Actor Carlos Valdes (‘Once’) is the latest addition to ‘The Flash‘ the super hero spin-off from The CW’s ‘Arrow‘. Valdes plays the role of Francisco “Cisco” Ramon, a character that is described as a “mechanical engineering genius and the youngest member of the team of scientists at STAR Labs. Born into a lower-income family, Cisco’s brains and talent helped him reach his potential. He is loyal and eager and provides the comic relief in contrast to his stiff co-workers. Best part: He is as much of a comic book fanboy as Barry.”
Comic book fans may know the name Cisco Ramon as the alter ego of the New 52 version of Vibe, who gained super powers when Darkseid invaded the Earth during DC Comics’ relaunch. Ramon gained the ability to sense beings from other dimensions. He was selected as a member of the Justice League of America, the US government’s counter team to the Justice League, who have no direct ties to any government. Interestingly, Vibe was recruited to counter The Flash, since that hero also has dimensional powers. Vibe can also fire powerful vibrational blasts, thus his code name.
The character originated in one of the most hated comic book runs ever, the “Justice League Detroit” era, when DC’s big guns were dropped from their flagship team and replaced them with young, “edgier” characters, including “Paco” Ramon, a gang member and break dancer, who wore exaggerated 80s neon clothing and spoke in a stilted Latin accent. He was killed off fairly quickly, but has, Dazzler-like, experienced something of a renaissance in recent years. He was a member of the animated ‘Justice League Unlimited’ eventually getting his own action figure. A parallel universe version appeared in the movie ‘Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths’ going by the name Break Dance. Most recently, he got his own animated short on DC Nation.
And of course, in the comics, he joined the JLA and had his own eight-issue series.
Still to be cast are Harrison Wells and Hartley Rathaway. Wells has been mentioned on ‘Arrow’ as the CEO of S.T.A.R. Labs. Rathaway is the alter ego of The Flash’s Rogue the Pied Piper, noted as one of the few openly gay super villains.
Also cast are Jesse L. Martin as Detective West ; Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow, a bioengineering expert; and Rick Cosnett as Detective Eddie Thawne.
Are excited to see super powers introduced into the ‘Arrow’ universe? Are there any ‘Arrow’ villains you think should visit Central City? Any chance Gorilla Grodd could work on this show?
