Famous FLASH Firsts!

Famous FLASH Firsts!

Giant FLASH Annual Features Heroes & Villains in the FLASH Hall of Fame!

THE FLASH ANNUAL Vol.1,  No.1,  1963;  Cover Art:  Carmine Infantino,  Joe Kubert;  Writer:  John Broome;  Penciler:  Carmine Infantino;  Inker:  Joe Giella

This collection of reprints,  culled from multiple past issues of Showcase, All-Flash,  and The Flash,  was the only annual of its kind published during this volume’s run.  In addition to representing the origin of Wally West’s Kid Flash alter ego,  the anthology also features the first appearances of:  the formidable Gorilla Grodd;  Golden Age foe and Seventh Dimension exile,  Star Sapphire; flexible fellow hero,  The Elongated Man;  and Mr. Element,  the villain later known as Doctor Alchemy.

The annual’s lead story,  reprinted from The Flash #105,  follows the Fastest Man Alive as he recalls his own heroic origin,  and discovers an ancient alien power plotting to control the minds of everyone on Earth.  The creature known as Katmos battles the Flash and traps him in a tube that will increase his weight to lethal levels.  The speedster escapes Katmos’ clutches,  and the prehistoric psycho is taken in by the police.

Kudos to Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg for his expert commentary above and to the talented artists and writers of DC Comics who captivated and inspired millions of readers during this magical Golden Age. 

Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg is an educator,  publisher,  author,  comic book and pop culture historian, and former museum curator.  He is the author or co-author of Zombiemania,  The Big BIG LITTLE BOOK Book,  and Howe’s Transcendental Toybox.   He was the editor of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and also wrote for Cinescape,  The International Journal of Comic Art,  Fandom,  and IGN.com.  He holds a doctorate in Communications Design from the University of Baltimore and teaches courses in everything from comics and superhero mythology to zombies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  You can find him on Twitter at @DoctoroftheDead