Issue Description

Police Captain, Darryl Frye, calls on the Flash's defense attorney, Cecile Horton. Frye is beaten and bruised. Frye recounts an incredulous story, regarding his encounter with the deceased super-villain, Professor Zoom. Frye had chased a purse snatcher into a blind alley, only to find the Reverse Flash standing over the crook's unconscious form. At super-human speed, Professor Zoom beat Frye into unconsciousness. The Mirror Master has just completed the finishing touches on his newest hideaway. Suddenly his colossal solar mirror shatters into millions of shards, heralding an attack by Professor Zoom.

A second story man, Mickey P. Soames, attempts to rob Nathan Newbury, one of the jurors in the Flash's trial. Newbury seizes control of Soames' mind, compelling Soames to turn himself in to the officers, who stand watch outside Newbury's room. Horton puts the Flash on the stand. The Flash recounts his side of the story, regarding the events surrounding his accidental killing of the Reverse Flash. District Attorney, Anton Slater, puts forth the idea that the Flash, in saving the life of Fiona Webb, took it as an opportunity to rid himself of his nemesis.

Frye visits his brother, Doctor Dwight Frye, for adjustments to his pacemaker. The experimental pacemaker his brother fitted him with, allows Frye to greatly increase his strength and stamina. Though his brother warns him against using the pacemaker at those levels, Frye is undeterred. The Weather Wizard is in the midst of an armored car robbery, when the Trickster steals the loot out from under him. The Weather Wizard brings the Trickster down with a storm cloud. As the cloud dissipates, Professor Zoom reveals his presence. Professor Zoom quickly puts down the Weather Wizard.

Horton offers her final summation to the jurors. Frye resurrects his costumed identity, "Captain Invincible". Slater offers his final summation to the jurors. While the jurors deliberate over the verdict, Horton tells the Flash about Frye's supposed encounter with Professor Zoom. Fearing that Frye might do something rash, like resuming his masked identity, the Flash races to Frye's home. Frye's wife sends the Flash to Frye's brother. Doctor Frye explains his brother's "Cardio-Power" to the Flash, unaware that his brother is actually using that power as a costumed vigilante.

Captain Invincible's stakeout of a new jewelry store bears fruit, when Captain Cold arrives to rob it. Before Captain Invincible can swing into action, Professor Zoom reveals his presence. Captain Cold is quick to flash-freeze Professor Zoom, but the Reverse Flash is even quicker. After beating Captain Cold into unconsciousness, Professor Zoom confronts Captain Invincible. The Reverse Flash kicks Captain Invincible off the roof. The Flash arrives just in time to save Captain Invincible, from hitting the pavement. Captain Invincible hands the Flash the film from his hidden helmet camera, providing incontrovertible proof that Professor Zoom is, indeed, back from the dead.

Notes:

Captain Invincible is erroneously called "Captain Incredible" throughout this issue. Cary Bates was notorious for using the wrong name for various recurring characters, throughout his long run as the writer on the Flash. Just one of the many reasons why writers should not be allowed to be their own editors.

The Flash (1959)

Publisher

DC Comics

Volume Description

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

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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)

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