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The Flash Chronicles #1
The Flash Chronicles, Vol. 1
Transformed by a lab accident, police scientist Barry Allen is secretly the Flash - the fastest man alive, and the protector of Keystone City.
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2009
2 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kanigher
584 books8 followersSee also as Bob Kanigher
One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.
One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 24, 2011
My quickly expanding trawl through comics history--which started with classic Jack Kirby, and then kind of got out of control as I started reading other comics from the era for context--continues. This comic kicked off the Silver Age in the late 50s, sparking a superhero revival that continues to this day. And it is truly the quintessential Silver Age comic: formulaic, hokey, but also fun if you approach it on its own terms.
As Greg McElhatton has said about another comic from the era, these aren't really stories but rather "a single story hook" with the rest filled in around the edges. The world's fastest man versus the world's slowest man! Flash versus a telepathic gorilla! Only in a few stories is there any real peril; it's stunning how many banks get robbed in this book. What little suspense to be found here lies in how the Flash will apprehend the latest culprit, usually an easy task since from the start the Flash is insanely super-powered, showing off the ability to travel faster than the speed of light and even through time itself within the first few stories. Also fun is seeing how the creators mix science facts for the kids with insane comic book pseudo-science, i.e. if you orbit the moon just right, you can use its gravity to slingshot around it back to earth, which is what the Flash does when he is hurled into space; he changes his trajectory by vibrating his hand really fast. (He also just holds his breath for his entire trip and is fine.) Instead of suspense or characterization, the real enjoyment from this book comes from these ludicrous, out-of-left-field set pieces being illustrated perfectly by Carmine Infantino, whose clean linework and flawless storytelling set the standard for comics for decades to come.
As Greg McElhatton has said about another comic from the era, these aren't really stories but rather "a single story hook" with the rest filled in around the edges. The world's fastest man versus the world's slowest man! Flash versus a telepathic gorilla! Only in a few stories is there any real peril; it's stunning how many banks get robbed in this book. What little suspense to be found here lies in how the Flash will apprehend the latest culprit, usually an easy task since from the start the Flash is insanely super-powered, showing off the ability to travel faster than the speed of light and even through time itself within the first few stories. Also fun is seeing how the creators mix science facts for the kids with insane comic book pseudo-science, i.e. if you orbit the moon just right, you can use its gravity to slingshot around it back to earth, which is what the Flash does when he is hurled into space; he changes his trajectory by vibrating his hand really fast. (He also just holds his breath for his entire trip and is fine.) Instead of suspense or characterization, the real enjoyment from this book comes from these ludicrous, out-of-left-field set pieces being illustrated perfectly by Carmine Infantino, whose clean linework and flawless storytelling set the standard for comics for decades to come.
May 10, 2020
The appearance of Barry Allen, the Second Flash, is the herald of the silver age of comics. If you're looking for classic superhero action you will not be disappointed. The world's slowest man, pied piper, an alien, a telepathic gorilla, a "not Mr freeze" character, even a baddy who realises his first identity is a but rubbish he Changes his name within a couple of issues :D top comic book with a great sense of fun and adventure.
January 3, 2015
'The Flash Chronicles' serves as a means to provide fans of the silver Scarlet Speedster with a more affordable way of viewing Barry Allen's chronological superheroic exploits at a more affordable price, being in newsprint-like coloured paperback format, as opposed to the more expensive 'Archives' and 'Omnibus' series that DC publishes at specific intervals, which print stories onto glossy paper within a hardback bound compendium.
It seems quite fair to say that the Flash is one of the more widely-known superheroes gifted with super speed in comic book mass/pop culture; and Barry Allen, as the second person to pick up the Flash mantle, following the Golden Age Flash active during World War Two, has been widely recognised as the first hero to usher in the Silver Age of Comics, when old characters were reinvented for a new generation during the late fifties and early sixties. This was due to a decline in comic book sales with superheroes, where only the DC Trinity of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were published without hiatus. However, when DC did eventually decide to reinvigorate the superhero format with a newer version of a Golden Age character, little did they know that this would result in a mass explosion of similar modern interpretations of previously used heroes, including Green Lantern, Hawkman and the Atom, amongst others.
