More BARRY Rumors!

[MattGrant]

In the latest installment of <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15883">Lying in the Gutters</a>, Rich Johnston makes a comment about Barry:


I'm being told that the Black Lantern Barry Allen may be a deliberate red herring from DC central... look for a return, but not that way.

Interesting... I never heard the Black Lantern rumor. That would have been a fairly cool way to bring him back but not in a totally permanent way...

I also saw a Countdown/Final Crisis ad that pictured Red Robin (before we knew about him) and a Flash in Barry Allen costume:



So I think it's likely he's coming back.

You know what might be nice? A GL/Flash team up book. Like the Brave in the Bold mini-series Mark Waid did in the late 90's that everyone seems to forget about (and was nice, because at that time we were also stuck with Kyle Rayner as the only GL).

Sigh... Just rambling. A Barry return makes me excited and worried at the same time....

[Steven Sykora 4000]

Wally has been the Flash for a long damn time. I don't know why DC insists on bringing back long dead characters. I do admit they did a great job with Hal, but I don't like how Kyle has been downplayed because of it. I can see the same thing happening to Wally if they brought him back as the flash for good. Bringing him back as a Black Lantern is an interesting idea. Guess we'll have to wait and see how they do this.

[MattGrant]

Well, I think that the most compelling reason for Barry NOT to return is that his death is the ONLY death of a major top tier character that has not been undone (that I can think of anyway), highlighted by the fact that he didn't die in vain, he died one of the truest and most noble heros. To bring him back, in my eyes, takes away from that.

And like you said. Wally's been in there for almost 22 years solid now (except that one year). There's also the fact that being the Flash has a feeling of legacy to it. And if we miss Barry, well he can always pop out of the time stream on the cosmic treadmill!

About Hal: I was pro bringing Hal back. His story ended with him losing it and becoming a maniacal bad guy (god bless Geoff Johns for figuring out a way to get him out of that). It was unresolved in my eyes. I also dug him over Rayner, but probably because I was reading when Hal left, but Barry's death has always been a historical event to me. I think Johns handled it exceptionally well-- and I think the most recent developments will put Kyle in a nice spot to be a counterpoint to Guy Gardner, since it seems they're partners now...

wow... is started rambling... i gotta get to work!

[MattGrant]

You know.. i forgot that Hal's actual death happened when he re-ignited the sun... hmmm....

[MattGrant]

I just read in the latest Lying in the Gutters, that Barry is indeed coming back at the end of Final Crisis...

[Steven Sykora 4000]

Oh lord, is it impossible for ANYONE in comics to stay dead? When's uncle ben coming back? :p

[MattGrant]

Joe Q announced at the NYCC "Yet Another Day" to bring Ben back, as a matter of fact!

Dan DiDio announced "Countdown to Crisis on 52 Kryptons" in which they will bring back the entire planet Krypton, in an effort to reclaim more of the Superman copyright.

I'm full of it of course.

Except for the Barry thing.

[MattGrant]

I just had a thought. Seems like final crisis will span the DCU from day 1 to at least the 30th century or so (well probably the end of time, but the 30th century is the last major century usually dealt with, with the LSH and all-- or the 64th century of Abra Kadabra, i guess). Now, before Barry died, and after his trial for killing Prof. Zoom... Barry left to go live happily ever after in the 25th century with the "re-instated" Iris (if y'all remember, Iris was actually born to 25th century scientist parents, and when her body died at Prof. Zoom's hands, her soul was placed in a clinically dead young woman of the 25th century). Of course, he was needed to save the universe.... BUT...

Could his revival, key to saving the universe once again, leave him in the future... to have adventures in the future? That would almost be acceptable... Flash in the 25th Century... its got a ring to it! (a ring filled with costume that expands when it comes into contact with air, that is).

Probably wont be so lucky.

Anyway... food for thought....

What's Iris doing right now anyway? Hasn't she been back in the 21st century? Wasn't she warning Bart about dying? hmm

[MattGrant]

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16657