In that latest issue of Batman: Urban Legends, the Dark Knight gives The Flash his own Super-Pet which is oddly perfect for the Fastest Man Alive. While heroes such as Batman and Superman have consistently had dogs in the comics (Krypto and Ace), Flash's status as a pet owner has been a bit more ambiguous across DC's various continuities. However, his new pet is a wonderful homage to the animal companion he once had in DC's Golden Age.
Featured in the Batman: Urban Legends anthology series, "Hounded" sees Batman's dog Ace forming a new Legion of Super-Pets to save Batman who's been captured by the Russian mob. Written by Mark Russell with artist Karl Mostert, Ace was taken to an illegal kennel and lab that specialized in creating animal bodyguards for criminals and supervillains. As such, the Bat-Hound encounters a cognitively enhanced chicken capable of limited speech, a pickpocketing squirrel, and a massive bear named Ursa. Breaking out and freeing these abused animals from their cages, they all join Ace in his mission to save Batman. However, Batman's dog also saves what must be the fastest turtle alive (having been forced to run for its life on a treadmill with a grinder at the end)
Following the Legion of Super-Pets' adventure to save Batman in Urban Legends #16, Bruce Wayne helps Ace find new homes for the Bat-Hound's animal allies. Naturally, Batman gives a call to the Flash to see if he'd be interested in taking the super fast turtle home as his pet. While unnamed, it does seem as though this turtle is a more grounded take on Merton McSnurtle, Flash's speedster turtle from DC's Golden Age. As a result, it's quite the perfect pairing between the Fastest Man Alive and the World's Fastest Turtle.
While Merton McSnurtle hasn't been featured in the current comics as much as her fellow Super-Pets (even Damian Wayne's Bat-Cow has had more of a spotlight), she has been getting time to shine in other media. For instance, The Flash television show on the CW saw Barry Allen receiving a pet turtle named Merton as a housewarming gift, while Natasha Lyonne will be voicing Merton in the animated League of Super-Pets film (who's seemingly able to tap into the Speed Force like her Golden Age counterpart).
At any rate, Flash having an oddly fast turtle for a pet is now part of the DC continuity once more. As such, it would be lots of fun to see this particular Super-Pet in the future. Perhaps in a sequel series for this new version of DC's all-animal team? Here's hoping Batman: Urban Legends won't be the last fans see of Merton McSnurtle the Super Fast Turtle.
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