In much similar vein to the previously released trade paperback collections of the 'Superman Chronicles' and 'Batman Chronicles', the 'Flash Chronicles' series, as stated above, is DC Comics' attempt to re-publish every Silver Age Flash story in exact chronological order. This starts in Volume 1, released on 29 September 2009, with the republication of the magazine that introduced the Second Flash in Showcase #4, which pits our titular hero against the Turtle Man, who operated criminal activities in super-slow motion as opposed to the Flash's super-speed abilities. Later issues would introduce the Flash's famous rogues gallery of themed supervillains, which have plagued the Scarlet Speedster and his successors to this very day.
This first volume of the Flash Chronicles re-publishes the aforementioned Showcase #4, along with issues 8, 13 and 14, and picking up the numbering of the original Flash Comics series in issues #105-6, from publication date October 1956 to May 1959. These stories are very simple and, as was the way within the late fifties and early sixties, utilised a more science-fiction stylised format, with a prison rocket-craft from the future carrying the criminal named Kazdan from the fiftieth century, and an individual being the last of his race being buried for millennia from before the time of humankind, who attempts to re-take the Earth populace by force using his immense mental power. Additionally, within these issues, we are introduced to such famous rogues and villains within the DC Universe, such as the freeze-gun carrying Captain Cold, Dr Alchemy, Mirror Master, the Pied Piper (who uses a lot of unintended sexual innuendo in his dialogue!), and Gorilla Grodd from Gorilla City, who is a pivotal villain throughout the Flash series of Comics and the extended universe that DC superheroes and villains reside in. Barry Allen's girlfriend, and subsequent wife Iris West, is also introduced here, alongside the rightful ruler of Gorilla City in Africa, King Solovar.
Barry gained his powers by a freak bolt of lightning that splashed certain chemicals over him, granting him the power of super-speed (which was eventually revealed to be pre-destined by Barry himself, granting these abilities to himself and his nephew Wally, from within the Speed Force, following his defeat and sacrifice at the hands of the all-powerful Anti-Monitor). Even though the stories presented here can seem rather repetitive, with a villain appearing and having to be defeated in time for Barry to keep his date with Iris for most of the time, this tome sets out a precedent for what was one of the most important introductions in DC Comic Book lore. Additionally, in later issues of Flash Comics, Barry's sidekick (alias Kid Flash) and eventual successor, Wally West, was revealed to DC's reader audience, and more speedster history was flushed out.
What is interesting about the Silver Age iteration of the Flash is that he has endured in popularity throughout the many years that DC has been releasing comic books, even after his 'death' in the Multiverse-shattering event of the mid-eighties, known as 'Crisis on Infinite Earths'. Barry Allen was in fact the individual who stumbled across the DC Multiverse in a later story, in which he vibrated his molecular structure so fast during a public exhibition that he phased into the parallel world of Earth-Two, in which most of DC Comics' war-time Golden Age superheroes were said to reside, including the original Flash, Jay Garrick of the Justice Society of America (an earlier iteration of the famous Justice League of America), who he teamed up with on occasion, and during the Society and League's annual 'Crisis' team-ups.
Barry's death during the aforementioned 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', in which the infinite number of parallel worlds were streamlined into one unified timeline, made him an unforgettable martyr within the DC superhero community, and within comic book lore in general, and he has since returned from the dead in Final Crisis, having actually been revealed to be running from 'Death' from within the Speed Force. He has also subsequently been transformed into a Black Lantern during the Blackest Night storyline, a Blue Lantern in the following Brightest Day event, and has had his history streamlined yet again in the New 52, after having a pivotal role in the Flashpoint maxi-series/event, which resulted in the DC, Wildstorm and Vertigo Universes being merged into one, in order to bring about more modern re-interpretations of pre-existing characters for a wider audience.
