Beware the Atomic Grenade!

THE FLASH Vol.1, No.122,  August 1961;  Cover Art:  Carmine Infantino,  Murphy Anderson;  Writer:  John Broome;  Penciler:  Carmine Infantino;  Inkers:  Joe Giella

The Fastest Man Alive goes up against a new villain known as the Top,  a whirling wrongdoer with formidable spinning powers.  The Top’s ultimate plan is to demand control of the entire Earth by threatening to lay waste to half the globe with an atomic hand grenade!  The clock is ticking down to destruction,  and the Flash has just ten hours to stop the Top;  Barry’s solution will remind many of the 1978 Superman feature film.  Meanwhile,  Iris gets a makeover that only proves to the couple that she’s better just the way she is.

In the issue’s second story,  Kid Flash has to help singer Eddie Farrell,  known as the Silver Mask,  escape his criminal past as former head of the Zulu Kings gang.  Farrell’s manager,  another gang member,  is blackmailing the boy star;  only revealing the truth to his legions of fans may save Farrell in the end.

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