I really liked most of the early run of that Flash series. Okay, it dragged when Baron left after a couple of issues but the way that the character arc flowed from Baron through Messner-Loebs to Waid is really astonishing. Especially when Waid picks up five years of building plot lines and wraps it up in one of the most satisfying bows that I think I've ever gotten in superhero comics. It makes Flash #1-#75 into one really nice extended story arc.
Just Some Guy | 01.12.08 - 1:17 am | #

Barry Allen was at least as shameless......

http://images.comicbookresources...08/0109/ PD2.jpg

...fastest whore alive
LeprosyLad | 01.12.08 - 4:53 am | #

I liked it a lot at the time, but the Baron run lost some of its interest for me when Baron used the first annual to give Wally a Kung-fu death touch. Because, after all, what Flash had always been missing for all those years was a kick-ass finishing move. But put me down for anything that reprints ANY of Messner-Loebs runs on any of the DC heroes. His Flash run was good, his Wonder Woman run was solid, and even his Hawkman run was okay, considering what editorial mandates did to that book. Plus, when you consider that any royalties on those reprints would help out a deserving creator who's had some bad luck, and it's a no-brainer to me.

I already know that I'll be buying the Journey Omnibus that has been announced -- heck, I might end up buying two -- one for my 14 year old who's getting into history as well.
Jim Kosmicki | Email | 01.12.08 - 7:19 am | #

Ah, memories. This incarnation of the Flash is one of the main comics that converted me from a kid who bought whatever comics were available on the convenience store spinner rack to one who haunted the comics specialty shops.
Professor Fury | Email | Homepage | 01.12.08 - 7:22 am | #

Thank you, Mike, for making me feel like I am two hundred years old.

(...I liked this book, too)
Mike McGee | Email | 01.12.08 - 9:36 am | #

"I already know that I'll be buying the Journey Omnibus that has been announced"

The what what now?
Matter-Eater Lad | Email | Homepage | 01.12.08 - 3:48 pm | #

The Baron run on Flash is why I don't read the book to this day. His take on Wally as immature jerk permanantly turned me off of the character.
Baal | Email | 01.12.08 - 9:12 pm | #

I read the Baron and Messner-Loeb runs for the first time a few years ago. You know what was particularly great? The letter columns, where nearly every writer seemed to be horrified by how many women Wally slept with during Baron's brief (it was about 15 issues IIRC) run. One of the first things Messener-Loebs did was set west up in a regular relationship with the last one...
Joe Gualtieri | 01.12.08 - 10:12 pm | #

I reread the whole run in the gap between Wally's last issue and Bart's first, and I have to agree -- it's remarkably consistent, and a whole lot of fun.
Rob S. | Email | Homepage | 01.12.08 - 11:15 pm | #

I loved those issues by Mike "I write in declarative sentences" Baron. They were such a change-up from what I was used to from the Flash. I especially loved the art. In fact, I have that page of original art from when Wally's asking for the six dinners. It's hanging on my wall right now. Great, great stuff.
Rick Jones, really | Email | Homepage | 01.13.08 - 4:42 pm | #

I picked that issue up for 33-cents at my comic shop's Big Annual Sale last year, along with a couple other issues from the same era. Definitely very cool stuff therein.
Luke | Email | Homepage | 01.14.08 - 4:24 am | #

That whole series, right up to and including the "Return of Barry Allen" storyline many years later, was pure freakin' gold.

One of my favorite stories ever was one of the simplest: Wally busts a mook on page two, has to escort him back on a flight, and by page eight or nine, the bad guy blows the top off the plane and a stewardess gets sucked out. Wally, being a hero, jumps out after her, even though he can't fly and doesn't have the speed to pull off a simple save anymore. The rest of the book was him trying to save her from squishing.

Yea, and it rocked. Good character work, tremendous visuals, exciting story, and the running inner monologue of Wally West gave the story some emotional heft. Fine, fine comic.

Love that Flash!
Harvey Jerkwater | Email | 01.14.08 - 7:12 am | #

Great run (pun, ugh)...loved when he won the lottery.
johnny | Email | Homepage | 01.14.08 - 8:40 am | #

no doubt about it Mike--BOTH Baron and Messner-Loebs did fantastic work on the title--and the art by Guice and Laroque was good too!

Red Trinity--they were fun!

wish I could say more--but it's been 21 years since I read most of these too!


Dave
David Fiore | Email | Homepage | 01.14.08 - 12:14 pm | #