10. Jay Garrick Getting His Powers From Heavy Water
Barry Allen is probably the best-known Flash, owing to his making the character popular during his time in the costume and that being the version Grant Gustin plays on television, and the version that will be appearing in the upcoming film. But he wasnt the first to act as DCs Scarlet Speedster. Nope, that was one Jay Garrick. Debuting in 1940s Flash Comics #1, Garrick had all the hallmarks of the future Flashes: the powers, the red shirt and yellow lighting bolt across the chest. It was even revealed that Barry Allen read Jay Garricks adventures in comic books, basing his own costume and taking his superhero name from him. Garrick and the future Flashes have a lot in common, including a ridiculous origin story. At least Barry Allen got coated in chemicals and struck by lighting - those are real things that probably would muck up your physiology. Wally West had the exact same origin. Jay Garrick, meanwhile, inhaled hard water vapours during a cigarette break in a lab. Like chubby rain?
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
