This article is about the JSA member Jay Garrick aka "The Flash". For the article about the Justice League member known as "Flash" or "Impulse", see Bart Allen.
Jason "Jay" Garrick is a member of the Justice Society of America known as The Flash.
Physical Appearance[]
Jay Garrick was shown as a well built, tall and handsome middle aged man with red hair partially graying, sky-blue eyes and an unshaven beard.
As The Flash, he used to wear a metal hat with golden wings on it similar to that of the Greek God Hermes. Both in his superhero and in his civilian persona he was seen wear almost always a red tight shirt with a gold lightning bolt on it, blue jeans, a black belt, and some brown shoes.
Early life[]
Very little is known about Jay Garrick's early life. At some point in his youth, he gained the ability to move at speeds far greater, than an ordinary man. Eventually, he assumed the identity of the Flash and became a founding member of the Justice Society of America.
He was later framed by a government agency and charged for fraud and resisting arrest. Jay and the rest of his JSA teammates were arrested in their civilian identities and sent to jail. Neither Jay nor anyone else in the group was convicted due to a massive lack of evidence and was later released. Unfortunately the arrests caused the JSA to split up and go into retirement. The Government proceeds to break his leg and his refusal to have his leg repaired as a means to incapacitate his Super speed abilities to prevent the "Speed Demon" from haunting him which caused him to move down to a house in the middle of Utah.
Season Four[]
Jay Garrick (alongside Wally West and Barry Allen) was one of the aliases used by Bart Allen during his career as a petty thief.
Later Bart explains he doesn't know why he did it, and that all he knows is that, after a flash of light, he woke up with his abilities along with the names of Garrick, West, and Barry just appearing in his head.
Season Nine[]
Black and white footage of Jay Garrick was found, together with his criminal record, by Clark Kent and Chloe Sullivan, in 2010.
Later Jay's winged WWI helmet, was shown in a display case at the JSA Brownstone. After Icicle was brought down, for having murdered Sylvester Pemberton, Wesley Dodds and Kent Nelson, Carter Hall tracked Jay down with the intention of reunite the Society, but is later revealed that the man refused the offer.
Season Eleven[]
In an attempt to help Bart find a way to keep his speed demon from stalking him, Clark takes his friend to the JSA Brownstone, saying they must find Jay because, as a fellow speedster, he might have answers they need.
Arriving at an old residence in the outskirts of Utah, Superman and Impulse encounter an old withered appearance of Jay Garrick equipped with a cane. At first Jay isn't thrilled at meeting the punk who had stolen his identity a few years back. Superman informs Jay of Carter Hall's initial plan prior to his untimely death to reinstate the Justice Society of America with the remaining living members to help guide the new generation of Heroes. Impulse asked Jay to reveal all that he knows about the Black Flash. Jay shows signs of fear at the mention of that name and beings to reveal the reason behind his handicap as a result of the Government breaking his leg a decade ago and his own refusal to have his leg repaired as a means to incapacitate his Super speed abilities to prevent the black flash from haunting him. Although he can still feel it's presence and realize it's got it sights on Impulse and the only way to stop it is for Impulse to die.
As the speed storm crackles in Utah, Clark tries to reason with Jay Garrick that there must be another option to help Bart. Garrick asserts that there is no choice in the matter and that by using the Speed Force, the demon is there to collect the debt. Clark asks why there were no records of speed storms while Garrick was with the JSA. The old man surmises that Bart is so fast that it has made the creature hungry and desperate. Picking up on the thought, Clark reasons that it is sending out the speed storms to try to create a new speedster to take on as its prey. Bart realizes that the biology of the speedsters is special and that's why so many have died in the attempts.
Bart asks Garrick how many speedsters there are. The old man gives a mealy answer about not being the first and Bart not being the last. Bart confronts him about not having raced the demon himself to stop to have possibly stopped it, and Garrick denounces their abilities as a curse. Clark offers that curses can be blessings if they don't let their powers control their lives. Garrick likens Clark to Carter Hall and Bart jumps on the moment to call him out for not having stayed in touch with his team, mentioning that even though he didn't know Carter he still attended his funeral. The old man owns up to not being proud of how he acted, but it's not good enough for Bart. Riled up, he starts tapping into the Speed Force before Clark manages to stop him.
Clark fields communication from Chloe at Watchtower. He asks how she is and she tells him she's coping. She alerts him to a speed storm brewing in Las Vegas, a huge one that isn't slowing down and many dying. Clark relays the message to Bart, who tries running off on his own. Clark grabs him and Bart argues that the racer is waiting for him there and is calling to him. Clark tells Chloe that they didn't come up with a solution. She responds that S.T.A.R. Labs might have something. Patched to Emil Hamilton, the doctor explains they took the concept of sending Clark into the sun to remove his irradiation to fashion a containment suit. He states that they modified the suit to collect speed energy and that Clark might be able to use it to constantly move fast enough to confront the demon.
