Change We Can Believe In: Mirror, Mirror

For the past couple of years, the word "change" has been thrown around ad nauseum, but as many understand (or are just now beginning to understand), not all change is good. Nowhere has that principal been better understood than within the comic book superhero community, as shocking physical transformations have afflicted their ranks for decades.

One of the most frequent targets for this brand of not-so-good change was the Flash. In addition to his legendary super-speed, a lesser-known ability of his was absolute mental control over his body's molecules, which allowed him to vibrate through walls or facilitate time travel. A handy skill, but at the same time, maybe it was because of this peculiar ability that Flash found himself a "lightning rod" for so many radical transformations...one of which took place in Flash #126 (1962).

In "The Doom of the Mirror Flash", the Mirror Master escaped from prison and into Orinocas, a dimension populated entirely by attractive women. By all rights, the story should have ended right there, but Mirror Master soon grew bored and yearned to commit crimes on Earth once again. Tricking the Flash into bringing him back to Earth, M.M. unleashed another mirror weapon to stage his escape...all while simultaneously re-creating the cover scene (a common practice in 60's era DC Comics)....not to mention producing a full-size bazooka from who-knows-where.

(click on the panels for a larger view)

Ah...good ol' total molecular control saves the day again!

Now...if only our economy had total molecular control!

Comments

[Grumpy]

"Can't let him destroy me and go on with his evil ways!"

A mission statement if there ever was one. In fact, it pretty much goes without saying.

[Kelson]

Change is good...but the folding stuff is better.

[Pat Curley]

Interesting point about how the story should end when the MM finds himself in a dimension with attractive women. It inspired me to do a post on Crime as Crack; it's almost as if the crooks were compelled by an addiction.