own hands and prowled Hell’s Kitchen to mete out his own brand of justice. When Frank Miller took over, he infused pulp sensibilities into the comic (by way of the late Will Eisner’s The Spirit) and Daredevil had more in common with 1970’s urban crime and martial arts cinema than anything else. It remains a cult hit.

The 2003 Daredevil movie directed by Ghost Rider’s Mark Steven Johnson starring Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock/DD, Jennifer Garner (who went on to star in a solo Elektra movie), Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin and Colin Farrell as Bullseye sought to pay homage to the Marvel comic book. To accomplish this, various storylines were smashed together and the end result is something of a mess. Many fans love this movie. It had a $45 million dollar opening weekend and grossed $102 million in North America, and an additional $76 million worldwide. The only thing holding back a sequel was Affleck’s reluctance to step back into the red togs. This is interesting because he got a lot of flack from haters of the movie as being the biggest flaw in the picture. In some ways, he agreed.

Even so, plans were afoot for a reboot or soft sequel, possibly written by Frank Miller who was hot off of Sin City and 300 while The Spirit was hotly anticipated (and has since become forgotten). ‘Crank’ action star Jason Statham was cited by Miller as a likely candidate for Daredevil, but nothing came of it.

A script by Brad Caleb Kane, David Scarpa, and David James Kelly is rumored to be an adaptation of the Frank Miller/David Mazzuchelli masterpiece Born Again in which Matt Murdock loses his secret identity and law practice. His main villain the Kingpin obtains information regarding Murdock’s dual identity as Daredevil from a close friend and ex-girlfriend, Karen Page who sold the info for heroin. Reduced to living on the street, he becomes desperate and somewhat insane as he suspects almost anyone of being part of some plot to destroy him. Murdock has to crawl up through the wreckage of his life and claw his way back to a confrontation with the Kingpin.

It’s a superb and cinematic story, but I’m not sure if it would work as a reboot which is probably what we will see if this film is released.

Since the success of their previous effort, 20th Century Fox has ruminated on a new DD film, seeing him as their answer to Warner Bros’ Batman, but nothing has come of it. Finally, it is looking like time my have run out on their option and the rights may revert back to Marvel… who are now in the movie making business.

There came an interesting development yesterday when director Joe Carnahan shared his sizzle reels that were used as a something of a proof of concept to the studio in order gain studio support. It’s a completely new take on the character and one that the studio was excited about. A period film ‘grindhouse’ version of Daredevil would surely gain attention… but what does Marvel think?

While Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Studios have not released a statement, it looks to be official. The Daredevil movie rights are reverting to Disney/Marvel Studios after Fox’s extension request was rejected, says Variety. Fox was supposed to have the reboot in production by October 10th.

The news comes after director Joe Carnahan’s tweets last night that said his “idea for a certain retro, red-suited, Serpico-styled superhero went up in smoke today kids.”

Carnahan continued talking about the film today on Twitter and asked if fans wanted to see his sizzle piece that he presented to Fox. He said, “DD pitch was tremendous and everyone flipped for it. The clock ticked down at Fox, that’s why it went t*ts up.”

He posted two versions of the sizzle piece, an NC-17 and a PG-13 version, and you can watch both below.

(Via Superherohype)

Daredevil sizzle reel

Daredevil sizzle reel (NC-17)

More as it comes…

Marvel to 20th Century FOX ‘I’ll give you one Daredevil for all of the Fantastic Four’

No matter how much you may want it to be false, the 2005 Daredevil movie was a huge hit for 20th Century Fox (I kinda regard it as a guilty pleasure, but i have problems). The only major stumbling block in proceeding into a sequel was that Ben Affleck was not interested in donning the red leather duds again. 20th Century Fox has been working on revamping the character for the hot comic book movie market, but the movie has been in something of a development hell for ages. But the clock is ticking on the film rights and if the movie is not in the can soon, they will revert back to Marvel.

