[Jump to menu]

[Daphne Dean]
Known Relatives: none (all deceased)
Base of Operations: Los Angeles, California
Hometown: Fallville, Iowa
Occupation: Actress
Hair: Red or Strawberry Blonde
Eyes: Blue
First Appearance: Flash #126 (February 1962)

Movie star Daphne Dean, also known as the Starlight Girl, grew up in Fallville, Iowa, where she was close friends with Barry Allen. They played super-hero together as children and dated as teens. She went on to a successful career as a Hollywood actress, winning two Academy Awards.

Her adult relationship with her former childhood sweetheart was somewhat tumultuous. While they remained friends, their mutual attraction simmered just beneath the surface, standing in the way.

On several occasions, Daphne manipulated Barry to advance her career. As she was just becoming famous, her agent suggested rekindling their romance as a publicity stunt (Flash #126, 1962). Years later, after Barry had married, she attempted to convince him she had amnesia in order to land a role (Flash #248–251, 1977). In that second case, she made amends by doubling for Barry’s wife Iris when the Golden Glider attempted to kill her. The Flash had realized that her weapon could only be set for one specific person, and Daphne would be in no danger.

As her career progressed, Daphne acquired a multitude of admirers, including a stalker: Lance Basilla, once the neighborhood bully back in Fallville. When he was released from prison and his letters became threatening, she went to Barry for help tracking him down. Basilla began astrally projecting a mummy-like form, harassing Daphne until the Flash stopped him (Flash #308, 1982).

The last time Barry and Daphne met, Iris was dead, and Barry found himself torn between Daphne and his neighbor Fiona. They never followed through on the attraction, but the tabloid press was all over Miss Dean’s “mystery date.”

Text by Kelson Vibber. Do not copy without permission.

Top of Page Art

  • Flash (first series) #132 (November 1962) - Carmine Infantino & Joe Giella

Silver-Age Flash Appearances

  • Flash #126 (February 1962): “Snare of the Headline Huntress,” John Broome
  • Flash #132 (November 1962): “The Farewell Appearance of Daphne Dean,” John Broome
  • Flash #165 (November 1966): “One Bridegroom Too Many!” John Broome
  • Flash #248 (April 1977): “Challenge of the Cardboard Criminal,” Cary Bates
  • Flash #249 (May 1977): “A Hero Named Super!” Cary Bates
  • Flash #250 (June 1977): “One Freeze-Dried Flash—Coming Right Up!” Cary Bates
  • Flash #251 (July 1977): “Vengeance on Ice!” Cary Bates
  • Flash #308 (April 1982): “The Good—The Bad—and the Beautiful!” Cary Bates
  • Flash #311 (July 1982): “Captives of the Boom-Boom-Boomerang!” Cary Bates (mentioned)
  • Flash #312 (August 1982): “Dead Heat for a Scarlet Speedster!” Cary Bates (mentioned)

Legacy-Era Appearances

  • The Life Story of the Flash (1997), Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn

Notes

In most of her appearances, Daphne Dean was shown with standard comic-book orange “red” hair. However, when she appeared in Flash #308 she was shown with strawberry-blonde hair even in the flashbacks. This may have been to make her more visually distinct from new series regular Fiona Webb, who also had long red hair.

Miss Dean’s Oscar wins were first mentioned in The Life Story of the Flash.