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Post by Chris on Dec 10, 2017 21:33:52 GMT -5
Welcome to the "Trial Of The Flash" review thread. I've been saying I should do this for a while now, and here it is. Updating this might be spotty, but I'll post when I can. But first...
**** THE RULES! ****
Yes, this has rules, for two reasons, both related to avoiding spoilers -
* Discuss whatever you like about what's posted in this thread as it is posted, *do not* discuss developments regarding Flash that are not yet covered in this thread.
EXAMPLE: If a review of issue #4 discusses Flash robbing a bank, don't talk about how issue #5 reveals that it was really Villain-Man impersonating Flash until **after** the review for #5 is posted.
* Some things posted in here may be spoilers for upcoming episodes of The Flash TV show. I don't know what future episodes will hold, but given that they draw heavily from the comics, it's not impossible that events depicted in this thread could appear on the show. In fact, I would find it highly unlikely that at least a *FEW* elements will not appear at some point or another. If you watch the show and want to be surprised, read at your own risk.
Now that this is clear, let's get to the first proper post in this soon-to-be-ridiculously-large thread. |
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Post by Chris on Dec 10, 2017 21:51:31 GMT -5
WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE: Barry Allen is finally coming to grips with the death of his wife Iris. Now, several years after her murder, Barry has moved on and is in love with Fiona Webb, a woman who lives in another apartment in the Utopia Towers complex. Recently, Fiona has been involved with Senator Creed Phillips, until she learned Phillips was the super-powered Eradicator, who killed criminals that escaped the law. Phillips had a split personality as a result of his powers and was unaware he was the Eradicator. Flash attempted to capture the Eradicator, who very nearly killed Flash until the Creed Phillips personality broke through and saved Flash at the cost of his own life. The Guardians of the Universe have learned of "disturbing information" that would be "traumatic and painful" for Flash, and decide Flash should receive the news from someone he knows and trusts, such as their Green Lantern on Earth, Hal Jordan, who is Flash's close friend. however, Jordan has been exiled from Earth by the Guardians, so they choose another to go in his place - Tomar-Re. Tomar-Re travels to Earth, but just before arriving is struck by a meteor swarm. The meteors are yellow, which his power ring cannot protect him from. He falls to Earth, saved by his ring's emergency reserve charge, but stranded far from Flash's home of Central City, injured and powerless. The Flash #321 - "Hell In The Fast Lane"Writer: Cary Bates Penciller: Carmine Infantino Inker: Credited to "Taurus S.," but after page 1 appears to be Dennis Jensen Editor: Ernie Colon    The scene shifts to an upstate prison where the paid assassin Sabre-Tooth escapes disguised as a guard. The next day, Sabre-Tooth is hired by someone who wants revenge for his brother being sent up for 20-to-life. The target is the police scientist who discovered the incriminating evidence - Barry Allen. Barry Allen is at a cemetery with his neighbor Fiona Webb, visiting the gravesite of Senator Creed Phillips, aka the Eradicator, who died fighting the Flash. Fiona explains to Barry that she didn't really love Phillips, but was merely infatuated, but couldn't bear to tell Phillips, wanting his last hours to be happy ones. Barry leaves her alone at the grave to mourn, and returns to his car. At the last second, he noticed heat-seeking missiles flying right at the still-warm engine of his car. He manages to escape, but fails to capture the would-be assassin, who escapes in the guise of a bicycle ice cream vendor. Sabre-Tooth muses on the compulsion to take every possible precaution -  Flash changes back into his tattered Barry Allen clothes, and explains that the Flash saved him. As for Tomar-Re, recovering from his disastrous arrival on Earht   That night, at the cemetery, two punks are arriving to steal an urn contaiing the ashes of comic genius Farley Wheaton. They are stopped by apparent ghosts, running away in terror only to find that the "ghost" was flash all along. The punks are taken into police custody -   The mysterious man in the Flash uniform is revealed. SOME NOTES: Recent issues of Flash seem to have coloring errors on random pages. Tones are somehow shifted across the entire page, resulting in things like Barry Allen having blue hair. Sometimes these color schemes seem deliberate (lower half of page 12, shown above, to obscure who the man in the Flash-like uniform really is), other times they seem random. Maybe it was the result of mix-ups at the color separating stage or the printing stage. No idea. Although The Flash had already entered uncharted territory a few years prior, this issue really set it down the road to where no other major comics character had ever traveled. Especially not a "staid, predictable, status quo comic" like Flash. The first few posts here will be a bit image-heavy, as things are being introduced and established. After that, it will be more streamlined.
