It’s been a Batman kind-of-day, and will continue to be, as we’ve got a major art debut later today.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall well? We’ve got a major art debut to show right now.

Some of you savvy Twitter-folk may have noticed Assistant Editor Chris Conroy discussing what a great Batman FIRST WAVE pencil piece artist Rags Morales had just sent him during the first-ever #DCreader Twitter event, which allowed fans to read FIRST WAVE #1 along with Jim Lee and Geoff Johns. Well, we did the predictable and begged him to let us show it here on The Source.

And here we are.

It’s that time again, folks.

We had such a fun time talking FIRST WAVE #1 on Twitter last week that it was a no-brainer to do it again. This time, there are two issues on the table: Writer Grant Morrison and new artist Andy Clarke’s BATMAN AND ROBIN #10 and the JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE AND FALL SPECIAL, by writer J.T. Krul and artists Diogenes Neves, Mike Mayhew and Fabrizio Fiorentino.

So here’s the deal: Swing by your local comic shop, pick up those two comics (and anything else that strikes your fancy) and sign in to Twitter today at 6:30pm EST to chat with Jim Lee and Geoff Johns about the issues as we all read ‘em together. Don’t have a Twitter account? No worries. Signing up is easy.

And don’t forget to hashtag your posts with “#DCreader” to help everyone keep tabs on the conversation.

See you then!

Hey comics fan, got any plans this weekend? If you’re like me you’re at a bit of a crossroads during this time of year. The NFL season is over, the Olympics are over, Oscar Season is over…what are you supposed to do? Well fear not because Convention Season has just started! That’s right, chances are that we’ll be bringing the 2010 DC Nation Tour to a town near you sometime soon and trust me when I tell you that it’s a show you won’t want to miss.

I leave for our first stop this week and I am STOKED. We’ll be at the Emerald City Comicon at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington on March 13th & 14th. If you’re anywhere near the area please come out and see us. As if the chance to meet myself and Group Editor Eddie Berganza wasn’t enough there are some special guests at the convention that you’ve maybe heard of. Check it out:

Brian Azzarello, Kurt Busiek, Sterling Gates, Patrick Gleason, Brandon Jerwa, Geoff Johns, Aaron Lopresti, Kevin Maguire, Doug Mahnke, Dustin Nguyen, Mike Norton, James Robinson, Greg Rucka, Philip Tan, Pete Tomasi, Eric Trautmann, Jen Van Meter, Len Wein, JH Williams III and Pete Woods.

I hope your face is OK after it was melted off by the sheer awesomeness of that list of artists and writers!

If you are planning to attend the show, please come by and get all kinds of cool stuff from us at the DC booth and be sure to check out our panels:

DC NATION!
Saturday, 1-2pm

GREEN LANTERN: THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Saturday, 3-4pm

SUNDAY CONVERSATION
Sunday, 12-1pm

SUPERMAN GOES TO WAR
Sunday, 2-3pm

And listen Seattle - no pressure but you guys are the first convention of 2010 and the Canadian fans have started to bring us potato chips so I hope you guys are ready to step it up.

See you in Seattle!

Been a busy week here at The Source, with all the fun surrounding THE FLASH, so here are some notable links you may have missed while hitting refresh:

• FIRST WAVE writer Brian Azzarello’s been making the interview rounds, with pieces at USA TODAY, AOL’s COMICS ALLIANCE, NEWSARAMA, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES and SCRIPPS HOWARD’s wire service, some with artistic master Rags Morales joining in on the fun.

• WIRED’s GEEKDAD blog is taking votes for the first-ever GEEKDAD AWARDS. In the category of Best Comic, you can choose from a number of titles, including WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER?, WEDNESDAY COMICS and BLACKEST NIGHT.

Yesterday, we talked to THE FLASH writer Geoff Johns about Barry Allen, his Rogues and what it means to be a hero. But there’s more to cover, folks, so why stop there?

We’re happy to present the conclusion of our two-part chat with Geoff, where we talk about his amazing artistic collaborator Francis Manapul, what’s coming with the new series and the one page that’ll keep you guessing.

Alex Segura: Let’s talk about Francis Manapul for a second. He brings a very neo-classical look to THE FLASH and his previous work in ADVENTURE. He’s got the goods — excellent storytelling, stunning splash pages/covers and a style that is both fresh but also rooted in the classics. What makes him the perfect guy to relaunch THE FLASH with? What’s it like working with him?

Geoff Johns: Francis Manapul brings a renewed energy to the world of the Flash and in particular Barry Allen. We’re really looking at this book as taking place firmly in the present (unless the cosmic treadmill is involved) and moving the Flash, his supporting cast and the Rogues into the future. Francis is key to that. His work really speaks for itself, but the energy he’s given the Flash — and you can see it in just a few of the sample pages — is undeniable. His Barry Allen is earnest, smart, strong and methodical. His Flash never stops. I’m honored to be teamed up with such a fantastic artist on the first ever Barry Allen Flash #1 issue. Couldn’t ask for more.

