Used to be a superhero, I would swoop down...

Superhero Sunday

Today's superhero is known as The Flash I.



Real Name: Jay Garrick
First Appearance: Flash Comics #1 (Jan 1940)
Powers: Run at near lightspeed, vibrate his molecules to pass through other objects, ages much slower than normal.
Origin: In college, he accidently inhaled the hyper-charged atoms of a radioactive liquid and gained the power of superspeed.
My Thoughts: The origin ain't much, I know, but hey, it was the 1930's, pre-WWII, what do you expect? But he's had a lasting impression. he's The Flash I because there's ba a Flash II, Flash III and possibly even FLash IV. And Jay is the first of them.

Jay fought crime with the Justice Society of America during WWII and then disappeared in the early 1950's. IN the early 60's, when DC was reviving all thier old characters, Jay was hte first of the WWII heroes to meet up with his current counterpart. And he's been active in the DC Universe ever since. Even though the character is probably pushing 80 years old now, he's still a player in the comics. I like him cause he's like an elder statesman among the current heroes, someone they go to for advice becuase he's pretty much seen it all. And plus, despite it's done very slowly, he's still aged in the comics. He's gotten gray hair, and is running much slower than he used to, and comments on how he feels the aches and pains more now. But that's refreshing in a world where the heros never age, or grow old. He's like the fun cool grandfather you loved playing catch with or something.

(Oh, and the above picture was drawn by Alex Ross, one the pre-eminent artist in comics. I LOVE his work, and have several of his posters.)

POLT = listening to "That Certain Female" by CHarlie Feathers

Tell the truth...then run like hell.