The scientists at S.T.A.R. fire a pod into the atmosphere and it quickly rockets its way to the young heroes' location in Utah. The pod opens to reveal the new suit, a black and silver affair with a glowing S-Shield. Clark quickly puts on the suit and speeds to the massive storm in Las Vegas. Boldly, Clark proclaims to the demon that it's "time for round two."
After Clark leaves Jay and Bart sit silently and watch the speed storm on the horizon. Bart decides to go help Clark before he leaves he tells Bart that he heard the same names that Bart did the first time he got his powers. Jay tells him that the speed force is something that binds all the speedsters together. Bart then runs off.
Later Jay and Clark meet at the JSA brownstone and talk about Bart and Carter. Clark tells him not to blame himself but Jay feels like he should have done something about it years ago. Jay leaves with Abigail when Emil shows up, but not before looking at his old tin hat.
At a later time it is revealed that Jay had started a school for gifted children in San Francisco, in which Conner Kent among others is attending. He also had his leg fixed and regained full use of his speed powers, though he is seen wearing a brace when out in the field.
While his team was on a mission to recapture a prisoner, who had escaped, Jay appears on time and saves Megan Morse leaving both her and Conner Kent very surprised.
After the fight Jay appears saying that they actually failed on their mission, making them feel very disappointed about themselves. Conner argues with Jay saying that they did stop Doctor Phosphorus but Jay responds by saying they didn't deal with the fire or the destruction Phosphorus caused. He then tells them to return to the school, wondering how Carter ever thought that was a good idea.
At the team's headquarters Garrick talks to his students a little bit about Bart Allen's life, how Bart was the inspiration for the creation of the team and the Titan Corporation, which funded the school. He tells them he is very disappointed about their first mission and he is not sure if they ever will be ready for field work. Mia says that they couldn't just sit there and do nothing while Phosphorus was causing havoc and Conner says that Garrick is not fair with them. Jayna and Zan also say that they had to stop him but Jaime says that Garrick has got a point. Megan says that the discord is clouding her mind but Garrick tells her to toughen up. Garrick then informs them that the D.E.O. wrangled Phosphorus back to prison and that they would probably succeed stopping him themselves, without the team's interference. Conner asks if he knows how Phosphorus escaped in the first place but Garrick says it's not their problem and if they make some more mistakes like this one it won't be even possible for Superman to convince the public that this team should not be locked away, too. Conner then angrily asks Garrick if the reason he treats them like this is because he is jealous they are younger and faster than him. Jay suddenly speeds towards Conner pushing him to a wall and says to him that the "S" on his chest means his teammates look to him for leadership and none of them actually know that he is a clone of both Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, so he must choose which of his sides of his DNA will win out.
While Mia Dearden and Jayna are talking, and Mia asks Jayna why she and Zan joined Garrick's team Jayna responds that they felt lost and they needed some guidance and gear. Garrick then suddenly appears and says that they don't always need gadgets and gear and that Bart Allen outran his past so they can do the same. He then says to himself that he won't let Bart down by giving up on his students no matter how often he feels they want him to do so.
When Slade Wilson's daughter attacks the team and hurts Zan and Jaime, Jay along with Mia and Megan confront her with Jay saying to her to leave his lawn. He then runs towards her but she uses a gravity bomb, which immobilizes him. Conner then arrives and Jay tells him not to worry about him and waste any more time but get to work.
While Conner confronts Rose Wilson, telepathically communicates with Megan and tells her to coordinate the team and free Jay Garrick so she uses her ability of intangibility to free Jay from the gravity bomb. After Jay was freed, he says to Megan to watch over the rest of the team until he gets back and he then speeds away heading to Alcatraz island.
Some minutes later, Jay appears in a helicopter bringing D.E.O.'s soldiers with him and telling them that Rose is the one who freed their prisoner. After Rose is arrested, Zan along with Jaime appear being on top of a huge pink dinosaur, in which Jayna has been transformed. Watching them the team shouts to the D.E.O.'s soldiers that the dinosaur is with them.
Later, Superman visits Conner and tells him that Jay told him he was proud for him. Superman also says they are lucky they had people like Jay in their lives.
Weeks later, Zatanna turns a young girl, named Rachel Roth, over to Jay Garrick and the Teen Titans at the airport, with the team being very excited for their new teammate.
