Silver Age Flash at heart of miniseries

Barry's back.

Barry Allen kicked off what became known as comics' Silver Age when he sped onto the scene as the Flash in the 1950s. He died more than 20 years ago in DC Comics' universe-changing "Crisis on Infinite Earths."

Since then, he's made a few appearances from beyond the grave. And now he's back for good, having returned to the land of the living in another big event, "Final Crisis."

It's writer Geoff Johns' job to introduce Barry to a new generation of readers in "The Flash: Rebirth." The first issue of the five-issue miniseries arrives in comic book stores this week.

For five years, Johns wrote the adventures of another scarlet speedster: Barry's nephew, Wally West, who became the Flash after Barry's death. Throughout those years, Johns said, "it was always about Wally filling the boots of his uncle. It wasn't about speed. I can make a Flash book now about speed, and I don't think that's been done in a long time."

The Flash is Johns' favorite character in comics - and that need for speed is why.

"There's something about being able to move that quickly," he said. "Especially today, I think this speaks to the theme of everyone wanting things to move faster, everyone wanting more time for things."

But "The Flash: Rebirth" isn't just about the power of speed. It's also about Barry wrestling with some basic questions after his return from the dead.

"He's very much in the moment of ‘why am I back?'" Johns said. "‘Why now? Why am I needed? Am I needed?'"

Barry will also have to deal with his status in the DC universe.

"He's been dead for so long, he's viewed as kind of a saint," Johns said. "Imagine coming back and everyone saying you're a saint, and having to live up to that."

Other members of the Flash family will also appear in the miniseries, including Wally, Bart Allen, who also recently returned from the dead, and Jay Garrick, the original Golden Age Flash from the 1940s. But Barry is at the heart of the story. For Johns, it's a chance to delve into his character and history as never before.

"We will be getting into a lot of his back story: a lot of why he is the way he is, why he has an interest in forensic science, why he has such a strong sense of justice."

It's familiar territory in a way for Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver, who a few years ago resurrected Hal Jordan as Green Lantern in "Green Lantern: Rebirth."

"The Flash: Rebirth" gives Van Sciver a chance to put his stamp on a classic character and to redefine how superspeed is conveyed in comics. "He really is bringing out his A game," Johns said.

COMICFEST

Denver's annual Starfest has a new addition this year: Comicfest. It's three days of comic book fun - April 17-19 -  at the Hilton Garden Inn in the Denver Tech Center. Guests include William Katt, star of TV's "The Greatest American Hero" and founder of Catastrophic Comics. There also will be teleconference panels with high-profile creators at Marvel and DC. Tickets to Comicfest are $15 for the weekend or $10 per day. Or buy Starfest tickets and get into Comicfest at no extra charge. For more details: www.starland.com.