The Justice League teemed with teams within the team — Superman and Batman, Hawkman and the Atom, Green Arrow and the Martian Manhunter and a particular favorite, the Flash and Green Lantern.
“The third team-up between the two heroes was in 1963’s Green Lantern 20, titled Parasite Planet Peril,” noted John Peterson. “When a phenomenon dubbed the vanishing plague causes people on earth to vanish over time, the Green Lantern and Flash team-up to try and prevent more people from vanishing. When the Green Lantern gets afflicted by the disease, he hands over his power ring to the Flash, hoping that the power of the ring could prevent (him) from vanishing.”
In between missions to protect Earth from alien invaders, Barry Allen and Hal Jordan had time to relax together with their girlfriends Iris West and Carol Ferris, providing a cozy, cheerful view of young adulthood in the Camelot era.
To a child, this seemed like an ideal way to grow up.
Nor did it seem strange to me that all four were young professionals — a police scientist, a test pilot, a magazine photojournalist and the owner/manager of an aircraft manufacturing company.
Of course women would want to have lucrative, challenging and creative careers, just like men. Why wouldn’t they?
Call it the Schwartz Effect. The comics Julius Schwartz edited took the emancipation of women for granted, consistently sending the young readers a message that didn’t seem to be a message at all.
Another fact about these stories that jumps out at me now is that while Hal calls his Eskimo pal “Pieface,” Carol addresses him respectfully as “Thomas.”
Good for you, Carol.
Earl Leon Liles wrote: There was always something about the vibrant red and green when they teamed up. I've always liked that cover.
ReplyDeleteMark Engblom wrote: While Marvel's heroes squabbled like kids on a playground, DC's heroes had the ideal adult lives we, as kids, imagined having one day. A steady girl, a cool job, dinner at posh restaurants, suit coats, and, of course, super powers. DC presented us with our idealized selves, Marvel gave us our unvarnished selves.
ReplyDeleteEllis Rose wrote: This frequent team-up is indelibly etched in my childhood memories. They always had a strong interpersonal connection and relationship. And I always suspected that it was destiny based upon their costume colors if nothing else. As opposite colors on the color wheel they were a visual contrast that was so contrasting that it was meant to be. That and the contrast that the Flash was grounded while Green Lantern flew. I loved the contrasts of this frequent team-up!
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