'The Flash Chronicles - Volume 1' serves as a great and more affordable introduction to the more widely-known iteration of the Flash, and is a nice accompaniment to the many other 'Chronicles' series published by DC Comics in trade paperback format. With the Scarlet Speedster's many adventures also collected within the 'Archives' series and the more recent 'Omnibus' volumes, these paperback collections are a great way to get introduced to the first hero of the Silver Age of Comic Books, who ushered in the reinvention of the superhero franchise, and has endured as a popular character within the public consciousness to this very day.
It seems quite fair to say that the Flash is one of the more widely-known superheroes gifted with super speed in comic book mass/pop culture; and Barry Allen, as the second person to pick up the Flash mantle, following the Golden Age Flash active during World War Two, has been widely recognised as the first hero to usher in the Silver Age of Comics, when old characters were reinvented for a new generation during the late fifties and early sixties. This was due to a decline in comic book sales with superheroes, where only the DC Trinity of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were published without hiatus. However, when DC did eventually decide to reinvigorate the superhero format with a newer version of a Golden Age character, little did they know that this would result in a mass explosion of similar modern interpretations of previously used heroes, including Green Lantern, Hawkman and the Atom, amongst others.
In much similar vein to the previously released trade paperback collections of the 'Superman Chronicles' and 'Batman Chronicles', the 'Flash Chronicles' series, as stated above, is DC Comics' attempt to re-publish every Silver Age Flash story in exact chronological order. This starts in Volume 1, released on 29 September 2009, with the republication of the magazine that introduced the Second Flash in Showcase #4, which pits our titular hero against the Turtle Man, who operated criminal activities in super-slow motion as opposed to the Flash's super-speed abilities. Later issues would introduce the Flash's famous rogues gallery of themed supervillains, which have plagued the Scarlet Speedster and his successors to this very day.
This first volume of the Flash Chronicles re-publishes the aforementioned Showcase #4, along with issues 8, 13 and 14, and picking up the numbering of the original Flash Comics series in issues #105-6, from publication date October 1956 to May 1959. These stories are very simple and, as was the way within the late fifties and early sixties, utilised a more science-fiction stylised format, with a prison rocket-craft from the future carrying the criminal named Kazdan from the fiftieth century, and an individual being the last of his race being buried for millennia from before the time of humankind, who attempts to re-take the Earth populace by force using his immense mental power. Additionally, within these issues, we are introduced to such famous rogues and villains within the DC Universe, such as the freeze-gun carrying Captain Cold, Dr Alchemy, Mirror Master, the Pied Piper (who uses a lot of unintended sexual innuendo in his dialogue!), and Gorilla Grodd from Gorilla City, who is a pivotal villain throughout the Flash series of Comics and the extended universe that DC superheroes and villains reside in. Barry Allen's girlfriend, and subsequent wife Iris West, is also introduced here, alongside the rightful ruler of Gorilla City in Africa, King Solovar.
Barry gained his powers by a freak bolt of lightning that splashed certain chemicals over him, granting him the power of super-speed (which was eventually revealed to be pre-destined by Barry himself, granting these abilities to himself and his nephew Wally, from within the Speed Force, following his defeat and sacrifice at the hands of the all-powerful Anti-Monitor). Even though the stories presented here can seem rather repetitive, with a villain appearing and having to be defeated in time for Barry to keep his date with Iris for most of the time, this tome sets out a precedent for what was one of the most important introductions in DC Comic Book lore. Additionally, in later issues of Flash Comics, Barry's sidekick (alias Kid Flash) and eventual successor, Wally West, was revealed to DC's reader audience, and more speedster history was flushed out.
