Yes, my run on Flash ends with #225

[Geoff Johns]

I thought I owed it to tell you all before the news broke, but news seem to have leaked out a bit early.

So I know how it works because I always have the same reaction. There are two things everyone immediately wants to know when something like this goes down.

1) When are you leaving? And 2) Who’s taking over?

So let me get these out of the way. 1) My run on The Flash ends with #225, unfortunately. And 2) There will be an issue written by Stuart Immonen with #226 and then Darwyn Cooke is going to write an arc.

Thanks to everyone reading the book and for the support over the last five years. We watched the Flash go from a low seller to one of DC’s highest books. I give most of the credit to word of mouth, so everyone who got someone else to read the book, we appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.

I love the Flash. I always have. He’s been my favorite character since I was eight, digging through my Uncle’s old comics. When I first got offered the book in 2000 (!) I was literally writing comics for less than a year. Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. was just wrapping up (getting cancelled!) and I was working on my first few issues of JSA. Joey Cavalieri gave me a six-issue arc, but by the time I wrote the second script he asked me to stick around. Now it’s five years later and with issue #225 I’ll have written a total of 62 issues of The Flash.

When I started I had two goals in mind: define Keystone City to reflect Wally West (and vice versa) and to re-introduce the greatest group of villains this side of Batman and Spider-Man with a mixture of new and old Rogues. Joey was supportive of both.

In fact, I remember talking to Joey when I just started the book and saying, “I wish Reverse-Flash was around.” And he replied, “Make a new one.” Joey took a chance on me and I’m always indebted.

Nearly half of the run was illustrated by the underrated Scott Kolins. Scott came on and redefined Keystone City and Wally’s supporting cast. We spent hours, and a weekend or two together, mapping out the city and creating a place that we thought a blue-collar hero would live in. And we got to introduce two cops I really grew to love: Chyre and Morillo.

Today, Howard Porter injects the raw power into the Flash and his Rogues that electrifies the book. No one else could pull off Rogue War. We still has four issue to go, and we’re going for broke because, hey, we’ve got nothing to lose – you will not expect what’s coming up. Howard is a constant source of mad ideas and enthusiasm that never runs dry. There couldn’t be a better guy to share this experience with.

So why am I leaving?

Well, it sucks to be leaving but time flies when you’re having fun. It’s been incredible and I love the characters and the book. But everything must come to and end and as Rogue War was approaching, I wanted to finish on a story I really believed in. I didn’t want to stay on The Flash just because I love the character more than Detroit Pistons basketball (you are all watching, right?). That wouldn’t serve the book or Wally West. With the added workload of Green Lantern and Crisis, it was time to pass the baton off.

Hopefully, one day I can get back to the Flash in some form or another. A Rogues monthly book would be amazing or a Flash title or project of some kind. Who knows what the future holds?

This is comics we're talking about, and as much as I love them, it’s the people I work with and the readers I talk to that make this job the greatest in the world. So thanks again to everyone for the chance to be a part of the legacy. It couldn’t have been a greater experience on my end.

Long live the Flash,

Geoff

P.S. I've heard Goyer's take on The Flash film and it's unbelievable. If this happens, it's going to be amazing.

[Brian LaBelle]

Thank YOU!

[Old School]

geoff thanks for the ride, you told some great stories. hope we can see ya back on this book even for a issue or two in the near future.

p.s can you pass our full names over to the writer now so maybe one of us can still get our name maybe in a flash comic

seriously its been great and youll be missed here. well not here persay but on the flash comic

[clarkent1982*]

Like the past writers of The Flash, thanks for the cool ride.

And the way regarding the Detroit Pistons, the Maimi Heat is going to win IT all, baby!!

[greenflameuk]

Sad news, but if it free's up your time to do amazing work on Green Lantern, Infinite Crisis, JSA and Teen Titans then i'm happy

[Eric Q]

Thanks for the great reads.

Here's hoping that you come back for more later.

[Dave Anthony Tomaine!]

I'm gonna miss you on flash man, can't wait for crisis tho

[YCHGrnLantern]

Thanks for 62 issues of scarlet speedster fun, Geoff!

[BART ALLEN]

no
come back Geoff
ma needs ya
pa needs ya
geoff , geoff

Oh, well wally lost is hals gain.
i remember when Geoff first took over the book thinking i wold hate to be the guy taking over from MARK, now i am thinking i would hate to be the guy taking over from GEOFF.

A fill in, then an arc by Cooke, So i wonder if a refular writer has been picked yet?
Given thier places as dc Winnick and Gail are the two i think of first.

even though John Bynre or Kurt Busiek would rock.

[starmondo]

Thanks for all the great stories, and for helping revitalize a wonderful set of charecters. Best of luck on your new endevours, I know I'll be following along. But I will be staying on with the Flash. I thought about it the other day, and I've been reading the Flash longer than almost any other DC title. Here's hoping DC will continue to back Flash with great creators, and if Immomen and Cook are lined up, it looks like they will.

Thanks again!
*star*

[Ben Morse]

I wanted to wait to comment until after Geoff did out of respect to him, but obviously by now y'all know the score.

Geoff told me this news a few months ago and I was of two minds.

1) Just plain devastated because Geoff's Flash was the book that got me back into comics a few years ago (along with JSA) and if not for his work I may not have figured out that being part of this industry was something I wanted to do with my life.

2) After hearing it from his side, glad he accomplished everything he wanted to on the book and was getting out while he was still on top of his game. After you write something for five years, it's easy to just keep going on auto pilot, but it takes guts to back off, especially when it's a character and title you love as much as Geoff loves Flash.

Geoff, I salute and thank you for five great years on the book. As your friend and a fan, I'm glad you're leaving in the way you wanted.

Half a decade of my favorite writer on my favorite character. What more can I ask for?

My only regret: I didn't get to write the story on Geoff leaving

And for those of you wondering, Howard isn't going anywhere for the time being. And if we've got to lose Geoff, I can think of maybe three people who could prevent me from immediately screaming to the high heavens, and Darwyn Cooke is one of them.

[Heatwave the Rogue]

Thanks Geoff for a great run on the Flash. You made the Flash rogues top villians again and have created a seat next to Cary Bates in Flash history as a writer who not only loved the rogues, but built them up to a higher level. Thanks for a great ride! I'll be reading your stuff on Green Lantern, Crisis, and JSA, so it won't be like you are leaving my comic reading. Thanks again!

[glguardian]

Thank you Geoff, you are the one that got me back into comics and actually got me interested in Wally/Flash.

Can't wait to see who takes over full time.

[bookwriter]

Geoff,

Sorry to hear to your leaving the FLASH, but thanks for all the great stories. Reading your stories in FLASH always made look forward to the next issue. Looking forward to continue reading your stories.

[Bron]

Thanks for everything Geoff! It's been a great ride reading your stories on The Flash.

[k26dp]

Geoff, thanks for the great run. I never really "got" Wally West before -- nothing against the character, no insane Barry Allen Is The One True Flash feelings, he just wasn't my cup of tea.

If your goal was to define Wally West through his city and his villains, you suceeded, at least for this reader. Wally really has an identity, he lives. Thanks for making me a Flash fan.