In a bizarre twist of fate, Marvel is reportedly offering Fox more time to make the DD flick in exchange for the Fantastic Four universe, including the Silver Surfer and Galactus. Could this be the beginning stages of a Fantastic Four reboot?

Or is horn-head on his way back to the House of Ideas (along with the recently re-acquired Punisher)?

All day similar outlets such as this one have been citing a Variety article that states with time running out for 20th Century Fox to retain the film rights for Dardevil, they literally have to start shooting the movie by 10/10/12 before the rights go back to Disney/Marvel Studios. However, their sources are saying that a deal may be struck between Fox chairman Tom Rothman and Marvel to extendDaredevil’s time at Fox beyond the cutoff date. Marvel is offering to give Fox an extension to get its Daredevil reboot in production in exchange for the rights to use characters from the Fantastic Four , including Galactus and the Silver Surfer, who would no doubt be included in future Marvel “Phase Two” movies. The article goes on to report, Fox is in discussions with Joe Carnahan to direct what’s been described as a “Frank Miller-esque, hardcore 70s thriller” take on blind Hell’s Kitchen superhero Matt Murdock — a vision that would deviate from Disney/Marvel’s family-friendly tone. Carnahan has yet to receive an official offer, though multiple sources tell Variety that he’s the choice.

While the exchange doesn’t seem like that far-fetched of an idea, consider this article from Deadline, it seems that Fox may just let Daredevil go back to Marvel:

Reports that Fox and Marvel Studios are going to do some horse-trading with its Fantastic Four franchise to keep Daredevil in the fold were being strenuously denied by studio insiders.

Those insiders said that with Josh Trank aboard to direct, Fantastic Four is a big priority and the studio would be crazy to give away a cornerstone villain. Especially when the studio is very lukewarm about rebooting Daredevil, which focuses on blind lawyer Matt Murdock and his emergence as a crime fighter powered by heightened sensory perception. While Joe Carnahan has come to the studio with a take, it sounds like Fox is ready to let it revert to Disney-owned Marvel, unless Disney is interested in co-financing. That is what the current talks are really about, insiders said.

I believe the latter article is a little more plausible.

–via comics-x-aminer

Quick review: Daredevil and the Flash

Daredevil #10

By Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera
‘The Man Without Fear’ is more commonly known these days as the grim crime fighter with a string of bad decisions trailing behind him like ghostly apparitions reminding him of his failures. As Typhoid Mary called him, he is the ‘Merry Christian,’ in that he holds the weight of the world on his shoulders. However, that thread was stretched so far under the previous creative regime that old hornhead transformed into a legitimate demon, horns and all, and fought his dearest friends, leading an army of assassins.

Waid’s run has returned Daredevil to his pre-Frank Miller days and the character appears to be more fun-loving and care-free, but Waid has promised that there will be a price to pay in the end. As his best friend Foggy Nelson has observed, there is something forced and disturbing about Murdock’s change of attitude that hints to a deeper wound.

In any case, Daredevil has been more fun and interesting in the past nine months than ever before. His abilities and character have been utilized in new and extravagant ways that open up new vistas of potential in story telling. This is of course greatly bolstered by the superlative artwork by Paolo Rivera and Marcus Martin (though Marcus has since left) which have made DD the most visually compelling book on the racks today (challenged only by the title below).

The radar senses of Daredevil have been a major definition of the character’s persona that set him aside from the other heroes in as much as Wolverine’s claws and the Hulk’s purple pants make them mavericks. However, the radar ability has seldom been represented as a hindrance rather than a super power. Sure, DD can perceive surfaces and environments in ways that we can only dream of, granting him enhanced sensitivity in the sensory realm, but this can also be a downfall. In the latest story, DD has descended into the underworld through a system of tunnels that have allowed graves to be be stolen from a cemetery that just so happens to contain his father’s coffin.