What is interesting about the Silver Age iteration of the Flash is that he has endured in popularity throughout the many years that DC has been releasing comic books, even after his 'death' in the Multiverse-shattering event of the mid-eighties, known as 'Crisis on Infinite Earths'. Barry Allen was in fact the individual who stumbled across the DC Multiverse in a later story, in which he vibrated his molecular structure so fast during a public exhibition that he phased into the parallel world of Earth-Two, in which most of DC Comics' war-time Golden Age superheroes were said to reside, including the original Flash, Jay Garrick of the Justice Society of America (an earlier iteration of the famous Justice League of America), who he teamed up with on occasion, and during the Society and League's annual 'Crisis' team-ups.
Barry's death during the aforementioned 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', in which the infinite number of parallel worlds were streamlined into one unified timeline, made him an unforgettable martyr within the DC superhero community, and within comic book lore in general, and he has since returned from the dead in Final Crisis, having actually been revealed to be running from 'Death' from within the Speed Force. He has also subsequently been transformed into a Black Lantern during the Blackest Night storyline, a Blue Lantern in the following Brightest Day event, and has had his history streamlined yet again in the New 52, after having a pivotal role in the Flashpoint maxi-series/event, which resulted in the DC, Wildstorm and Vertigo Universes being merged into one, in order to bring about more modern re-interpretations of pre-existing characters for a wider audience.
'The Flash Chronicles - Volume 1' serves as a great and more affordable introduction to the more widely-known iteration of the Flash, and is a nice accompaniment to the many other 'Chronicles' series published by DC Comics in trade paperback format. With the Scarlet Speedster's many adventures also collected within the 'Archives' series and the more recent 'Omnibus' volumes, these paperback collections are a great way to get introduced to the first hero of the Silver Age of Comic Books, who ushered in the reinvention of the superhero franchise, and has endured as a popular character within the public consciousness to this very day.
December 23, 2017
This little book contains a lot of big moments in comics history. First and foremost, the first story here is widely acknowledged as the story that kicked off the "Silver Age" of comics. In the late 40's and early 50's, superhero comics were waning in popularity because, with the Depression and WW2 over, people weren't resorting as much to the escapist optimism of those larger-than-life heroes-in-tights. Sci-fi, Western, and horror comics were now all the rage. The heyday of superhero comics, the "Golden Age" that was a product of the difficult times of the late 30's and the war years, was over. That changed in 1956 with the introduction of Barry Allen, the all new Flash, which kicked off new interest in superheroes that, really, hasn't let up since.
Besides the introduction of Barry Allen, in this volume you'll find the first appearances of what would become many of Flash's most iconic villains: Captain Cold, Mirror Master, the Pied Piper, and Gorilla Grodd. Like Barry Allen, these characters too have remained largely unchanged in the decades since their inception, and any modern fan of comics will immediately recognize these characters.
The book is a product of its era; the stories are good but corny fun, with a lot of pseudo-scientific happenings thrown in for good measure. But I felt it was worth the read for its comics history content alone.
I'd also like to add that I really like the format of these Chronicles editions. They are printed on matte paper, which I find much more pleasing to read than the reprints on glossy paper that you'll find in the Archives editions. Also, in the Chronicles the stories are presented in chronological order, whereas in the Archives they are arranged by book title. Being paperback, the Chronicles are also cheaper than the Archives. It's a shame they didn't continue with the Chronicles series. They have since been replaced by the giant hardcover Omnibus editions. I still prefer the Chronicles over any of the other collected volumes out there.
Collects:
Showcase #4, 8, 13, 14
The Flash #105, 106
Oct 1956 to May 1959
Besides the introduction of Barry Allen, in this volume you'll find the first appearances of what would become many of Flash's most iconic villains: Captain Cold, Mirror Master, the Pied Piper, and Gorilla Grodd. Like Barry Allen, these characters too have remained largely unchanged in the decades since their inception, and any modern fan of comics will immediately recognize these characters.
The book is a product of its era; the stories are good but corny fun, with a lot of pseudo-scientific happenings thrown in for good measure. But I felt it was worth the read for its comics history content alone.