Months later, Superman and Lois arrive at Watchtower where Tess Mercer, Chloe and Oliver along with Batman, Nightwing Martian Manhunter, Supergirl, Jay Garrick and his team of teenagers. Clark tells Chloe, Tess and Bruce to find out everything from one of the Manhunters he destroyed about the Crisis, because more ships are on their way. As Batman starts to examine the crumpled Manhunter head he wonders where are they going, Clark grimly says everywhere.
Three weeks after the battle with the Monitors, LexCorp holds a major press confrence and Lex introduces the public to a new monument built on the former Watchtower site. In a massive turnout Lex publicly admits that if it weren't for the heroes of earth the universe would be lost. Then Superman makes a speech that is broadcast all over the world. The Teen Titans are also watching the reveal, in their new base.
Appearances[]
- Season Four: Run (Mentioned only)
- Season Nine: Absolute Justice, Part 1 (flashback only)
- Season Eleven: Haunted, Olympus (Mentioned only)
- Smallville Miniseries: Titans, Harbinger, Continuity
In the Comics[]
In the comics Jay Garrick was the first Flash. He was given the power of amazing speed, by accidental exposure to a substance known as "heavy water" (in the earliest comics it was labeled "hard water"). He was a founding member of the Justice Society of America (JSA) along with Green Lantern, the Atom, Sandman, Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Hourman and the Spectre. He is part of a group that gets their powers from the vibrational field known as the Speed Force, which was created by Barry Allen (the second Flash).
Jay's early adventures took place mainly during the 1940s, fighting alongside the JSA. But he retired in the early 1950s, when the House Un-American Activities Committee demanded that he and the other JSA members reveal their identities. He refused, and joined the other Justice Society heroes in disbanding the organization.
During the 1960s, Jay met the second Flash, in a comic titled "The Flash of Two Worlds." The issue explained
that, along with the other Justice Society of America members, Jay lived on a parallel universe known as Earth-Two. Barry Allen, the Silver-Age Flash of Earth-One, accidentally vibrated onto Earth-Two's dimensional plane. There, he met Jay (who had been Barry's idol since childhood.) Shortly afterward, Jay became active as the Flash again (now known as the Golden-Age Flash.)
During an event known as the Crisis on Infinite Earths, history was altered. In the revised timeline, there was only one Earth. In this new history, Jay and Barry lived on the same world, and often worked together.
Though he is in his 80s, physically, Jay is middle-aged. He absorbed an energy shortly after the Crisis that restored his youth, and though some of it has worn off, he is still far more vigorous than most men his age.
Jay is still active in the modern JSA, and serves as a mentor. Along with Ted and Alan Scott (Green Lantern), they run the JSA.
Following DC Comics' rejuvenation of its fictional universe, the character of Jay Garrick has been reintroduced in the first issue of the Earth 2 comic book. Portrayed as a 21 year-old recent college graduate, this version of Garrick is spurned by his girlfriend, Joan, and possesses very little in terms of career prospects. The character receives his "superspeed" from Mercury, a dying Olympian god who sees bravery in Jay, and is also the last god to fall following a war with Apokolips. He claims he has been held for the past 10 years by a greater threat than Apokolips. He told him that he is dying and that Earth will face even bigger menace than Darkseid and gave him his powers.Jay escapes a World Army Helicopter that sees the event as Mercury dies and tells Jay to run. After gaining his powers, he tried testing it out. He saves a couple from Apokorats, saying he will do it in 'a Flash', the man then mentions he heard the hero say something, which soon gave Jay Garrick his name. and went on a tour around the world but one day he was stopped by Kendra Munoz-Saunders a.k.a. Hawkgirl. After they had a little conversation between them two, all kind of nature around them started dying and they found out that the reason for that is the guy that is attacking the capital. Finding out that Grundy is the attacker and they try to stop him, but he can regenerate and Hawkgirl sends Jay to save people and she will be the one that would fight with Grundy. The media has dubbed him "The Flash." Along with Hawkgirl, Green Lantern and Atom who had previously been at odds with them they defeated Grundy and Hawkgirl suggested forming a team but Green Lantern refused while the fate of Hawkgirl and Jay will be seen soon.
Other faces of Jay Garrick[]
External links[]
- Flash (Jay Garrick) on Wikipedia
- The Flash on Wikipedia
- The Flash on DC Database
- Jay Garrick on DC Database
- The Streak on Wikia DC Animated Universe
- Jay Garrick on Young Justice Wikia
- Jay Garrick on Super Friends Wikia
- Jay Garrick on Arrowverse Wikia
- Jay Garrick on Stargirl Wiki
- Flash (Jay Garrick) on Batman: the Brave and the Bold Wikia
- Jay Garrick on ComicVine
- Jay Garrick on Flash: Those who ride the lightning