Letters to The Flash #29

[HoM]

Please tell us what you think, fateful reader, about this pivotal Flash issue!

[David]

Whoa... This was a game-changer!

I gotta say, the spectacular cover drew me to this issue (I've always loved the Reverse Flash!), but the gripping, masterfully told story of Eobard Thawne kept me reading all the way to the end.

Just brilliant. This writer may be the most underrated talent on the DC2 right now--- I didn't even realize until after I was done with the issue that the Flash doesn't appear at all, and the issues is much better for it! I don't want to spoil it, but Thawne's motivation are very human and almost justified. He's got a damn good reason for going after Barry Allen, and as a reader, I feel kinda sorry for him (for both of them, actually).

Nice inclusion of Flash and DC2 history. This storyline really feels like the culmination of strands and threads that go all the way back to Day One. I believe this will be THE Flash epic of the DC2, and I am very excited to see where it goes from here!

Five big fat stars! This title has suddenly gotten red-hot!

[starlord]

I've been reading this title from the beginning, and it's always been very solid, but what this issue has done... WHOA!!!

This issue is so compelling, so beautifully written, so damn sad and tragic, that it leaves you wondering who is in the right and the wrong here.

I wish I would have read this before hand, because I would have loved to write a forward on this. Screaming the praises of all involved with this story. I've loved this run of the Flash, and I can tell the best is yet to come.

Year 3 may have been the year of Batman, but I've got a feeling that year 4 could well be the Year of the Flash!

If anyone is reading my little comment and hasn't read this issue. READ IT! You will NOT be disappointed. Jump on board now, folks!

5 huge and well deserved stars from me as well. In fact, if we had an issue of the month, I'd be hard pressed so far to think of anything this month that could top this.

Brilliant!

[HoM]

The Flash, right now, is continually one of the best books, monthly, on this site. I will stand by that statement, no matter what book you throw my way. It's up there with the best of the best, and Kevin Feeney is, I think, hitting his stride on this title.

It's been building for months, and now we've reached the starting line of what Dave rightly called "THE Flash epic" on the site. There was so much emotion throughout this, and I have to admit, there was nearly a case of man-tears coming from the editor as I read through this. I mean, honestly Kevin, this was so tragic. You made Thawne not the villain, not outright, but you made him justified, which I think is scarier. Anyways, YES, everyone should be reading this book. Everyone. If you're not, I think you're missing out, and I pity you.

Topped off by a cool cover with pencils from Craig Cermak and colours by Roy Flinchum, I'm going to be bold and say that this is one of the best issues on the site, up there with New Outsiders #6, the book at levels that I strive to compete with on intimate scale and effectiveness.

[Susan Hillwig]

OH. MY. GOD!

This came out of nowhere. I knew we were building to something, but I had no inkling it would be THIS...

Anybody else scared? I am. I'm also slightly rooting for Thawne, just because what he's been through is horrifying.

Don't know if I can wait a month...

[arcalian]

I feel for Eobard Thawne more than I have for almost any villain ever, as he's written here. He had the world he knew taken from him, yes, and as he cannot fix it, he wants to hit back at the man who (unknowingly) destroyed his world. Thawne's time as Kid Flash is especially poignant.

Yes. I understand Thawne's burning pain and frustration. I always thought Reverse Flash was cool, but Kevin has managed the almost impossible trick of making Thawne sympathetic without taking away his villainy. That's classic.

Because, of course, if Thawne would just think about it for a second, he could rebuild the Flash legacy anew, in this time. He could use the treadmill to travel back and save Meloni. He could re-create at least some of what he has lost.

But instead, he chooses to destroy.

Brilliant, Kevin, simply brilliant.

[Alex]

Awesome issue! Nothing else to add that everyone else hasn't. This was just great.

[Merai]

Wow…. Well, first, I have to thank everyone for the stunning response to this issue! I was really happy with it, and I’m thrilled that it’s received so much positive acclaim- I only hope “Legacy” can live up to this!

Whoa... This was a game-changer!

I gotta say, the spectacular cover drew me to this issue (I've always loved the Reverse Flash!), but the gripping, masterfully told story of Eobard Thawne kept me reading all the way to the end.

