The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Its location and existence are matters of conjecture.
History
Earth-One
Florida is often said to be the location of the Fountain of Youth, and some of the most persistent stories are associated with the state. However, Rex the Wonder Dog and Bobo the Detective Chimp reportedly found the Fountain in Bimini.[1] Bimini is the westernmost district of the Bahamas, composed of a chain of islands located about 53 miles (81 km) due east of Miami, Florida. Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States and approximately 137 miles (209 km) west-northwest of Nassau.
Earth-S
One account places the Fountain in the Brazilian rainforest, where it was found in 1940 by American reporter Scoop Smith. Shortly after being discovered, for no apparent reason, this Fountain simply dried up.[2]
Earth-Two
In the Badlands of the Southwest is a landmark called Lost Canyon, along whose banks is a waterfall, behind which is a spring, or well, of "Magic Mud," capable of healing wounds, and alleged to have resurrected at least one dead man. This substance was marketed as a beauty aid, and for a brief time was extremely popular.[3]
Another report places the Fountain in a valley, accessible via a door, in a castle, in the Florida Everglades, where it was found in the late 1940s by Batman and Robin.[4] This body of water, or one much like it, was later found and put to bad use by the Prankster, who inadvertently proved that these waters are effective on Superman.[5]
One account places the Fountain in the Red City, a lost Incan outpost in South America, where in the late 1930s, the magician Zatara led an expedition to discover it, financed by Millionaire Jeb Standish. Zatara received a strong premonition of evil from the Fountain, as his assistant Tong gathered some of its water. On their return to America, they learned that Standish had died at the same time Tong was collecting the water.[6]
It was not widely known, on Earth-Two, that the Fountain of Youth was on Paradise Island.[7]
New Earth
The Fountain of Youth was reportedly boiled away by the Spectre in his attempt to destroy all magic in the universe.[8]
Residents
- Rex the Wonder Dog drank from it, as has Detective Chimp.[1]
Notes
- There were two issues of Whiz Comics #3, one with a cover date of March 1940 and the other dated April 1940. Scoop Smith's discovery is reported in the latter of these two publications.
See Also
- Appearances of Fountain of Youth
- Location Gallery: Fountain of Youth
- Catalogued images related to Fountain of Youth
Links and References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 DC Comics Presents #35
- ↑ Whiz Comics #3B
- ↑ All-American Comics #12 thru #15, "Ben Webster" serial
- ↑ Batman #54
- ↑ Superman #66
- ↑ Action Comics #14
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wonder Woman #1
- ↑ Day of Vengeance #2
- ↑ Arrow (TV Series) Episode: The Offer