The Flash Giant (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 2019. It was published on March 17, 2019.
Synopsis for "Get Out of the Kitchen"
On a sunny Sunday morning, Flash goes to a Central City library since there's nothing else he can do. As he reads through Moby Dick, he realizes that he'll soon finish reading all the books there. Meanwhile at Iron Heights, Mick Rory receives a call from a mysterious person who tells him to break out of prison soon for the safety of their nephew and niece.
The prison officer Smelton orders Rory to go back to work and the latter reveals that the had fooled the guards into thinking about the library's heat lamp not working. The guards who knew he had cryophobia, assigned him to work there after he started harassing them. Rory fashions a heat gun out of the lamp's components and fries Smelton after he tries to stop him before escaping.
Meanwhile, Detective Ulski phones Allen about Mirror Master's recent attack and gets told that he left it with Captain Coover after finding his desk was an unorganized mess. Ulski in anger repeatedly insults Allen and states he has no friends, before hanging up the phone. Barry wonders if he is right about his loneliness and calls Iris, who he has a crush on, but gets told about a cyclone erupting in Central City Bayfront due to the boiling water.
Flash races to the scene and finds out that Heat Wave was behind the cyclone. Flash decides to stop it himself after Rory goes into an euphoria and states he can't stop it, but finds his boots melting. Rory tells Iris that he won't stop the cyclone even if he knew how to and he didn't care about those trapped in it. After rescuing some people, Flash remembers reading about the Bayfront being fed by the Wahasapi river and digs a canal to carry more of its water towards it, thus putting an end to the cyclone threat.
Barry takes Rory to a far-away place so he'll learn a lesson. As Barry meets up with Iris in his civilian disguise, he asks her to leave the Bayfront area because of the poisonous fumes and states that she was lucky that Heat Wave didn't attack. Iris however shows that he couldn't since she stole his heat gun. Rory after waking up finds that the Flash has left him in Antarctica.
Appearing in "Get Out of the Kitchen"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Heat Wave
- Mysterious figure (Phone call only)
Other Characters:
- Rogues
- Detective Ulski
- Smelton (Apparent Death)
- Captain Coover (Mentioned only)
- Henry Allen (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Antarctica
- United States of America
- Central City
- Iron Heights
- Wahasapi River
- China (Mentioned only)
Synopsis for "Fear"
This story is reprinted from The Flash (Volume 4) #9.
When Barry Allen was a kid, he developed a fear of gorillas when he was on an African safari, and his tour bus was flipped by one. With stunned horror, he had watched that gorilla tear out the throat of a nearby gazelle. He had seen how violent a gorilla could be.
Now, the Speed Force has dropped him in the midst of a vicious battle between the Gorilla Grodd and his father. The younger ape defeats his elder, smashes open his skull, and begins devouring his brains in the hope of gaining his father's power from it. With this, Grodd is now King of Gorilla City. The gorillas' attentions are drawn to the strange human's arrival in their city. The elders point out that he bears the symbol of "The Light", which indicates that he is a messenger who must be honoured. Unfortunately, Barry can't remember who he is, let alone a message. This suits Grodd fine, as he would much rather consume Barry's brain as dessert.
Somewhere, lost in the Speed Force, Iris West examines one of the wings from the Flash's uniform, and introduces herself to her companions. Their sense of time has become confused, but they hope that one day, the Flash will get them home. Suddenly, a loud growling sound fills their ears, and they sense imminent danger.
Meanwhile, in Central City, Hartley Rathaway visits his lover David Singh, with the intention of returning to his vigilante persona of the Pied Piper. David is no more pleased by this revelation than he is the possibility that he will be outed as a gay man by Hartley's presence. Hartley can see through his lover's anxiety for what it is - fear. Even so, he lets David keep his secrets. The experience flusters David to the point that he agrees to let Patty Spivot take a leave of absence to solve a cold-case without question.
In the mountains of Gorilla City, the elders discuss their options. It is clear that the city cannot be kept a secret for much longer. It is foretold that Grodd will expose the Gorilla City to the world of men, just as the messenger's arrival was foretold. The messenger's arrival signals the end of the gorillas' time. In order for the world to survive, the gorillas must allow their own society to perish, so that the messenger might live. They will have to set the messenger free before Grodd decides to kill him. Unbeknownst to the elders, one of Grodd's guards is listening.
