Issue Description

Aliens from another dimension monitor Central City as a teaching aide in an advanced classroom, but when the students see Flash in trouble they come to his rescue.

The Man Who Stole Central City!

At the Institute of Advanced Learning, Elider asks a student, Pgrie to describe the object on Elider's desk. The object is an exact miniature replica of Central City, complete with population. Using the replica, Elider's student's can observe Central City's inhabitants without ever leaving the school. Once a year, Elider bridges the gap between dimensions to record another replica of Central City. On his last trip, he was observed by the Flash. Suspicious of an extra-dimensional being carrying a miniature replica of Central City, in a glass case, the Flash chased after Elider.

The alien instructor was able to escape by simply phasing back into his dimension. Elider's students become fascinated with the Flash, taking great joy in observing his exploits. Through their observation they discover the Flash's secret identity, that of police forensics scientist, Barry Allen. They also spy on Allen's girlfriend, reporter Iris West. Knowing their idol can never know of their existence, the student body resign themselves to being the Flash's secret fans. Due to an irregularity in the technology used to record the replica, the student's are actually viewing events one hour into Central City's future.

A fact not lost on Elider's laboratory assistant, Modrie. Using his future knowledge of the stock market, and horse races, Modrie becomes a wealthy man on Earth. Tired of constantly traveling back and forth between dimensions, Modrie secretly sets up a feed from the recorder, that broadcasts the signal to Earth. Assuming the identity of "M. Odriex", Modrie establishes himself as the wealthiest man in Central City. His newfound status attracts the attention of the Internal Revenue Service. Modrie refuses to pay his taxes, and gains a measure of celebrity for his continued defiance.

The Flash decides to investigate, only to be stooped by Elider. In a huge breach of protocol, Elider reveals the existence of his people to the Flash. Furthermore, Elider has come to warn the Flash that his student's have just witnessed the Scarlet Speedster's death, gunned down by Modrie. Knowing he can't change the future, the Flash, nonetheless, heads off to confront "M. Odriex". Increasing his speed, the Flash moves faster than the eye can see, leaving an after-image of himself in his wake. Invisible, the Flash races into "M. Odriex's" home, and tampers with the villains revolver.

Catching up with his after-image before it has faded away, the Flash is prepared for his meeting with fate. Holding to history, the Flash allows "M. Odriex" to shoot him, then falls to the ground, seemingly dead. Moments later, the Flash springs back up, and ushers "M. Odriex" to the nearest police station. Modrie attempts to convince the authorities that, as an extra-dimensional being, they have no jurisdiction over him, but his pleas fall on deaf years. "M. Odriex" serves a long sentence for tax evasion. Elider seals the dimensional gateway between his world and the Flash's forever. The students. though, can still thrill to the Flash's adventures, for the rest of the year, by observing the replica.

The Race To Thunder Hill!

Wally West, and his friend Jimmy, are returning home from a fishing trip. After they part company, West sees Kitty Clark, a fellow classmate. When Clark's horse begins running wild, West intervenes, as Kid Flash. After calming Clark's steed, Kid Flash departs, leaving Clark to ponder how he knew her name. Kid Flash, as West, meets up with his father. The two are set to compete in a road rally, against West's father's friends, engineers Gardner and Cooper. West serves as his father's navigator, keeping check on their speed and distance with a stop watch. Unbeknownst to the other competitors, a pair of thieves are using the rally to mask their getaway.

When the thieves' car breaks down, they commandeer West's car, at gunpoint. After roughing up West's father, and rendering him unconscious, the thieve's lock West and his father in the basement of an abandoned house. West, as Kid Flash, escapes by vibrating his molecules through the basement wall. Catching up with the thieves, Kid Flash generates a cushion of air beneath the car, lifting it off the ground. Maintaining the cushion, Kid Flash races the thieves to the nearest police precinct. Kid Flash tows the car back to his father. After West's father has been looked over by a doctor, they rejoin the rally. Thanks to West's precise navigational timekeeping, the West's win the rally.

The Flash (1959)

Publisher

DC Comics

Volume Description

The Flash Volume 1, (continued from Flash Comics).