I'd also like to add that I really like the format of these Chronicles editions. They are printed on matte paper, which I find much more pleasing to read than the reprints on glossy paper that you'll find in the Archives editions. Also, in the Chronicles the stories are presented in chronological order, whereas in the Archives they are arranged by book title. Being paperback, the Chronicles are also cheaper than the Archives. It's a shame they didn't continue with the Chronicles series. They have since been replaced by the giant hardcover Omnibus editions. I still prefer the Chronicles over any of the other collected volumes out there.
Collects:
Showcase #4, 8, 13, 14
The Flash #105, 106
Oct 1956 to May 1959
February 5, 2010
The greatest thing about The Flash (besides the stunning art work) are the villains, all scientists gone evil wearing flamboyant Doug Henning outfits and Vidal Sassoon hairstyles. I love them all:
Captain Cold
Mister Element, turned into Doctor Alchemy!
The Pied Piper
The Mirror Master
Pick a favorite foe? I can't! These guys were way more fashion forward than any Batman villain. It's so Atomic Age to have the Flash (police scientist) fighting ex-con scientists, why its battle of the super scientists!
Captain Cold
Mister Element, turned into Doctor Alchemy!
The Pied Piper
The Mirror Master
Pick a favorite foe? I can't! These guys were way more fashion forward than any Batman villain. It's so Atomic Age to have the Flash (police scientist) fighting ex-con scientists, why its battle of the super scientists!
September 5, 2025
Review by story…
Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt: The thing about the Flash that makes him so great, specifically from the silver age onwards, is that he’s a very well meaning dork. The whole “my mom was murdered” modern day retcon completely misses the point of why this origin is brilliant. Barry becomes a superhero, because in his comic book addled, horribly naive, himbo dork brain, that’s just the only logical thing to do when you get superpowers. 4/5 stars
The Man Who Broke the Time Barrier: Very silly and nonsensical story. Odd that they revealed that the Flash was capable of time travel this early on. 3/5 stars
The Secret of the Empty Box: Barry is such a sweet goober. I love him so much. 5/5 stars
The Coldest Man on Earth: Very standard cold themed villain story until suddenly we get Captain Cold doing illusion magic out of nowhere. Felt unnecessary and silly. Fun story though. 3/5 stars
Around the World in 80 Minutes: Barry Allen is the most ADHD man on Earth. Absolutely insane story. Knocked a star off my rating because of the Spanish speaking Egyptian characters. 3/5 stars
Master of the Elements: Mr Element is the most irritating of mansplaners. In that way he’s a very believable antagonist. 3/5
Giants of the Time World: Oh boy this is some silly shit lol 2.5/5
The Man Who Changed the Earth: I’ve never had a story lose me so completely so fast. What do you mean you used the philosopher’s stone to rob banks? ITS THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE YOU IDIOT!!!! 2/5
Conquerer from 8 Million BC: So is this where they got that guy from Prometheus from? Also was this story ever followed up on? 4.5/5
The Master of Mirrors: God the Silver Age was insane lol. 4/5
Menace of the Super-Gorilla: I love that almost nothing about Grodd has changed since this first appearance. He was birthed basically perfect. 4/5
The Pied Piper of Peril: Dude the Flash fuckin rules. 5/5
Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt: The thing about the Flash that makes him so great, specifically from the silver age onwards, is that he’s a very well meaning dork. The whole “my mom was murdered” modern day retcon completely misses the point of why this origin is brilliant. Barry becomes a superhero, because in his comic book addled, horribly naive, himbo dork brain, that’s just the only logical thing to do when you get superpowers. 4/5 stars
