Part 2 of Special Double Size Post!

So this week we are off and running with the scarlet speedster, the sultan of speed….The Flash! Just wanted to mention a quick aside to give you, the readers of SAS (Silver Age Sensations), a look behind the curtain to see the direction SAS will be heading in the coming weeks and if there may be any requests for a detour here or there. So a few weeks ago I scored a haul of Silver Age DC Sensations featuring: Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern, The Atom, Wonder Woman, Batman, and World’s Finest Comics. I will be reviewing one of these sensations a week, in no particular order, but if anyone had a suggestion for one of those newly added titles for me to grab from “THE” Collection and review or wanted me to dive into my collection for a Silver Age Marvel Sensation for review I would be as happy as The Joker on the perfect day for a masterful crime to oblige to any such requests. Now, away we go into The Flash #118!  

 

Flash #118 “The Doomed Scarecrow!”, published in 1961, features a story penned by John Broome and artwork by one of my favorite artists of the Silver Age…Carmine Infantino. Infantino is most notably known for his work drawing The Flash and rightfully so as it was he who completely redesigned and reoutfitted this original Golden Age hero and it was quite the transformation.  

A few weeks ago, browsing the shelves of a Barnes and Noble, I read a previously unpublished interview with Infantino in which he described his redesign for The Flash. In this interview we learn that Infantino wanted to completely scrap the look of Jay Garrick, the original Flash, and make this new updated version more sleek and streamlined. One of Infantino’s major motivations was to make his new Flash, the Barry Allen Flash, look like an actual runner, complete with a slender but toned physique. Infantino also understood that there would always be the challenge of drawing “speed”, a challenge that any artist would have to overcome when the character that he is drawing is dubbed “the scarlet speedster”. One of the methods that Infantino employed to get around this obstacle is to use simple and subtle symbolism to prime the idea of motion and speed in the reader’s mind. Infantino utilized the use of something that we all inadvertently associate with speed….the symbol of lightning. Those streaks of lightning and lightning bolts emblazoned upon Flash’s costume are not merely for show as these symbols helped Infantino communicate “speed” to the readers, a simple yet brilliant technique.  

Now, onward we go into this week’s issue! In this issue The Flash finds himself in Hollywood as a consultant for a movie that is being made about him and he is there as a fill in for when the cameras simply cannot find a way to create the illusion of the Flash’s speed since the Flash is being played by a completely normal and run of the mill actor bereft of super speed, an actor by the name of Steve Palmer. Flash learns that attempts are being made on Steve’s life whilst on set so Flash decides to switch places with him and investigate as to what is really happening on this set in Hollywood. Well, after a swift knock to the back of the head with the butt of a gun, things start to make sense for the sultan of speed! 

After things begin to clear up for Barry (these things take time after being clubbed over the back of the head with the butt of a gun) he begins to formulate a plan to utilize a rather unique talent he possesses. The Flash is able to move back and forth so quickly that it causes his entire molecular structure to vibrate and with those molecules moving so rapidly, he is able to effectively do this: 

So, all in all I would give this issue a C+. I’m more of a fan of a hero vs. super villain story line, or a story line with a bit more tantalizing of a plot so this issue didn't really do it for me but hey, I got to enjoy Carmine Infantino’s artwork so I’ll take it.