Conspicuous by their absence throughout most of this run, the villains of the Rogues Gallery return to menace the Flash. But Mark Waid (and newly credited co-writer Brian Augustyn) put the main focus back on the dynamic between Wally West and Linda Park, as they argue about how much information to reveal to the public about an impending global disaster, negotiate the Flash’s exile from Keystone City to his new home turf of Santa Marta, California, and find their commitment to each other put to the ultimate test when the devil Neron comes looking to make a deal. We’ll also examine some side projects looking at Wally’s relationship with some of his superhero peers: Dick (Nightwing) Grayson and Kyle (Green Lantern) Rayner.

Discussed in this episode: The Flash #119-129, plus Flash/Green Lantern: Faster Friends #1-2, Flash Plus Nightwing (1997), and other stories.

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In a Patreon-exclusive episode available now, we discuss Bernie Wrightson's adaptation of the EC Comics-inspired horror anthology movie Creepshow, directed by George A. Romero from a screenplay by Stephen King. As a Halloween treat, we're offering a taste of the conversation for free here. Want to hear the rest? Support us at patreon.com/ironageofcomics!

At the intersection of Carl Barks and Akira Kurosawa, you’ll find Usagi Yojimbo, a longrunning indie comic about a rabbit ronin in 17th-century Japan. Creator Stan Sakai deftly balances somber meditations on honor and often surprising violence with funny animals and gentle humor, drawing on influences ranging from extensive historical research into traditional swordmaking techniques to Audrey Hepburn movies caught on afternoon TV. We dive into a big chunk of this series (already in progress, as it turns out) and discuss how despite its very specific cultural milieu, the universal themes and plots found in the stories (and the appealing nature of the art) makes this comic instantly accessible.