Post by papazero on Feb 3, 2009 0:49:17 GMT -5
When you look at the themes behind some of the greatest heroes and what makes them remain fresh through the ages... it often boils down to an iconic theme that the hero confronts implicitly or explicitly...
For Spidey - "with great power comes great responsibility..."
for Superman - "it's hard keeping your hair this nice when you fly around and don't wear a cowl."
Sometimes that conflict is embodied by the arch rival
ie Joker provokes chaos and beckons the people of Gotham to rush to what he feels is their default base nature while Batman walks a tightrope as a Boogieman for the underworld and a line in the sand to the chaos that such an underworld would bring...
One of the themes we've seen specifically for Wally was stepping out of the shadow of a mentor. This was a great angle but has run it's course in context... I'm curious what my fellow Flash fans would like to see as an iconic Flash theme to drive the character?
I for one would like to see the question of fatalism vs self-actualization as the central conflict. Even quantum physics become blurry when you pose questions of free will, probability and the like... what better character to explore this than a guy that isn't from another planet, doesn't have an alien ring, and isnt a demi-god?
Each Flash is a man of reason/science and most definitely has a strong moral compass - they travel at the speed of light and are riddled with endless choices. While there have been hints of fatalistic romanticism in Flash history (from the unlikely lightning striking thrice to returning from the dead) most of us would agree that the reality of being a hero stems from realizing one's potential and meeting the challenges.
The foil is easily recognizeable in the Rogues Gallery - They all rationalize their crimes by depicting themselves as victims of circumstance in their own personal stories.
Zoom may prove to be most interesting in that he is fatalistic but believes that the harm he heaps on the hero will necessitate growth.
For Spidey - "with great power comes great responsibility..."
for Superman - "it's hard keeping your hair this nice when you fly around and don't wear a cowl."
Sometimes that conflict is embodied by the arch rival
ie Joker provokes chaos and beckons the people of Gotham to rush to what he feels is their default base nature while Batman walks a tightrope as a Boogieman for the underworld and a line in the sand to the chaos that such an underworld would bring...
One of the themes we've seen specifically for Wally was stepping out of the shadow of a mentor. This was a great angle but has run it's course in context... I'm curious what my fellow Flash fans would like to see as an iconic Flash theme to drive the character?
I for one would like to see the question of fatalism vs self-actualization as the central conflict. Even quantum physics become blurry when you pose questions of free will, probability and the like... what better character to explore this than a guy that isn't from another planet, doesn't have an alien ring, and isnt a demi-god?
Each Flash is a man of reason/science and most definitely has a strong moral compass - they travel at the speed of light and are riddled with endless choices. While there have been hints of fatalistic romanticism in Flash history (from the unlikely lightning striking thrice to returning from the dead) most of us would agree that the reality of being a hero stems from realizing one's potential and meeting the challenges.
The foil is easily recognizeable in the Rogues Gallery - They all rationalize their crimes by depicting themselves as victims of circumstance in their own personal stories.
Zoom may prove to be most interesting in that he is fatalistic but believes that the harm he heaps on the hero will necessitate growth.