The Flash #140 is an issue of the series The Flash (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 1963.
Synopsis for "The Heat is on...for Captain Cold"
Flash is summoned to the law offices of Willens and Kohl. He hears the story of a rich client by the name of Wilson Varner who was involved in a deadly ship to ship collision years earlier. Varner survived but his baby daughter who was traveling with him was never found. Varner never lost hope that his daughter would be found someday. Flash is shown a picture the baby who is named Priscilla Varner. The baby has a unique diamond shaped birthmark on the back of her neck. Apparently Wilson Varner had tracked his lost daughter to Central City before the her trail grew cold and Varner passed away from health issues. Wilson Varner also left a will which left two million dollars to his daughter and the rest of his money would go to aid the poor of Central City. The will also came with a one year deadline which is almost up. Flash must find Varners daughter before by sundown the next day. If the daughter is not found by the deadline, the money would revert back to Varners never do well relatives. Flash agrees to take the case and leaves to spend time with his fiancée Iris. While watching TV, Barry hears that his old nemesis Captain Cold has escaped from prison. Barry rushes out to look for Captain Cold before his trail disappears. In the meantime, Captain Cold is hiding in his secluded cave. He is staring lovingly at a huge picture of a woman known as Dream Girl. Cold confesses that he is smitten over Dream Girl and becomes obsessed with her. He even plans some of his crimes in order to show up flash and gain Dream Girls attention. Captain Cold then attempts a robbery in Central City. He attempts to steal a large amount of bank notes but is soon interrupted by the Flash. The Flash battles Captain Cold but he is then interrupted by another figure by the name of Heat Wave. Cold and Heat wave defeat Flash and retreat back to their hideout. The two men talk about their great team up but Heat Wave then notices that Cold has the huge picture of Dream Girl on his wall. Heat Wave reveals that he too has an obsession with Dream Girl and the two villains begin to fight amongst each other. The two men grow tired of fighting and agree to a contest. Whichever one of them commits the most spectacular crimes will win Dream Girl. Flash soon finds himself in the middle between Cold and Heat Wave. He is almost overtaken by the two villains but he manages to knock both of them out and delivers them to jail. Flash then meets with the woman known as Dream Girl. Flash asks about her past and Dream Girl relates that she was brought up in an orphanage. She states that she used to have a birthmark but she had it removed. She shows flash a picture of herself in earlier years and it clearly shows a diamond shaped birthmark on the back of her neck. Flash quickly realizes that Dream Girl is actually Varners long lost daughter Priscilla. He delivers her to the Willens and Kohl law offices so that Dream Girl can claim her inheritance before the deadline. He also secures millions of dollars for the poor of Central City.
Appearing in "The Heat is on...for Captain Cold"
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- Captain Cold
- Heat Wave (First appearance)
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Synopsis for "Metal Eater From The Stars"
While out for a drive Barry Allen is pulled over by some police and asked to hear a report about a strange objects that have fallen out of the sky just outside Central City. Deciding to investigate, Barry drives to the location and changes into the Flash to check it out.
At the site the Flash finds a strange barrier and manages to push his way through it using his super-speed. Beyond the barrier he finds a strange gaseous creature that tells the Sultan of Speed that it intends to consume the entire Earth's supply of metal. However, the Flash quickly disposes of the threat by using his ring to suck the creature into it's holding compartment, knocking it out and giving Barry time to figure out what to do with it.
However, the creature is revived when Barry takes Iris out on a date and their emotions revive the creature. It then starts consuming all the metal around it. While Iris goes to call in the strange story to the Picture News, Barry goes off into action again as the Flash. Knowing that the creature will not fall for the same trick twice, Barry sucks the creature back into his ring. As planned, the creature consumes his ring which ironically leads to the creatures end. As the creature dissipates, the Flash explains that he was using his speed powers to vibrate the ring and that when the creature consumed it, the atoms were still vibrating when they were absorbed into the creature. These vibrations proved to be lethal and led to the creatures death.
With the threat of the metal eater over, the Flash changes back into his civilian identity and updates Iris on the creatures defeat so that she has the full story for her paper.
Appearing in "Metal Eater From The Stars"
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Notes
- This issue is reprinted in The Flash Archives Vol. 5.