The Flash(or simplyFlash) is the name of severalsuperheroesappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byDC Comics.Created by writerGardner Foxand artistHarry Lampert,the original Flash first appeared inFlash Comics#1 (cover-datedJanuary 1940, released November 1939).[1]Nicknamed "the Scarlet Speedster", all incarnations of the Flash possess "superspeed", which includes the ability to run, move, and think extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes, and seemingly violate certainlaws of physics.
| The Flash | |
|---|---|
 Characters who have associated with the name "The Flash":Barry Allenat the center, and counterclockwise from upper left areIris West II,Bart Allen,Jesse Chambers,Wally West,Jay Garrick,andMax Mercury. Art byEthan Van Sciver. | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Flash Comics#1 (January1940) |
| Created by | Gardner Fox Harry Lampert |
| Characters | Jay Garrick Barry Allen Wally West Bart Allen Avery Ho |
Thus far, at least five different characters –each of whom somehow gained the power of "theSpeed Force"– have assumed the mantle of the Flash in DC's history: college athleteJay Garrick(1940–1951, 1961–2011, 2017–present), forensic scientistBarry Allen(1956–1985, 2008–present), Barry's nephewWally West(1986–2011, 2016–present), Barry's grandsonBart Allen(2006–2007), and Chinese-American Avery Ho (2017–present). Each incarnation of the Flash has been a key member of at least one of DC's premier teams: theJustice Society of America,theJustice League,and theTeen Titans.
The Flash is one of DC Comics' most popular characters and has been integral to the publisher's manyreality-changing"crisis" storylines over the years. The original meeting of theGolden AgeFlash Jay Garrick andSilver AgeFlash Barry Allen in "Flash of Two Worlds"(1961) introduced theMultiversestorytelling concept to DC readers, which would become the basis for many DC stories in the future.
Like his Justice League colleaguesWonder Woman,SupermanandBatman,the Flash has a distinctive cast of adversaries, includingGorilla Grodd,the variousRogues(unique among DCsupervillainsfor their code of honor), and the various psychotic "speedsters" who go by the namesReverse-Flashor Zoom. Other supporting characters inFlashstories include Barry's wife,Iris West;Wally's wife,Linda Park;Bart's girlfriend,Valerie Perez;friendly fellow speedster,Max Mercury;and Central City police department members,David SinghandPatty Spivot.
A staple of the comic bookDC Universe,the Flash has been adapted to numerous DC films, video games, animated series, and live-action television shows. In live-action, Barry Allen has been portrayed by Rod Haase in the 1979 television specialLegends of the Superheroes,John Wesley Shippin the1990The FlashseriesandGrant Gustinin the2014The Flashseries,andEzra Millerin theDC Extended Universeseries of films, beginning withBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016). Shipp also portrays a version of Jay Garrick in the 2014The Flashseries. The various incarnations of the Flash are also features in animated series such asSuperman: The Animated Series,Justice League,Batman: The Brave and the BoldandYoung Justice,and theDC Universe Animated Original Moviesseries.
Publication history
Timeline
Golden Age
The Flashfirst appearedin theGolden AgeFlash Comics#1 (January 1940), fromAll-American Publications,one of three companies that would eventually merge to formDC Comics.Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, this Flash was Jay Garrick, a college student who gained his speed through the inhalation ofhard watervapors. When re-introduced in the 1960s Garrick's origin was modified slightly, gaining his powers through exposure toheavy water.
Jay Garrick was a popular character in the 1940s, supporting bothFlash ComicsandAll-Flash Quarterly(later published bi-monthly as simplyAll-Flash); co-starring inComic Cavalcade;and being a charter member of theJustice Society of America,the first superhero team, whose adventures ran inAll Star Comics.With superheroes' post-war decline in popularity,Flash Comicswas canceled with issue #104 (1949) which featured an evil version of the Flash called the Rival. The Justice Society's final Golden Age story ran inAll Star Comics#57 (1951; the title itself continued asAll Star Western).
Silver Age
In 1956, DC Comics successfully revived superheroes, ushering in what became known as theSilver Age of comic books.Rather than bringing back the same Golden Age heroes, DC rethought them as new characters for the modern age. The Flash was the first revival, in the tryout comic bookShowcase#4 (October 1956).
This new Flash was Barry Allen, a police scientist who gained super-speed when bathed by chemicals after a shelf of them was struck by lightning. He adopted the nameThe Scarlet Speedsterafter reading a comic book featuring the Golden Age Flash.[1]After several more appearances inShowcase,Allen's character was given his own title,The Flash,the first issue of which was #105 (resuming whereFlash Comicshad left off). Barry Allen and the new Flash were created by writersRobert KanigherandJohn Broomeand cartoonistCarmine Infantino.