The Man Who Broke the Time Barrier: Very silly and nonsensical story. Odd that they revealed that the Flash was capable of time travel this early on. 3/5 stars
The Secret of the Empty Box: Barry is such a sweet goober. I love him so much. 5/5 stars
The Coldest Man on Earth: Very standard cold themed villain story until suddenly we get Captain Cold doing illusion magic out of nowhere. Felt unnecessary and silly. Fun story though. 3/5 stars
Around the World in 80 Minutes: Barry Allen is the most ADHD man on Earth. Absolutely insane story. Knocked a star off my rating because of the Spanish speaking Egyptian characters. 3/5 stars
Master of the Elements: Mr Element is the most irritating of mansplaners. In that way he’s a very believable antagonist. 3/5
Giants of the Time World: Oh boy this is some silly shit lol 2.5/5
The Man Who Changed the Earth: I’ve never had a story lose me so completely so fast. What do you mean you used the philosopher’s stone to rob banks? ITS THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE YOU IDIOT!!!! 2/5
Conquerer from 8 Million BC: So is this where they got that guy from Prometheus from? Also was this story ever followed up on? 4.5/5
The Master of Mirrors: God the Silver Age was insane lol. 4/5
Menace of the Super-Gorilla: I love that almost nothing about Grodd has changed since this first appearance. He was birthed basically perfect. 4/5
The Pied Piper of Peril: Dude the Flash fuckin rules. 5/5
May 11, 2015
These early Silver Age Flash stories are fun, but goofy. They have a certain amount of "Silver Age" charm and even though the science isn't always believable and Barry Allen's romantic adventures get pretty old, it's still a fun read.
July 2, 2024
Like most little boys who grew up in the late '70s, I loved the SuperFriends cartoon on Saturday morning. The Flash was one of the characters on that show, but for whatever reason I decided that DC sucked when I was around 8 or 9 and never read a Flash comic book until now. This trade paperback was in the 1/2 off section at the Motor City Comic Con last May, and since I've enjoyed the other Chronicles trades so much I figured that I'd give this a try. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman all rocked in the Golden Age of Comics. The Green Lantern Chronicles trades skipped the Golden Age version of the character and skipped right ahead to the Silver Age version. The Flash Chronicles did the same thing. Whereas Green Lantern has a zany, fun vibe going on, Flash kinda sucks.
One of the first things that you have to adopt as a comic book fan is a healthy suspension of disbelief. Many fans erroneously state that they like Marvel because their comics are more realistic. I prefer to say that they are more believable, in that the pseudo-science used to define a character's powers has a set of parameters, and the character and their power operate within them. DC seems to have a whatever suits the story type vibe to their powers. I have an extremely hard time swallowing the concept of Flash. Barry Allen is a scientist who is struck by lightning, and that along with some chemicals gives him the power to run fast. So fast that he can break the time barrier or move at 1/1,000,000th of a second. For one thing, I doubt that his lungs could enable him to breathe running at those speeds, so he'd essentially 'drown'. For another, his costume doesn't seem to be made of some fricition resistant "unstable molecules" (as Marvel calls them), so it would be scorched right off of him. His skin would likely also be peeled off him and he'd die. So yeah, while I can buy an alien crashing on Earth and giving Hal Jordan a power ring to become Green Lantern, or a baby crash-landing on an alien planet and raised by farmers, or a boy witnessing his parents murdered in front of him and vowing to rid the world of evil...heck, I can even buy Paradise Island and the whole Greek God Wonder Woman crap, but I can't swallow this. Gorilla Grodd completely rocks, though, so not all is lost. Also, the Flash's costume is among the more dynamic ones in all of comic books. So yeah, The Flash sucks...sort of.
