Bronze Age Flash

[FeniusFarsaid]

What were the major story lines/developments in the pages of The Flash during the the Bronze Age? I know Barry Allen's wives getting killed and his trail happened during the Bronze Age. That all happened in the 80s though, right? What about the 70s? Did nothing of significance happen for a whole decade?

[Buried Alien]

Bronze Age FLASH was mostly defined by solid, self-contained stories that seldom lasted beyond one issue. It was like a continuation of the Silver Age, but with some of the Silver Age goofiness played down. It's probably my favorite era of THE FLASH, but it doesn't really feature too many stand-out stories...just a solid effort most months.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[jb681131]

I think the most notable story is how the serie Flash vol.1 ends. It has been collected in Showcase Presents: The Trial of the Flash and Crisis on Infinite Earths - Barry Allen will sacrifice his life for the world to survive.
In the Bronze age, Flash will regularly causse the JLA and the JSA to meat up. It can be found in Crisis on Multiple Earths (6 volumes + 2 team-ups volumes).

[kcekada]

Bronze Age FLASH was mostly defined by solid, self-contained stories that seldom lasted beyond one issue. It was like a continuation of the Silver Age, but with some of the Silver Age goofiness played down. It's probably my favorite era of THE FLASH, but it doesn't really feature too many stand-out stories...just a solid effort most months.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

I'll second that. Flash was a very reliable comic for super hero adventure, but aside from Barry marrying Iris--- things didn't change much from issue to issue. That is, until they made the mistake of killing Iris. I've tried to watch the Flash TV show, but that version is just too far away from what I read as a kid.

My favorite issue of The Flash is the first one that I read/purchased. Flash #217 with five identical Flashes appearing on a solid black cover (illustrated by Nick Cardy). The backup story was a beautifully illustrated Green Lantern/Green Arrow tale. I always enjoyed guess appearances by Jay Garrick, Kid Flash and Hal Jordan. Oh, Golden Glider was introduced in the Bronze Age as well --- and sadly killed off in The Dark Age.

[Comic-Reader Lad]

I'd agree that DC Comics back in the 1970s weren't really written to be "pivotal." Of course, every cover promised that something pivotal was going to happen within the comic, but it was mostly just gimmicky stuff.

Even a supposedly major change, such as Flash 203's revelation that Iris actually comes from the 30th century was rarely used after that story -- although it did give writer Cary Bates a way to bring Iris back to life in Flash 350 by saying she was projected into a new body in the 30th century at the moment Professor Zoom killed her in Flash 275.

[The Darknight Detective]

Bronze Age Flash was more short stories than epic ones - more Guy de Maupassant and O. Henry than Victor Hugo and Leo Tolstoy.

[WallyWestFlash]

I think there was an ongoing plot line with the Top that was pretty cool.

He became a criminal mastermind and Golden.Glider fell in love with him. Then he died. That was a pretty significant story line.from what I can recall.

[The Darknight Detective]

I think there was an ongoing plot line with the Top that was pretty cool.

He became a criminal mastermind and Golden.Glider fell in love with him. Then he died. That was a pretty significant story line.from what I can recall.

I started reading The Flash right after the Top's death, FWIW.

[Lightning Rider]

Picked up some Bronze age Flash today for cheap, pretty excited. That era is a fun collection project for me.

[Hol]

I think there was an ongoing plot line with the Top that was pretty cool.

He became a criminal mastermind and Golden.Glider fell in love with him. Then he died. That was a pretty significant story line.from what I can recall.

And that led to the Ring Master story! Which was good if I remember correctly.

[Buried Alien]

Bronze Age Flash was more short stories than epic ones - more Guy de Maupassant and O. Henry than Victor Hugo and Leo Tolstoy.

Simple, catchy pop singles instead of long, deep progressive rock albums.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[married guy]

It was also the time of the back-ups!
Green Lantern then Firestorm and finally Dr Fate.
I particularly enjoyed the Dr Fate back-ups - Keith Giffen art I think....

[The Darknight Detective]

Simple, catchy pop singles instead of long, deep progressive rock albums.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Another great analogy, BA - more CCR than Pink Floyd.

[Buried Alien]

Another great analogy, BA - more CCR than Pink Floyd.

...and though I love both bands, they couldn't be more different from each other.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[The Darknight Detective]

...and though I love both bands, they couldn't be more different from each other.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

As a huge fan of both myself, I concur.