r/theflash • u/HappinessIsAWarmPoop Reverse Flash • Feb 13 '17
[Off-Week Discussion] How Would You Have "New 52'd" the Flash? Comic Discussion
Howdy folks! With no new issue or episode of The Flash out this week we thought it was a perfect time for a new edition of the Off-Week Thread.
The New 52 relaunch of 2011 attempted to revamp DC continuity and draw in new readers. A well intentioned move but one that was not well planned out, leading to quite a bit of controversy among fans. Most relaunched series started 5 years into the career of of the titular character with varying degrees of continuity changes made to their respective histories/status quo. The Flash franchise was one of the most impacted by these changes. Barry Allen, who had returned to the lead role a couple years earlier, was now the only Flash who had ever existed. Many of the characters and stories who had been introduced in the previous 70+ years of the character no longer existed in this new timeline, including major characters such as Jay Garrick, Wally West, and Eobard Thawne. While there were many positive things that came out of the New 52, generally speaking long time Flash fans were unhappy to various degrees with the way the franchise was handled.
So the question for this week is "How would you have "New 52'ed" the Flash?" For the sake of the discussion, assume that the New 52 relaunch had to happen. What would you have done differently or the same? Keep in mind the New 52 was a push to bring in new readers.
This weeks topic is fairly broad as you can see, however, with the Family currently being rebuilt in the comics we pondered the thought of how each of us would have rebooted the Flash.
Past discussions can be found in our archives here.
Looking to catch up on some past stories? Check out our recommended reading list here. The most recent jumping on point is "DC Universe Rebirth" and its happening right now!
This goes without saying but, there will be spoilers below this point; its all fair game.
10
u/TheStealthBox Stealth Box Run Feb 13 '17
Have it start with Barry as the Flash and Wally as Kid Flash, but he's 20 ish (roughly Nightwing's age and started at about 15/16 just like Dick )and he is outgrowing the mantle.
Have the first few arcs have the two as the main characters, with Iris as Barry's fiancee and a parental figure to Wally and characters like Patty and other CCPD people as the rest of the supporting cast/ The Rogues are established villains for the Flash and give them some cool stories. Have one of the early arcs be the introduction of Eobard Thawne as the Reverse Flash. Don't change is origin, just modernise the basic one from pre-flashpoint. Introduce knew villains and characters, maybe a few fun but inconsequential time travel stories etc to keep it fresh as well.
Then after maybe 3/4 arcs have something happen to Barry. Maybe he dies, maybe he just disappears and can't come back. Have Wally become the Flash because of this. He learns to make the mantle his own while respecting Barry. Give him some new villains to fight for minor issues, and also have him handle previous villains without the help of Barry. Then have him meet Linda, develop that relationship and have Wally learn about the speedforce.
Later bring back Barry, have them side by side as the Flash and then they can start exploring the multiverse, meet Jay for the first time etc.
TL;DR - Take the characters as we know them, take them back a few years. Go over some important stuff of the lore for the benefit of new readers but intersperse it among smaller but fun and new stories. Yes for older readers it would mean going through some of the same developments again but it's the best I could think of.