The Flash Archives, Vol. 3

The Flash (1959-1985) #117-124

by John Broome

The Flash #123; Flash of Two Worlds! The second most important DC story from the Silver Age. A story that could only be eclipsed by another Flash story -- Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt from Showcase #4 -- the story that gave birth to the Silver Age itself. No other story influenced the landscape of the DC line of comics over the next two decades more than The Flash #123. As if an appearance by the Golden Age Flash weren't important enough, it was the parallel-world explanation as to how he could team with his Silver Age namesake that made this story so important -- the establishment of Earth-One/Earth-Two. Not to say that the remainder of this issue is simply filler! Drawing upon one of the greatest rogues galleries in all of comics, the issues collected herein feature some of Flash's most fearsome foes, showcasing the first appearance of Captain Boomerang, and the return of the Mirror Master and The Trickster, but also returning are Flash's greatest allies and co-stars: Kid Flash and the Elongated Man! With an A-list lead character and a stellar supporting cast, The Flash was never a boring read. The creativity of the stories and the magnificent artwork of Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella and Murphy Anderson is as exciting today as it was then, making The Flash one of the most memorable series in the history of the medium.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bro...

Reviews

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 1 out of 5]

No.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third Flash Archives, starring the Silver Age Flash, has some interesting moments. Captain Boomerang is introduced, the Trickster makes a return appearance, and Flash teams up with Kid Flash, the Elongated Man, and even Captain Boomerang (in his second appearance). The Top also makes his first appearance in this volume.

Notably, Iris West gets less bitchy about Barry Allen being so late all the time, and they even hang out on an adventure together. Flash reveals his secret identity to Iris's nephew Wally (Kid Flash) West, who has a couple of solo adventures here as well.

Surprisingly, there are a few sci-fi type stories, which I expect in Justice League of America and Green Lantern, but here it's just kinda odd. They typically fit into the standard formula of invading civilization or something like that.

Most importantly, this volume collects the first appearance of the Multiverse, when Flash accidentally vibrates to Earth-2 and meets the Flash of that world, Jay Garrick. We learn that Barry Allen read Flash Comics as a kid, and that writer Gardner Fox had dreams in which the stories in those comics came to him. Golden Age villains Shade, the Fiddler, and the Thinker make their first Silver Age appearance, and both Flashes team up to stop their dastardly plans. Remarkably, the day this happened was June 14, 1961, which is my sister's birthday.

All the stories are written by John Broome and drawn by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella. Typical Silver Age done-in-ones, but enjoyable in the context of their day.

[Elise]

I loved it. Especially when Barry Allen went to Keystone and worked alongside Jay Garrick.