I'M BATMAN: Preemptive Told You So
If you'll indulge me, I'm going to veer slightly from the introspective and enlightened fare you've come to expect from Andy Khouri's livejournal and bring your attention to something we rarely discuss here: comic books.

Many of you may be familiar with this now infamous image:

This is of course the cover to DC Comics's COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS. For some time now, fans and pundits alike have been up in arms over this image and its ominous... imagery:

The Batman, holding a seemingly unidentifiable man while Earth's greatest heroes look on in shock and awe. Who is this man the Batman carries in his arms? Is he a family member or loved one; Alfred the butler, perhaps? Is he yet another fan-favourite supporting character like Sue "Elongated Man's Wife" Dibney, murdered as part of a terrible conspiracy that will once again shake the very core of the DC Universe? The Blue Beetle, perhaps?

No.

No, this man the Batman holds so preciously is none of those things ALTHOUGH he is a hero. A fallen, forgotten hero.

I wish it to be known in all quarters of that I hereby declare the identity of the so-called "Countdown dude" to be none other than BARRY ALLEN.

OBSERVE!

Observe the reddish hue of the man's clothing. Observe the wide Silver Age Flash-style eye holes in the mask, with its torn bits dangling in the air. Observe the wing-like forms on the man's head. Observe the man's LEFT ARM -- STRIPPED of its sleeve, conveniently removing the Flash's signature lighting bolt design scheme.

And remember that Barry Allen is more than anything else the true symbol of the Crisis on Infinite Earths; that most massive event COUNTDOWN mercilessly promises to excavate.

The Blue Beetle??? My ass, NERDS.