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The Life Story of the Flash |
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| Includes Issues: | Original Graphic Novel | |
| Original Publication Dates: | 1997 | |
| TPB Publisher: | ||
| TPB Publication Dates: | ||
| ISBN-10: | ||
| ISBN-13: | ||
| Pages: | [More Info] |
For most books, this information is collected from the book itself and double checked against several other resources. If this particular book hasn't yet been released, the information probably comes from the publisher's press releases and Amazon.com.
Sometimes a book is listed here based upon a past solicitation, but never actually comes out. I like to keep these in the database, but I try to make a note of the situation.
I try to list the earliest publication date. For books with a hardcover and softcover or multiple editions this will be for whichever came first. Same for the ISBN numbers.
If there have been similar releases that have significant differences, eventually both will be listed. This means that Showcase and Archives that collect similar material are listed as separate books. Likewise, Omnibus, Deluxe, or Absolute editions will have a separate page, though they will probably be close in the timeline.
If you think any of the information on this page is off, feel free to leave a comment with a suggestion! You may also leave links to relevant information, alternative publications, reviews, or anything you think would be helpful to site visitors.
Sometimes a book is listed here based upon a past solicitation, but never actually comes out. I like to keep these in the database, but I try to make a note of the situation.
I try to list the earliest publication date. For books with a hardcover and softcover or multiple editions this will be for whichever came first. Same for the ISBN numbers.
If there have been similar releases that have significant differences, eventually both will be listed. This means that Showcase and Archives that collect similar material are listed as separate books. Likewise, Omnibus, Deluxe, or Absolute editions will have a separate page, though they will probably be close in the timeline.
If you think any of the information on this page is off, feel free to leave a comment with a suggestion! You may also leave links to relevant information, alternative publications, reviews, or anything you think would be helpful to site visitors.
| Lists: | Comics, DC Modern Age, DC Universe, Post-Crisis | |
| Series/Event: | ||
| Creators: | ||
| Characters: | Flash | |
| Edition: | [More Info] |
Each book is tagged and sorted by the terms above. Every link in this section (in orange) can be used to generate a dynamic reading list based on the term.
The Lists are large reading orders including every book that falls under them. For example, the DC Universe list includes every book in that shared universe. This taxonomy is hierarchical, which means that there can be sub-lists under the main lists. The DC Universe Pre-Crisis list is an example, allowing you to narrow the selection of DC books. The distinction is important, because eventually there will be Silver Age book lists for Marvel and DC, and the lists will not be intermingled because of that hierarchy. Look to the list information in the sidebar to see all the lists currently active. Check the header of each listing for specific information about each one.
The Series/Event taxonomy, like the rest, is not hierarchical. Not every book is part of a particular publication series, nor necessarily included in the reading order for an event. Events often include specific crossovers and tie-ins, but many event reading orders also include books purely because they are recommended for appreciation and understanding of that event.
The Creators will be tagged in every book in the database. These include all the writers, artists, and editors that worked on the collected material, as well as anyone who significantly contributed to the collected edition.
The Characters are very important to this database, since most users enjoy seeing a reading list generated by their favorite heroes and villains. Since each book is tagged with any reoccurring character inside, the amount of orders that can be generated through these tags is staggering.
Since there is so much information to be found in each book, it's relatively common for a couple tags to be missed. If you think this book needs attention - should be given any additional tags or moved off a particular list, for example - just leave me a comment and I'll get right back to you!
The Lists are large reading orders including every book that falls under them. For example, the DC Universe list includes every book in that shared universe. This taxonomy is hierarchical, which means that there can be sub-lists under the main lists. The DC Universe Pre-Crisis list is an example, allowing you to narrow the selection of DC books. The distinction is important, because eventually there will be Silver Age book lists for Marvel and DC, and the lists will not be intermingled because of that hierarchy. Look to the list information in the sidebar to see all the lists currently active. Check the header of each listing for specific information about each one.
The Series/Event taxonomy, like the rest, is not hierarchical. Not every book is part of a particular publication series, nor necessarily included in the reading order for an event. Events often include specific crossovers and tie-ins, but many event reading orders also include books purely because they are recommended for appreciation and understanding of that event.
The Creators will be tagged in every book in the database. These include all the writers, artists, and editors that worked on the collected material, as well as anyone who significantly contributed to the collected edition.
The Characters are very important to this database, since most users enjoy seeing a reading list generated by their favorite heroes and villains. Since each book is tagged with any reoccurring character inside, the amount of orders that can be generated through these tags is staggering.
