The Flash #177 is an issue of the series The Flash (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1968. It was published on January 18, 1968.
Synopsis for "The Swell-Headed Super Hero!"
Barry Allen is at the scene of a crime in which in which gangster Rollo Jackson has been found shot. Barry deduces that the gangster was shot from the chimney with a specialized device that was lowered down the chimney chute which included mirrors to give the killer a view of where to aim through the fireplace. Allen wraps things up and heads home where he is accosted by a barrage of reporters who want to interview him on his fantastic sleuthing skills in solving the means by how Jackson was killed. Allen soaks up the attention and begins to act in an arrogant manner taking full credit for his brilliant conclusions. In the meantime, the Trickster is pacing the floor of his hideout wondering why the Flash has not made an appearance lately. He reveals that he shot a special beam at the flash using a fake camera and he is anxious to see the results of the beam. The next day Flash finds himself at a The Coronet Shop where a jewelry robbery is taking place. Flash has no difficulty subduing the criminals, but he then notices that the crowd of witnesses is looking at him in horror. Flash realizes that he has a pounding headache and when he feels the top of his head, he finds that it has expanded to the size of a watermelon. Flash notifies his wife of his situation and tells her that he is heading to his lab to see if he can cure himself. He feverishly conducts experiments while dealing with his agonizing headache. At one point Flash steps outside to clear his head and finds himself confronted by the Trickster. Flash battles the villain valiantly, but the Trickster is eventually able to take advantage of Flash in his weakened state. He drags the flash back to his lair and reveals that he wants to see the Flash's head explode as it keeps expanding. He reveals that he conducted experiments on his pet bird but Flash notices that the bird's head is normal and he deduces that the Trickster has some way of returning his condition back to normal. The Trickster then blows up a balloon to demonstrate what will happen to his head. The balloon bursts and Flash springs into action and attacks the Trickster. As he fights the villain, Flash realizes that he is not longer suffering from his pounding headache. He battles with the Trickster once more but this time he is able to subdue him with his fighting skills. Flash then walks over to the bird cage containing the Mynah bird and deduces that the bird has an antidote in its system that emits a type of radiation that could cure him. In fact he concludes that the radiation from the bird is the reason that his headache went away. Flash is eventually able to determine the frequency of the antidote radiation and finds a way to return his head shape back to normal. The final scene finds the Trickster in his jail cell pounding his head against the bars in frustration upon hearing that the Flash is back to his normal self.
Appearing in "The Swell-Headed Super Hero!"
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