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Post by chadwilliam on Dec 10, 2017 22:20:48 GMT -5
Really looking forward to this. My last exposure to this story line was through the black and white Showcase edition DC put out some while back and while that collection was somewhat condensed, I didn't think the story dragged at all despite its reputation. Furthermore, I remember enjoying Carmine Infantino's artwork on this and still think that some of his covers here rival anything he did during his peak in the 1960's.
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 11, 2017 0:56:03 GMT -5
DC was having some real production problems, in this era. Issue 300 was a mury mess, with fuzzy printing, bleed-through, and all kinds of problems. They started using flexo-graphic printing around thise time (give or take a year or two), with plastic printing plates and it took a while to get it right, resulting in some ugly comics, production-wise. Marvel had some issues, too; but, DC seemed to have more of them.
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Post by MWGallaher on Dec 11, 2017 8:40:18 GMT -5
According to the GCD, the inker of this issue, "Taurus S.", was Dennis Jensen, who was credited for inking lots of Infantino's issues of Flash around this time. I don't recall Jensen's working looking as much like Murphy Anderson's as it does on these scans, though. I wonder if he took the pseudonym while he experimented with recreating the Infantino/Anderson look, or did he always do this on Flash?
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Post by MDG on Dec 11, 2017 9:11:48 GMT -5
In the late 80s, I picked up a box of about fairly recent 200 comics for $7. However, for some reason, most of the runs in it only had every other issue. So I have a bunch of these issues, but never actually read the story.
Love Jensen on Infantino, though.
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Post by brutalis on Dec 11, 2017 13:26:32 GMT -5
I was picking up the Trial of the Flash off the racks at the LCS as it came out. I am a big Infantino fan so having him back on Flash for what everyone knew was the final "run" seemed like sheer perfection in poetic symmetry and a great recognition of how much Carmine contributed to the overall true success of the Flash comic book.
Talk about a memory flash of when the LCS's were fairly new and full of back issue boxes and walls full of comics. The only time there was anything else other than comic books was usually the glass check out counter/display on the way out.
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Post by Chris on Dec 11, 2017 14:01:53 GMT -5
DC was having some real production problems, in this era. Issue 300 was a mury mess, with fuzzy printing, bleed-through, and all kinds of problems. They started using flexo-graphic printing around thise time (give or take a year or two), with plastic printing plates and it took a while to get it right, resulting in some ugly comics, production-wise. Marvel had some issues, too; but, DC seemed to have more of them. Flash seemed to have its own special set of coloring errors that I didn't see in other DC Comics at the time.. Entire pages would have colors changed as if they got shifted up and down the spectrum during the printing process. Look at this page from issue #320 (the issue immediately prior to the start of this thread) -  My copy of the issue also had two covers. After that, issue #321 had a few places of color confusion (described in post above). By #322, the color problems were gone. I wasn't reading that many comics at that time though, since I was in junior high and could only afford so many books a month. I wouldn't be surprised if other comics had the same problems. |
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Post by Chris on Dec 11, 2017 14:10:41 GMT -5
According to the GCD, the inker of this issue, "Taurus S.", was Dennis Jensen, who was credited for inking lots of Infantino's issues of Flash around this time. I don't recall Jensen's working looking as much like Murphy Anderson's as it does on these scans, though. I wonder if he took the pseudonym while he experimented with recreating the Infantino/Anderson look, or did he always do this on Flash? It was Jensen, I'm sure. But page one clearly doesn't match the inking style than the rest of the book, and the inker credit is done in a different style and font than the rest of the credits. I'm wondering if Jensen was experimenting, or if Infantino inked page one himself (or possibly editor Ernie Colon inked it? It's not totally dissimilar to his style). I always thought it looked rather like Rodin Rodriguez, who inked a string of Flash covers at the time, and also filled in for Jensen as inker when Jensen was (constantly) running late. Jensen was already emulating Anderson in previous issues. but around early 1983 (cover date-wise) his work seems to be less of directly tracing over Infantino's pencils and more asserting his own stylistic choices. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2017 14:12:40 GMT -5
Chris ... I'll follow this thread with great interest and looks like it's off for a great start and can't contribute that much because this is totally new experience with me. Thanks for doing this. 
