Flare (3rd Series)

    (Hero, 2004-2006)
™ and © 2004 Heroic Publishing, Inc.
Numbering switches to #25 after #5 (reflecting total # of Flare issues ever published)

Flare is a run-of-the-mill super-hero comic book, albeit one with a longer pedigree than many others. The original Flare was a flagship title for Hero Comics in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While Flare hardly burned up the sales charts, it was far from an embarrassment in those glutted market days.

The story is little more than an introduction, but the art is excellent. While clearly relying on the nostalgia factor, Heroic is not putting all its eggs in that basket. The first story reintroduces Flare. A back-up does an excellent job of catching new readers up on Flare, little sister Sparkplug, and other members of the cast. Sparkplug then headlines in her own story. When was the last time a 32-page comic book gave readers three features, even if they are all marked “to be continued”?

A house ad promises that other Heroic characters, such as Eternity Smith, may soon return. Here’s hoping for the speedy return of Hero’s other electric characters, Roy and Dann Thomas’ Captain Thunder and Blue Bolt.

— Jack Abramowitz
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Nov 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Steve Perrin  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Henry Martinez
    Whole issue #20
    6 copies from $2.99
  • 2
    #2
    Dec 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Steve Perrin, Dennis Mallonee  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Henry Martinez, Howard Bender
    Whole issue #21
    2 copies from $1.99
  • 3
    #3
    Feb 2005
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Steve Perrin, Dennis Mallonee  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Howard Bender, Albert Deschesne
    Whole issue #22
    2 copies from $2.88
  • 4
    #4
    Mar 2005
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Steve Perrin, Tim Burgard  ·  A: Adam Walters, Howard Bender, Tim Burgard
    Whole issue #23
    1 copy for $4.99
  • 5
    #5
    May 2005
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Steve Perrin, Tim Burgard  ·  A: Adam Walters, Howard Bender, Tim Burgard
    Whole issue #24
    1 copy for $7.98
  • 25
    #25
    Jun 2005
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Adam Walters, Chris Marrinan, Terry Pallot
    Vol. 3 #6; Legacy numbering resumes
    2 copies from $1.91
  • 26
    #26
    Aug 2005
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill  ·  A: Adam Walters, Gordon Purcell, Terry Pallot
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 27
    #27
    Sep 2005
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Lou Mougin, Dennis Mallonee  ·  A: Adam Walters, Mark Evans, Jeff Tompkins, Nathan Santistevan
    1 copy for $2.99
  • 28
    #28
    Nov 2005
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Dennis Mallonee  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Tim Burgard, Howard Bender
    Origin of Lady Darkon
    2 copies from $2.99
  • 29
    #29
    Dec 2005
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Dennis Mallonee  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Terry Pallot, Howard Bender
    1 copy for $4.98
  • 30
    #30
    Jan 2006
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Terrance Griep  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Luise, Perrine, Steve Perrin, Alfredo P. Alcala
    1 copy for $2.99
  • 31
    #31
    Norman Rockwell tribute cover by Gordon Purcell
    Feb 2006
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill, Dennis Mallonee  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Jeff Tompkins, Nathan Santistevan, Jeff Brennan, Tim Burgard
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 32
    #32
    Mar 2006
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Wilson Hill, Dennis Mallonee, Steve Perrin  ·  A: Adam Walters, Terry Pallot, Howard Bender
    1 copy for $14.99
  • 33
    #33
    May 2006
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Wilson Hill, Steve Perrin  ·  A: Adam Walters, Terry Pallot
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 34
    #34
    Jun 2006
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Wilson Hill, Steve Perrin, Dennis Mallonee  ·  A: Terry Pallot, Daerick Gröss, Jeff Brennan, Stan Sakai
    Third Story in book Titled: Dolf and the Formal Dance vice Dolf and the Chicken Suit
    2 copies from $3.25
  • 35
    #35
    Sep 2006
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Wilson Hill, Steve Perrin  ·  A: Gordon Purcell, Dick Giordano
    2 copies from $3.25
  • 36
    #36
    Cover by Chris Morrinan
    Apr 2007
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Wilson Hill  ·  A: Chris Marrinan, Rob Jones
    Mike Estlich
    2 copies from $2.99