Have I done one of those posts lately where I was looking for a specific book, didn't find it, and end up writing about whatever comic I found instead? Well, here we go! From 1979, The Flash #276, "Freakout!" Written by Cary Bates, pencils by Alex Saviuk, inks by Frank Chiaramonte.
Although the cover features Barry beating the JLA, the story is much, much darker. Previously, at a costume party, Barry was drugged with Angel Dust, and his wife Iris was badly injured by gibbering madman Yorkin. In his Flash costume, Barry manages to catch up to, and violently assault Yorkin; but that's a hallucination. Barry is actually in a hospital, and Iris died at the party; and Barry has no idea what is real anymore, until he sees her body at the morgue.
At the JLA satellite, Superman leads a small meeting with Batman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman; proposing a leave of absence for the Flash. They don't like it, but know the Flash will need all their help. And Barry arrives, but not wanting the help they were thinking of: he wants them to bring Iris back to life. When they sadly decline, Barry turns on them, claiming they were never his friends; and threatens to take the satellite apart...
Man, Green Lantern just looks pissed that Barry even asked...
I had the next issue when I was a kid, and I'm not sure I realized Flash's wife was dead, or that he was even married. Wish it was handy, too: a crazed Barry literally runs circles around the JLA, crushing GL and Bats against Superman and Wonder Woman! Flash would continue for another six years and 74 issues, to issue #350, but the shadow of Iris's death would linger for a long time. Even though she'd eventually come back, oddly enough.
I've never read this, but it sounds pretty fabulous. It is always interesting when they show how really skilled and dangerous one of the heroes can be...if they aren't being held back by things like morals and good-guyisms.
ReplyDeleteWell, Batman is always dangerous...but the rest of them hide it.
Poor Barry.
Agreed. Plus, like you say Goo, this issue seems hella depressing. Just, Damn. Oh and the look of disdain on Hal's face as Barry asks for his help is too priceless. Was it Hal's time of the month or something because, damn.
ReplyDeleteParallax. Must have been.
ReplyDeleteHumorous realization:
ReplyDeleteSplash page here. It ties Batgirl to women in refrigerators long before Batgirl would actually become one.