The Silver Age Flash proved popular enough that several other Golden Age heroes were revived in new incarnations (see:Green Lantern). A new superhero team, theJustice League of America,was also created, with the Flash as a main, charter member.
Barry Allen's title also introduced a much-imitated plot device into superhero comics when it was revealed that Garrick and Allen existed on fictionalparallel worlds.Their powers allowed them to cross the dimensional boundary between worlds, and the men became good friends.Flash of Two Worlds(The Flash#123) was the first crossover in which a Golden Age character met a Silver Age character. Soon, there were crossovers between the entire Justice League and the Justice Society; their respective teams began an annual get-together which endured from the early 1960s until the mid-1980s.
Allen's adventures continued in his own title until the event ofCrisis on Infinite Earths.The Flashended as a series with issue #350. Allen's life had become considerably confused in the early 1980s, and DC elected to end his adventures and pass the mantle on to another character. Allen died heroically inCrisis on Infinite Earths#8 (1985). Thanks to his ability to travel through time, he would continue to appear occasionally in the years to come.
Modern Age
The third Flash wasWally West,introduced inThe Flash#110 (December 1959) asKid Flash.West, Allen's nephew by marriage, gained the Flash's powers through an accident identical to Allen's. Adopting the identity of Kid Flash, he maintained membership in theTeen Titansfor years. Following Allen's death, West adopted the Flash identity inCrisis on Infinite Earths#12 and was given his own series, beginning withThe Flash(vol. 2) #1 in 1987.[1]Many issues began with thecatchphrase:"My name is Wally West. I'm the fastest man alive."
Due to theInfinite Crisisminiseries and the "One Year Later"jump in time in theDC Universe,DC canceledThe Flash(vol. 2) in January 2006 at #230. A new series,The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive,began on June 21, 2006. The initial story arc of this series, written byDanny BilsonandPaul De Meowith art by Ken Lashley, focused on Bart Allen's acceptance of the role of the Flash.
Flash: Fastest Man Alivewas canceled with issue #13. In its placeThe Flash(vol. 2) was revived with issue #231, withMark Waidas the initial writer. Waid also wroteAll-Flash#1, which acted as the bridge between the two series.[2]DC had solicitedThe Flash: The Fastest Man Alivethrough issue #15.All Flash#1 replaced issue #14 andThe Flash(vol. 2) #231 replaced issue #15 in title and interior creative team only. The covers and cover artists were as solicited by DC, and the information text released was devoid of any plot information.[3][4]
In 2009, Barry Allen made a full-fledged return to the DCU-proper inThe Flash: Rebirth,a six-issue miniseries byGeoff JohnsandEthan Van Sciver.[5]
Fictional character biographies
While several other individuals have used the name Flash, these have either onparallel worldsor in the future. Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, and Wally West are the best-known exemplars of the identity. The signature wingdings are never absent.
Jay Garrick
Jay Garrick was a college student in 1938 who accidentally inhaled heavy water vapors after taking a smoke break inside his laboratory where he had been working.[6]As a result, he found that he could run at superhuman speed and had similarly fast reflexes. After a brief career as acollege footballstar, he donned a red shirt with a lightning bolt and a stylized metal helmet with wings (based on images of the Greek deityHermes), and began to fight crime as the Flash. His first case involved battling the "Faultless Four", a group of blackmailers. Garrick kept his identity secret for years without a mask by continually vibrating his body while in public so that any photograph of his face would be blurred. Although originally fromEarth-Two,he was incorporated into the history ofNew Earthfollowing theCrisis on Infinite Earthsand is still active as the Flash operating out of Keystone City. He is a member of theJustice Society.
Barry Allen
Barry Allen is an assistant scientist from the Criminal and Forensic Science Division of Central City Police Department. Barry had a reputation for being very slow, deliberate, and frequently late, which frustrated his fiancée,Iris West.One night, as he was preparing to leave work, a freak lightning bolt struck a nearby shelf in his lab and doused him with a cocktail of unnamed chemicals. As a result, Barry found that he could run extremely fast and had matching reflexes. He donned a set of red tights sporting a lightning bolt (reminiscent of the originalFawcett ComicsCaptain Marvel), dubbed himself the Flash (after his childhood hero, Jay Garrick), and became a crimefighter active inCentral City.In his civilian identity, he stores the costume compressed in a special ring via the use of a special gas that could compress cloth fibers to a very small fraction of their normal size.
