Flash Across Decades

When writer Gardener Fox and artist Harry Lampert created the original Flash in late 1939, they certainly didn't suspect that they were initiating a pantheon of heroes with a unique common mythology about a quasi-intelligent energy force linking all speedsters across generations. They also created an franchise that would stretch across comics, books, movies, TV series, toys and games.

This first Flash gained his powers when college student Jay Garrick was overcome by fumes. While unconscious, he continued to inhale the fumes, including vapors from "heavy water," for many hours, until rescued by a friend. After a long recovery, Jay found he had the power of superspeed.

The Flash would become one of the most popular golden-age heroes. He was a founding member, and first chairman, of the Justice Society of America, the golden age series that told of the united adventures of National Periodical's superheroes.

The Flash was even more important to a the rebirth of superhero comic books in the 1950's and 60's. The second incarnation of the Flash in Showcase #4 would initiate the Silver age of comic books. Julius Schwartz and Carmen Infantino, creators of this new hero, insisted on completely redesigning the look and story of the speedster. The result was a new generation of superheroes, lead by "the fastest man alive."