Wednesday, April 5, 2023

HOTW- The Flash (Jay Garrick)

 

Jay Garrick inhales the fumes of hard water and gains super speed and reflexes.  This has been changed a bit several times sine 1940, but these days, that is to be expected.  He first used his speed to play football, but realized he needed to use his new powers for the greater good.  His girlfriend, and later wife, Joan, knows he is the Flash.  The Flash was a founding member of the Justice Society of America, and would later meet the Flash of Earth-1, Barry Allen.  This would prove to be rather monumental in the world of comic books. He would later marry Joan, but they never had children.  This Flash would later be "aided" by the Three Stooges Dimwits for a lot of his career.

Jay's costume was obviously based on Hermes/Mercury.  He was the first comic book speedster, and his success led to The Whizzer, Johnny Quick, the original Quicksilver, Max Mercury, and even Mercury himself.  While many of these characters are still around, the Flash has been the most popular.  I always liked the fact that Joan knew his semi-secret ID from the start.  I have not read many of his original stories, but have always liked Jay and Joan.

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