A quick round-up of recent pop culture references to the Flash:
First, reader Will mentioned an episode of the comedy, The Big Bang Theory, in four characters showed up to a costume party, each dressed as the Flash. The episode, “The Middle Earth Paradigm,” aired last fall, but it’s still topical: The first season will be released on DVD next week (region 1).
Second, Esteban Pedreros of Comic Verso writes about the Chilean TV show, Estrellas en el hielo (Stars on Ice) — essentially Dancing with the Stars, with ice skating. One of the contestants is sprinter Sebastián_Keitel, nicknamed “The fastest white man on Earth.” He and his partner appeared on the show wearing Flash costumes (look for Capítulo 3). I had trouble getting the video to play (must be the intercontinental bandwidth), but I was able to check out the photo galleries.
Finally, Sports Illustrated compares Usain Bolt with the Flash, describing the real-world Olympic gold medalist sprinter from Jamaica and the fictional super-hero as “two guys with claims at being the world’s fastest.”
Sorry, no costumes on this one!
Update: One more: Collected Comics Library linked to the Detroit Free Press’ profiles of promising football players as super-heroes, including Oak Park’s running back Edwin Baker as the Flash. According to the profile, “When you have been timed at 10.5 in the 100 meters, what other superhero is there? Maybe Quicksilver?” Other players have been profiled as Hulk and Thor.
Isn’t Dwayne Wade’s nickname the Flash?
Yep there was even a cheesy commercial out a few years ago advertising Dwayne Wade’s new Converse kicks with an animated version of The Flash appearing in it towards the end.
I hadn’t seen that one! I wonder if it’s on YouTube or something.
There have been a few more Flash references on the Big Bang Theory, one in which Sheldon dresses up in his Flash costume after drinking his first cup of coffee and believes he has superspeed as a result.
Another episode has Sheldon reading the last issue of the Wally West series. “Want to see me reading your lastest issue, Flash?” Quickly flips through comic. “Want to see it again?”