That's the way to do it. Spinning out of the phenomenally successful Arrow, The CW has struck gold again with The Flash, the second of their current crop of TV shows that gets superheroes right. Ever since comic books starting clogging up the cinemas publishers have been trying to figure out how to bring some four colour fun to the small screens, too, with varying results Marvel's Agents Of SHIELD took a long time to find its feet, and struggled to square cinematic spectacle with a weekly television budget; over on Fox, they're currently having a job with Gotham, where they feel the need to constantly remind the audience that this is totally a Batman prequel, promise, look there's the Riddler! Like Arrow, The Flash strikes the balance between referencing and honouring the source material with actually, well, making a good TV show. The pilot episode of Flash aired this week and was a rip-roaring good time, one of the truest adaptations not only of a comic book's character but also the feel. It was light, entertaining, witty, and sincere - with a hint of darkness around the edges. It was also chocka with references, in-jokes and nods to the DC comic books about Barry Allen, the fastest man alive who uses his supersonic powers to fight crime. There was foreshadowing of things to come, there was some incredibly geeky suggestions towards future DC characters and heroes, there was even an appearance by a certain giant talking ape (or, well, the lack of an appearance). Here are nineteen Easter eggs and references from The Flash's pilot episode you simply must see.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