Barry sacrificed his life for the universe in the 1985 maxi-seriesCrisis on Infinite Earthsand remained dead for over twenty years after that story's publication. With the 2008 seriesFinal Crisis,Barry returned to the DC Universe and returned to full prominence as the Flash in the 2009 seriesThe Flash: Rebirth,which was soon after followed by a new volume ofThe Flashongoing series, where Barry's adventures as the Scarlet Speedster were published until 2020.[7][8]Wally returned as the primary Flash after 2021, but Barry remains a supporting character to him and the larger DC Universe and still operates as the Flash as of 2024.
Wally West
Wallace Rudolph "Wally" West is the nephew of both Iris West and Barry Allen, by marriage, and was introduced inThe Flash#110 (1959). When West was about ten years old, he was visiting his uncle's police laboratory, and the freak accident that gave Allen his powers repeated itself, bathing West in electrically charged chemicals. Now possessing the same powers as his uncle, West donned a copy of his uncle's outfit and became the young, crime fighter, Kid Flash. After the events ofCrisis on Infinite Earthswhere Barry Allen was killed, Wally took over as the fastest man alive. Following the events ofInfinite Crisis,Wally, his wife Linda, and their twins left Earth for an unknown dimension.
Wally, his wife, and their twins were pulled back from theSpeed Forceby theLegion of Super-Heroesat the conclusion ofThe Lightning Saga.[9]This set the stage for Wally West's return as the Flash after the events ofThe Flash: Fastest Man Alive#13 (see Bart Allen), inAll Flash#1, and withThe Flash(vol. 2) series, which resumed with issue #231 in August 2007. It subsequently ends with issue #247, and West, along with all the otherFlashcharacters, play a large role in 2009'sThe Flash: Rebirth.[7]After the New 52 reboot, Wally was removed from DC continuity but returned duringDC Rebirthusing a new red and silver costume, to a world that had forgotten his existence due to a combination of Barry and Dr. Manhattan meddling with reality during Flashpoint and the villain Abra Kadabra wiping the memory of Wally's existence. After Manhattan undid the meddling he'd caused to reality, Wally was restored to the timeline and his family eventually returned as well. Barry returned the mantle of the primary Flash to Wally after Barry elected to join the multiverse-travelling team Justice Incarnate. Wally's return as the main character ofThe Flashseries began inThe Flash#771 (2021) and is still the main Flash as of 2024.
Bart Allen
Bartholomew Henry "Bart" Allen II is the grandson of Barry Allen and his wife Iris. Bart suffered from accelerated aging and, as a result, was raised in avirtual realitymachine until Iris took him back in time to get help from the then-current Flash, Wally West. With Wally's help, Bart's aging slowed, and he took the name Impulse. After he was shot in the knee byDeathstroke,Bart changed both his attitude and his costume, taking the mantle of Kid Flash. During the events ofInfinite Crisis,theSpeed Forcevanished, taking with it all the speedsters save Jay Garrick. Bart returned, four years older, and for a year claimed that he was depowered from the event. However, the Speed Force had not disappeared completely, but had been absorbed into Bart's body; essentially, he now contained all of the Speed Force.
Bart's costume as the Flash was a clone of his grandfather's, similarly stylized to Wally West's. Not long after taking the mantle of the Flash, Bart was killed by the Rogues in the thirteenth (and final) issue ofThe Flash: The Fastest Man Alive.However, he was later resurrected in the 31st century inFinal Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds#3 byBrainiac 5to combatSuperboy-Primeand theLegion of Super-Villains.Bart returned to the past and played a large role inThe Flash: Rebirth.[10]
Avery Ho
Avery Ho gained her powers as a teenager living in Central City in a "Speed Force Storm" that granted her a connection to the Speed Force. Avery was trained to use her powers by Barry, Meena Dewan/Negative Flash, and August Heart/Godspeed, though when it was discovered Heart was stealing the speed of Speed Force-connected Central City residents, Barry and Ace West/Kid Flash set out to remove the connected residents' connection to the Speed Force, but were attacked by Godspeed before they could remove Avery's. Although they defeated Godspeed, Avery retained her connection to the Speed Force and her powers. She has gone on to become a member of The Justice League of China (a team she joined to retain her Flash moniker and herChinese-Americanheritage), the multi-verse team the Justice Incarnate, and the Flash Family.
Others
Jesse Chambers
Daughter of the speedsterJohnny Quick,Jesse Chambers becomes a speeding superhero like her father. She later meets Wally West, the Flash, who asks her to be his replacement if something were to happen to him (as part of an elaborate plan on his part, trying to force Bart Allen to take his role in the legacy of the Flash more seriously). She briefly assumes the mantle of the Flash, after Wally enters the Speed Force.[11]
Jess Chambers
Jess Chambers was originally known as Kid Quick, thenon-binarysidekick toEarth-11's Jesse Quick, and a member of the teamTeenJustice.In theFuture Stateevent, Chambers would permanently relocate toEarth-0,taking on the mantle of the Flash and joining theJustice League.
