The Flash

I don't think he's really of a Mary Sue, but he's definitely one of Johns's pet characters. I think he's probably my favorite Flash villain overall.

edited 12th Feb '14 1:13:57 PM by supergod

Jay Garrick is my favorite Flash. I love the cool old guy version from the JSA series, and I've been able to go back recently and read the two archive volumes of his 1940s series that DC has published. He definitely has a lot of fun with his speed and he loves to prank the villains of any given story. Clearly he mellowed out a lot as he got older.

Wally is my second favorite version. I started reading the Flash with Waid's "Return of Barry Allen" storyline. That's most likely also the storyline that introduced me to DC's legacy characters and made me appreciate that aspect of their universe so much. Wally went through some tremendous character growth during his time as the Flash, which is always a plus.

edited 17th Feb '14 8:54:40 AM by andersonh1

Wally West was the first Flash i knew about, thnks to Superman The Animated Series and Justice League.

Much as New 52 ditching Wally was a terrible idea, the New 52 Flash is a pretty solid showing for Barry Allen. Robinson's first two arcs of Earth 2 are also a hell of a reboot of Jay Garrick.

Now Wally is coming back in April! *snoopydance*

Will we recognize him, I wonder? I just hate that he's been set aside up to this point after two decades as THE Flash, but I guess they probably had done about all they could with the character as he was.

edited 20th Feb '14 6:18:32 AM by andersonh1

I'm cautiously optimistic. However, Ted Kord and Stephanie Brown (two other editorial Unfavorites) are also returning.

I don't think it was a matter of them doing all they could with the character. I just think the character was not well liked by certain people in charge. Ah well. Water under the bridge now.

edited 20th Feb '14 6:41:06 AM by PennyDreadful

Ted Kord is another character that was given a terrible send-off. I was never happy about that. Here's hoping the new version is worth reading about.

the way Ted Kord died in Batman: The Brave and the Bold was pretty cool.

That was a good episode, and vastly better than having Max Lord blow his head off.

Just to stay on topic, I love that Jay Garrick turned up on Brave and the Bold a few times, both solo and with the JSA. I love how the Rogues called him "geezer Flash". Poor guy! Hilarious though.

Am I the only one who actually prefers Captain Cold having actual ice powers as opposed to a simple ice gun?

I also preferred it, especially since there was a refocus on the "cold" vs. "ice" aspect. I like the idea of him having an aura of cold that slows down the Flash in close quarters - it draws attention to the original concept.

He always had that with his Gun. His gun was by far the most versatile of all Ice villains abilities and the most powerful. Plus at least one Ice villain is using a gun again.

He more or less says it here.◊ and here◊ along with the power of being able to make it fatal or non fatal.

Cold was probably more powerful with the gun and I vastly prefer him with it over the dumb powers.

edited 20th Feb '14 11:53:51 PM by Saya1

Like I said - that was the original concept. I mostly felt that moving it from his gun to an aura made it easier to bring the concept in, because even if he can do that with a gun...the Flash can outrun a trigger finger. The aura makes it a given that Flash doesn't have that option.

From fighting the Flash so often he is a such a fast shot that he can get the field off and I linked a second picture were he straight up says thats how he sees the Flash coming.

Also Jinbo Cold said himself he does not have an Ice gun he has a Cold gun. It turns things to absolute Zero putting him in a higher tier then any other ice and cold related villain.

edited 20th Feb '14 11:56:27 PM by Saya1

I liked him with the powers, but him having the gun again fits for forever evil and taking down johnny quick with a gun like his cop self failed to do.

I like the gun better, even if it's only because it makes him less generic. We already have Killer Frost and Icicle (Is he in the new 52 universe?). And yes, Mr. Freeze also uses tech, but his role is a lot more different.

edited 3rd Mar '14 12:30:39 PM by supergod

i recall a Robot Chicken short where at least four of DC's cold-themed villains accidentally knocked over the same museum. on the same day. at the exact same time.

I remember that sketch than Ice was outside and she was going to stop them but the building collapsed if I remember correctly.

I can't wait for the next DC Comics Special.

A version of Icicle appeared in the New 52 Green Team comic.

Ice powers and ice guns are equally generic in the DCU. For ice guns we have Mr. Freeze, Captain Cold, and the original Icicle; for ice powers we have Ice, the second Icicle, and Killer Frost. Basically, Captain Cold's gimmick of being cold instead of ice applies whether he has the powers or the gun, so it's pretty much down to personal preferences.

Does Mr Freeze even have a gun anymore. From the look of things he does not even need a suit anymore and can freeze things with a touch. As a result Cold is the only non meta Ice Villain left.

edited 4th Mar '14 3:43:47 AM by Saya1

Freeze uses technology for his ice (and keep him alive) just as always. IIRC, he does wear the helmet. The gun is, again IIRC, built into his suit like a gauntlet or even having the cold gun with him. I believe the intention is that his body does provide the natural freezing stuff, he needs tech to concentrate it so it can be fired like a beam.

What are your guys' thoughts on the New52 Reverse Flash◊?

edited 14th Mar '14 1:12:26 PM by Jinbo71