Geoff Johns leaves Flash

[Blake Petit]

After 62 issues, Geoff Johns is going to leave Flash with issue #225, the end of the Rogue War.

Darn it. :(

I started reading Flash during Mark Waid's fantastic run (no pun intended) on the title, and when Johns took over I was skeptical that anyone would be able to follow it. But Johns quickly won me over with his redefinition of Keystone City and Flash's Rogues. It really has been a spectacular race.

Stuart Immonen is going to write #226, and then Darwyn Cooke is writing an arc, but there's no news yet on who's taking over the title full-time. Whoever it is has some biiiiiig shoes to fill.

[Adam Chapman]

I've read some of Waid's run on Flash, but I admit that it was Johns who first made me really interested in the Flash as a character, and interested in the book. This is pretty sad news for Flash readers, because of how amazing this run has been- and I'm sure Rogue War will end up being one of the best of the run, if not the best, given the spectacular lead-up to the event.

[Symphony of Six]

I had a hunch that he was going to leave after Rogue War because he's been building up to this his entire run. Nevertheless it was a great one at that. It's a sad day for Flash fans. :bow: :flash:

[Walt Kneeland]

Well, this is gonna be an interesting pickle. I'd been hearing for awhile about the great job this "Geoff Johns" was doing on the Flash, as well as simply hearing about how great the title was. I finally gave in and checked out the "Rogue Profile"/Zoom chapter 1 and was hooked; been on since.

I'd LIKE to say "hey, I can drop the title now!" but I'm definitely gonna wait and see what develops, and IF whoever the new REGULAR writer is drops the ball, I'll bail...but until then, I'm along for the ride.... :]

~Walt

[Blake Petit]

Yeah, I'll be carefully scrutinizing the new guy. I love the Flash, but I've got a policy of not shelling out for books that suck. Which hasn't been a problem with Flash for well over a decade -- even when he wasn't climbing the sales charts, Waid and the Johns have done some of the best superhero comics around. In fact, I've heard it said that Waid taking over Flash is considered the end of the "Dark Age" of comics (the grim 'n gritty era).

[Walt Kneeland]

Yeah, I'll be carefully scrutinizing the new guy. I love the Flash, but I've got a policy of not shelling out for books that suck. Which hasn't been a problem with Flash for well over a decade -- even when he wasn't climbing the sales charts, Waid and the Johns have done some of the best superhero comics around. In fact, I've heard it said that Waid taking over Flash is considered the end of the "Dark Age" of comics (the grim 'n gritty era).

I hadn't heard that before (about the end of the "Dark Age"), but that's definitely interesting. I know for as weird as it may sound, compared to many other characters (maybe it's just the costume coloring) Flash just seems very "bright and shiny" to me. Sure, it may deal with darker elements (losing an unborn child, for example), but you just can't particularly hide the guy in a shadow or anything.

Though I've been a glutton for punishment on the Superman books, especially since they disconnected the titles after OWAW, I've gotten to the point where if something thoroughly sucks or otherwise has no appeal to me, I'm not going to continue to support it. (And thankfully, seems the Superman books are all "good" right now at the least, finally.)

So yeah...it'll certainly be a change not having Johns doing the writing for Flash. But unless the new folks suck, I don't quite see being able to drop the title on those grounds. ;)

more "just rambling,"
~Walt

[Adam Chapman]

Here's the link to Newsarama's coverage of the story- Click Here (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=34288)

[cv_otaku]

Unfortunately, my optimistic nature FORCES me to find a bright side in this. I've been needing to cut one of my monthlies out of the pull to save a little money. I guess Flash will be it.

Well, that problem solved itself.

Too bad about Johns though...his run on Flash was and is incredible. Who next? I can see it now "Grant Morrison's Flash!" Where he changes the costume, kills off a few of the rogues and all together makes the storylines incomprehensible.

[Symphony of Six]

I'm actually up for Grant Morrison's Flash. When him and Millar filled in for Mark Waid it was pretty good.

[Blake Petit]

Dropping it without even knowing who's going to take over? I'd at least say wait until the new name is dropped. I try to give any new creative team at least one arc to keep me on a title or drive me off. There are honestly only two writers whose name will cause me to drop a title unread.