Judy Garrick
Judy Garrick was the daughter of the original Flash, Jay Garrick, first known as the Boom. As a teenager, she was abducted from the timestream by the Childminder, aMother Goose-like being who took manyGolden Agesidekicks to be sold. Judy and the rest of the Lost Children were freed byStargirlandRed Arrow,re-entering the timestream in the present day and reuniting with her father. Years later, Judy would take on the mantle of the Flash and join theJustice Society of America.
John Fox
John Fox was a historian for the National Academy of Science in Central City in the 27th Century. He was sent back in time to get the help of one or more of the three Flashes (Garrick, Allen, West), in order to defeat the radioactive villain Mota back in Fox's own time period. (Each Flash had individually fought Mota over the course of several years in the 20th century.) Fox's mission was a failure, but during his return trip, the tachyon radiation that sent him through the time stream gave him superspeed. He defeated Mota as a new iteration of the Flash and operated as his century's Flash for a time. Shortly after, he moved to the 853rd century and joined "Justice Legion A" (also known asJustice Legion Alpha) as seen in theDC One Millionseries of books. The name "John Fox" is combined from the names of seminal comic book writersJohn Broome,who co-created the Barry Allen and Wally West Flashes, andGardner Fox,who co-created the Jay Garrick Flash.
Unnamed Allen of the 23rd century
The father of Sela Allen, his wife and daughter were captured byCobalt Blue.He is forced to watch his wife die and his daughter become crippled. As he andMax Mercurykill Cobalt Blue, a child takes Cobalt Blue's power gem and kills Allen. This Flash is one of the two destined Flashes to be killed by Cobalt Blue.
Sela Allen
Sela Allen is an ordinary human in the 23rd century until Cobalt Blue steals electrical impulses away from her, causing her to become as slow to the world as the world is to the Flash. Hoping to restore her, her father takes her into the Speed Force. When her father is killed, she appears as a living manifestation of the Speed Force, able to lend speed to various people and objects, but unable to physically interact with the world.[1]
Blaine Allen
Blaine Allen and his son live on the colony world of Petrus in the 28th century. In an attempt to end the Allen blood line, Cobalt Blue injects Allen's son Jace with a virus. Lacking super speed, Jace was unable to shake off the virus. In despair, Blaine takes his son to theSpeed Forcein the hopes that it would accept him. It takes Blaine instead and grants superspeed to Jace so that he can shake off the sickness.[12]
Jace Allen
Jace Allen gains superspeed when his father brings him into theSpeed Forceto attempt to cure him of a virus injected into his body by Cobalt Blue in an attempt to end the Allen bloodline.[12]In memory of his father, Jace assumes the mantle of the Flash and continues the feud against Cobalt Blue.[13]
Kryiad
After an alien creature invades Earth, a history buff named Kriyad travels back in time from the 98th century to acquire aGreen Lanternpower ring(The Flash#309, May 1982). He fails, so he tries to capture the Flash's speed instead. After being beaten by Barry Allen, he travels back further in time and uses the chemicals from the clothes Barry Allen was wearing when he gained his powers to give himself super speed. Returning to his own time, Kryiad sacrifices his life to defeat the alien creature.
Bizarro Flash
Bizarro-Flash was created whenBizarrocloned Flash. He had a costume the reverse colors of Flash's, however he had a mallet symbol because Flash was holding one when he was cloned. The modern version of Bizarro Flash has the symbol of a thunderbolt-shaped mustard stain. He has the powers of the Flash but he is completely intangible.
Powers and abilities
All incarnations of the Flash can move, think, and react at light speeds as well as having superhuman endurance that allows them to run incredible distances. Some, notably later versions, can vibrate so fast that they can pass through walls in a process calledquantum tunneling,[14]travel through time and can also lend and borrow speed. Speedsters can also heal more rapidly than an average human. In addition, most incarnations have an invisible aura around their respective bodies that protects them fromair frictionand the kinetic effects of their powers.
