Will ‘The Flash’ Stop The Flash-Flood?!

THE FLASH Vol.1, No.110, January 1960; Cover Art: Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella; Writer: John Broome; Penciler: Carmine Infantino; Inker: Murphy Anderson

Two debuts for the price of one!  In the first story, a new threat has emerged in the form of the Weather Wizard, whose wand allows him to manipulate the elements, and use rain and snow and hailstorms to provide cover for his robberies.  Mark Mardon was just a run-of-the-mill crook until he made use of his brother Clyde’s weather experiments to create his Weather Wand.

The Flash must stop Mardon, and make it to his next date with Iris on time.  In the second story, Iris’ nephew Wally West is a big The Flash fan, but he didn’t plan on becoming a junior speedster just like his hero until a freak replay of the same accident that transformed Barry Allen happens to him!  Now dubbed Kid Flash, Wally has his powers tested for the first time when he has to round up escaped zoo animals on his own.

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