We begin with the Flash in "Menace of the Reverse-Flash" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #139 (1963). This is the first appearance of Professor Zoom. A time capsule is sent into the future by Dr. Walter Drake, which contains an atomic clock, a spare Flash uniform, and some other items. Dr. Drake realizes that the method with which he propelled the capsule through time changed the atomic clock into a bomb. He enlists the Flash to help him prevent a disaster.
In the year 2463, a criminal known as the Professor finds the capsule and takes the Flash uniform. Using future science, he is able to enable the costume to give him super-speed. He begins a crime wave as Professor Zoom.
Flash arrives in the future and begins his search for the atomic clock. He learns about Zoom and confronts him. The two speedsters are evenly matched and battle to a stalemate. Flash learns that the aura protecting him from friction was duplicated by Zoom using chemicals. He manages to force a break down of the chemicals which eliminates Zoom’s aura. Without this protection, Zoom is defeated and turned over to the authorities.
Flash locates the atomic clock and safely disposes of it. He then returns to the present and informs Dr. Drake that the bomb was destroyed. He also destroys the costume of Professor Zoom.
Our next reprint is a little different, as it has never been printed before. This tale of the Golden-Age Flash was written and drawn in the 1940s but never published, "Journey into Danger" is by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino, and Bernard Sachs. Jay Garrick and Joan Williams are taking the train back to Keystone after Jay has presented a paper at a Chemist's convention on decelerating energy to conserve fuel. As they get close to the city Jay notices that a plane that should land at the airport flies right by and when the train reaches the station it continues on as well, not stopping. Switching to the Flash, the engineer informs Jay that the train will not stop and is heading for another train on the same track. Jay stops the collision of the two trains by vibrating between them, creating an air pressure brake.
A farmer rushes up to see the commotion and spills some seed, which immediately grows full-grown stalks of corn that raise the train into the air. Flash once again saves the day and the train resumes. As the Flash Jay sees that gunmen are holding up Joan demanding to be shown Jay. Jay arrives and knocks the guys out and takes them to the police, Arriving back at his lab he finds it a shambles and a note saying that he needs to come to a specified location that night or Joan is a goner.
Arriving, the Flash is caught by a trap door and placed into a cage by the farmer who spilled the seeds. He says they will wait for Jay to show up and the farmer admits that he has invented a speed-up chemical but cannot control it and needs Jay's research on decelerating energy. When Jay attempts to vibrate out of the cage he is electrocuted by it. The farmer and his gang take Joan and leave the Flash to die in the house set to explode in five minutes. After they leave, Jay vibrates through the floor and out of the house. Outside he finds everyone running around at uncontrollable speed and a helicopter spraying the people with a chemical.
Jay heads to his lab and uses his formula to offset the speed chemical, curing the crowd. He then brings down the copter and takes out the farmer and his men.
Next up is Kid Flash in "The Race to Thunder Hill" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #116 (1960). While returning home from fishing with his friend Jimmy, Wally West switches to Kid Flash to rescue Kitty Clark from falling off a runaway horse. Wally returns home so he can serve as his father’s navigator in a car rally. Once the rally is underway, Wally and his father are stopped on the road by a pair of thieves who hi-jack Mr. West’s roadster. Mr. West is knocked out, and both he and Wally are locked in an empty house.
Wally escapes, and, as Kid Flash catches the thieves. Then Wally tows the car back to the house where his father was left. A doctor arrives to treat his father. The next day Wally and his dad continue in the rally. The team performs perfectly, and they are awarded the victory.
We end with our fourth speedster, Johnny Quick in "Too Many Speed Kings" drawn by Ralph Mayo and Sy Barry and reprinted from Adventure Comics #189 (1953). Johnny Chambers visits the lab of Professor Rollins, a chemist. Rollins has created a speed formula that he secretly gives to Johnny. Johnny is forced to use his speed and give away his secret identity, but the professor believes the formula works.
To protect his identity, Johnny must convince the professor that the formula works and also that it should not be used. Rollins distributes the chemical to a boxer and waiter. Johnny uses his own speed to fake theirs and convinces them to stop using the formula. Then he also convinces the professor.
Edited by Julius Schwartz.
Posts