AS: Now, it’s obvious you’re no stranger to the world of The Flash, with your previous, lengthy run on the book, which dealt mainly with Wally West and his role. In many ways, you created very strong connections and parallels between Wally and Barry: the Rogues, the return of Wally’s secret identity and the roots of the Flash stretching backward and forward in time. How are the other characters who’ve been called Flash going to fit into the new book? Are we going to see them crop up later, with the first few arcs cementing Barry in his new/old role?

GJ: You’ll have to be patient to see the other heroes and villains who tap into the Speed Force show up. There’s a story, a big one, but we won’t get there right away. I love long term planning and this is a book I have a story to tell. More will be clear in issue #1.

AS: Going back a bit to Barry’s history — what are the stories that stand out for you as the best examples of what you’re trying to do with this chapter of THE FLASH? Did any in particular provide some inspiration?

GJ: I don’t want to select a single story. It’s more the inception of the character and the creation of a new age of heroes. Barry Allen, for me, represents that optimism and forward thinking that reignited superheroes in the first place. Our approach to the book isn’t what a lot of people will expect, especially with that story title of the first arc - CASE ONE: THE DASTARDLY DEATH OF THE ROGUES. There are a lot of mysteries here and a lot of crimes to solve and crimes to stop. There’s an exploration of speed and what it does to us today, how we can succumb to it or be seduced by it. What do we have time for in our “busy” lives? Are we really too busy we have to send text messages instead of calling someone? Or is it easier to keep in touch with our loved ones that way? Do we need more hours in the day or do we need to stop overfilling up the hours we have? What is speed? What is time? What does it all mean to us in our lives day-to-day and year-to-year?

AS: In closing, I’d like to tap into your inner fan a bit. How exciting is it to be bringing back such a beloved character to the DCU? Are there any moments that you’ve written or seen on the finished page that have made you stop for a second and smile? What can readers expect from THE FLASH book that’ll hook them?

GJ: The last page of issue #1. That oughta do it.

He didn’t have to come back.

So, sit back and enjoy part one, and swing back to The Source tomorrow morning for the conclusion.

Alex Segura: Geoff, first off — thanks for doing this. The Flash is a special character and it’s only fitting that we make his return to monthly comics special here on The Source. Now, being a huge fan of The Flash myself, and Barry Allen in particular, I have a very vivid memory of my first encounter with the character — what about you? What’s your earliest Barry/Flash memory? What made him a cool character for you even then?

Geoff Johns: My first encounter with Barry Allen, outside of comics, was in animation in the Challenge of the Super-Friends cartoon. I guess that’s where I also met Captain Cold. Those two characters, the Flash and Captain Cold, became my favorites. (Oh, and does anyone remember how Hal Jordan had that weird tan? I guess because he was from California? ) Anyway, those are my very memories, along with the Flash Super Powers figure, but when I finally got into comic book one of my very first comics was CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #8, which featured the death of the Flash. I don’t remember the details well, but I do remember I was blown away by the issue. From there, I started buying back issues of the Flash. It was before everything was collected, before eBay, so I really had to hunt those comics down to read the stories. The powers, the Rogues and the uniform were what always drew me in.

AS: One of the biggest strengths in your work is your ability to synthesize years of continuity and utilize the rich histories of characters like Hal Jordan and Barry Allen to plant them firmly in the modern day. So, what is it about Barry Allen that makes him work today? What makes the character compelling to a new reader but still connect with his legion of classic fans? How do you approach a character that’s had so many twists and turns and boil it down to his core?

GJ: Well, I think the first issue does that. Who Barry Allen is and why he does what he does is what the book is about first and foremost. The only thing I can really say is that no matter how fast Barry is, he can’t stop something that’s already happened. That’s incredibly frustrating to him and it’s a big reason of why his life as a criminal
scientist is so important. He wants justice for those that he wasn’t there to help.

AS: Where do we find Barry at the beginning of issue one? Can you give people looking to jump on the series a quick Barry Allen Flash 101? What’s his mindset in terms of returning to the role, and what do we know about his time away?

GJ: All you need to know when you read the Flash #1 is how to read. Flash 101, and a few twists and turns, are within the pages. Francis did a stunning job, raising his art even from the amazing Adventure Comics.

AS: In stark contrast to many “heroes” populating the comic book landscape today, Barry Allen is the definition of heroic. He’s sacrificed himself to save the universe; he’s raced across the globe, the universe and time for those he loves. He’s also made remarkably mature and tough choices. Why do these kind of characters — like Hal Jordan, to a degree — appeal to you as a writer? Is it challenging writing someone who is inherently good, as opposed to a vigilante or someone whose morals are more compromised?