I can’t say I blame you for being drawn to this issue by the cover- Craig absolutely outdid himself with that depiction of the Reverse Flash, and the colouring by Roy fits it perfectly. Sadly, that’s the last cover Craig will be providing for “The Flash”, but talk about going out on a high!

Just brilliant. This writer may be the most underrated talent on the DC2 right now--- I didn't even realize until after I was done with the issue that the Flash doesn't appear at all, and the issues is much better for it!

Well, I appreciate the sentiment! And yes, at one point this issue was going to be intercutting between the present and the past but I ultimately opted to leave out Barry and the present entirely, feeling it made the issue more powerful. I’m glad it seems to have worked!

I don't want to spoil it, but Thawne's motivation are very human and almost justified. He's got a damn good reason for going after Barry Allen, and as a reader, I feel kinda sorry for him (for both of them, actually).

Honestly, Dave, had that been the only feedback I’d received on the issue, I’d be ecstatic, because that’s exactly what I was aiming for! I’ve always thought the Reverse Flash is a great concept with a great costume but a shaky and weak motivation/history, so I tried to Magneto-ise him with some tragedy, and it seems to have worked!

Nice inclusion of Flash and DC2 history. This storyline really feels like the culmination of strands and threads that go all the way back to Day One. I believe this will be THE Flash epic of the DC2, and I am very excited to see where it goes from here!

I’ll do my best to live up to that- again, that’s really what I was hoping for. I like to think of it as the end of the first era of ‘The Flash’ on the DC2- and the beginning of a new one! Still, if nothing else makes the coming story memorable, I’m sure the covers provided by the ludicrously talented Doc Dread will!

This issue is so compelling, so beautifully written, so damn sad and tragic, that it leaves you wondering who is in the right and the wrong here.

As I mentioned above, that’s really what I was striving for- not that you agree with Eobard, but that you absolutely see why he’s doing what he is, and you feel for him. Certainly, one can only imagine what his family would have thought of the man he has become to avenge them- but reason isn’t exactly what’s driving him right now!

I wish I would have read this before hand, because I would have loved to write a forward on this. Screaming the praises of all involved with this story. I've loved this run of the Flash, and I can tell the best is yet to come.

Coming from the writer of ‘New Outsiders’, that’s incredibly high praise indeed. All I can do is thank you for your very kind words- and hopefully, what’s coming up in the months ahead won’t disappoint.

Year 3 may have been the year of Batman, but I've got a feeling that year 4 could well be the Year of the Flash!

I think we have quite a few writers doing some great work out there who’d disagree with that, but I appreciate the vote of confidence.

The Flash, right now, is continually one of the best books, monthly, on this site. I will stand by that statement, no matter what book you throw my way. It's up there with the best of the best, and Kevin Feeney is, I think, hitting his stride on this title.

On a site with titles as excellent as “New Outsiders”, “Action Comics”, “JSA” and “Teen Titans” among many, many others, I’m not sure I can agree, but I’m glad you’re enjoying the book so much- I’m having a blast writing it!

It's been building for months, and now we've reached the starting line of what Dave rightly called "THE Flash epic" on the site. There was so much emotion throughout this, and I have to admit, there was nearly a case of man-tears coming from the editor as I read through this. I mean, honestly Kevin, this was so tragic. You made Thawne not the villain, not outright, but you made him justified, which I think is scarier.

Justified? That’s an interesting word, and I’m not sure I can agree there, Charlie. In his own mind, he’s justified, and certainly you can see why he does what he does… but does that actually justify the actions he’s about to take? Does anything justify them? That, to me, is the ‘Magneto’ question, and the fact that it’s even come up means I’ve succeeded on some level, which makes me even happier.

Topped off by a cool cover with pencils from Craig Cermak and colours by Roy Flinchum, I'm going to be bold and say that this is one of the best issues on the site, up there with New Outsiders #6, the book at levels that I strive to compete with on intimate scale and effectiveness.

Once again, that’s a standard I cannot possibly meet, but once again, thanks for such kind words. Honestly, guys, at this rate I’m gonna get a swollen head!

