The Flash #309 (of 350)
"How Do You Kill A Legend?"/Tomorrow Is Forever
May 1st, 1982
"How Do You Kill A Legend?"
A time traveler, Kryad, confirms his presence in the proper era, by visiting the headquarters of several members of the Justice League of America. Police Captain, Darryl Frye, and police forensics scientist, Barry Allen, are running in the park. Allen shoves Frye out of the way, when Kryad's ship nearly collides with them. Kryad abducts Allen, while altering Frye's memories of the morning's events. Allen, as the Flash, brings Kryad's ship to a full stop. Kryad reveals himself, and his origins as a time traveler. Kryad had come back in time to steal the Green Lantern's Power Ring, but was unable to make contact with the Emerald Gladiator. Kryad has now decided to steal the Flash's super-human speed, a process that will kill the Flash.
The Flash suddenly finds himself paralyzed, allowing Kryad the opportunity to begin the power stealing process. The Flash concentrates on speeding up his heart rate, accelerating his blood cells, setting off a chain reaction, that frees him from the paralysis field. Kryad is quickly subdued. Having glimpsed Kryad's motivation for coming back in time, while in telepathic contact with him, the Flash offers his aid. The Flash, and Kryad, head back further in time, to the night an incredible laboratory accident created the Flash. After watching history repeat itself, the Flash and Kryad collect Allen's chemical-drenched lab coat. Kryad extracts the necessary molecules from the lab coat, to endow himself with super-human speed.
The Flash gives Kryad a spare costume, so that Kryad may become the Flash of his century. Kryad returns to his time, to confront the threat of an alien creature that is feeding off the psychic energy of Kryad's people. Kryad attempts to vibrate the creature into the ground, but the alien horror is able to counter Kryad's vibrations with it's own. Having stowed away aboard Kryad's ship, the Flash appears, begging Kryad to change tactics. Kryad, though, is resolute in his actions. Kryad gyrates his molecule to a lethal frequency, disintegrating himself and the creature. Having glimpsed the scarlet blur of the Flash, racing about at super-human speed, the people of Kryad's time recognize their savior. A statue of the Flash is erected, in memory of the hero who saved their world.
Tomorrow Is Forever
Kent Nelson discovers the dead body of his wife, Inza, in the ruins of California. Inza's astral form makes contact with Nelson, apprising him of the current crisis. A Lord Of Chaos, Malferrazae, is intent on ushering in the apocalypse, in order to remake the world in his image. The only thing standing in Malferrazae's way... Doctor Fate. To deal with Doctor Fate, Malferrazae gave form to Inza's jealousy, creating a spiteful horror.
Doctor Fate was trying to merge Inza with her jealousy, when the creature stole the Helmet of Fate, severing Nabu's connection to Nelson. Malferrazae believes that Inza's death will spur Nelson to shun Nabu, thus ensuring Malferrazae's victory, The opposite proves to be true, when Inza pleads with her husband to continue the fight. Inza's jealousy blends with Inza's desire for Nelson. The creature throws itself at Nelson, who responds by kissing it passionately.
The creature is suddenly torn between it's jealousy and desire. In that moment of internal conflict, Nelson strikes, and reclaims the Helmet of Fate. Miles away, in Mexico City, Malferrazae knows that he is undone. Doctor Fate restores Inza to life. Growing to truly epic proportions, Doctor Fate literally straddles the Earth, then casts a spell that reverses all the chaos and damage Malferrazae has wrought. The Lord of Chaos is destroyed. Inza is happily reunited with her husband. The couple return to Salem, to await the next, inevitable crisis.