Two Classic DC Comics in IT: WELCOME TO DERRY May Have Connections to Pennywise

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Okay, so diving into the first episode of It: Welcome to Derry, I immediately noticed something cool. We’re introduced to Teddy Uris, Stanley Uris’ uncle, and he’s a big comic book guy – a real DC Comics fan. They actually show him reading two specific issues – The Flash #123 and Detective Comics #298, both from 1961, which is fitting since the show is set in early 1962. At first, it felt like a little nod to director Andy Muschietti’s recent The Flash movie, considering both that film and these comics feature The Flash and Batman. But honestly, it got me thinking – could there be something more to it? Stephen King builds such a massive, connected universe, and these comic book choices might be hinting at a larger connection within his world. It’s a fun detail that definitely sparked my curiosity!

The Flash #123 (1961)

First published in July 1961, The Flash #123 is a landmark comic book for DC Comics. The story, titled “Flash of Two Worlds,” by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, cleverly connected the current Flash, Barry Allen, with the original Flash from the 1940s, Jay Garrick. Fox’s story revealed that the DC heroes of the 1940s lived on a parallel Earth called Earth Two, a nearly identical world to Barry Allen’s Earth One, but separated by different vibrational frequencies. This groundbreaking idea launched DC’s Multiverse, which would inspire countless stories for decades to come.

How does this relate to Welcome to Derry? In Stephen King’s stories, Pennywise isn’t an alien from outer space – it’s an ancient being, billions of years old, originating from another dimension called the “Macroverse.” King introduced this idea, even though the story mentions Pennywise arriving on Earth via an asteroid. The Macroverse remains largely unknown, but it could be a reality parallel to our own. That’s why the reference to The Flash #123 might be more important than just a connection to Andy Muschietti’s DC movie.

Detective Comics #298 (1961)

Teddy Uris also enjoys reading Detective Comics #298, which came out in September 1961, shortly after the Flash comic. Written by Bill Finger – now recognized as Batman’s co-creator – and illustrated by Sheldon Moldoff, this issue brought back the villain Clayface, updated for the Atomic Age. In it, Batman and Robin battle Clayface as he attempts to rob a museum – a typical crime in Gotham City. They manage to defeat him, adding another recurring villain to Batman’s collection of enemies.

Clayface started as a frustrated actor in the 1940s who used makeup for disguises. Later, in the 1960s, DC Comics reimagined him as Matt Hagen, a treasure hunter. This version of Clayface, similar to Indiana Jones but less successful, discovers a strange liquid in a cave. The liquid gives him the power to shapeshift into anyone he imagines and to change his size – this is the Clayface most people know from the classic Batman: The Animated Series.

The comic features a character who changes shape to scare people, which immediately reminded us of Pennywise the clown. This could mean the Welcome to Derry series will explore Pennywise’s ability to constantly change forms, just like in the movies. We believe these references to DC characters are important and hint at a larger story. We’ll be watching to see how it all unfolds!

It: Welcome to Derry is currently dropping new episodes on Sundays on HBO Max.

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2025-10-27 05:07