DC Nation: The Return of Barry Allen

This week's DC Nation focuses on the Flashes:

" Okay, Time to set the story straight.

From the time I started working at DC, I had a plan --no, scratch that, a desire to bring back Hal Jordan and Barry Allen. To me, they were the definitive Green Lantern and Flash, and they helped bring forth a generation of heroes. More important, they were the base from which all the other ring-bearers and speedsters would come. Nothing against Kyle or Wally, but you can't know who they are without knowing who Hal and Barry are first.

In bringing Hal back, I found a "partner in crime" in Geoff Johns (remember that name; it is important later). Geoff was an even bigger Hal fan than I was and had the same desire to bring him back. Following that desire, we formulated a plan, and following the plan came GREEN LANTERN:REBIRTH. The success of Rebirth exceeded even our wildest expectations, so with Hal and better than ever, we turned our attention to Barry.

Okay, Now, with Barry, things were a little more...complicated. his death was one of the most important events of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, not something to be changed on a whim or as easily undone. But slowly, over the years, the walls of Crisis came tumbling down, first with the return of the true Supergirl and then with the return of the Multiverse. Yet Barry's death held firm.

Confession time. i originally hoped to bring Barry back at the end of INFINITE CRISIS, but things didn't work out as planned. Still, we did plan on a change in Flashes, as to echo the original Crisis, so...enter Bart. Now, Bart was there to show the generational aspect of The Flash, but he was never going to be The Flash for long. Plans for his arrival and departure were worked out in conjunction with COUNTDOWN and the JLA/ JSA crossover. And again, it looked like we'd paved the way for Barry, but again the timing wasn't quite right. It wasn't until we hit FINAL CRISIS that the stars would align themselves properly. Enter Geoff Johns (there, I told you he would be important later).

Just as he did with Hal, he wanted to with Barry. A plan was made and a story was set--a story that would encompass everything and everyone in the Flash's history. Not just Barry, but Jay, Wally, Bart, Iris, Max...well you get the idea. BARRY ALLEN, THE FLASH:REBIRTH is a celebration of everything that was, is and will be great about the character. We are building on the brilliant foundation and history of the Flashes while adding to the future.

Don't you love it when a plan (sort of) comes together?

To be continued.

DD"

Once again, I fail to see the logic of pulling Barry Allen back from the grave. It's obvious the late 1970s was "Dan Didio's era of comics," but that doesn't mean the modern-day DCU needs to revert back to those constructs.

This column also serves to support the notion that these things aren't planned very well in advance. And, in the process, they've really messed up Bart and Wally. And all to "restore" DC characters back to 1977. I really can't see one solid reason to bring back Barry (and, as a result, lessen a great death in CRISIS and marginalize Wally, who was EARNED the Flash mantle).