House Ad

Starring Barry Allen as the Flash and Wally West as Kid Flash. After 4 try-out issues of "Show case" - the first being #4, which is widely accepted as being the comic that launched the Silver Age - the Flash returned to star in his own title with #105 in 1959. The numbering of the title continued from the Golden Age "Flash Comics," which had come to an end as Super Heroes went out of fashion in the early 1950's. When Police scientist Barry Allen was doused with a variety of chemicals along with a bolt of lightning, the accident endowed him with Super Speed, and he donned the famous red Flash uniform we are all familiar with. Barry was seeing reporter Iris Allen, and to ensure he kept his identity as the Flash a secret from his girlfriend, he always turned up late for their dates. During his Showcase appearances, the Flash had battled the first of what was to become his rogues gallery when he clashed with Captain Cold, and his range of costumed opponents was about expand almost as rapidly as his uniform expanded from his ring when it came into contact with air. In his opening issue, the Flash battled the Mirror Master, and in the following issue, readers were introduced to Gorilla Grodd, Solovar, and the inhabitants of Gorilla City in a trilogy of tales that ran through issues #106 - 108. Also starring in #106 was another costumed villain, the Pied Piper. The Mirror Master obviously proved a hit with fans as he was back in #109 for a re-match and in #110 the Flash encountered the Weather Wizard for the first time. The Trickster brought his tricks to Central City in Flash #113, while Captain Cold returned in #114 and another Captain - this time Captain Boomerang debuted in #117.

However, it wasn't just super villains the Flash was encountering in the early issues of his own series. In #110, Kid Flash made his debut, when Wally West was caught in a freak duplicate of the accident that had given Barry his super speed. Wally's original costume was a duplicate of Barry's (only smaller of course) but sidekicks were "in" at the time and Wally would often feature in back up stories in the Flash as well as sometimes teaming up with his mentor - such as in #120. Later (#135) Wally would receive his more familiar yellow and red costume, which would serve him for the best part of two decades. Shortly after the introduction of Kid Flash, the Flash encountered Ralph Dibny, the Elongated Man in #112. At first, Barry thought the Elongated Man was a criminal, but by the end of the lead story in this issue, Ralph was exonerated, and the two men became firm friends. Editor Julius Schwartz was developing a number of friendships across the books he edited and chief among them was a friendship between Green Lantern and the Flash. The two first teamed up in Green Lantern #13 and the friendship was cemented during several shared adventures including the ones in Flash #131 and #143.

The most far reaching team -up of Barry's career was to come about in the classic Flash #123, "Flash of Two Worlds" in which the Scarlet Speedster met his "hero" Jay Garrick, the original Flash from the Golden Age of comics, and the concept of Earth Two was launched. Subsequent team ups between the two Flashes included the reintroduction of the Justice Society of America in #137's "Vengeance of the Immortal Villain," as the heroes pitted their wits against Vandal Savage. In the meantime, the villains just kept coming, as Abra Kadabra - a magician from the future made his debut in #128, Heat Wave made things hot for the Flash in #140, and the Top put him in a spin in # 141. However, it was the introduction of Eobard Thawne - the Reverse Flash (or Professor Zoom) in #140 that would have the most far reaching and long lasting effect upon Barry Allen's future.

When Barry and Iris finally got around to tying the knot, (#165), the Reverse Flash tried to take his place at the altar. Although Barry foiled his arch -foe on this occasion, history would repeat itself later in the series. After the death of Iris (accidentally shot at a costume ball), Barry was about to get re-married. Thawne was about to kill his fiance, but in order to prevent that happening, Barry snapped the neck of his enemy - an event which led to the two-year plus "Trial of the Flash," which concluded the series and led to the seeming demise of Barry Allen in Crisis on Infinite Earths.

With science-based stories by the likes of Gardner Fox, John Broome, and Robert Kanigher, and the sleek angular artistic lines provided by Carmine Infantino, the Flash became one of the most popular and attractive books in the DC line throughout the Silver Age and indeed its impressive 246 issue run. The series ended with issue 350 and was continued a little more over a year into The Flash Volume 2.

Collected EditionsFlash Archives Vol. 1 (#105-108)Flash Omnibus (#105-132)Showcase Presents: The Flash vol. 1 (#105-111)Flash Archives Vol. 2 (#109-116)Flash Archives Vol. 3 (#117-124)Showcase Presents: The Flash vol. 2 (#120-140)Flash Archives Vol. 4 (#125-132)Flash Archives Vol. 5 (#133-141)Showcase Presents: The Flash vol. 3 (#141-161)Flash Archives Vol. 6 (#142-150)Showcase Presents: The Flash vol. 4 (#162-184)Absolute Green Lantern/Green Arrow (#217-219 & 226)Showcase Presents: The Trial of the Flash (#323-7, 329-336, 340-350)

Please first Sign In before leaving a review.

Status: Not in Collection