The journey underground is a staggering one that hampers his sensitivity to the utmost as the echoes from the confined spaces and extremely rancid smells confound him in his search for the grave robbers. Rivera and Waid have provided a wondrous blend of comedy and nail-biting drama as DD narrowly avoids several obstacles that he simply cannot ‘see.’

As Waid puts it: “Man without fear,” they call me. Only because I’m blind. If I could see half the stuff I get myself into, I’d be scared brown.

Daredevil eventually finds himself against the Mole Man who has stolen the corpse of his greatest love. Mole Man would never have dared confess his feelings to her while alive, but gladly waltzes with her cadaver in the half-light of the subterranean world.

The conflict between DD and Mole Man is one of fisticuffs but also one of nerves as Mole Man pokes at a sore point for Murdock, indicating that if the Man Without Fear could not locate his father’s grave, how important could it be? It forces Murdock to accept that his father is gone forever, something that he has avoided admitting to himself.

I have said it once but I will say it again. Daredevil is a superb comic book that should be on your weekly pull list of you enjoy the sequential medium, are interested in Will Eisner or want to be in on the ‘next big thing.’ A collection is available and this week a ‘Point One’ issue is on the stands to welcome the uninitiated.

Daredevil, Vol. 1

Daredevil, Vol. 2

The Flash #7

By Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Across the street, the Flash is undergoing a Renaissance courtesy of Francis Manapul. The big pull of the book back in the day, in addition to the whacked out villains such as psychic apes, boomerang-wielding Aussies and wizards from the future was the art style.

Former art director of DC Comics, Carmine Infantino, created some of the most mind-boggling images on the page during his long tenure on the Flash monthly book (while simultaneously redefining Batman, I might add). Aided by Gardner Fox’s mad scripts about the slowest man alive and alternate dimensions, the series pushed all the right buttons for young readers.

When DC decided to become gritty and more appealing to Marvel Comics readers, they killed off the old Flash, Barry Allen, and drafted his protege Wally West into the scarlet running togs. In more recent years, retro has become more appealing and Barry Allen is back, along with the wild energy of the old Fox/Infantino age.

The new Flash is young bachelor Barry Allen, who works as a police scientist alongside his love interest Patty with whom he has an uneasy romance. Meanwhile his actions as the Flash have earned him more bad press than good as his super speed has led to a massive EMP explosion, knocking out the power grid in Central and Keystone City. The Flash has struggled to maintain law and order in the fallout, but the fact remains that he has caused this chaos.

the latest issue sees the Flash struggling to defeat an old enemy (with the re-booted post-52 DC Universe, I’m unclear HOW old) Captain Cold who is trying to draw him out for revenge. The reason? The EMP charge caused the life support system maintaining Cold’s sister to fail. With nothing else to live for, Cold is out for revenge using strangely enhanced powers.

Speaking of enhanced powers, the Flash is learning the impact that his super speed has on the fabric or reality, thanks to Dr Elias (no doubt named after the original Flash’s creator, Lee Elias). It seems that Flash’s speed is so great that if he reaches critical mass he can open a wormhole to another reality. Of course in the heat of battle, and while attempting to defeat Cold and save Patty, the Flash opens a wormhole that sucks up Iris West and presumably Barry Allen as well (the Flash claimed that Barry was safe in the other half of the shattered vessel just as it was consumed by the wormhole.

In the end, Barry vows to save Cold’s sister by producing energy via a massive treadmill and sending a generator to her hospital. He also opens a wormhole in hopes to find Iris and save the others that he condemned to a fate worse than death… only he finds a new nemesis waiting for him there.

As a kid, I remember being mesmerized by the weirdness of the Flash. If anything, the modern version pays homage to and further develops that other-worldiness in bizarre storylines and breathtaking page layout and line work. What I mist admire is that Manupal has maintained the innocence of the Flash that I so enjoyed as a kid. Easily the most beautiful book published by DC at this time, the Flash is worth a look. There are a couple of collections suggested below.

Flash Vol. 1: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues!

The Flash Vol. 1: Move Forward (pre-order)