Dear Editor: Flashing in Public
Streaking in wholesome early 1960's comics?
In the dawning years of comics fandom, the comic book letters page was a popular place for fans to share their opinions and ask questions about their favorite heroes. While most letters dealt with the usual topics...praising or panning an issue, story suggestions, or nit-picking minor errors...there were occasionally letters that defied classification. Sure, you could probably file the Flash-Grams letter from England's Bruce MacTwaine under a fairly common heading: questions about the Flash's powers or mode of operation...but Bruce took things in a rather…unexpected direction (especially for 1961)...
A pretty smooth recovery from editor Julius Schwartz there...especially with the volatile words “female” and “sex” in such shockingly close proximity (remember, this was 1961, people)! However, even though ol’ Julie artfully directed the discussion away from Barry Allen speedily stripping down in front of the ladies, the explanation still doesn’t quite add up, does it?
But then again, we’re talking about the topsy-turvy world of superheroes here....so I guess it makes perfect sense that a man who could run faster than light and kept his costume scientifically shrunken-down inside of his ring could also wear that costume over his suit coat, slacks, street shoes and bow tie...yet somehow get it to appear skin tight. Right??!!