January 1941
Rating: 5
The end of 1940 closes the first chapter of the Flash Comics series. The themes of fighting political bosses, underworld gangsters, and Karloff-like mad scientist are going to be sharing space with the new genre that emerges in 1941 – war. Hints of these new stories are seen in this issue’s Les Watts and Cliff Cornwall stories. The former tracks down a Bela Lugosi type thespian that wants to blow up destroyers while they are being launched in the harbor. The latter is invasion of Snowland (Greenland) by Korova (Japan) and Cliff is sent into action to protect the Monroe Doctrine! Both of these stories are an odd mixture of genres that fun to read.
The King Standish stories are also unique. Drawn by Flash Comics #1 artist Harry Lampert and scripted by Fox, they are more about a secret love affair between the King, a quasi-good guy and the Witch, an unrepentant criminal. The King, more interested in frustrating the Witch then being a protectorate of the Law, enjoys seeing the Witch fail in her schemes. He joyfully turns her loose in order to play the game again – rather than turn her over to the Police.
The art in the Flash becomes more fluid and expressive in the emotions of the bad guys as they confront the speed of the Flash.
The cover art would best been used for the Ione Craig stories back in issue #5 and 6.
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