The Four Color Media Monitor

Graeme McMillan made 5 recommendations at Wired for Flash stories he says people should check out before seeing the new TV series. Some of the recommendations he makes here are actually worth it, except for the first on the list. But before we get to that, he says:

The strange thing about the comic book incarnations of the character is that there are so many different versions—Jay Garrick, the original Flash; Barry Allen, the version in the current comics and TV show; Wally West, who took on the role for multiple decades after Barry’s assumed death (he got better); Bart Allen, a time-traveling descendant of Barry from the 31st century—and yet, so few “iconic” stories centering around the character. [...]

Oh that's ridiculous. "Flash of Two Worlds" isn't iconic enough for its time? But seriously, why does iconism matter instead of entertainment? I'd think it's better to value the latter more than the former. Now for the first on the list that follows:

The Flash #1-24 (2011-2014)

The first couple of years of the current series featuring the character are the best groundwork one could find for the show. Not only do you get to meet Barry Allen, Iris West, and the various Rogues who make crime happen in Central City (including Grodd, the telepathic gorilla), you’ll also find some theorizing about quite how the Flash’s powers work, an introduction to the case that drives Barry to solve crimes—one that also drives the television version of the character—and some wonderfully inventive artwork and layout by co-writer Francis Manapul.

Nobody looking for great Flash tales should make this the first product they want to read. It's built on the premise Geoff Johns set up and has now been used for the TV series' premise, an idea that's become boring long before it was the norm. With that, it's not so easy to enjoy a story featuring a mind-controlling gorilla, I'm afraid. Not mentioned here is how Barry and Iris' marriage was broken up around 2010 - and Johns was among the people who did that - as part of DC's new politically correct agenda against marriage. It makes me think of something else not many may have pondered: what if no marriages/affairs are allowed between Barry and Iris on this new TV show? If not, character development isn't something you could expect to come naturally on this new production.

In related news, it's laughable how IGN's saying the producers of the new TV show "fully embrace the comics", when truly, it's only the new rendition they did. It's also told that:

While the show does pull a lot from the comic books, there will still be deviations that will surprise viewers.

“There are so many characters that are from the lore, like obviously Caitlin Snow in the comics becomes Killer Frost and Cisco [Ramon] becomes Vibe, but I wouldn’t necessarily count on that same track happening,” Johns said.

What's the point of using characters from Firestorm here, other than possibly to lead up to a series for Hothead to boot, since he may make an appearance here? Backdoor pilots don't always work and are too obvious.

... [Geoff] Johns said they drew inspiration from Robert De Niro’s character from the movie Heat to adapt Captain Cold for the show.

If that's a hint at how deadly Leonard Snart will be compared to what his comics counterpart once was like, that's another reason why this series is no sale with me. The 1990 TV rendition was also pretty deadly, and an early precursor to what Capt. Cold was transformed into by Johns post-2000.

Johns finished with enthusiasm for how the show is fully embracing its comic book origins.

“This show, more than any show out there, ever, embraces the superhero lore. There’s no reluctance on anyone’s part. We’re all-in on it. This is the most comic book show that’s ever been made,” he said.

I'm sorry, but the only "lore" it truly embraces is what he engineered nearly 5 years ago, and that's what he thinks makes a comic book show. A series with darkness that bad as its setup is not something I consider very comic-booky.

Labels: dc comics, dreadful writers, Flash, msm propaganda, violence