Tangent Comics: The Trials of the Flash Vol 1 1

"Making Light of the Situation": Having grown tired of being unable to capture the Flash, Lia Nelson, especially from her rather incompetent father Terrance Kelly, Nightwing assigns their superpower operative Gunther Ganz, the Plastic Man, to apprehend the Flash. However, unknown to Nightwing, P

"Making Light of the Situation"
Cover
Tangent Comics
September, 1998
Executive Editor	Mike Carlin
Cover Artists	Paul Pelletier
Making Light of the Situation
Writers	Todd Dezago
Pencilers	Paul Pelletier
Inkers	Andy Lanning
Colorists	Joe Rosas
Letterers	Comicraft
Editors	Eddie Berganza

Tangent Comics: The Trials of the Flash #1 is a one-shot with a cover date of September, 1998.

Synopsis for "Making Light of the Situation"

Having grown tired of being unable to capture the Flash, Lia Nelson, especially from her rather incompetent father Terrance Kelly, Nightwing assigns their superpower operative Gunther Ganz, the Plastic Man, to apprehend the Flash. However, unknown to Nightwing, Plastic Man is a member of the Secret Six and is friends with the Flash. He arranged a lunch date with her and plans on creating a staged failed capture attempt. But, Nightwing's Firestorm troopers raid the diner they are in which is led by Spectre, who is also an agent of Nightwing, and captures both the Flash and Plastic Man.

Both Flash and Plastic Man are taken to Nightwing and are tortured in their respective cells designed to nullify their powers while overseen by a vengeful Powell. Suddenly, to Powell's surprise, it is then reveal that both Plastic Man and Flash had switch places by disguising as each other before at the diner and that Spectre is actually working with them all along. Plastic Man and Flash easily breaks free of their captivity and in the process the heroes planned on rescuing Plastic Man's comatose human body in order for Plastic Man to escape from his control by Nightwing. After finding Ganz's body, they are confronted by Firestorm troopers led by Powell who orders them to fire on Ganz's body. Unfortunately for them, they are using laser weapons in which Flash manipulate their laser fire and forms a cage which imprison Powell and his men. Plastic Man's body suddenly dissipates as Ganz's real body finally wakes up, but couldn't control his polymer body when he is awake. Powell quickly attempts to shoot Ganz but his shot is quickly block when Ganz finally focus back as Plastic Man. In retaliation, Flash takes her anger on Powell and forewarn him again for crossing her since their first encounter by engulfing him in a blinding light.

On the Secret Six's satellite headquarters Flash explains to her team that she has induced Powell with flash blindness in which he is tormented in seeing images of Lia for days. As Plastic Man thanks Flash and Spectre for saving his comatose body and being able to become both Gunther Ganz and Plastic Man, Flash then realize she has "work" to do and quickly left the satellite. In Hollywood, Lia's "work" is foiling one of her father's failed scheme to capture his daughter.

Appearing in "Making Light of the Situation"

Featured Characters:

• Flash

Supporting Characters:

• Secret Six
  • Atom
  • Joker
  • Manhunter
  • Plastic Man
  • Pooch
  • Spectre

Antagonists:

• Nightwing
  • Deadman
  • Black Lightning (Francis Powell)
  • Firestorm Troopers
  • Terrance Kelly

Other Characters:

• 
  

Locations:

• Earth-97
  • Hollywood, California
    • Starro's
  • Secret Six's secret satellite headquarters

Items:

• 
  

Vehicles:

• 
  
  

Notes

• At the Secret Six's headquarters, The Atom notices a computer monitor showing the Doom Patrol in Russia. This is a tie to Tangent Comics: Nightwing: Night Force #1.