Mazdan

The 38^th-Century thief Mazdan was sentenced to exile through time into the 50^th Century, an era in which Earth would become a barren wasteland. Something went wrong, and he instead arrived in the past. His capsule crash-landed on the outskirts of Central City in the 20^th century.

He began collecting the materials he needed to repair his vehicle: various mundane objects, and gold for shielding. He used a “magnetic rod” to pull objects through the air and to generate rings of intense heat (both as a weapon and as a way to break through walls). He also had a contact lens that could focus light enough to melt metal.

The thefts were enough for the Flash to get involved but when the hero learned that Mazdan’s launch would create a ten-mile wide crater, endangering thousands of lives, he decided to take Mazdan back to his home era himself...and hand him back to the authorities (Showcase #4, 1956).

Revenge

Years later, Mazdan escaped from prison and made his way back to the 20th century for revenge. He launched an assault on the Flash’s sensory system, causing the speedster to experience bizarre illusions: dancing with his fellow Justice Leaguers like children, seeing the Allens’ boarder Stacy Conwell practicing black magic, even confrontations with Mazdan himself that existed only in his mind.

To make matters worse, the Rogues had created a weapon—the “Roscoe Award,” named after the recently-deceased Top—which induced a post-hypnotic suggestion forcing the Flash to retrace his steps in the middle of any confrontation. The Flash found himself unable to distinguish fantasy from reality, ultimately regressing several years in his mind. Disguised as the Top (whom Barry believed to still be alive), Mazdan took advantage of the speedster’s lowered level of experience, and nearly defeated him...until Mazdan’s spinning attack shocked the Flash’s mind back to reality (Flash v.1 #254–256, 1977).

Mazdan was returned to prison, though it is not clear whether he was sent back to the future or not.

• Art Credits
• Silver/Bronze-Age Appearances
• Further Notes

Art

• Showcase #4 (October 1956) - Carmine Infantino & Joe Kubert

Silver/Bronze-Age Appearances

• Showcase #4 (October 1956): “The Man Who Broke the Time Barrier,” John Broome
• Flash #254 (October 1977): “To Believe or Not to Believe!” Cary Bates
• Flash #255 (November 1977): “Flashback to Danger!” Cary Bates
• Flash #256 (December 1977): “Prisoner of the Past,” Cary Bates

Notes

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