Before there was Barry Allen or Wally West, Jay Garrick was the fastest man in the DCU. In the decades since, across various appearances (most frequently Justice Society of America-starring titles), Garrick has taken on the role of scarlet sage, guiding the various younger generations of speedsters. Now, thanks to the team of Jeremy Adams, Diego Olortegui, Luis Guerrero, and Steve Wands, the OG Flash is about to get his very own solo series, Jay Garrick: The Flash.
The book is set to spin directly out of the recent events in Stargirl: The Lost Children and Justice Society of America, in which a younger generation of heroes returns to the timeline after decades away. That includes Judy Garrick (aka The Boom), and the entire Garrick film will have to grapple with that return and what it means for the future of the DCU. One part family drama, one part supersonic adventure story, it’s a perfect blend of old and new that feels quintessentially DC.
Jay Garrick: The Flash #1 debuts this week (October 17). Adams was kind enough to answer a few of our questions, including the Judy-Jay dynamic, the appearance of some old foes, and how Jay compares to the other Flashes and speedsters in general.
Courtesy of DC Comics.
AIPT: What was your connection with Jay Garrick specifically before hopping onto this book?
Jeremy Adams: I’ve written Jay Garrick in other media, but more than that, I was a big fan of the JSA. When I discovered there was another Flash, one that came before Barry Allen as a kid, that blew my mind. Also, the fact that he was part of the “Greatest Generation” caused me to kind of think of him, like my grandfather. Someone who was kind, gentle, and was also a B.A. in the war.
AIPT: What role or function does he play amid the current ocean of speedsters?
JA: He was the first. He’s seen it all, and done it all on some level. He’s been the “go-to” for so many of the speedsters, and he and Joan have been a Father figure amongst a bevy of heroes. The way I wrote him in my tenure on the Flash was that he was the de facto “grandfather” to the West kids.
AIPT: Do you see any connection from what you’re doing/did with Hal Jordan in Green Lantern to your portrayal here of Jay Garrick and family?
JA: No. Not really. Hal is returning home. Returning to his roots. Jay is discovering that he had a past he was forced to forget. One that he remembers now and has to slot into the world that exists today.
Courtesy of DC Comics.
AIPT: What’s it like for Jay to be a parent again? And has “raising” so many speedsters even prepared him for Judy’s return and her subsequent needs/reintegration?
JA: I would say, that, much like my life as a parent, it’s always easy to have advice and ideas about how others should raise their kids. Then you have a kid, and you realize the dynamic is totally different. I believe that Mike Tyson’s quote about, “Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the face!” is actually about parenting. So, I think that Jay and Joan will have their hands full.
AIPT: Why is Judy such an interesting character to play around with? Were you worried at all that she’d feel like just another speedster?
JA: Let me answer the second part first. Yes, I was worried she was going to be just another speedster. But then, I start to wonder, how can I make her special? How can add to the mythology? How can she be part of this vibrant and thriving Flash family? Which makes the first part interesting. A girl that assumed everyone remembered her, that she would be able to go back to the time she disappeared and whammo, she’s in the present with old parents and missed out on fifty years of the world. That fish out of water is pretty interesting.
Courtesy of DC Comics.
AIPT: What can you tell us about Doctor Elemental, who seems to have suffered a similar fate to Judy and the other disappearing teen heroes?
JA: Not exactly. He didn’t “disappear” like they did. Rather…his persona was so linked to Judy’s, when she disappeared, he was forgotten. Which is rather dangerous. Imagine people forgetting Lex Luthor exists, and now Lex has the chance to reinvent himself, but still, maybe has nefarious goals.
AIPT: Is this book a chance to play around with older, more nostalgic parts of the DCU?
JA: I guess I don’t think of that way. Someone says, “Hey! Wanna play with these action figures?!” And I will always answer yes! Why not see what’s there. I want to put my hands in every corner of the DCU. It’s a lot of fun!
AIPT: What is it about “vintage” DC that remains so compelling?
JA: To me, I think it’s the incorruptible nature of the characters that came through that time. They aren’t gritty or grim, but very upstanding, fighting injustice and hate. You look at them, and you see heroes that have stood the test of time.
AIPT: Are they any little teasers and tidbits that you can provide for the rest of the story?
JA: Maybe big guest stars, cool settings, etc.? Mister Terrific might show up, and we might get a couple of JSA members here and there. I can tell you that all these “New Golden Age” titles will have an effect on the DCU down the line, and that’s pretty exciting to think about!
Courtesy of DC Comics.
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