One of the first things that you have to adopt as a comic book fan is a healthy suspension of disbelief. Many fans erroneously state that they like Marvel because their comics are more realistic. I prefer to say that they are more believable, in that the pseudo-science used to define a character's powers has a set of parameters, and the character and their power operate within them. DC seems to have a whatever suits the story type vibe to their powers. I have an extremely hard time swallowing the concept of Flash. Barry Allen is a scientist who is struck by lightning, and that along with some chemicals gives him the power to run fast. So fast that he can break the time barrier or move at 1/1,000,000th of a second. For one thing, I doubt that his lungs could enable him to breathe running at those speeds, so he'd essentially 'drown'. For another, his costume doesn't seem to be made of some fricition resistant "unstable molecules" (as Marvel calls them), so it would be scorched right off of him. His skin would likely also be peeled off him and he'd die. So yeah, while I can buy an alien crashing on Earth and giving Hal Jordan a power ring to become Green Lantern, or a baby crash-landing on an alien planet and raised by farmers, or a boy witnessing his parents murdered in front of him and vowing to rid the world of evil...heck, I can even buy Paradise Island and the whole Greek God Wonder Woman crap, but I can't swallow this. Gorilla Grodd completely rocks, though, so not all is lost. Also, the Flash's costume is among the more dynamic ones in all of comic books. So yeah, The Flash sucks...sort of.
May 31, 2017
Was OK if you like to read the golden age comics
January 3, 2018
The stories are pretty formulaic, but Carmine Infantino's art is great.
Read
August 6, 2021POSSIBLY read in 2009
May 26, 2011
It has taken me a week for it to hit me why this is so disappointing. It helped to be reading 1940's era Batman at the same time and to have just finished Green Lantern which was contemporary. As background, I approached this read with interest because I had a positive memory of the Flash although I do remember liking the original Flash slightly better. But this was a damp squib, a "Really?" and a sigh.
Three reasons:
1. Center City is where? we don't know because it has no color, no vibe, no nothing. It is an American city full stop. It does have an East, West, North and South because Flash's first approach to solving a problem is to zip back and forth from East to West and the criminal is always in the last direction he searches. After awhile you realize how lazy the artists are, they only have to draw a building and a whoosh in front of it, job done. I was so curious where it is that I looked it up and opinion is divided as to whether it is in Ohio or Florida. Contrast with Emerald City, Green Lantern's home, a military town or Gotham city that has grimy wharfside flophouses, nightclubs and crazy dark alleys. This doesn't help the Flash develop his character and he has no rapport with citizens.
2. No sidekick, so we are left with Barry (Flash) and Iris. Barry is a nebbish, a police lab scientist that even NCIS wouldn't hire. We don't know about his cases, all we know is that the lab has defective shelving that was hit in a storm and dumped chemicals over him to make him the Flash. The first time he realizes his power he is in a diner and a waitress accidentally drops a tray of water and dishes on him but he reassembles them before she can realize what she has done. that is no Saul on the road to Damascus moment, is it? Girlfriend Iris is a reporter who is little more than a redheaded shrew who berates Barry with a complete lack of mercy. She gave me the creeps and weighed this story down. Green Lantern's girlfriend is high maintenance but at least she runs a multi-national corporation for her jet setting father. She has some pressures. Iris is worse than a premenstrual teen. Apparently he eventually marries her (insert shiver). At least Green Lantern had Pieface, his faithful and clever Inuit friend. Anyone who can be turned into a seagull and still communicate is a worthy friend.
3. Terrible villains, I give you Captain Cold, snappy outfit, serious power and frightens the locals by turning them into popsicles. A trifle easy to defeat but he has room to grow. But Mr Alchemy who wears a bedsheet and points a rock at things to change them into other things? Really? Why be a villian, just turn things into gold and retire. But no, "Hold still while i turn the air into rubber bands to hold you." And Mirror Master who has sort of an interesting power but lacks any cleverness whatsoever. And none of these characters can scare up a gang, all solo artists.
This whole comic feels like it was rushed to market, thus no background and heavy reliance on his one note power. Green Lantern has to come up with some really clever solutions and he has to fight the color yellow (a worthy goal for all of us by the way). Flash conquers too neatly and quickly, usually because he is late for a date with his shrewish girlfriend I might add. Ah well, revisiting the past is always illuminating even if it is sometimes dull.
