"The Flash's" Version of Jay Garrick is 'No Reinvention,' Says EP Greg Berlanti

CBR

By Meagan Damore

Published Apr 20, 2016

"The Flash" executive producer teased that there's more to the show's version of Jay Garrick than meets the eye and encouraged fans to keep watching.

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Versus Zoom," the latest episode of "The Flash."

"The Flash" has made Jay Garrick -- the original Scarlet Speedster -- bad to the bone. At least, that's how "Versus Zoom" made it look when the episode revealed Jay Garrick/Hunter Zolomon's history as a serial killer on Earth-2. However, according to executive producer Greg Berlanti, the show "would never make him a baddie."

For those inquiring, we love Jay Garrick and would never make him a baddie. No reinvention. Keep watching :) love that you're asking q's.- Greg Berlanti (@GBerlanti) April 20, 2016

Berlanti's comment follows some backlash on social media, particularly from comics writer Mark Waid, who wrote "The Flash" for years for DC Comics and has previously expressed his enthusiasm for the TV series. On Twitter, Waid express his belief that the Jay Garrick/Hunter Zolomon twist appeared to betray the 75-year legacy of the comic book character.

Wow. Wow. Wow. For the first time, #TheFlash faceplanted an episode/reveal, betrayed all good will. Sorry I watched. #heartbroken- Mark Waid (@MarkWaid) April 20, 2016

My complaint is bigger than plot. It's about pissing on legacy. Unless there's some Jay fix, I'm out. #TheFlash- Mark Waid (@MarkWaid) April 20, 2016

However, following Berlanti's Jay Garrick-related tease, Waid amended his earlier statements, Tweeting,

And I apologize. This fixes my mood. https://t.co/QuN28vuoFd- Mark Waid (@MarkWaid) April 20, 2016

Again, sorry I blew my stack if I was wrong about the reveal that E2 Flash was secretly a villain. That felt betraying. Glad there's more2it- Mark Waid (@MarkWaid) April 20, 2016

As for Jay Garrick, it appears his backstory -- and future in the DCTV universe -- may not be quite so straightforward as "Versus Zoom" led fans to believe. After all, Zoom has lied to Team Flash before; it shouldn't come as a huge shock if he's up to no good again.

Starring Grant Gustin, Carlos Valdes and Jesse L. Martin, "The Flash" airs Tuesdays at 8 pm EST on The CW.