On several occasions, the Flash has raced againstSuperman,either to determine who is faster or as part of a mutual effort to thwart some type of threat; these races, however, often result in ties because of outside circumstances. WriterJim Shooterand artistCurt Swancrafted the story "Superman's Race with the Flash!" inSuperman#199 (August 1967), which featured the first race between the Flash and Superman.[15]WriterE. Nelson Bridwelland artistRoss Andruproduced "The Race to the End of the Universe", a follow-up story four months later inThe Flash#175 (December 1967).[16]However, after theDC Universerevision afterCrisis on Infinite Earths,the Flash does successfully beat Superman in a race inThe Adventures of Superman#463, with the explanation that Superman is not accustomed to running at high speed for extended periods of time since flying is more versatile and less strenuous, which means the far more practiced Flash has the advantage. AfterFinal CrisisinFlash: Rebirth#3,the Flash is shown as being significantly faster than Superman, able to outrun him as Superman struggles to keep up with him. He reveals that all the close races between them before had been "for charity". In the "Smallville"episode" Run, "the Flash (Bart Allen) effortlessly matches pre-Superman Clark Kent's top speed while running backward; and when running seriously, he instantly outruns Clark and disappears from his view beyond the horizon.
While various incarnations of the Flash have proven their ability to run at light speed, the ability to steal speed from other objects allows respective Flashes to even significantly surpass this velocity. InFlash: The Human Race,[17]Wally is shown absorbing kinetic energy, to an extent enabling him to move faster than teleportation and run from the end of the universe back to earth in less than aPlanckinstant.
Speedsters may at times use the ability to speed-read at incredible rates and in doing so, process vast amounts of information. Whatever knowledge they acquire in this manner is usually temporary. Their ability to think fast also allows them some immunity to telepathy, as their thoughts operate at a rate too rapid for telepaths such asMartian ManhunterorGorilla Groddto read or influence their minds.
Flashes and other super-speedsters also have the ability to speak to one another at a highly accelerated rate. This is often done to have private conversations in front of non-fast people (as when Flash speaks to Superman about his ability to serve both theTitansand the JLA inThe Titans#2). Speed-talking is also sometimes used for comedic effect where Flash becomes so excited that he begins talking faster and faster until his words become a jumble of noise. He also has the ability to change the vibration of his vocal cords making it so he can change how his voice sounds to others.
While not having the physical strength of many of his comrades and enemies, Flash has shown to be able to use his speed to exert incredible momentum into physical attacks. InInjustice: Gods Among Us,Flash uses these kinds of attacks as many of his special moves.
The Flash has also claimed that he can process thoughts in less than anattosecond.At times he is able to throw lightning created by his super speed and make speed vortices.
Some flashes also have the ability to create speed avatars (i.e. duplicates) and these avatars have sometimes been sent to different timelines to complete a particular mission. (Barry Allen exhibits this ability in the live action series "The Flash" ).
He can also be seen negating the effects of the anti-life equation, when he freed Iris-West from its control (probably due to his connection with the Speed Force).
It is said that Wally West has reached the velocity of 23,759,449,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (about 24 tredecillion) × c (the speed of light), and he could only do this with the help of every human being on earth moving so the Speed Force was joined through everyone.[18]With that speed, he was able to run not only from planet to planet but also to different galaxies and universes at what would be considered a blink of an eye.
Different Flashes
In the final issue of52,a new Multiverse is revealed, originally consisting of 52 identical realities. Among the parallel realities shown is one designated "Earth-2". As a result ofMister Mind"eating" aspects of this reality, it takes on visual aspects similar to the pre-Crisis Earth-2, including the Flash among other Justice Society of America characters. The names of the characters and the team are not mentioned in the panel in which they appear, but the Flash is visually similar to the Jay Garrick Flash.[19]Based on comments byGrant Morrison,this alternate universe is not the pre-Crisis Earth-2.[20]
A variant of the Flash—a superfast college student named Mary Maxwell—was seen in the Elseworld bookJust ImagineStan Lee Creating The Flash.
Tanaka Rei
The Flash ofEarth-D,Rei was aJapaneseman who idolized Barry Allen, whose stories only existed in comic books on this world. Rei was inspired by Allen to become the Flash, much like Allen was inspired to become the Flash by his idol, Jay Garrick. Allen and Rei meet during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" when Barry is coming back from the 30th century and arrives in the wrong universe. As Earth-D was under attack by the shadow demons, Barry called on the Justice League and Tanaka called on the Justice Alliance, his world's version of the Justice League. They built acosmic treadmilland were able to evacuate much of Earth-D's population. The Justice League left, but 39 seconds later, Earth-D perished.
Rei made his only appearance inLegends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths(February 1999). The story was written byMarv Wolfman,with art byPaul Ryan(pencils) andBob McLeod(ink).
