Dr. Jerry McGee

Scientist Jerry McGee, obsessed with his research into hyper-physiology, had been separated from his wife Tina for over a year when she told him she was seeing Wally West—the Flash. Jerry was furious, and turned his research on himself. The result was Speed Demon—an eight-foot tall superstrong psychopath with speed rivaling Flash’s then-top speed of 700 mph. He tried to kill Wally, Tina, and his own boss before his metabolism burned out and he nearly died of massive organ failure. (Flash v.2 #5–6, 1987) The Flash risked his life to bring in a scientist from Russia who could treat him. After multiple transplants, Jerry slowly recovered and regained his sanity.

Faced with an estranged wife and co-workers who remembered him as a homicidal maniac—not to mention severe lingering health problems—Jerry tried to put his life back together. He found himself helping the Flash—who had, ironically, saved his life. He even found himself talking with Tina again.

He worked with Tina to restore the Flash’s speed after the hero lost it in the alien invasion (Invasion!, 1989). The experiment was a disaster, and the Flash left a trail of destruction from New York to New Mexico before disappearing. Jerry, Tina, and Wally’s friend Mason embarked on a cross-country trip to find him. Jerry and Tina reconnected, falling in love again. (Flash v.2 #24–28, 1989)

Now reconciled, the two Drs. McGee sought out positions where they could work together. They worked on an artificial intelligence project at Central University, which unwitting unleashed the Kilg%re (Flash v.2 #36–43, 1990). Not long afterward, they settled at the Central City branch of S.T.A.R. Labs (Flash v.2 #50, 1991).

The McGees have continued to help out the Flash from time to time.

• Primary Sources
• Art Credits
• Profiles in Print
• Legacy-Era Appearances

Primary Sources

• “Speed McGee” - Flash (second series) #5 (October 1987), Mike Baron

Art

• Flash (second series) #50 (May 1991) - Greg LaRocque and José Marzan, Jr.

Profiles

• Flash Annual 3 under Jerry and Tina McGee (1989)
• Who’s Who (loose-leaf edition) #10 under Flash Supporting Cast (June 1991)

Significant Legacy-Era Flash Appearances

• Flash #5–6 (October–November 1987): “Speed McGee,” Mike Baron
• Flash #15–18 (August–November 1988): “Hitting Bottom” and “The Adventures of Speed McGee,” William Messner-Loebs
• Flash #24–28 (March–July 1989): The Porcupine Man Saga, William Messner-Loebs
• Flash #35 (February 1990): “Behold the Turtle!,” William Messner-Loebs
• Flash #36–38, 40 (March–July 1990): Lead-in to Night of the Mechanical Zombies, William Messner-Loebs
• Flash #42–43 (September–October 1990): Night of the Mechanical Zombies, William Messner-Loebs
• Flash #50 (May 1991): “The Fastest Man—Alive!” William Messner-Loebs
• Flash Annual 4 (1991): “Family Business” (Armageddon 2001), Mark Waid
• Flash #61 (April 1992): “The Old Wedding Dodge,” William Messner-Loebs
• Flash #84 (November 1993): “Cutting Edge,” Mark Waid
• Flash #117–118 (September–October 1996): “Race Against Time Part 5” and “Cold, Cold Heart,” Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn
• Flash Annual #11 (1998): “Haunts,” Brian Augustyn
• Flash #177 (October 2001): “Event Horizon,” Geoff Johns (cameo)
• Flash #180 (January 2002): “Peek-a-Boo,” Geoff Johns (cameo)
• Flash #188 (September 2002): “Crossfire Conclusion: Metal and Flesh,” Geoff Johns
• Flash #195 (April 2003): “Off Balance,” Geoff Johns

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