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Post by MDG on Dec 11, 2017 15:35:06 GMT -5
DC was having some real production problems, in this era. Issue 300 was a mury mess, with fuzzy printing, bleed-through, and all kinds of problems. They started using flexo-graphic printing around thise time (give or take a year or two), with plastic printing plates and it took a while to get it right, resulting in some ugly comics, production-wise. Marvel had some issues, too; but, DC seemed to have more of them. Flash seemed to have its own special set of coloring errors that I didn't see in other DC Comics at the time.. Entire pages would have colors changed as if they got shifted up and down the spectrum during the printing process. Look at this page from issue #320 (the issue immediately prior to the start of this thread) - Looks like the blue separation and the yellow one somehow got switched |
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Post by MWGallaher on Dec 11, 2017 16:16:37 GMT -5
Flash seemed to have its own special set of coloring errors that I didn't see in other DC Comics at the time.. Entire pages would have colors changed as if they got shifted up and down the spectrum during the printing process. Look at this page from issue #320 (the issue immediately prior to the start of this thread) - Looks like the blue separation and the yellow one somehow got switched Looks like you're right, MDG. Here's a quick and dirty swap of yellow and cyan:  |
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Post by Chris on Dec 11, 2017 19:30:14 GMT -5
The Flash #322 - "Burning A Speedster At Both Ends"Writer: Cary Bates Penciller: Carmine Infantino Inker: Dennis Jensen Editor: Ernie Colon 
The Flash is being hunted. So is Barry Allen.  Tomar-Re, the Green Lantern sent to warn the Flash of a looming danger, has crash landed on Earth, his power ring drained. He has recovered with the aid of a farmer and his family, and has assembled a vehicle from parts from the farmer's tractor and pick-up truck. He launches the vehicle and flies toward Central City. The newly engaged Barry Allen and Fiona Webb are enjoying a carriage ride through the park, discussing their future and unaware they are being observed. The assassin Sabre-Tooth, paid well by the brother of a man Allen sent to prison, is watching them. Another observer is watching as Tomar-Re lands outside Utopia Towers, where Barry and Fiona reside. As Tomar approaches the building, Professor Zoom attacks him, knocking him unconscious. Zoom uses his own future scientific expertise to transform the rocket into something space-worthy, and stuffs Tomar-Re into it. Despite the ease with which Zoom could easily kill Tomar, he wisely decides not to -  At police headquaters, Captain Darryl Frye is hoping married life will have a stabilizing influence on the chronically late Barry. Barry, then calls his parents and tells them of his engagement and invites them to the wedding. The happy couple go rowing on the river, and Fiona is nervous about meeting Barry's parents, but he reassures her that they will like her. Sabre-Tooth is swimming underwater, stalking them and reflecting on how death makes an assassin feel truly alive - the cliched "high on life" holds no candle to the high from death, especially after one develops a taste for it. Sabre-Tooth detonates the explosive on a bridge over the rowing couple. Barry manages to use his super-speed to rescue himself and Fiona without revealing his secret identity to either one of them. The ever-prepared Sabre-Tooth swims off through a drainage pipe, wishing the original Sabre-Tooth could be here to see how his student has mastered the assassination trade, as yet unaware that Barry Allen is still alive. That evening, Barry gets a phone call from Dexter Myles, curator of the Flash Museum. After that... well, you just have to see it -     SOME NOTES: Fun issue. I remember anxiously wondering where this would go. Cary Bates did a good job building tension, and the art is the best the book has seen in a long time. Carmine Infantino may not be the most photo-realistic artist (to put it VERY mildly), but his layouts, pacing, and expressions are excellent. Inker Dennis Jensen brings a strong attention to anatomy and detail. He is clearly influenced by Murphy Anderson, but isn't slavishly imitating him. Zoom clearly believes Tomar-Re was sent because of his return to Barry Allen's time. Zoom also will not allow anyone but him to kill the Flash, stopping Sabre-Tooth from assassinating Barry Allen. Sabre-Tooth being a woman, and not having any idea who her target really was, was a nice touch. And it's always good to see Dexter Myles. This story, like #321, was followed by a Creeper back-up story. Pretty forgettable. The original creative team disappeared after only 2 or 3 installments, and it seems to have been losing direction quick after that.
