Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by DC in 1940. That places it in the Gold Age.
Why this issue matters
The first character to carry the Flash name, Jay Garrick gained super speed from inhaling hard water vapours, a very Golden Age origin by modern standards.
Flash Comics #1 is also the first appearance of Hawkman (Carter Hall), which is part of why the book carries the weight it does.
Key facts
Flash Comics #1
- Character: Flash (Jay Garrick)
- Publisher: DC
- Cover year: 1940
- Era: Gold Age
Before you buy or sell one
- Check it is a first print, not a facsimile or reprint. Newsstand and direct editions are priced differently too.
- Condition decides most of the value. Whether grading is worth it depends on the copy.
Go deeper
Other first appearances from 1940
- Lex Luthor Action Comics #23, 1940
- Clayface (Karlo) Detective Comics #40, 1940
- Green Lantern (Alan Scott) All-American Comics #16, 1940
- Catwoman Batman #1, 1940
- Joker Batman #1, 1940
- Dick Grayson (Robin) Detective Comics #38, 1940
More DC firsts from the Gold Age
- Black Canary Flash Comics #86, 1947
- Scarecrow World's Finest Comics #3, 1941
- Solomon Grundy All-American Comics #61, 1944
- Superman Action Comics #1, 1938
- Batman Detective Comics #27, 1939
- Wonder Woman All Star Comics #8, 1941
- Aquaman More Fun Comics #73, 1941
- Green Arrow More Fun Comics #73, 1941
Got a copy?
I buy key issues and whole collections across the UK, and I will tell you honestly whether what you have is the real first or a later printing. Send me photos of the cover and the indicia and I will come back with a straight answer, and a proper valuation if you want one.