OK, well as I sit here trying to come up with one main topic to discuss for my column this week, I find my head filled with a million and one different things. I mean just look at the time right now 5:26 am EST. This is the result of to much coffee and not enough sleep. As such you can imagine picking one topic out of the endless void to discuss in depth and detail, for me at this moment would be absolutely impossible.
However, that’s where you dear reader are in luck, because as a result, I have some ramblings along with a couple of reviews and recommendations for some collected trade paper backs to add to your summer reading list. I hope you’re ready. Here goes.
OK, well first off, wow look at that. This is officially my sixth monthly column here at In Genre. That is something that I am immensely proud of; I have managed to keep on a monthly schedule without a mishap since I started this column way back in January. Over the course of these six columns I have managed to talk about and discuss a wide myriad of subjects, all tying into comic books and the industry. A pretty amazing feat, if I say so myself. But, I haven’t even managed to scratch the surface yet there is still so much yet to come.
In regard to the reviews and recommendations that I mentioned up above, here are just two that I feel add to or redefine the super hero genre, and both will most assuredly stand the test of time. Enjoy!
One of the many collected trades that I was able to read recently was the collected IDENTITY CRISIS from DC Comics. Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales redefined the super-hero genre and humanized some truly iconic characters, a pretty huge task in and of itself. They reinvigorated the super-hero genre and gave new meaning to the question why does a hero need a secret identity. If you haven’t read this yet, and you are a fan of the super-hero genre, I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed.
Upon finishing that, I figured with Barry Allen returning as the Flash in the current DC Universe, I went back to the very beginning where it all started and I read the DC ARCHIVE EDITIONS THE FLASH ARCHIVES VOLUME 1. Here is the definitive look at the character that single handedly restarted the super-hero genre and ushered in a brand new age. With SHOWCASE #4 OCTOBER 1956, the Silver Age of comic books began and the Flash hasn’t stopped running yet. Just the sheer amount of history contained in this volume is bursting with enough for historians of the comic book industry and fans of The Flash. This volume contains the final Golden Age Flash tale from Flash Comics #104, SHOWCASE #4, SHOWCASE #8, SHOWCASE #13, SHOWCASE #14 and the first four issues of this new Flash (Barry Allen) as his run picked up with the original numbering from the end of the Golden Age Flash run, THE FLASH #104-#108. These are the classic stories by some of the best talent in the industry at the time. These guys were comic book industry pioneers, constantly blazing new trails of wonder for everyone to behold. Again, this is definitely not one to be missed. I highly recommend it.
OK, well, I guess that I’ve rambled on long enough. It’s time for me to head on out. Thanks for listening. I’ll be back next month. Hey look the suns coming up. Its 6:28 am EST, just about an hour has passed since I started this and I really should try and grab just a few hours of sleep before the day begins anew. Busy, busy, busy, and I’ve got a lot to do. But before I go, I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone who has taken the time to read my column for the last six months. Things are just getting started, so please stick around. In addition, please don’t forget to speak up and get involved. I’ve got a lot of cool stuff planned for my column. I think you’ll all be pleasantly surprised, so please help to spread the word. I promise you won’t be disappointed and I’d greatly appreciate it! Thanks again everyone! Have a great day!
Anthony Zicari is a freelance writer/editor. He has been writing professionally for well over ten years, and has written for a number of companies and clients. His work ranges from writing comic books to animation, screenplays and for various other media and mediums as well. 
Merin on 