OH. MY. GOD!

This came out of nowhere. I knew we were building to something, but I had no inkling it would be THIS...

Susan, you’re another writer who is absolutely the cream of the crop for a site with very high standards already, so I’m over the moon that you feel so strongly about the issue. I did deliberately make Thawne more insidious and malevolent in previous issues, precisely to throw the reader off so they wouldn’t suspect that he was not as evil as he appeared, so I’m glad that seems to have worked!

Anybody else scared? I am. I'm also slightly rooting for Thawne, just because what he's been through is horrifying.

The funny thing is, when I finished writing the issue, I actually went back to my original plan for “Legacy of the Lightning” and completely rewrote a lot of the second half, because this ended up being more tragic than I had foreseen and it demanded a worthy wrap-up. Time will tell if yet more tragedy lies in store for Thawne… or just for Barry!

Yes. I understand Thawne's burning pain and frustration. I always thought Reverse Flash was cool, but Kevin has managed the almost impossible trick of making Thawne sympathetic without taking away his villainy. That's classic.

Because, of course, if Thawne would just think about it for a second, he could rebuild the Flash legacy anew, in this time. He could use the treadmill to travel back and save Meloni. He could re-create at least some of what he has lost.

But instead, he chooses to destroy.

You have hit the proverbial nail on the head, Jay, that’s exactly the way I view Thawne! Because of course on a rational level, he’s absolutely wrong- suffering such incredible pain and loss does not justify inflicting it on others, and on a rational level, he can try to rebuild, as you say. But of course Thawne isn’t thinking on a rational level, he can’t, so it’s a vicious circle and he’s powering on inevitably, unstoppably, towards destruction. Unfortunately for Barry. Unfortunately for the Flash Family. But fortunately (I hope!) for the DC2! Seriously, Jay, thanks for the praise, and your piercing insight!

Awesome issue! Nothing else to add that everyone else hasn't. This was just great.

I’m glad you enjoyed the issue so much, Alex- and the best is yet to come!

….Wow. Yeah, this is by far the biggest and best reception I’ve gotten on any issue ever, and I really could not be more happy, as I’ve been planning this issue for a while, and it worked out better than I could have hoped. Thank you all for your generous words, and hopefully you’ll be back when the main event kicks off next month!

[lissilambe]

A unique and excellently told origin for the Reverse-Flash. Well done in style and tone, and a reasoned, brilliant madman displayed for the reader. Just the barest hints of exactly how psychotic he's become laced in a very calm introspective look at his life. Definitely worth the accolades you've been getting, congratulations. A very good twist on a classic villain.

Take care
Don

[Merai]

Oct 27, 2008 7:54:32 GMT -5 lissilambe said:

A unique and excellently told origin for the Reverse-Flash. Well done in style and tone, and a reasoned, brilliant madman displayed for the reader. Just the barest hints of exactly how psychotic he's become laced in a very calm introspective look at his life. Definitely worth the accolades you've been getting, congratulations. A very good twist on a classic villain.

Many thanks Don, I really do appreciate such high praise. This does lead me to raise one thing- back in the letters for issue 24 (Waay back in May), you mentioned you suspected you knew who the villain was, and greatly disliked them- and that it would be difficult to win you over with them. If it was indeed Thawne you suspected, I hope I did manage to win you over, and your high praise just means all the more! And if not, well, I'm still glad you enjoyed the issue.

Overall, this has been by far the most positive response I've ever gotten and I'm blown away by the magnitude of it! Hope to see you all back this very week as the worst day of Barry Allen's life begins and the nature of how far Thawne has gone becomes a whole lot more overt!

[lissilambe]

Nah, my fear for the villain was Cobalt Blue, who I don't like, in either design or purpose. Reverse-Flash is a great villain I've always liked, and you've just done a great job of reworking his background while keeping it in the same vein and essence.

Take care
Don

[Merai]

Ah, fair enough then. No, I'm a fan of Waid's run but Cobalt Blue was a massive and poorly handled misstep and while I brought in the character and alluded to what he became in the DC2 proper h, he won't be around in that guise while I'm writing the book. So no fear there.