Three reasons:
1. Center City is where? we don't know because it has no color, no vibe, no nothing. It is an American city full stop. It does have an East, West, North and South because Flash's first approach to solving a problem is to zip back and forth from East to West and the criminal is always in the last direction he searches. After awhile you realize how lazy the artists are, they only have to draw a building and a whoosh in front of it, job done. I was so curious where it is that I looked it up and opinion is divided as to whether it is in Ohio or Florida. Contrast with Emerald City, Green Lantern's home, a military town or Gotham city that has grimy wharfside flophouses, nightclubs and crazy dark alleys. This doesn't help the Flash develop his character and he has no rapport with citizens.
2. No sidekick, so we are left with Barry (Flash) and Iris. Barry is a nebbish, a police lab scientist that even NCIS wouldn't hire. We don't know about his cases, all we know is that the lab has defective shelving that was hit in a storm and dumped chemicals over him to make him the Flash. The first time he realizes his power he is in a diner and a waitress accidentally drops a tray of water and dishes on him but he reassembles them before she can realize what she has done. that is no Saul on the road to Damascus moment, is it? Girlfriend Iris is a reporter who is little more than a redheaded shrew who berates Barry with a complete lack of mercy. She gave me the creeps and weighed this story down. Green Lantern's girlfriend is high maintenance but at least she runs a multi-national corporation for her jet setting father. She has some pressures. Iris is worse than a premenstrual teen. Apparently he eventually marries her (insert shiver). At least Green Lantern had Pieface, his faithful and clever Inuit friend. Anyone who can be turned into a seagull and still communicate is a worthy friend.
3. Terrible villains, I give you Captain Cold, snappy outfit, serious power and frightens the locals by turning them into popsicles. A trifle easy to defeat but he has room to grow. But Mr Alchemy who wears a bedsheet and points a rock at things to change them into other things? Really? Why be a villian, just turn things into gold and retire. But no, "Hold still while i turn the air into rubber bands to hold you." And Mirror Master who has sort of an interesting power but lacks any cleverness whatsoever. And none of these characters can scare up a gang, all solo artists.
This whole comic feels like it was rushed to market, thus no background and heavy reliance on his one note power. Green Lantern has to come up with some really clever solutions and he has to fight the color yellow (a worthy goal for all of us by the way). Flash conquers too neatly and quickly, usually because he is late for a date with his shrewish girlfriend I might add. Ah well, revisiting the past is always illuminating even if it is sometimes dull.
April 24, 2013
As with most early collections of super-heroes from the Golden & Silver Ages, this suffers from being a bit silly and a bit dated. Though if you can get past that there is usually a great nugget of an idea under it all -which allows these characters and stories to last as long as they have- and the Flash does seem to have that even in these stories. If you're interested in early comic and super-hero history then this book is worth looking into, but don't expect much past some solid artwork and fun little stories.
March 27, 2022
I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I wish I'd bought the Showcase edition instead. This is an awfully skinny book for $15. Also, my collection didn't really need another reprint of "Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt", and the process by which DC reclaims its older comics loses a lot of the fine detail of Joe Kubert's inking. It looks much better in "Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told."
August 7, 2016
A bunch of Silver Age nonsense. One villain can literally change anything to hold and his first stop is to get cash. What the actual fuck? Smart enough to control every element, too dumb to sell the gold.
That said, these stories have their charm. The one and down is fun. The art is serviceable. Fun for what it is.
That said, these stories have their charm. The one and down is fun. The art is serviceable. Fun for what it is.
July 30, 2014
First time for me reading a Flash comic storyline. It was a fun read. It's very cool seeing how much his universe is based off of 1950s SciFi.
June 3, 2014
Algunas cosas se leían menos "fugaces" cuando era más chica, pero aprecié el cuidado que pusieron en ordenar la recopilación. Fue lindo leerlo :3
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January 6, 2016Awesome to see some of the older comic the early showings of some of my favorites Great if you are a fan of ////////////////////////FLASH
SORRY about weird motion blur just had to LOL
SORRY about weird motion blur just had to LOL
June 17, 2016
I loved this book! The silver age of comics is the best!
July 6, 2017
Good stories simply told with good artwork
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