Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #1
Published [June] 1996
Cover Price 49.95 USD; 70.95 CAD
Pages 232
Editing Bob Kahan (collected edition); Julius Schwartz (original editor)
Notes While working in his lab, police scientist Barry Allen was struck by lightning at the exact same time that he became doused in chemicals. But instead of scarring him or taking his life, this freak accident gave him a new one, as the Flash, the fastest man alive. This hardcover epic reprints the original 1950s tales that first introduced the Flash and his colorful assortment of villains. Relive the scarlet speedster's earliest adventures and learn the origins of one of DC's classic heroes. Series design by Alex Jay / Studio J. Publication design by Eddie Ortiz. Black and white reconstruction on some interior pages by Rick Keene. Color reconstruction by Rick Taylor and Tom McCraw.

Cover Details

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Kubert
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Notes While working in his lab, police scientist Barry Allen was struck by lightning at the exact same time that he became doused in chemicals. But instead of scarring him or taking his life, this freak accident gave him a new one, as the Flash, the fastest man alive. This hardcover epic reprints the original 1950s tales that first introduced the Flash and his colorful assortment of villains. Relive the scarlet speedster's earliest adventures and learn the origins of one of DC's classic heroes. Series design by Alex Jay / Studio J. Publication design by Eddie Ortiz. Black and white reconstruction on some interior pages by Rick Keene. Color reconstruction by Rick Taylor and Tom McCraw.

2 page credits "Table of Contents"

Pencils Carmine Infantino
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Letters typeset

3 page Flash foreword, introduction, preface, afterword "Foreword"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]
Genre Superhero
Script Paul Kupperberg
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Letters typeset
Notes Introduction by Paul Kupperberg

12 page Flash story "The Rival Flash!"

Characters Flash [Jay Garrick]; Joan Williams
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Bernard Sachs
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Notes Archive credits Frank Giacoia with the inking, however Craig Delich and Bob Bailey of the GCD believe Bernard Sachs did the inking.
Reprinted from Flash Comics (DC, 1940 series) #104 (February 1949)

1 page Flash cover reprint (on interior page) "Cover - Showcase #4"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Kubert
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #4 (September-October 1956)

12 page Flash story "Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen] (first appearance; origin); Flash [Jay Garrick] (on a comic book cover); Iris West (first appearance); The Turtle Man (villain; later The Turtle)
Genre Superhero
Script Robert Kanigher
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Kubert
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Notes First appearance of Barry Allen as the Flash.
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #4 (September-October 1956)

10 page Flash story "The Man Who Broke the Time Barrier!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Mazdan (villain)
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Kubert
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #4 (September-October 1956)

1 page Flash cover reprint (on interior page) "Cover - Showcase #8"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Notes Archive credits Joe Giella with the inking credits for this cover. However, according to Julius Schwartz's records listed in the index in FLASH ANNUAL #1, the inker is Frank Giacoia.
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #8 (May-June 1957)

12 page Flash story "The Secret of the Empty Box!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West
Genre Superhero
Script Robert Kanigher
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #8 (May-June 1957)

12 page Flash story "The Coldest Man on Earth!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Captain Cold [Leonard Snart](first appearance; origin; villain)
Synopsis Flash faces off against Captain Cold, who commits crimes by using a cold-gun to freeze things and create mirages. But once Flash figures out what Captain cold can do, he ignores the mirages and takes the villain in.
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #8 (May-June 1957)

1 page Flash cover reprint (on interior page) "Cover - Showcase #13"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Notes Archive credits Joe Giella with the inking credits for this cover. However, according to Julius Schwartz's records listed in the index in FLASH ANNUAL #1, the inker is Frank Giacoia.
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #13 (March-April 1958)

14 page Flash story "Around the World in 80 Minutes!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Le Chat Noir (villain); El Claw (villain); Princess Tara
Genre Superhero
Script Robert Kanigher
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #13 (March-April 1958)

12 page Flash story "Master of the Elements!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Mr. Element [Albert Desmond](first appearance; origin; villain; later called Dr. Alchemy); Argon (villain); Radon (villain); Krypton (villain); Xenon (villain)
Synopsis Mr. Element and his henchmen shoot Flash into space in an attempt to get rid of him.
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #13 (March-April 1958)

1 page Flash cover reprint (on interior page) "Cover - Showcase #14"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Notes Archive credits Joe Giella with the inking credits for this cover. However, according to Julius Schwartz's records listed in the index in FLASH ANNUAL #1, the inker is Frank Giacoia.
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #14 (May-June 1958)

13 page Flash story "Giants of the Time-World!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West
Genre Superhero
Script Robert Kanigher
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #14 (May-June 1958)

12 page Flash story "The Man Who Changed the Earth!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Dr. Alchemy [Albert Desmond](villain; origin; formerly Mr. Element)
Synopsis The origin of Dr. Alchemy.
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #14 (May-June 1958)

1 page Flash cover reprint (on interior page) "Cover - The Flash #105"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; The Mirror Master
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #105 (February-March 1959)

12 page Flash story "Conqueror from 8 Million B.C.!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen] (origin recap); Iris West; Katmos (villain); John Haines
Synopsis John Haines frees Katmos from his suspended animation and he begins his plans to take over the world.
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #105 (February-March 1959)

13 page Flash story "The Master of Mirrors!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Mirror Master [Sam Scudder](first appearance; villain)
Synopsis Introducing the Mirror Master.
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #105 (February-March 1959)

1 page Flash cover reprint (on interior page) "Cover - The Flash #106"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; The Pied Piper
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #106 (April-May 1959)

15 page Flash story "Menace of the Super-Gorilla!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Gorilla Grodd (first appearance; villain); Fred Pearson; Solovar; Gorilla City
Synopsis Grodd tavels to Central City to steal Solovar's mind control power.
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #106 (April-May 1959)

10 page Flash story "The Pied Piper of Peril!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; The Pied Piper [Hartley Rathaway](first appearance; villain)
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #106 (April-May 1959)

1 page Flash cover reprint (on interior page) "Cover - The Flash #107"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #107 (June-July 1959)

15 page Flash story "Return of the Super Gorilla!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Solovar; Gorilla Grodd (villain)
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #107 (June-July 1959)

10 page Flash story "The Amazing Race Against Time!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Kyri
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #107 (June-July 1959)

1 page Flash cover reprint (on interior page) "Cover - The Flash #108"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #108 (August-September 1959)

10 page Flash story "The Speed of Doom!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Kee Feleg (villain)
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Frank Giacoia
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #108 (August-September 1959)

14 page Flash story "The Super Gorilla's Secret Identity!"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Gorilla Grodd (villain)
Genre Superhero
Script John Broome
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Reprinted from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #108 (August-September 1959)

1 page biography (nonfictional) "Biographies"

Genre Fact
Letters Typeset
Notes Biographies for John Broome, Frank Giacoia, Joe Giella, Carmine Infantino, Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert and Julius Schwartz.

1 page Flash (backcovers) *do not use* / *please fix* "Backcover"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; Mirror Master
Genre Superhero
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Joe Kubert; Frank Giacoia; Joe Giella
Colors Rick Taylor (color reconstruction); Tom McCraw (color reconstruction)
Editing Julius Schwartz
Notes Reprints covers from SHOWCASE (DC, 1956 series) #4 & 14 and THE FLASH (DC, 1959 series) #105 & 107.
Reprinted from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #4; from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #14; from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #105; from Flash, The (DC, 1959 series) #107