Book Review: Showcase Presents Flash, Volume 1

Showcase Presents: The Flash, Vol. 1 by Robert Kanigher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Some will identify the launch of the Fantastic Four and Spider-man with the start of Silver Age of Comics. That's not quite right. It all began with the Silver Age Flash (Barry Allen) who was introduced in Showcase #4.

This book collects the last story featuring the Golden Age Flash Jay Garrick last appearance in his 1949 Magazine (Flash #104) along with Silver Age Flash tryouts in Showcase #4, #8, #13, and #14 (1956-58) and then the new Flash continuing bi-monthly series from 105-119.

There's a lot to like about the book. Many of the best Flash villains are introduced in this book including Captain Cold, Gorilla Grodd (called only Grodd in these stories), Mirror Master, Dr. Alchemy, the Weather Wizard, the Trickster, and Captain Boomerang. The first four of these had multiple appearances, so early on there was a great sense of what the Flash's rogue's gallery would be like, and Grodd clearly stood out as more evil from the rest.

The Silver Age Flash also followed the tradition of the Golden Age version by not having book length stories. Instead, the Flash introduced back up characters. Wally West was introduced as Kid Flash in Flash #110, Ralph Dibney as the Elongated Man in Flash #112, and three dopes Winky, Blinky, and Noddy were introduced in Flash #117.

After his introduction, Kid Flash actually had five solo adventures in which Barry Allen didn't appear accept perhaps as a cameo. The early Kid Flash wore a uniform just like the adult version only smaller. The adventures are typical light kid fare.

The Elongated Man stories are fun as the Flash actually gets jealous of him. The Elongated Man adventures are team ups with the Flash and mostly light. It's worth noting that Elongated was introduced more than a year before Marvel's Mr. Fantastic.

The Winky, Blinky, and Noddy characters were without a doubt the stupidest concept re-introduced. They were originally in the Golden Age Flash Comics and really infantile characters who probably gave us a hint as to why Marvel had its early 1960s ascendancy.

However, they weren't enough to spoil this book. It introduced some great concepts and characters. The Flash's powers remain impressive as does his mighty rogues gallery stands the test of time nicely. Ironically, my favorite story in this book wasn't a story with a rogue, but "Around the World in 80 Minutes" (Showcase #13) which features the Flash circling the globe in 80 minutes for the heck of it, with the goal of making it back in time for his ever-late alter ego to make a date with the temperamental Iris West. Along the way, he has to solve several desperate problems and fend off several grateful maidens.

It's a story that represents the fun and light-heartedness of this collection. While characterization remains weak, this is groundbreaking stuff that launched a whole new age of comics and that makes it a worthwhile read.



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