Impulse Vol 1 16

"Running from the Past": Max Mercury saves Helen Claiborne from her abusive ex-husband, Jim. Max reveals that Helen is his daughter, and Bart Allen accidentally lets slip that he and Max are superheroes.

"Running from the Past"
Cover
Impulse Vol 1 #16
August, 1996
Executive Editor	Mike Carlin
Cover Artists	Humberto Ramos Wayne Faucher
Running from the Past
Writers	Mark Waid
Pencilers	Humberto Ramos
Inkers	Wayne Faucher
Colourists	Tom McCraw
Letterers	Chris Eliopoulos
Editors	Jason Hernandez-Rosenblatt Paul Kupperberg
Previous Issue	Impulse # 15
Next Issue	Impulse # 17

I screwed up, when you bolted, I just ... I didn't cover well. I think I gave too much away to Dr Claiborne. I know it's okay to make mistakes ... but that was a big one. I guess I wanted to let you know that I'm not going to run away from it. I'm going to back to her ... and take responsibility for anything I did wrong.

— Impulse

Impulse #16 is an issue of the series Impulse (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1996.

Synopsis for "Running from the Past"

Max Mercury saves Helen Claiborne from her abusive ex-husband, Jim. Max reveals that Helen is his daughter, and Bart Allen accidentally lets slip that he and Max are superheroes.

Max tells Helen that he was injured by Dr. Morlo in the 1940s and was nursed back to health by David and Laura Claiborne. Max fell in love with Laura and eventually had an affair with her. But when they were discovered by David, Max ran away and jumped forward in time. When he finally gathered up enough courage to visit Laura again, she was already dead. So, when Max was entrusted with Bart, he decided to take him to Manchester, Alabama, so he could also keep an eye on Helen.

Helen initially has a hard time accepting the man she intended to date is really her father. But she manages to calm down enough to welcome Max and Bart into her life.

Appearing in "Running from the Past"

Featured Characters:

• Impulse

Supporting Characters:

• Max Mercury (Flashback and main story)
• Helen Claiborne

Antagonists:

• Jim (Helen's ex-husband)

Other Characters:

• David Claiborne (Flashback only)
• Laura Claiborne (Flashback only)
• Dr. Morlo (Mentioned only)

Locations:

• Alabama
  • Manchester
• Texas
• Mexico City (Flashback only)

Items:

• 
  

Vehicles:

• 
  
  

Notes

• Impulse created by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo

Trivia

• A moving box is labeled "Humberto's Pencils."

See Also

• Cover gallery for the Impulse series
• Images from Impulse Vol 1 16

Recommended Reading

• The Flash (Volume 2)
• Teen Titans (Volume 3)
• Young Justice
• The Flash (Volume 2) Secret Files and Origins #1
• Young Justice Secret Files and Origins #1
• Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files and Origins (2003)
• Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files and Origins (2005)

---