Lia Nelson
The young, female Flash of theTangentUniverse is not aspeedster,but instead "the first child born in space" and a being made up of and able to control light. As a side effect, she can move at the speed of light, which actually makes her faster than most of the otherPost-CrisisFlashes, with onlyWally Westhaving survived a light-speed run without becoming trapped in theSpeed Force.[21]She recently reappeared inJustice League of America(vol. 2) #16, somehow summoned out of the paper "green lantern" of her universe—an artifact that survived the Crisis that erased the Tangent Universe from existence.[22]Lia Nelson also appeared inCountdown: Arena,battling two versions of the Flash from other Earths within theMultiverse.[23]In the 52-Earth Multiverse, the Tangent Universe is designatedEarth-9.
Superman & Batman: Generations 2
InSuperman & Batman: Generations 2,three different Flashes appear: Wally West asKid Flashin 1964, Wally's cousin Carrie as Kid Flash in 1986, and Jay West, the son of Wally and his wife Magda as the fifth Flash in 2008. Barry Allen makes a cameo appearance out of costume in 1964.
Green Lightning
Ali Rayner-West, aka Green Lightning, is a descendant of both Kyle Rayner and Wally West. She has both a power ring and superspeed, as seen inGreen Lantern: Circle of Fire.She was a living construct created by Kyle Rayner's subconscious, who later re-fused into his mind.[24]
Ame-Comi
A teenage version ofJesse Chambersappears as the Flash of the Ame-Comi universe. As with most of the other characters of that Earth, she sports anAnime-inspired costume.[25]
The Crash
The 1980s seriesCaptain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!presented theparallel Earthof "Earth-C-Minus", a world populated bytalking animalsuperheroes that paralleled the mainstream DC Universe. Earth-C-Minus was the home of the Crash, aturtlewith super-speed powers similar to those of Barry Allen's, and a member of his world's superhero team, theJust'a Lotta Animals.The Crash as a youth had read comics about Earth-C'sTerrific Whatzit,similar to how Barry Allen enjoyed comics about Earth-Two's Jay Garrick.[26]
Danica Williams
An African-American teenager ofEarth 12named Danica Williams appears as the Flash in theJustice League Beyondseries, acting as Wally West's successor during the 2040s (following the events ofBatman Beyond). She is employed at the Flash Museum in Central City, and like Barry Allen, is chronically late.[27]She later enters into a relationship with Billy Batson, who is the secret identity of the superhero,Captain Marvel.
Writers
The following writers have been involved in the ongoingThe FlashandFlash Comicsseries:
| Writer | Issues written | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Gardner Fox | Flash Comics#1–80,The Flash#117, 123, 129, 137–138, 140, 143–146, 149–152, 154, 157–159, 162, 164, 166–167, 170–171, 177 | 1940–1947, 1960–1968 |
| Robert Kanigher | Flash Comics#84–91, 93, 96–97, 103–104,The Flash#160–161, 192, 195, 197–204, 206, 208, 214 | 1947–1949, 1966, 1969–1972 |
| John Broome | Flash Comics#91–104,The Flash#105–128, 130–142, 146–149, 152–156, 158–161, 163–166, 168–169, 172–174, 176, 178, 182, 187–194, | 1948–1949, 1959–1970 |
| E. Nelson Bridwell | #175 | 1967 |
| Cary Bates | #179, 209–212, 216, 218–305, 307–312, 314–350 | 1968, 1971–1985 |
| Frank Robbins | #180–181, 183–185 | 1968–1969 |
| Mike Friedrich | #186, 195, 197–198, 207 | 1969–1971 |
| Steve Skeates | #202, 204, 207, 209–211, 216 | 1970–1972 |
| Len Wein | #208, 212, 215, 217 | 1971–1973 |
| Dennis O'Neil | #217–224, 226–228, 230–231, 233–234, 237–238, 240–243, 245–246 | 1972–1977 |
| Gerry Conway | #289–299, 301–304 (Firestormbackup stories) | 1980–1981 |
