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The other comic shown in "Welcome to Derry" is one that went on to be absolutely pivotal to DC history: 1961's "The Flash" #123 or "Flash of Two Worlds!" Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert in 1940, the original Flash's secret identity was Jay Garrick. The Flash disappeared from comics in 1951 as the first superhero boom subsided. Then, in 1956, writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino revived the Flash. The new Flash, named Barry Allen, had similar traits (super-speed powers, a red lightning-themed costume), but he was a distinctly different character than Garrick. In "Flash of Two World!", Fox got to tie his Flash to the new one. Barry Allen is transported to an alternate universe and discovers a different Flash: Garrick. All the "Golden Age of Comics" DC heroes who had faded away in the '50s had existed alongside Garrick in this world, dubbed "Earth-Two." For better or worse, this single story became the basis of the entire DC multiverse. Why is this comic in "Welcome to Derry," though? Probably because the series pilot was directed by Muschietti. After the "IT" films, he directed 2023's "The Flash." That movie has a similar hook as "Flash of Two Worlds," as it centers on both Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) and a version of himself from an alternate timeline (also Miller). "The Flash" was quite the bomb, but Muschietti still defends it. Apparently, he's proud enough of "The Flash" to pay homage to the titular character in his other work. "It: Welcome to Derry" airs on HBO and is streaming on HBO Max. New episodes release on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST.