Since there is so much information to be found in each book, it's relatively common for a couple tags to be missed. If you think this book needs attention - should be given any additional tags or moved off a particular list, for example - just leave me a comment and I'll get right back to you!
| Previous Book: | ||
| Next Book: | [More Info] |
These links take you to the previous or next book in the database. It's worth a mention that, at this point, this is specifically in the database.
That means that if you came to this book page via a specific character reading order, for example, the links may point to books that were not listed on the previous page's reading order. This is because they are taking into account the entire database.
At this time, they go by the Recommended Reading Order (or equivalents for non-DCU lists) for determining which books to link.
I am currently looking into getting them to give direction based on what page you came from, but it's possible that there is no solution to that issue.
That means that if you came to this book page via a specific character reading order, for example, the links may point to books that were not listed on the previous page's reading order. This is because they are taking into account the entire database.
At this time, they go by the Recommended Reading Order (or equivalents for non-DCU lists) for determining which books to link.
I am currently looking into getting them to give direction based on what page you came from, but it's possible that there is no solution to that issue.
| Unique Reading Order ID: | 200807031200 | |
| Chronological List Value: | ||
| TRO Database Book ID: | 201 | [More Info] |
The Unique Reading Order ID determines this book's placement in all lists generated from the Recommended Reading Order (or equivalents for non-DCU lists). It's not actually unique site-wide, but is unique for each major list. This value is actually based on a date system, but has no relation to any real dates.
The Chronological List Value is determined by the most recent publication date of collected contents. This value determines book placement on all lists generated chronologically.
The TRO Database Book ID is a value indicative of when this book was added. It is used primarily for reference within the TRO database and not for sorting. It used to help with interpage linking, but has been replaced with a more user friendly "slug" (web url title) system.
These values are provided for the purposes of sorting your own collections. You could keep an excel spreadsheet or google document with the titles of the books in your collection. In columns next to the books, place each of these numbers. Then when you display the list sorted numerically by either of these columns, your books will fall into order.
Of course, now that TRO's built in collection sorting feature is active, it's much easier to sort your books. But these numbers still display just in case you'd like to use them or are curious about the inner operation of the website.
The Chronological List Value is determined by the most recent publication date of collected contents. This value determines book placement on all lists generated chronologically.
The TRO Database Book ID is a value indicative of when this book was added. It is used primarily for reference within the TRO database and not for sorting. It used to help with interpage linking, but has been replaced with a more user friendly "slug" (web url title) system.
These values are provided for the purposes of sorting your own collections. You could keep an excel spreadsheet or google document with the titles of the books in your collection. In columns next to the books, place each of these numbers. Then when you display the list sorted numerically by either of these columns, your books will fall into order.
Of course, now that TRO's built in collection sorting feature is active, it's much easier to sort your books. But these numbers still display just in case you'd like to use them or are curious about the inner operation of the website.
I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with where you’ve put this. I mean it’s correct for where the majority of the events occur chronologically, but here’s the deal with this one:
A lot of Flash vol. 2 featured time travel stories and such, as well as major revelations about Barry Allen’s era. Since this was supposed to be a real biography of Allen within the DCU, written in the future, (Wally obtains a copy of this at one point) it includes those incidents and as such has spoilers for some Wally West-era stories (notably “The Return of Barry Allen”) and features characters like Impulse and Max Mercury that don’t come into the DCU until much later (the last chapter “Carrying the Torch” covers Barry’s legacy upto the present point in continuity.)
So personally I’d move this to after Race Against Time, and definitely wouldn’t want to read it before The Return of Barry Allen. But that may go against your chronology instinct too much *grin*
[Reply]
You’re absolutely right. Something was nagging in my mind as I was placing it again today (but I was trying to go fast) so I’m glad you caught it.
when I first read this, I hadn’t read any of the Wally West volumes, so I didn’t catch that it was majorly spoiling them. By the time I got to them, I’d kind of forgotten this book.
Since it would be fun to read this after seeing the characters handling their copy of the book so much in the comic, I think your placement makes a lot of sense. It works by date as well, since this book came out at some point in 1997.
If I figure out the exact release month at some point, I might move it a little more down, but for now I think that placement works fine.
[Reply]
Cool.
“If I figure out the exact release month at some point, I might move it a little more down, but for now I think that placement works fine.”
Yup — but no need to figure it out: 10/22/1997 was the sale date.
[Reply]
awesome, thanks again! That places it right before Emergency Stop, which I think works nicely.
[Reply]