| Dan Mishkin | #306 | 1982 |
| Gary Cohn | ||
| Martin Pasko | #306–313 (Doctor Fatebackup stories) | |
| Steve Gerber | #310–313 (Doctor Fate backup stories) | |
| Mike W. Barr | #313 | |
| Mike Baron | Vol. 2 #1–14, Annual Vol. 2 #1 | 1986–1987 |
| William Messner-Loebs | Vol. 2 #15–28, 30–61, 80-Page Giant #2, Annual Vol 2 #2–3, Special #1 | 1987–1992 |
| Len Strazewski | Vol. 2 #29, Special #1 | 1989 |
| Mark Waid | Vol. 2 #0, 62–129, 142–159, 231–236, 1000000, 80-Page Giant #1, Annual Vol. 2 #4–6, 8, Special #1,Flash Plus Nightwing#1,The Flash Secret Files and Origins#1–2,The Flash TV Special#1,The Flash/Green Lantern: Faster Friends#1,The Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold#1–6 | 1992–1997, 1998–2000, 2007–2008 |
| Mark Wheatleyand Allan Gross | Annual Vol. 2 #7 | 1994 |
| Mark Millar | Vol. 2 #130–141, 80-Page Giant #1 | 1997–1998 |
| Grant Morrison | Vol. 2 #130–138 | |
| Brian Augustyn | Vol. 2 #142–143, 148–149, 160, 162, 80-Page Giant #1–2 Annual Vol. 2 #10–12,Flash Plus Nightwing#1,The Flash Secret Files and Origins#1–2 | 1996–2000 |
| Pat McGreal | Vol. 2 #161, 163 | 2000 |
| Chuck Dixon | Annual Vol. 2 #13 | |
| Geoff Johns | Vol. 2 #1/2, 164–225,The Flash Secret Files and Origins#3Iron Heights,The Flash: Our Worlds at War#1, Vol. 3 #1–12,The Flash Secret Files and Origins2010,The Flash Rebirth#1–6 | 2000–2005, 2009–2011 |
| Stuart Immonen | Vol. 2 #226 | 2005 |
| Joey Cavalieri | #330–331, Vol. 2 #227–230 | 1984, 2005–2006 |
| John Rogers | Vol. 2 #233–236 | 2007–2008 |
| Keith Champagne | Vol. 2 #237 | 2008 |
| Tom Peyer | Vol. 2 #238–243,The Flash 80-Page Giant#2, Annual Vol. 2 #8,The Flash Secret Files and Origins#2 | 1995, 1999, 2008–2009 |
| Alan Burnett | Vol. 2 #244–247 | 2009 |
| Francis Manapul | Vol. 4 #1–25, 0, 23.2:Reverse-Flash#1, Annual Vol. 4 #1 | 2011–2013 |
| Christos Gage | Vol. 4 #26 | 2013 |
| Brian Buccellato | Vol. 4 #1–25, 27–29, 0, 23.1:Grodd#1, 23.2:Reverse-Flash#1, 23.3:The Rogues#1, Annual Vol. 4 #1–2 | 2011–2014 |
| Robert Venditti | Vol. 4 #30–49, Futures End #1, Annual Vol. 4 #3 | 2014–2016 |
| Van Jensen | Vol. 4 #30–52, Futures End #1, Annual Vol. 4 #3–4 | |
| Josh Williamson | Vol. 5 Rebirth #1, #1–88, Vol. 1 (continued) #750-762, Annual Vol. 5 #1-3 | 2016–2020 |
| Kevin Shinick | Vol. 1 #763-767 | 2020 |
| Jeremy Adams | Vol 1. #768-present, 2021 annual, 2022 annual | 2021- |
Awards
The comics and characters have been nominated for and won several awards over the years, including:
- 1961Alley Awardfor Best Cover(The Flash(vol. 1) #123)
- 1961 Alley Award for Best Single Comic(The Flash(vol. 1) #123 by Gardner Fox andCarmine Infantino)
- 1963 Alley Award for Cross-Over of DC HeroesforThe Brave and the Bold(withHawkman)
- 1964 Alley Award for Best Short Story( "Doorway to the Unknown" inThe Flash(vol. 1) #148 byJohn Broomeand Carmine Infantino)
- 2001 Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist(The Flash,by Brian Bolland)
- 2008 Salou Award for Best Super Hero(Flash – Danny Holmesby BUAFC)
In other media
This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(December 2010) |
Throughout his 70-year history, the Flash has appeared in numerous media. The Flash has been included in multiple animated features, such asSuper FriendsandJustice League,as well as his ownlive action television seriesand some guest star appearances onSmallville(as the Bart Allen/Impulseversion). There are numerous videos that feature the character.
- In theChallenge of the Superfriendsseries which ran from 1978 to 1979, he appears in every episode and has spoken lines in only twelve out of the sixteen episodes of the series. He also had two arch enemies from the Legion of Doom,Captain ColdandGorilla Grodd.
