Flash 1: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues!

One of the reasons why this series was so good was it showed us what a Flash series should be. The New 52 Flash was good, but some of the things that was done with the villains was just stupid.Geoff Johns always did the characters right, while making them interesting. The way he handled Barry Allen's return was just as perfect as Hal Jordan's.A great series that shows us who Barry Allen is and why he is such a good hero.

Barry Allen's return to his own monthly book begins here. This trade collects issues 1-7 of The Flash series as well as The Flash: Secret Files and Origins 2010 issue. Geoff Johns writes all the stories while Francis Manapul and Scott Kolins supply the art.The first 6 issues tell the tale of Flash's confrontation with the 25th century police force, the Renegades, who accuse Barry Allen of murder. (The Renegades are the 'good guy' versions of the Rogues, Flash's famous gallery of villains who include Captain Cold, the Trickster, Mirror Master, and others.)There are some cool moments: Flash picking bullets out of the air, speed reading to learn how to rebuild an apartment complex that was destroyed during one of his battles, or racing up the side of a building. It's great to see Johns spend a moment to show us there are consequences to super-hero brawls, and that Barry Allen cares. The art is consistently excellent throughout the book as well.But these early issues are replete with one fight after another, first with the Renegades, then with the Rogues who inevitably show up to crash the party. And when compared to the great work Johns has done on Green Lantern, these early Flash issues are just ok. It's clear these issues are set up for the larger Flashpoint saga to come.Things get interesting with issue 7, which focuses on Captain Boomerang and gives the character more depth. Johns even provides a plausible explanation for Boomerang's original, very hokey (by today's standards) costume. This is where Johns is at his best: telling character-driven stories while modernizing the DC pantheon in a way that doesn't offend the fans (i.e., conflict with continuity).I expected the Secret Files and Origins 2010 issue to be total filler, but was pleasantly surprised to see both excellent art and a great story that peeks into a dark corner of Barry Allen's past, something that drives him to this day. A nice touch in the story is how the Flash can't sleep, so he does a bunch of activities, then goes back to bed a minute later. (Johns' subtle reminder of Barry's super-speed.) There's even a section on how boomerangs and mirrors work (and how Captain Boomerang and Mirror Master use these tools).The end of the book includes a cover gallery of alternate covers. Beneath the dust jacket, the book comes with a red cover emblazoned with Flash's famous lightning bolt. Pretty cool!So it's a solid 3-star package. Not at the level of Johns' awesome Green Lantern stories, but plenty there for Flash fan to enjoy. Pick this book up if you are a Geoff Johns follower, a Flash fan, or want to follow the Flashpoint saga as it unfolds throughout the DC universe this summer. Otherwise, wait for the cheaper paperback (or even the inevitable omnibus version to get the entire storyline in one go).

Barry Allen returns to his life as the Flash as well as a forensic scientist in the CCPD. Barry is charged with a murder in the future and must try to clear his name as he takes on the current and future rogues

First of all, the very first Flash graphic novel I bought was "The Flash: Rebirth" a couple years ago. I saw it in the store and was blown away with how awesome the cover looked. Plus being a huge fan of Geoff Johns' Green Lantern comics, I decided to check it out. Geoff Johns' writes Barry a lot more like-able in Death of the Rogues than in Rebirth. He still has his morals, which a lot of super heroes lack these days. The art in this is great, the story is great. I loved pretty much everything about it. I haven't read a Johns' story I've hated. (I haven't read all of his comics, though.) I'd definitely recommend checking this out!Can we have an animated solo Flash movie now? Please Bruce Timm, please? Live action would be cool too!

Barry Allen is back (see The Flash Rebirth) and is settling into life as Central City's hero, though things have changed a bit. As Barry deals with police from the future -- the Renegades who want to arrest him for a murder Barry will committ in the future -- he begins getting strange visions that he cannot explain. This volume has top notch art and writing (as expected from Manapul and Johns), and Flash fans are sure to love this. Also, they manage to make Captain Boomerang into a villain to be feared and taken seriously, and include his origins.

Barry is back saving people from falling helicopters, exploding buildings, the old Captain Boomerang with new tricks, getting chased down by reverse Rogues from Zoom's time period and that's about half of it...maybe. Barry is the best. I love Wally and Jay too in a strictly platonic and heterosexual way, but Barry just gives me the feeling that "all will be well" no matter how "unwell" things seem. I also like to keep it that way!! Anyway, Dastardly Death of the Rogues is a great continuation from Flash: Rebirth and Blackest Night and a prelude to Flashpoint! which is a Flash story that will effect the entire DC universe. Which is refreshing after all these Green Lantern stories. Anyway, get this book especially if you're more of a Wally fan, because without Barry there wouldn't be a Wally.

I was not very excited by the reintroduction of Barry Allen in  The Flash: Rebirth  but Geoff Johns's take on the character has grown on me through  Blackest Night  and now THE FLASH: THE DASTARDLY DEATH OF THE ROGUES, which picks up were the earlier series ended and ties into both  Brightest Day, Vol. 1  through its use of the reborn Captain Boomerang and the forthcoming "Flashpoint". The other reviewers have offered detailed comments on the story of this collection, but no one (as yet) notes its contents. For the record, the book collects THE FLASH (2010) Nos. 1-7 and all of (or possibly some of) THE FLASH SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS 2010. This is definitely worth checking out for Flash fans.

Lovely art design

Bought as a gift for my daughters friend who is a flash fan.

FIRST CLASS P AND P

Perfect condition and an excellent book, definitely need vol.2 now!

Well worth the money