Dead Heat

[raul grau]

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/xovers/dc/deadheat.jpg" align=left alt="Dead Heat"></a>Published in: The Flash (2nd series) and Impulse, December 1995-March 1996
Writer: Mark Waid
Pencilers: Oscar Jimenez (Parts 1-2, 4, 6), Humberto Ramos (Parts 3, 5)
Major Characters Involved: Flash III (Wally West) (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?postid=745345#post745345), Savitar, Johnny Quick (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?postid=782046#post782046), Impulse I (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?postid=779265#post779265), Max Mercury, Jessie Quick (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?postid=785723#post785723), Flash I (Jay Garrick) (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=29842), Lady Flash (Christina Alexandrova), Iris Allen, XS
Plot: Savitar seeks to become one with the Speed Force by eliminating all others who derive their power from that source.

Reading Order:

Part 1 - The Flash (2nd series) #108 - Savitar blocks most speedsters of their connection to the Speed Force, then sends his acolytes to begin systematically attacking. The missing Max Mercury is revealed to be his prisoner.
Part 2 - The Flash (2nd series) #109 - The Flash (Wally West) saves Impulse and XS from an ambush by Savitar's forces. The badly injured Max Mercury warns the gathered speedsters. Wally and Jessie Quick Head off to confront Savitar directly.
Part 3 - Impulse #10 - Impulse deals with being without super speed for the first time in his life. An attack on the hospitalized Max is thwarted by the assembled heroes, just as their powers return. Flash (Jay Garrick), Johnny Quick, Impulse, and Max race to join the fight.
Part 4 - The Flash (2nd series) #110 - Wally witnesses the wealth of Savitar's knowledge. Jessie defeats Lady Flash, and releases the stored energies of the speedsters. Jay, Johnny Quick, Max, and Impulse arrive.
Part 5 - Impulse #11 - Savitar attempts to abduct Jessie Quick in order to force her into becoming his new priestess. Racing to save his daughter, Johnny Quick joins with the Speed Force.
Part 6 - The Flash (2nd series) #111 - Wally races to stop Savitar. XS arrives with a warning from Iris Allen. Wally pushes Savitar into the Speed Force, then vanishes.

Related Issues:

The Flash (2nd series) #100 - Wally West becomes the first person to exit the Speed Force, and begins taping directly into its power.

Notes:

Savitar makes his first appearance in The Flash (2nd series) #108. His origin is revealed in The Flash (2nd series) #109.

Cassio (of the Kapitalist Kouriers) falls to his death in The Flash (2nd series) #108.

Max Mercury first disappeared in Impulse #8.

XS arrived in the Twentieth Century in Legion of Super-heroes (3rd series) #74. She finally returns to the Thirtieth Century in Legionnaires Annual #2.

Max Mercury escapes from Savatar's acolytes in Impulse #9.

Flash IV (John Fox) appears in the last panel of The Flash (2nd series) #111. He was last seen in the Flash Anniversary Special #1.

Wally disappears from the Speed Force in The Flash (2nd series) #111. He then begins a time traveling adventure (titled 'Race Against Time') which runs from The Flash (2nd series) #113-117.

[Jon Hancock]

just wondering but who's impulse II?

I've checked and I find Impulse (Bart) appearing in 1994 first and there's a pre zero hour Impulse in the LOSH. Would he be II or I?

[raul grau]

Since Kent Shakespeare (the first to appear, and my personal favorite Impulse) would technically be a character only residing in the distant future, I had considered him Impulse II, and Bart Impulse I, following the whole 'numeral by chronology' rule. Kent was erased by Zero Hour (which was just plain wrong), and I'm not following the current Legion, so I can't say if he exists again. So to answer your question... I have no idea. :)

- Raul