The Flash #205 is an issue of the series The Flash (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1971.
Synopsis for "Menace of the Reverse-Flash!"
This story is reprinted from The Flash #139.
A time capsule, a space satellite with time travel capability that can assist in sending time capsules into the future instantly, has been sent to the 25th century. Among the items included the Flash has also given one of his costumes to send into the future. When the inventor uncharacteristically flees a televised interview, it piques Barry Allen's interest enough to investigate the situation as the Flash.
When Barry visits the inventor as the Flash, he learns that the scientist has discovered that the atomic clock they sent into the future would be altered by the journey and effectively become an atomic bomb. The Flash offers to travel into the future on his Cosmic Treadmill and go into the 25th century to prevent any cataclysm that might be caused by the time capsule.
Unknown to the Flash, a citizen of the year 2463 was on site when the time capsule re-entered the time stream and crashed in 25th century Central City. He removes the Flash's costume and has intentions to become the greatest criminal ever. He analyzes the costume and reproduces Flash's super speed abilities in the costume. He then makes the costume to be the opposite design of Flash's costume, this man begins calling himself Professor Zoom, and is dedicated to commit crimes as a Reverse Flash.
He then begins stealing valuable Cribi sculptures, that are worth a fortune due to the fact that the strange sculptures were found on a dead world. With his super speed, Professor Zoom manages to steal the statues and avoid capture from the high tech security systems that protect them. Around this time the Flash arrives in the future and begins looking for the atomic clock. Running to the location of the time capsule, the Flash goes over the checklist and finds that the atomic clock and his spare costume are not on site. He then begins sweeping around the future trying to find the atomic clock before it explodes. Along the way, Flash learns of the existence of the evil Reverse Flash in this time and also decides to try and capture the crook in the hope he knew where the clock was.
In his first encounter with Professor Zoom, the Flash attempts to capture him, however the Reverse Flash has the upper hand due to the fact that Professor Zoom has equipped himself with electro-rockets to escape. Realizing that Zoom emits the same vibrations as he does, the Flash manages to trace him back to his home. However, in the course of the fight the Flash finds that they are equally matched. However, deducing that Reverse Flash's powers do not protect him from the heat and friction of super-speed, Professor Zoom boasts that he's covered with a chemical coating that protects him from those side effects. The Flash, betting that the invisible aura around his own body would be superior protection, then quickly grabs Zoom and holds him at arm's length forward to keep Zoom out of that aura. Thus positioned, the Flash races around until Zoom's chemical coating is overwhelmed by air friction and the resulting burning on Professor Zoom's body forces him to surrender.
Flash then divests Zoom of his costume and hands him to the authorities. Unfortunately, the Flash learns the fight with Zoom was a waste of time: Zoom knew nothing about the clock and Flash has to resume his search for the atomic clock with even more urgency. He finds it in the home of a woman who picked it up to admire it and races it away to an isolated area where it can detonate safely. Returning to the present, the Flash tells the professor that he succeeded in his mission and then destroys his spare costume so that nobody can use it for ill again.
Appearing in "Menace of the Reverse-Flash!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Reverse-Flash (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Walter Drake
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Journey Into Danger!"
Appearing in "Journey Into Danger!"
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Other Characters:
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Synopsis for "The Race to Thunder Hill!"
This story is reprinted from The Flash #116.
Wally West and his friend Jimmy are hanging out near a treeline. Wally spots his classmate, Kitty Clark, who Jimmy thinks has a crush on Wally. When Wally spots Kitty's horse being stung by a bee and taking off, he transforms into the Flash to save her. When he calls her by her name, she finds it odd that Kid Flash would know her name.
Wally races home to help his father in a car race in the nearby town Thunder Hill. As they are racing, two criminals manage to force them off the road and hold them hostage. Bob West is knocked out and placed in an abandoned him with Wally. Wally takes this opportunity to free himself and stop the criminals. He frees his father and they quickly get back to the race. The Wests win the race together in spite of the interference.
Appearing in "The Race to Thunder Hill!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Kitty Clark (Single appearance)
- Jimmy
- Rudolph West (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Boomer
- Mike
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Blue Valley, Nebraska
- Thunder Hill
- Thunder Hill Police Department
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Too Many Speed Kings!"
This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #189.
Johnny Chambers visits the lab of Professor Rollins, a chemist. Rollins has created a speed formula which he secretly gives to Johnny. Johnny Quick is forced to use his speed and give away his secret identity, but the professor believes the formula works. To protect his identity, Johnny must convince the professor that the formula works and also that it should not be used. Rollins distributes the chemical to a boxer and waiter. Johnny uses his own speed to fake theirs and convinces them to stop using the formula. Then he also convinces the professor.
Appearing in "Too Many Speed Kings!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Professor Rollins (Single appearance)
- Slowboat Sloan (Single appearance)
- Jones (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Notes
- "Journey Into Danger!" is a previously unpublished story originally intended for publication in Flash Comics.