Showcase Presents: The Flash Volume 1

Showcase Presents: The Flash Volume 1
Publisher: DC Comics
Reprints in black and white format
Contents: Flash comics # 104, Showcase # 4, Showcase # 8, Showcase # 13, Showcase # 14, Flash # 105-119 copyright @ 1949, 1956-1961
Cost: $ 16.99 US
Publication date: 2007
Page count: 509 pages
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets

The Flash Volume 1 showed origin stories of Golden Age Flash Jay Garrick in Flash Comics # 104. It also showed Silver Age Flash Barry Allen origin in Showcase # 4. There are plenty of characters like Iris West as Barry’s girlfriend. She does not know that Barry Allen is The Flash. I found it amusing that she always thought Barry was slow as a turtle. He was always missing time with Iris due to being The Flash. I liked able to read Flash stories in earliest setting before became member of Justice League of America. The setting for most of the stories is Central City. Barry Allen was scientist. A storm made lightning hit chemicals that he was working with. Somehow mixture of chemicals and lightning caused substances to splash all over Barry. He turned into person that could run at great speed and called himself The Flash. He designed costume that could eject from his ring and expand to his adult size. The Flash found himself in battles with Captain Cold, The Mirror Master. Grood, The Trickster and many others. I really liked Flash # 110. It had origin of Kid Flash who is Wally West. When Flash himself was showing Wally West how the accident occurred that gave him his tremendous speed, the same accident occurred to Wally – which inspired Flash to become his partner. Flash is a superhero. He can run faster than speed of light. The stories had time period of around 1960’s that they were published. There again were some references to language of time period of 1960’s. This was more apparent when Wally became Barry’s partner. All covers are included with stories. The issues at that Gold and Silver Age time period only cost a dime each. Showcase Presents volumes are printed on rather cheap paper. There probably is not a lot of resale value. This is reasonable way to read old Flash stories and not have to pay fortune for originals. I found my copy through inter-library loan. I imagine also can get through various sources online or at comic book conventions. Have to always though use imagination on comic book pages accordingly since all pages are in black and white format.

The library copy is in the young adult section.
ISBN: 978-1-4012-1327-5

Here’s what the back cover says about The Flash volume 1:

A freak accident gives Police Scientist Barry Allen fantastic super-speed abilities, inspired by his favorite childhood comic book hero, Allen goes under the guise of a masked superhero known as The Flash to use his powers to help humanity. Science and fiction collide as The Sultan of Speed confronts menaces from other worlds, other dimensions and other centuries.

Ready, Set, Rogue! Some of the most menacing villains alive haunt the streets of Central city and Flash faces for the first time some of his most infamous adversaries: Captain Cold – frigid felon with a fondness for fortunes: Mirror Master – repetitious rival who raids rare resources: Gorilla Grood – super simian with sinister schemes to spoil society: Pied Piper – musical menace who’s motivated his mania for money: and The Weather Wizard – tornado terrorist tempted by top-notch treasures.

Comic book legends John Broome, Carmine Infanto, Joe Kubert and others crafted these pioneer tales of The Scarlet Speedster and introduced the Scarlet Speedster to his lifelong allies, the Elongated Man and Kid Flash, as well as his one true love, Iris West. So put on your track shoes and try to keep up – the whirlwind adventures are just beginning!


Allen Klingelhoets