Barry has been chained to a great golden pillar in the middle of the city. He wonders aloud why he has been chained, if he is supposed to be a messenger of the Light. His guards explain that the pillar is a symbol of the Light; a lightning rod for the same power that brought him to them. His ignorance prompts the gorillas to doubt his authenticity. Suddenly, the elders club the guards over the head and drag Barry away, promising to explain who he really is.
In the caves below the city, the elders show Barry cave paintings which show the city's history. A great light hit the Mayan civilization and wiped them out. That same lightning hit the gorillas and sped up their minds, allowing them to see past, present and future. With each new generation, though, the Gorillas have been losing their connection with the Light. That light - the Speed Force - showed the gorillas that one day they would have a visitor, who would be its perfect vessel. Barry is not the messenger - the gorillas are the messengers. He is the runner, and with every stride Barry takes, he keeps the world safe with the power of the Speed Force. His destiny is to run for all the world's sake.
Grodd appears and smashes the elder's heads into the wall, declaring their story lies. He can smell Barry's fear of him, and by devouring his brain, Grodd will taste it, and hopefully gain his power. Pinned to the wall by Grodd's giant fist, Barry remembers his childhood and the safari experience. His mother had taken him aside afterwards, explaining that fear is nothing to be ashamed of. From fear comes courage. It is something to be overcome. Barry remembers his true identity, and faces his fear.
As Barry fights Grodd with renewed vigour, the gorilla's rage-filled attacks begin to cause structural damage to the caves. He destroys a load-bearing pillar, which causes the courtyard in which the lightning rod stands to collapse on top of him. Barry and the elders escape, but Grodd is buried.
With Grodd left unconscious, the elders take the opportunity to explain that Barry must be let go free from the city, in order to save the world. Grodd's greed and thirst for vengeance will be their downfall, otherwise. Without their destinies fulfilled as messengers for the Flash, the gorillas feel purposeless. Barry explains that they are now free; free of their destiny and free of any responsibility to him. They can remake their city if they like, or they can fade away.
Later, Patty takes her leave of absence in South America, hoping to solve her cold case. Somewhere in the same continent, Marco Mardon faces a powerful rainstorm, and vows that his Mardon Family Cartel will one day have such a powerful reach that even the weather will bend to their command.
Barry returns to Central City, and wonders how he will give a sign that the Flash has returned to the city. He is surprised to find that his friend Dr. Darwin Elias has taken up leading a group of protesters against the Flash.
Appearing in "Fear"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Gorilla Grodd
- Marco Mardon (Cameo) (First appearance)
- Elsa Mardon (Cameo)
Other Characters:
- Darwin Elias
- Nora Allen (Flashback only)
- General Silverback
- Floyd Gomez
- Marissa Rennie
- Albert Lim
- Gorilla (Flashback only)
- Claudio Mardon (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Africa
- The Virunga Mountains
- Central City
- Guatemala
Concepts:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Planet Heist, Part Two"
This story is reprinted from Adam Strange (Volume 2) #2.
There is one last alien bounty hunter for Adam Strange to take care of. The bounty hunter launches a heat-seeking smart missile that follows Adam all throughout Gotham City. His energy weapons are ineffective against it, so he bobs and weaves throughout the city canyons. Eventually, he doubles back and dives straight for the bounty hunter. Turning at the last second, Adam avoids the missile as it collides with the hunter.
The alien is down, but still alive. Its battle armor though is damaged beyond repair. Adam interrogates him, asking him how he acquired Zeta-Beam technology and what does he know of the Rann Supernova. The alien doesn't have time to answer as his suit goes critical and he explodes. Before the explosion however, Adam is able to confiscate the Zeta-Beamer from the alien's war suit.
He returns to his apartment and gathers together the components that comprise his uniform, including his cap, harness and proper weaponry. GCPD officers bang down the door looking for him. They indicate that the two arresting officers were hospitalized following Strange's breakout earlier that evening. Strange blasts off and leaves Earth behind.
