Back in 1974, something a little strange happened in THE FLASH. Barry Allen was spending his time as the Flash but also had his job as a police scientist at the Central City Police Department. When THE FLASH #226 was released, the world (or at least those reading THE FLASH) saw that Barry Allen wasn't just the Flash, he was also the Flash's enemy, Captain Cold!
The issue was written by Cary Bates with pencils by Irv Novick, and inks by Frank McLaughlin and Dick Giordano.
The opening page had the shocking image. Readers may have been used to tricks on covers where what was shown didn't actually happen in the comic. That wasn't the case as we see Barry at his locker in the police department. He gets his Flash costume out of his ring but figures out it's wrong. Then he puts on the Captain Cold outfit that was in his locker.
Okay, this scene doesn't exactly play out like this in the story. The issue begins at the state penitentiary which is 100 miles north of Central City. It turns out an inmate by the name of Mick Rory is being released for good behavior and being a model prisoner. His release is watched by Leonard Snart, aka Captain Cold. Mick Rory was the villain known as Heat Wave.
Snart is outraged because Rory broke their "criminal code." If they go to prison, it's their "duty" to try to escape. Instead, Rory behaved and was released. Snart already had a "cool" plan to escape but vowed he wouldn't do so until Heat Wave was back behind bars. He has a plan in motion to make this happen.
Barry opens a letter sent to him at the police department. He becomes compelled to follow the instructions on the letter which tells him to go to the police storage area and smuggle out the Captain Cold suit and Cold-Gun.
Why would Barry obey a letter? Snart was able to create some "mesmerizing cold-germs" while in prison.
By placing the germs on the letter, as soon as Barry opened it and touched the paper, he'd be forced to obey.
As Barry walks out of the police station with the items in his briefcase, he discovers that Heat Wave has returned to his old ways and just robbed the bank. Barry ducks into an alley and changes into the Flash. When Heat Wave surrounds the Flash in Flames, he's able to spin around like a giant fan to snuff out the flames. Strangely, instead of capturing Heat Wave to bring him to justice, he takes off.
Barry ducked into the alley and put on the Captain Cold suit. He attacks Heat Wave but soon, "Captain Cold" is surrounded by flames. Heat Wave thinks it's odd that Captain Cold isn't saying anything or throwing insults at him.
Barry also finds himself helpless under the influence of the cold-germs. At this time, he has no recollection of being the Flash. Snart ended his letter with the command that Allen would fight Heat Wave to the death. One of them would die in the battle.
Snart's plan was for Allen to be killed by Heat Wave. He knew Allen, as a mere police scientist, wouldn't be a match for Heat Wave, even if he had his Cold-Gun. Heat Wave was a crook but he wasn't a murderer. This would also allow for him to be returned to prison murder.
As Snart believed, Heat Wave was distraught to see "Captain Cold" burnt to a crisp. Strangely enough, the Flash suddenly appears at the same time.
How can this be? Barry was under the influence of the cold-germs and had no idea he was the Flash. He speeds off, carrying Heat Wave in the suction of the Speed Force. Heat Wave tries lighting Flash's boots on fire but Flash is able to duck into an ice skating rink to cool his heels off.
It turns out it was the intense heat that caused Barry to snap out of the spell from the cold-germs. He then made a quick getaway to put on his Flash suit to grab Heat Wave and take him to prison.
As he's returned to prison, the real Captain Cold sees his plan didn't work out quite the way he wanted. He can still revel in seeing Heat Wave back behind bars, in the same cell. What makes it great is Heat Wave is shocked to see Snart still in prison. He now thinks he's sharing a cell with the ghost of Captain Cold and is freaking out.
So in other words, Barry Allen was sort of Captain Cold for a very very brief moment. He was under the command of the cold-germs and forced to obey the instructions to face off against Heat Wave. This caused confusion for his crime fighting career as the Flash. Thankfully, things returned to the way they were supposed to be almost immediately. You do have to wonder if Snart was able to use or recreate his cold-germs again.
THE FLASH #226 also features a Hal Jordan/Green Lantern story by Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano where Hal finds himself stuck with a "Powerless Power Ring." I found a copy of this issue in really good condition and paid $7. You might be able to find a cheaper copy. It's a great read and a blast to read these tales from the past.
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