- For his Earth One equivalent, see Henry Allen. For his Earth Two equivalent, see Barry Allen's father. For the Earth Two meta-human who also used the name "Jay Garrick", see Hunter Zolomon.
- "I'm Jay Garrick, the real Jay Garrick."
- —Jay to Team Flash[src]
Jay Garrick is a speedster from Earth Three known as The Flash. At one point, Jay was found by Zoom, a meta-human speedster from Earth Two. Jay was defeated by Zoom and held prisoner on Earth Two forced to wear an iron mask that dampened his powers, until being rescued by Team Flash. Jay's identity and mantle as the Flash was used by Zoom to carry out heroic acts as part of a plan to inspire hope in Central City, only to take it away. He currently resides on Earth Two with Harrison Wells and Jesse Quick, until they can find a way back to his Earth.
Biography
Activities as The Flash
At some point Jay Garrick was given the power of superhuman speed. He began helping the public as a hero known as The Flash. Eventually, he was found by Hunter Zolomon/Zoom, a speedster from another Earth. After Flash and Zoom fought Zoom managed to abduct Flash and forcibly brought him to Earth-2. Initially wishing to steal Jay's speed to cure his own illness afflicted by the Velocity serums, but was unable. However Hunter was inspired to take up his own mantle as "The Flash" inspired by Jay's actions and decided to keep Jay as a trophy and put a mask on Jay with a speed dampener in the helmet in order to suppress his speed. Following this, Hunter took Jay's name and identity as "The Flash" on Earth-2 to give people false hope only to eventually take it away from them, while Jay was left to rot in his cell.[1]He was eventually joined by Jesse Quick. Jay repeatedly attempted to communicate with Jesse using a 5x5 tap code used by POWs, but Jesse was unable to understand what he meant and was often annoyed by him.
Helping Barry Allen
Jay while being held captive by Zoom.
Much later Zoom also imprisoned Barry Allen/The Flash, the Flash of Earth-1. He attempted communicate with Barry using tap code also but unlike Jesse, Barry was able to figure out Jay's form of communication. Realizing this Jay then started tapping again and deciphered his message, the name J-A-Y as in Jay Garrick. However this confused Barry who stated that "Jay" (as in Hunter using Jay's name) was alive, but not with them, causing Jay to become distressed. Just as Barry got Jay to calm down enough to try to explain what he meant, Zoom ran in and warned Jay not to talk to them again. Jay watched in distress as Zoom pummeled Barry.[2]
Eventually Barry and Jesse were rescued by Cisco Ramon, Harrison Wells, Iris West-Allen, Earth-2 Barry Allen and reluctantly [[Caitlin Snow (Earth Two)|Killer Frost but before they could help Jay, Zoom arrived and endangered them all. as Zoom tried to kill Jesse Frost pinned down Zoom forcing Barry and the others to flee without Jay, but Barry promised Jay that he would return to rescue him and Jay gave a reassuring nod signaling that he trusted his word. Frost was then imprisoned next to Jay and attempted to communicate with Barry too, but she didn't understand was highly irritated and desired to kill Jay if she could use her powers in her cell. When Zoom returned to his lair with his deceased time remnant, Jay was suddenly horrified by his return.[2]
New inmates
Jay encountered a new temporary inmate, Wally West, asking where he was. He attempted to use the same tap code, but Wally didn't understand it. Zoom then spoke to the new prisoner telling him that only The Flash (Barry) could save him, causing Jay to become distressed again, before speeding off, taking Wally with him, leaving him alone once more.[3]
Caitlin Snow (Killer Frost's Earth-1 doppelganger) had an encounter with Jay while he was tapping the glass, but was cut off by Killer Frost noticing her. Caitlin then asked who he was but Frost said she didn't know. She concluded that Zoom must've needed him due to him being there. When Killer Frost manipulated Caitlin into freeing her from her cell Jay started banging his hand against the cell, trying to warn Caitlin of Killer Frost was going to kill her. As predicted she did and Jay became distressed but Zoom killed Killer Frost to save Caitlin, but threatened to kill Jay if Caitlin tried to free him. [4]
Finally escaping Zoom
After Team Flash failed to stop Zoom without Barry's help and Joe was taken to Earth-2 Joe noticed Jay and at his request Hunter explained his backstory and encounter with Jay. Hunter also revealed that when he defeated Barry he was planning to put him in a cell just like Jay. Not long following, after Zoom had been defeated, Jay was rescued and taken to S.T.A.R. Labs on Earth One as promised, where Harry and Cisco took the mask was taken off and he donned his Flash suit once again, taking Hunter's helmet with him, hoping that it will be a sign of hope for others. He thanked them, before taking hold of Harrison Wells and Jesse Quick, and speeding through the breach, with the promise that they could help him back to his Earth.[1]
Personality
Though he had a short appearance, Jay showed himself to be a good-natured and kind man. He also showed himself to be a humble man as well, respectfully calling Barry by their shared name, Flash, displaying his deference to the Earth One speedster who saved his life, and acknowledging him as an equal and hero. He shares many traits with his Earth One counterpart, Henry Allen, including his kind nature, his admiration for Barry Allen, his intelligence, and his ability to control his temper even when having undergone a terrible ordeal.
He was not without anger, using his vibrating hand to spitefully split the speed-dampening mask that Zoom had used on him in half. Jay was also capable of appreciating poetic justice and irony, taking up Hunter's helmet as it was originally a symbol of hope on Earth Two as explained by Harrison Wells, and Jay smiled, taking it with him and adding it to his uniform, hoping to make a symbol for justice back home. He did this partly out of revenge against Hunter for stealing his identity, and also as a memento of this adventure.
Powers and abilities
Jay using his speed to travel through the breach.
- Superhuman speed/Speed Force Connection: Jay is able to run at superhuman speeds, as shown when ran through a breach back to Earth Two with Harry and Jesse.[1]
- Bodily vibration: Jay has the ability to vibrate his cells and overall parts of his body on command for various effects, as shown when he vibrated his hand to split the iron mask that was put on him by Zoom.[1]
- Electrokinesis: As a speedster, Jay produces a yellow electricity from his body when he runs which is the same exact color as Barry's as opposed to the sapphire-blue lighting produced from the Velocity serums.[1]
- Interdimensional Travel: Jay was able to travess the breach to travel between worlds.
Equipment
- The Flash suit: Jay wears a protective suit as his superhero alter-ego. It is similar to Hunter Zolomon's Flash suit but he switched up the colors of Jay's. After the defeat of Zoom, Jay decided to wear Hunter's helmet as it originally symbolized hope to the people of Earth Two and as revenge for stealing his identity.[1]
- Speed Force Dampening Mask (Formerly): During his imprisonment, Jay was forced to wear an iron full faced mask that not only prevented him from speaking, but also severed his connection to the Speed Force. After the combined efforts of Harry and Cisco removed it on Earth One, Jay took great pride in destroying it, saying he never wanted to see it again.
Behind the scenes
- In the DC multiverse Jay Garrick is the first person to take up the superhero mantle of "The Flash".
- This is John Wesley Shipp's second time portraying The Flash. The first was that of Barry Allen from the 1990s CBS The Flash series.
Appearances
The Flash
Season 2
- "Welcome to Earth-2"
- "Escape from Earth-2"
- "King Shark"
- "Versus Zoom"
- "Back to Normal"
- "The Race of His Life"
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "The Race of His Life"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Escape from Earth-2"
- ↑ "Versus Zoom"
- ↑ "Back to Normal"