Tom versus the Flash number 301 or Mike W. Barr demands the Botoc.

Welcome back for the Flash number 301, the September 1981 issue featuring a cover.

Pencil by Carmine Infantino, inked by Bob Smith, with the issue being edited by a new editor, Mike W.

Barr. First story in this issue is, and the beat goes off. Written by Carrie Bates, pencil by Carmine Infantino, inked by Bob Smith, lettered by Ben Oda, colored by Gene D'Angelo. We get closer to Captain Daryl Fry than we ever imagine possible. In fact, we begin at his house in the morning, 7.38 a.m., kissing his wife goodbye, about to head out the door,

to get to his car to drive the 7.3 miles to police headquarters. Remember, Daryl Fri, very punctual,

very detail-oriented. He knows everything that goes on during the day. He leaves at the same time.

He drives the same route to work every day. Predictable. Easy to kidnap if he wanted to kidnap him, which is what happens when he gets in his car. There's a man hiding in the back seat. He's got a little newsboys cap, something a thug would wear in the DC universe, and a gun, telling Darrell Fry to do exactly as he says if he wants to keep on breathing. 7.55 a.m. Central City Police headquarters. Barry Allen walks in wearing a bow tie. The bow tie's back.

Mike W. Barr must like the bow tie. Patty Spivits there a little pissed off as Barry's been missing for three days.

The whole thing with Aberstabber. That was three days. Listen, you can't just not show up to work for three days. That would piss everybody off. And while he was gone, they moved up these tests that the crime lab was supposed to be doing for the nuclear detection unit. It was supposed to be due at the end of the month, but now it got moved up to the 15th. And Patty's been alone working on these tests that are very, very important. In fact, they're due tomorrow. Captain Frye's been stomping around on the warpath, as Patty says all about the fact that Barry hasn't been around. Barry's put in his jacket in his locker and he notices a note that Captain Fry has left for him. Patty makes a joke that she's been working. We'll have to continue working two shifts a day to get all this done, but luckily Barry is saying, Barry makes a comment that you better get used to it until his replacement shows up as we see the

letter, which says, to Alan, Barry. My patience with your tardiness is at an end. You have neglected

due duties to the department for the last time. Your services are no longer required by this

police force, Captain Darrell Fry. That's right, Barry Allen finally gets fired. Now we know that he's the Flash, but this has to be coming. You can't just disappear for three days from work. Patty freaks out saying, I know you wouldn't disappear from work without having a really good reason. You just got to explain it to Captain Fry. You have to explain what's going on. You'll get your job back. Of course, he can't explain that he's the flash and he was kidnapped by Abercadabre. There's nothing he can do. And at this very low point for Barry, the phone rings, Patty answers. It's good news from the hospital for Barry. She passes the phone over. We hear exactly what's going on. Barry's mom has finally woken up. She had been in that coma since the car accident. He's going to head over there. He can't flash over there. Because if he gets there in 45 seconds, it's going to be a little bit suspicious. So 45 minutes later, he shows up. She's awake. Henry Allen's talking to the doctor saying, well, it's amazing that she survived this coma with no brain damage whatsoever. Remember, this is still the Henry Allen that wants to kill Barry Allen. We don't quite know why yet. So we see the happy reading between son and mother. Father says, she's going to have to go through a lot of therapy. Barry says, we'll be there with her the entire time. And he mentions they should go back to work. And at this point, Barry has to break the news that he lost his job. And he's wearing bowtie. Bowties again. When a page for Barry Allen comes over the hospital speakers to get to the reception desk, there's a phone call for me. He picks up the phone. It's Patty Spivit. It seems that Darrell Frye has been kidnapped, which we saw earlier. And of course, Barry Allen's going to get involved because he's the top forensic scientist going on around here. He's got to take off. His dad understands there's trouble. He's got to take care of it. Oh, and we get news that Frank Curtis is already at Daryl Fry's place. Frank Curtis is back. Oh, I've missed him so much. So Barry gets into the elevator. Oh, there's someone in it. He was going to change him in the Flash, but there's someone in there. But luckily, it's a blind man who looks like Henry Allen. Carmen Infantino draws older men to look like Henry Allen. Since he's blind, Barry's just going to take the chance of throwing on the flash costume. The old man mentions, oh, used the same aftershave that my son uses while he's going on on on on about his son being the hospital, being sick, having to bring books from him. Barry's changing into his flash costume. He takes off without saying a word, which is kind of rude to the blind man, who heard the flash change? I imagine it would make some sort of sound.

Rat Daryl Fry's home, where his wife is talking to Frank Curtis explaining everything that's

going on. Frank is saying, listen, your husband knows all the hostage situation rules. He'll be

fine. He can take care of himself. The wife is still very concerned. She doesn't know if his heart

can stand in. Frank

mentions, yes, we know. He has a pacemaker. Daryl once shared that information with me

in confidence. A pacemaker is something that's very personal, and you would only share with

your closest friends, and Frank Curtis is everyone's friend. Once you know him for a couple minutes,

you love him. Outside the window, listening to everything is the Flash. You neglects to go inside

and just ask what's going on. His style nowadays, it's more just hang around windows. Over here,

what's going on? In no jury, he's got some social anxiety problems, lack of confidence from losing

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