DAWNING OF A NEW DAY

Before Marvel legends like Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Jack Kirby started building the Marvel Universe, the Silver Age of Comics had already kicked off—thanks to DC Comics (also known as the "Distinguished Competition").

In Showcase #4, published in October 1956, a classic superhero made a big comeback. That hero was the Flash. But this wasn’t the original Flash, Jay Garrick, from the 1940s. This was a brand-new version: Barry Allen, a quiet forensic scientist who got covered in chemicals and struck by lightning. That lightning gave him super-speed—and it didn’t just change his life. It changed the future of comics.

Old Flash vs. New Flash

The first writer to bring Barry Allen to life was Robert Kanigher, but the team that really shaped the new Flash was John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino. They made the Flash fun, exciting, and fresh. Infantino’s art made Barry’s world colorful and full of energy, which was perfect for a hero who could move faster than anything.

Barry Allen was a normal guy—relatable, smart, and brave. He fought some of the coolest, most creative villains ever, like Mirror Master and Reverse-Flash. These enemies were just as interesting and flashy as the hero himself.

The new Flash was a big reason superheroes became popular again. He showed the world that superhero stories could be exciting, fun, and full of imagination. Barry Allen helped launch a whole new era of comics—and he became a hero that fans would never forget.