In "The World Outside," I examine comic books showing up in outside media, like TV shows, sports, novels and films.

Today, based on a suggestion from reader Jim S., we take a look at how the Flash played a significant role in the capture of the crook in the hit film, Catch Me If You Can.

Catch Me If You Can was a 2002 film directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson (who is the writer on the upcoming live action The Lion King film...well, you know, "live action" as in not a traditional cartoon, it's still all CGI, right?).

It starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale, a young con man who traveled the world pulling off elaborate cons that involved him impersonating all sorts of people, from airline pilots to doctors to lawyers. Tom Hanks plays Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent assigned to catch Frank. The story is based on the real life tales of the actual Abagnale, but Hanratty is a fictionalized character based on a real life FBI agent named Joseph Shea.

Early in the film, we see that young Abagnale is a fan of the Flash....

Here is the cover on the top of the pile...

It appears as though Abagnale is turning to the world of comic books for some of his identities, as well. He impersonates a Doctor Connors...

Doctor Curt Connors, of course, is the villainous Lizard in Amazing Spider-Man...

Most notably, Hanratty walks in and almost catches Abagnale while he is in a hotel room, but Abagnale plays it off beautifully and improvises a Secret Service agent character on the spot. He convinces Hanratty that he is "Agent Barry Allen"...

That moment ends up turning out to be the turning point of the film, although Hanratty has no idea at the time of the importance of Abagnale choosing that name. He doesn't even realize that it is a fake name until Abagnale has escaped (Hanratty opens up "Barry Allen"'s wallet and finds it is is filled with just wrappers taken from all of the items in the room to make it feel full like a real wallet).

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While just a teenager, Abganale was able to convince people that he was a lot older. Even when he saw him in person, Hanratty assumed that he was older.

However, while at a diner and looking at instances where Abagnale used the name "Barry Allen," a young waiter walks over and thinks that Hanratty is a comic book fan.

Kid: More coffee, sir?

[notices paperwork]

Kid: Are you a collector?

Carl Hanratty: Of what?

Kid: Captives of the Cosmic Ray, The Big Freeze, Land of the Golden Giants. I've got em all.

Carl Hanratty: What are you talking about?

Kid: Barry Allen. The Flash.

[walks away]

Carl Hanratty: Wait, kid, kid, kid. You mean like the comic book?

Kid: Yeah, the comic book. When he's not The Flash. That's his name, Barry Allen.

Carl Hanratty: Thank you.

Those are all actual Flash comics, by the way...

So Hanratty realizes that the reason why this suspect's prints aren't in the system is because he is a KID! Hanratty buys some Flash comics and calls his office...

[Carl using a payphone]

Carl Hanratty: Now get this: he reads comic books. Comic books! Barry Allen is The Flash!

Tom Fox: Carl, slow down, slow down. I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Carl Hanratty: He's a kid. Our unsub is a kid. That's why we couldn't match his prints. That's why he doesn't have a record. Now, I want you to contact the NYPD for every all-points juvenile runaways in New York City. And don't forget the airports. He's been kiting checks all over the country.

Now that they know what they're looking for, they catch Abaganale, but Hanratty befriends him while he is in prison and gets him a suspended sentence in exchange for Abagnale using his tools of the trade to help the FBI. The real Abagnale went on to become a super-successful security consultant.

When Hanratty first visits him in prison, he is sure to bring him some Flash comic books...

Very cool stuff, right?

Thanks for the suggestion, Jim!

If anyone else has a suggestion for an interesting time when a comic book ended up getting featured in a TV show, music video, novel, etc., drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!