The Golden Age Flash Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions) [Hardcover]

Gardner Fox (Author)

Book Description

Series: Golden Age Flash Archives | Publication Date: September 1, 1999

Another in DCs high-quality Archives series, this hardcover reprints the original stories of the Flash! Jay Garrick was just a normal Joe until an accident turned him into the Flash! This reprint of 1940s-era classics follows the success of the All Star Comics Archives series, and is the first to feature the solo adventures of this iconic character.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563895064
• ISBN-13: 978-1563895067
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.6 x 10.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, March 19, 2001

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Golden Age Flash Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions) (Hardcover)

A short introduction in the beginning, and five tiny biographies of Flash artists at the end, mark the total text found in this book. Almost the entirety of the book is filled with Flash comics from Flash Comics #1 (January, 1940) through #17 (May, 1941)! The covers (even if they include someone other than the Flash) and comics are reproduced in their original size, and in a simply fantastic clarity. I am simply astounded at how good these look!

Here you see the origin of the Jay Garrick (Earth Two) Flash, and watch him kick the butts of more than a few baddies (actually, he preferred to turn them into human tops!). This book is a mite pricey, but it is a fantastic addition to the library of any Flash fan.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, entertaining Archive, January 16, 2006

By 

Ian Fowler (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Golden Age Flash Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions) (Hardcover)

The "Golden Age Flash Archives" is another great volume in DC's Archive series featuring one of the first "specialty" super-heroes with only one power. After inhaling fumes of "hard water," college student and slowpoke Jay Garrick discovers he has super-speed. He becomes the Flash, the fastest man alive.

As the character appeared early in the super-hero genre, its easy to see the experimental qualities of the Flash. Writer Gardner Fox wasn't as worried about convention as he would be later. The most obvious example is that Garrick didn't worry too much about who knew that he was really the Flash. He demonstrates his powers openly, going from bench-warmer to college football star. People approach him specifically for the purpose of his speedster help. Criminals fear him as both Garrick and Flash. His girlfriend Joan is actually quite strong-willed, as opposed to later super-hero paramours. As the series progressed, however, Garrick started to keep his other identity on the QT.

Unfortunately, this early volume is a little disappointing because there isn't a single story that really stands out. As with most of the golden age mystery men, Jay didn't have much of a rogues gallery at first, instead beating up on gangsters and corrupt officials. However, Fox was very good at devising clever uses for Flash's power, e.g. humiliating enemies, spying on people at super-speed, and the like. So, while this is an entertaining volume, it leaves general impressions of fun rather than memorable story-telling.

E.E. Hibbard's art is a little more detailed than your average golden age fare, which comes in handy for the various displays of speedster prowess Fox wrote. Hibbard, while still employing the cartoony style common to the era, had a talent for some solid line work that does stand-out from the work of most of his peers. He's no Jack Burnley or Will Eisner, but his style is distinct and pleasing to the eye.

DC is finally coming out with the second volume of this Archive series, so this isn't a "fast-tracked" series (pardon the pun), but so long as we get more Jay Garrick adventures, I'm happy.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Read for Flash Fans, November 13, 2001

By 

Ray M Adler (Pacifica, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Golden Age Flash Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions) (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book to read if you're a Flash fan. In it, we get the reprinted adventures of the original Flash Jay Garrick. It lacks detailed characterization, and the stories are simple. But, they leave you entertained.
A must-have for Flash fans!!