GJ: I think deep down we all want to be the best we can be. I find characters who acknowledge that and attempt to do that inspiring and relatable. Barry Allen is someone who has made a decision to help others during his own life and he made that decision even before he became the Flash. To me, that speaks volumes about the kind of person he is. The Flash moves ahead in life, despite the things that knock him down. That’s the hero I want to look up to and the hero that will inspire us all to be better people.

AS: It’s often said that you can judge a hero by his villains, and one of the things I remember most about your initial Flash run — and was very thankful for, being a fan of Barry — was how you not only brought back and polished some of the classic Flash villains — Captain Cold is a great example — but also reinvigorated the Rogues with some great, creepy new additions like Murmur and most notably Hunter Zolomon/Zoom. What makes a great villain? What do you look for when you sit down and create one? And, in addition to reuniting Barry with some of his deadliest foes, are we going to see new ones appear in your first year?

GJ: The Flash has arguably the best villains in comics. Batman’s are amazing and psychological, but the Flash’s are from the far future and super scientific Gorilla Cities. Not to mention the core group of Flash’s foes, the Rogues. They were always a massive part of what made the Flash cool to me. He fought all these guys, sometimes at once because he could. When I first worked on the Flash the Rogues hadn’t been touched really more than an odd appearance here and there. I knew that they were going to be a huge focus for me and I continued using them in Rogues’ Revenge and Blackest Night: The Flash, but now with the new monthly book they’ll be playing a bigger and ongoing role in Barry’s life. There are some pretty big changes for the Rogues coming up that tie in to the very center of the DC Universe. Barry will be meeting some new villains, one in particular that is going to be the strangest killer he’s ever faced. And I think with 64th Century magicians and talking gorillas that’s saying a lot.

Come back tomorrow for the rest of our special sit-down with THE FLASH writer Geoff Johns.

April 14 is a big day for fans of THE FLASH. How can The Source make it bigger, though?

Well, we’re hoping you’re as excited as we are about the launch of THE FLASH #1. Surely, you’ve seen the preview of THE FLASH #1 we ran on Monday and yesterday’s sneak peek into artist Francis Manapul’s concept art for the series? If not, they’re definitely worth a look.

But here at The Source, we’re always trying to brainstorm new and cool ways to make the comic reading experience a bit more fun. So what would be cooler than buying a copy of THE FLASH #1 — from the creative minds of Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul? How about getting a copy of the comic signed by some of the amazing talent involved in putting the issue together?

How can you swing that? Well, it’s easy. Starting 4/7 and continuing during the week leading up to the release of THE FLASH #1, DC NATION’s Twitter account will be asking one Flash-related question a day. The first five Flash fans who correctly answer the question will be eligible to win a signed copy of one of DC’s biggest new launches of 2010. Think you’re an expert in all things Flash? Well, get ready to have your Scarlet Speedster knowledge tested, pal. Not only will I be bringing my years of Flash fandom to the task at hand, but I’ve enlisted the writer of THE FLASH himself, Mr. Geoff Johns to help me in crafting questions that will will be far from simple.

We’ll announce all the legal goodies and rules on 4/7, the day before the contest actually launches. In the meantime, you can prep for the fun by signing up for a Twitter account if you don’t have one. Once that’s done, take a moment to start following DC NATION, THE FLASH writer Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul.

Good luck!

In case you missed our initial announcement and friendly reminder yesterday, today’s your chance to talk comics with two of the biggest names in the industry: Jim Lee and Geoff Johns. Where? Twitter, of course.

So head out to the comic shop and pick up your copy of FIRST WAVE #1 and start following Geoff, Jim and DC NATION. If you don’t have a Twitter account, signing up is easy, so no worries. The rest is even easier: have fun, talk comics and enjoy the first issue of an excellent new mini-series spotlighting some of the most iconic characters — like Batman, Doc Savage and the Spirit — brought to life in a whole new light. The fun starts today at 3pm PST.

And if you can’t make it right on time, click on the hashtag “#DCreader” to catch up on the discussion!

See you there!

But that’s not all.

We all know that BLACKEST NIGHT will reach its epic conclusion in March, but there’s more. This universe-shaking issue will also feature 10 extra story pages for the same $3.99 price. Good deal, no?

And, to tide you over until the issue hits stands, we’ve got an inked version of the cover to BLACKEST NIGHT #8, courtesy of artist Ivan Reis. Enjoy!

Just a gentle reminder that tomorrow — the same day Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales’ FIRST WAVE hits — you can read the first issue along with comic book superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee on Twitter. What better way to meet the neo-noir versions of Doc Savage, The Bat-Man and the Spirit, eh?

Don’t have a Twitter account? Sign up!

The fun starts Wednesday at 3pm PST, giving you time to run to your shop and join in on the action. And while we’re talking Twitter, don’t forget to follow DC NATION, which’ll keep you up-to-date on all THE SOURCE’s daily news.

And take a minute to say hi while we’re all reading together.