[Symphony of Six]

Who's that Blake? Just curious.

[Blake Petit]

I'm not going to bash anyone here, but I'm sure most people familiar with my reviews and columns can figure out who they are. ;)

[Symphony of Six]

Hmmm, time to do some research. :read:

[Adam Chapman]

Hmmm... I'm guessing that you're referring to Chuck Austen and... John Byrne... or Peter David... one of those two, plus Austen. :p

[Fanatix]

A damn shame, I never read the flash till johns run. Is he gonna move to a different comic after this or is he finally just dropping one title? I guess it had to happan eventually, it was beginning to feel like he was writing 1/2 the titles that dc is putting out.

[Blake Petit]

Well, he's already doing Titans, JSA, Green Lantern and -- soon -- Infinite Crisis. I think he just felt it was time to clean his plate a bit.

[Downfall]

Blast it!! Well, as long as it's not John Byrne, Chuck Austen, or John Byrne co-writing with Chuck Austen, I'm good.

[Blake Petit]

I'd give Byrne an arc, at least, but considering all the other projects he's got going I seriously doubt he's even in line.

[Adam Chapman]

Who knows, maybe Flash won't make it through Infinite Crisis and there won't be a need for a future creative team after the next arc after Johns... :p

[Mike D'Alfonso]

As some of you might know, I am not a big Chuck Austen fan, because I feel that he mucks around with continuity that is already established by other writers. John Byrne may have reinvigorated some books in the past like Superman and the Fantastic Four, but lately I'm not so sure about his recent efforts. I liked Peter Davids run on Supergirl immensely and to some extent his run on Captain Marvel, so if he is the successor to the Flash book, then I will give it a shot.

[Logan]

Adam, don't even joke...

[Blake Petit]

As some of you might know, I am not a big Chuck Austen fan, because I feel that he mucks around with continuity that is already established by other writers...

I liked Peter Davids run on Supergirl immensely and to some extent his run on Captain Marvel, so if he is the successor to the Flash book, then I will give it a shot.

I'm sorry, I've gotta say it.

How did David's first new Hulk storyline end again? :LOL:

[Downfall]

Oh he just said basically that the last few years of the Hulk's book have all been a dream that's all. I mean, erasing the John Byrne relaunch was no big deal, but I liked Paul Jenkins' too-brief run, and if you're going by the letters pages in "Hulk" nowadays, I think I was the only one who liked Bruce Jones' run.

But back on topic... has there been any word on who will replace Johns?

[Blake Petit]

None yet, as far as I know. Stuart Immonen is going to write an issue after he's gone, then Darwyn Cooke is coming on for a story arc. I'm rather suspecting that whoever the permanent replacement is will take over when "One Year Later" starts.

[Walt Kneeland]

(for the conclusion to "Tempus Fugit" in Hulk)Actually, unless I'm way off, it was the closing of the 4th chapter that indicated the last few years had been a dream--it was then revealed in the final chapter that that was actually part of a plan by Nightmare to screw with Bruce, by making him THINK it had all just been a dream.... I might have the intricate details a bit off, but that's what I took away from the ending.

Of course, perhaps I'm just suffering from heat exhaustion. :dunce:

Given the upcoming Crisis...I'll be interested to see where Flash DOES go--the character AND title.

$.02,

~Walt

[RadioCleve]

I think I'm done after Rogue War. It's been a good run, but unless there's a good hook, I'm out.

[Bigby Wolf]

I have been thinking about who the new writer will be, and I am thinking Mark Waid and maybe Mike Wieringo will be the artist.

[Blake Petit]

Waid and 'Ringo did a great run together years ago... I would be HAPPY to see it, but I doubt it. Especially since 'Ringo's got the new Spider-Man title on his plate.

[WhereIsTony]

I'm sorry, I've gotta say it.

How did David's first new Hulk storyline end again? :LOL:


That nightmare was screwing with Banner's mind to make him think the last few years had been a dream, when in fact they had happened

Granted it was not the greatest arc he ever wrote but I did not think it was bad.

Something Major needs to be done to repair the breaches in hulk continuity and correct some of the nonsense that has happened in the last few years