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Post by Chris on Dec 15, 2017 23:39:23 GMT -5
NEXT: A reminder: this is where the series started going down a road of permanent changes. Some were planned by writer Cary Bates, others were dicated by outside. From here on out, there is a chance that events related from now on may be reflected in the Flash TV show. I do not know what the showrunners are planning, but posts after this one may predict storylines for future episodes. If you want to watch the show without possible spoilers, stop reading now and come back at some near future date.
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Post by Chris on Dec 15, 2017 23:55:06 GMT -5
This is it! Barry Allen's wedding day! Things are seriously heating up! [Revving intensifies]The Flash 323: Run, Flash-- Run For You Wife!Writer: Cary Bates Penciller: Carmine Infantino Inker: Rodin Rodriguez Editor: Ernie Colon Aboard the Justice League satellite, Firestorm is grumbling that he was not invited to Flash's wedding, and didn't even know Flash was getting married. Wonder Woman explains that League members do not butt into each other's private lives. they had long been worried that Barry would never be able to move on after Iris' death, much less meet another woman. Barry speeds into the house of Henry and Nora Allen, his parents, with the wedding ring for Fiona. He gets out of his Flash costume and goes to change into his wedding tux.  The Guardian explains that the Green Lantern they dispatched to aid Flash was intercepted, thus direct intervention was necessary. The Guardian explains the reason for his appearance - several weeks earlier, a spontaneous energy discharge erupted in deep space. the discharge was powerful beyond measure, destroying a number of stars and planets in its path, each annihilation provided more energy fueling the bolt. It surpassed the velocity needed to break through the time barrier, where even the bolt could not survive. It was torn apart by the turbluence, causing temporal damage across millenia. Most rips in time resulted in no serious consequence... except one. The remaining energy bolt managed to rip through time and inflict damage on an obscure dimension which exists beyond the dawn of time itself... ...where Flash's greatest enemy has been stranded for the last four years, trying to escape Flash after murdering Iris Allen. The Guardian explains that was the reason that Tomar-Re was sent to Earth - given the emotional trauma Flash would have to deal with, an ally would be needed. Barry tells the Guardian that because of this emotional stake he must confront the Reverse-Flash alone, and tells the Guardian to promise that neitehr he nor his fellow Guardians will interfere or help in any way. The Guardian, while not approving, understands Barry's demand, and agrees to it.  Henry and Nora come to Barry's room and say the limo is waiting. Seeing his empty tux strewn across the bed, they wonder why the Flash would run out on his wedding day.  Flash , beginning his hunt, realizes that the Reverse-Flash must be the one who stopped and killed hte assassin Sabre-Tooth from killing Barry at the Flash museum. Not from any interest in saving Barry's life, or sparing him from using his superspeed to save himself and exposing his identity, but to claim the privilege of killing the Flash himself. Flash returns to the museum, looking for any hidden clues that Zoom may have left behind. A statue of Zoom starts speaking, claiming that Flash owes him a favor. He confirms that he was indeed the one who killed Sabre-Tooth, and asks Barry a question - "So tell me -- how's single life these days?"Barry wrecks the statue, which keeps talking. Zoom is fully aware of Barry's plans to get married to Fiona Webb that day. He credits Barry's taste, saying Fiona is very appealing and even Iris herself would probably approve of Barry marrying her, but to Zoom, Fiona just leaves him cold. Having proved that he is up to date, he suggests he and Flash get together, and "reminisce about out 'hot times' with Iris." He tells Flash that if he wants to find Zoom, he just has to figure out where to "home in" on him. At the chapel, the guests are arriving. Nora Allen is worried what to say about arry not being there yet. Henry simply says that Barry is famous for never being on time for anything, so why should his wedding be diferent? Nora is still very worried, but Henry tries to reassure her when a helicopter arrives over the chapel. From the helicopter stretches the Elongated Man, saving the pilot the trouble of finding a place to land. Most of the other guests have arrived - Dexter Myles, Captain Frye and Barry's other co-workers, his neighbors the Macks. Fiona is finishing dressing and talking to her bridesmaids. She feels like she is in some wonderful dream and doesn't want to ever wake up. Flash is searching every place he can think of, with no results, when it finally hits him -  Flash realizes that Zoom's emphasis on the words "home in" meant that he is waiting at home - Barry and Iris Allen's home. The home is currently for sale, and a young wife is trying to convince her husband to walk through the house before dismissing it.    |
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