Using the bounty hunter's Zeta-Beamer, Adam teleports to the Alpha Centauri system. He reappears in the wake of the supernova and the heat immediately begins to play havoc with his sensors. Analyzing the debris surrounding the supernova, he begins to suspect that somebody or something may have Zeta-Beamed the entire planet of Rann to another location. His wife and child may still be alive!
Appearing in "Planet Heist, Part Two"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Unnamed bounty hunter #1 (Final appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Alanna Strange (In a photograph only)
- Aleea Strange (In a photograph only)
- Gotham City Police Department
Locations:
- Alpha Centauri
- Gotham City
- WayneCorp (Cameo)
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Shazam!" (Chapter 3)
This story is reprinted from Justice League (Volume 2) #9.
Billy Batson and his foster siblings go to school. While walking home, some kids start bullying them, and Billy fights them off. The principal threatens to expel Billy.
Doctor Sivana finds a door in his archaeological dig that he thinks is the tomb of Black Adam. He tries to open it, and lightning emits from the door and strikes his face. He falls to the ground, then begins laughing, saying he can see magic.
Appearing in "Shazam!" (Chapter 3)
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Philadelphia
- Fawcett High
- Iraq
- Black Adam's Tomb
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Shazam!" (Chapter 4)
This story is reprinted from Justice League (Volume 2) #10.
Foster parents Victor and Rosa Vasquez discuss Billy Batson and the events of last issue. Victor suggests that Billy was doing some play acting when they met him at child services, and that he is showing his true colors now. Rosa defends Billy, suggesting that Billy's encounter with Mr. Bryer has left Billy traumatized. Mr. Bryer is the richest man in Philadelphia, and the father of the four nasty bullies who are bullying Billy's new family at school. Mr. Bryer is a pretty nasty fellow himself, and Billy had the guts to stand up to him. But now Billy has hardly touched his hamburger, and Victor is concerned. Victor expresses frustration, telling Rosa that Billy never gave them a chance.
In fact, Billy is in his room, packing that hamburger in his backpack. He leaves the pickles behind, and sneaks out. Billy heads to a zoo, crawling in through a breach in the brick wall, and feeds the hamburger to Tawny, a tiger that Billy seems to know personally. Freddy tails Billy, but is eventually spotted by him. Billy pushes Freddy, who tumbles down in the snow. Freddy admits he previously lifted Billy's wallet out of curiosity, but did not steal anything.
Billy and Freddy discuss the problem with the Bryer brothers. Freddy reveals that the four bullies have been bothering them daily for quite a while. Freddy usually distracts the bullies so that Mary can help the younger ones get away.
Freddy tries to convince Billy to give Mr. and Mrs. Vasquez a chance. But Billy defiantly says "They aren't my parents."
Freddy thanks Billy for intervening when the bullies were bothering them. They consider heading to the Bryer home to get even.
45 miles north of Baghdad, Dr. Sivana continues the archaeological dig at the Tomb of Black Adam. Aided by his magical right eye, (see last issue), Sivana is now able to read the hieroglyphs. They tell him that he can release Black Adam and bring magic to the world with the utterance of a single word. Sivana quietly speaks the word "Shazam", the magic lightning hits, and a hooded Black Adam stands before him, asking for the Wizard.
Appearing in "Shazam!" (Chapter 4)
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Doctor Sivana
- Black Adam (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Philadelphia
- Iraq
- Black Adam's Tomb
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- Wal-Mart exclusive.
- "Get Out of the Kitchen" is reprinted in The Flash: 80 Years of the Fastest Man Alive – The Deluxe Edition.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- The Flash Recommended Reading
- Adam Strange Recommended Reading
- Marvel Family Recommended Reading
- Whiz Comics (Volume 1)
- Captain Marvel Adventures (Volume 1)
- Captain Marvel, Jr. (Volume 1)
- Mary Marvel (Volume 1)
- Master Comics (Volume 1)
- Wow Comics (Volume 1)
- The Marvel Family (Volume 1)
- Hoppy the Marvel Bunny (Volume 1)
- Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Shazam!: The New Beginning (Volume 1)
- The Power of Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Superman/Shazam!: First Thunder (Volume 1)
- Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil (Volume 1)
- The Trials of Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Shazam! (Volume 2)
- Shazam! (Volume 3)
- Shazam! (Volume 4)
- The New Champion of Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Shazam! (Volume 5)