Blogging From A To Z: Q is for

Quasar #17

This comic contains one of the GREATEST Easter Eggs of all-time.  The following is from Comic Book Resources:

The gist of the issue (written by Mark Gruenwald and drawn by Mike Manley) is that one of the Elders of the Universe has come to Earth. Just like how his fellow Elder, the Champion, had come to Earth to engage the strongest heroes on Earth, so, too, has the Runner come to Earth to engage the FASTEST heroes on Earth.

The Runner has all the fastest people on Earth compete in an inter-stellar race. Makkari of the Eternals was a Quasar supporting cast member at the time, and speed was his deal. Similarly, the Squadron Supreme has recently shown up on Earth and the Whizzer was a speedster, too. They both competed in the race along with some other familiar faces (like Captain Marvel, Quicksilver, Speed Demon, Super Sabre and more!).

In any event, partway through the race (which happened in 1990) a certain familiar fellow appeared in a flash…

And later we are introduced to him... 

For those of you NOT in the know, Barry Allen was the second Flash at DC Comics (the one from The Super-Friends cartoons of the 70s and 80s), whose comic had the tagline "The Fastest Man Alive".  He wore a familiar red and yellow costume...

At this point in DC Comics time, the Flash had sacrificed himself to save the Multiverse.  He had been "dead" about 4 years....