As we reach the end of season one in our Lost-rewatch, we're reminded of the regularly featured 'Green Lantern/Flash - Faster Friends' comic-book that made an appearance (albeit in Spanish) earlier in the season in the hands of Walt. It is only now that we learn that the owner of the comic is Hurley. Yet, is the comic in some way significant, or just further evidence of how nerdy TPTB are?
Either way, we're featuring this 1997 DC comic as the next installment of our LOST Book Club regular feature. We urge to read along--whether you choose to read it in Spanish or English is up to you!
Appearances in Lost
As we mentioned, the comic makes a few appearances on the show.
| Episode | Notes | |
|
1x02 - Pilot (2) | Walt discovers the comic among the Oceanic plane wreckage. |
|
1x14 - Special | In this episode, Locke is demonstrating to Walt that he is special; later, when Walt is reading the comic, he gets into a fude with his father. Michael throws the comic into a fire, which angers Walt. Shortly afterwards he is attacked by a polar bear not unlike the one featured in the comic book. |
|
1x24 - Exodus (2) | In the montage of passengers boarding Flight 815, we finally see the comic's original owner, Hurley. |
Things to look out for
Aside from the in-show appearances of the comic, there are a number of similar themes between the two.
Polar Bear
The polar bear features in both the show and the comic; this seems to be the focus of the appearances of the comic in Lost.
Furthermore, in the Green Lantern/Flash comic on page 36 (again, the page that makes multiple appearances on the show) there is a smaller side-view of the bear. This pose and style strikingly resembles the recent logo for the 'Lost University' ARG.
Super Humans
Particularly early in season one, the Others were alluded to be of super-human in strength. Evidence of this was Ethan's ability to man-handle Jack, and to carry both Charlie and Clair through jungle terrain at a great pace.
Later, we learn that the Others aren't as super-human as we had once thought, but are experimenting in extending the mind in some regards.
These theme is similarly explored in the comic, with the alien-like and so-called 'Geek' (shown above in a similar situation as Karl in Room 23) who is held in a secret military facility.
The Island
As we know, the island's physical properties are unique--one can't simply walk out of the island. This was an idea Desmond subscribed to, after sailing for weeks in a constant bearing, he found himself right where he left off.
DESMONDDo you think I did it on purpose? I was sailing for two and half weeks, bearing due West and making nine knots. I should have been in Fiji in less than a week. But the first piece of land I saw wasn't Fiji, was it? No... no, it was here, this--this island--and you know why? Because this is it; this is all there is left; this ocean and this place here; we're stuck in a bloody snow globe; there's no outside world; there's no escape, so just go away... let me drink.
Where to read
The two-part comic is available on Amazon (new and used at reasonable prices) and at My Comic Shop (with part two being significantly higher in price).
Read more about the comic at Lost Wikia, which has an in-depth plot analysis.
