"Heatwave Plays it Cool!"
October 1978
written by Carey Bates
penciled by Irv Novick
The issue begins with a heist perpetrated by Heat Wave (Mick Rory) and his hastily put together gang of thugs. They intend to steal some ancient Egyptian treasure on exhibit at the Central City Museum. But rather than break into the heavily guarded museum, Heat Wave schemes a "Trojan horse" type plan. They hide inside a prop pyramid and wait to be placed into position by the unwitting museum guards.
As luck would have it, however, a couple of other familiar visitors would be at the scene...
Iris West, plucky girl reporter for Picture News and her beau, CCPD Forensic Scientist, Barry Allen!
Suddenly, Heat Wave and his gang make their move...
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| They break out of their hiding place with Heat Wave's help... |
Of course, Heat Wave & his gang doesn't stand a change against our hero, The Flash!
Barry Allen dashes into action and makes short work of the stupefied criminals...
Barry Allen dashes into action and makes short work of the stupefied criminals...
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| OUCH! Slamming into a wall at 20 mph.. that's gotta hurt! |
Subsequently, the showdown between The Flash and HeatWave begins! HeatWave fires his gun at the Scarlet Speedster repeatedly but in his desperation, narrowly misses the dashing target. Sensing his defeat, Heat Wave melts a hole in the floor and jumps through it leaving the Sultan of Speed to carefully consider his next move...
Of course, it turns out to be a trap..
What a SCUMBAG! He tried to shoot the Flash in the back! Well, his errant shot finds another target; an huge air-conditioning unit, causing it explode and go haywire, blasting the entire room with freezing cold air.
However, as the a/c unit explodes, a ricocheting metal fragment strikes The Flash, rendering him unconscious and at the mercy of Heat Wave.
Naturally, we must assume that one who shoots another man in the back would think nothing of murdering a defenseless person... right?
Later we learn that Mick Rory, aka Heat Wave, actually experienced a psychotic break in the few seconds of the explosion.
Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Mick discusses his issues with a professional...
Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Mick discusses his issues with a professional...
Doctor Synett suggest that Mick undergoes hypnotherapy allowing him to investigate the suppressed memories that haunt Mick...
Moments later, under the stroboscopic light, Mick recalls a time in the fourth grade when he was only nine years old...
And of course, the origin of Heat Wave begins to surface...
Dr. Synett then goes on to conclude that Mick must face his repressed fears in order to break free of their grasp on him or forever live in their shadow...
As the issue comes to a close, a week after these events, while making the rounds at police headquarters, Barry Allen learns that a mysterious caller is constantly phoning the police department for a message to be passed on to the Flash. Intrigued, he investigates the caller's origin and is surprised to discover it leads him to the residence of a famous arctic explorer.
When he arrives, he discovers that Heat Wave is behind the calls and after a short battle, he is tricked into turning his back from the real threat and is neutralized.
As the issue ends, Heat Wave imprisons The Flash in a cryogenic chamber set to defrost after over a century...
When he arrives, he discovers that Heat Wave is behind the calls and after a short battle, he is tricked into turning his back from the real threat and is neutralized.
As the issue ends, Heat Wave imprisons The Flash in a cryogenic chamber set to defrost after over a century...
Coming soon, another random chapter
in the ongoing saga of..
The Fastest Man Alive,
THE FLASH