- The Flashappeared for one season (1990–1991) on the CBS Network, starring double-Emmy AwardwinnerJohn Wesley ShippasBarry Allen.Produced byDanny BilsonandPaul DeMeo,the series was a mild amalgamation of the Barry Allen andWally Westversions of the comics in that the female lead wasTina McGee(portrayed byAmanda Pays) and Wally's need for large amounts of food after expending so much energy running all overCentral Citywas transferred to Barry. After his lightning-induced chemical accident, Barry got into crime fighting after the death of his police officer brother, Jay; it is presumed that Jay was named for the original comic book Flash,Jay Garrick.A handful of the Scarlet Speedster's rogues gallery made guest appearances throughout the series: Captain Cold (Michael Champion) ( "Captain Cold" ),Mirror Master(David Cassidy) ( "Done With Mirrors" ), and theTrickster(Mark Hamill) ( "The Trickster" and "Trial of the Trickster" ). The Flash also fought a clone of himself who wore a blue costume.
- A few episodes were written by comics legendHoward Chaykinand the TV costume was designed byDave Stevens(The Rocketeer). While a critical success and vigorously backed by the network, the series had the dubious distinction of being aired against ratings powerhousesThe Cosby ShowonNBCandFox'sThe Simpsons.The Flashwas preempted by Christmas specials and theDesert Stormwar in Iraq, and was canceled after its first season. Warner Brothers released the series in a 6-disc DVD box set on January 10, 2006.
- The series' main musical theme was composed by Danny Elfman, with the remainder of the episodes' music being composed by Shirley Walker (this collaboration would also occur onBatman: The Animated Series). When the Flash made a guest appearance in theSuperman: The Animated Seriesepisode 'Speed Demons', Walker incorporated some of the themes from the live-action series into the episode.
- Wally West is the Flash who appears in theDCAU,voiced byMichael Rosenbaum.He has Wally's personality like telling bad jokes and being attracted to most women. He does have some Barry Allen traits as well like being in Central City and working as a forensic scientist. He is the only Flash to appear in the DCAU; however, Jay Garrick's helmet is seen on display in the Flash museum in theJustice League Unlimitedepisode "Flash and Substance".
- Kid Flash (Wally West) appears in theTeen Titansepisode Lightspeed and protects Jump City while the Titans are away. He refers to a previous partnership withThe Flash(presumably Barry Allen). He soon reforms Jinx and enters a romantic relationship with her.
- The Flash is a playable character in theMortal KombatandDC Comicscrossover gameMortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.The first official render for The Flash was released to the public on Monday July 7, 2008. His bio reveals that this version is Barry Allen. He is also a playable character inInjustice: Gods Among Usandits sequel,developed byNetherRealm Studios.
- Two versions of the Flash make appearances inDC Universe Online.Barry Allen fights alongside the heroes against Gorilla Grodd's army, and is a bounty for the villains. Jay Garrick appears in the Watchtower, selling powerful armor to Level 30 Heroes with the Metapower origin.
- Impulse is shown inYoung Justice: Invasionas the grandson of Barry Allen and Iris West. He comes from the future to save his grandfather fromNeutron(A.K.A. Nathaniel Tryon). Once he travels back he does succeed in saving Barry Allen, and stopping Neutron, this was supposed to save the future, but it is shown that the future remains the same. When he tries to travel back to his time (2056), his time machine doesn't work, it is shown in a backstory that he knew he was going to be stuck in the past, because the wires would be fried, though he doesn't reveal this to anyone on The Team, at that moment, he is considered an official member.
- Grant Gustinportrays Barry Allen as the Flash in theCW'sArrowverse.In theArrowepisode titled "The Scientist", Central City CSI Investigator Barry Allen partners withFelicity Smoakto find the thief that broke into one of the Queen Consolidated Applied Sciences building. Barry claims that he was sent from Central City to Starling City to investigate since there were connections to a case in Central City. Oliver Queen soon finds out that Barry was actually an assistant who came to Starling to investigate this strange occurrence in the hope that he would find an answer towho murderedhis mother when he was a child. His appearance set up the character for hisown seriesin 2014.[28]This Flash also makes guest appearances in other Arrowverse series. Other known Flashes have appeared with Jay Garrick portrayed by John Wesley Shipp and Avery Ho portrayed byPiper Curda.
- The Flash made his first theatrical film appearance inThe Lego Movie.He was part of Metalbeard's pirate crew. He later made a brief appearance inThe Lego Batman Movie.
- Ezra Millerportrays Barry Allen as the Flash in theDC Extended Universe.He had cameos in the 2016 filmsBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeandSuicide Squad,and a larger role inJustice League(2017) andZack Snyder's Justice League(2021).A filmcentered on the character was released on June 16, 2023,[29]drawing elements from theFlashpointstoryline.[30]
- The Barry Allen version of the Flash appears inJustice League Action.
- In the fine arts, and starting with thePop Artperiod and on a continuing basis since the 1960s, the character of the Flash has been "appropriated" by multiple visual artists and incorporated into contemporary artwork, most notably byAndy Warhol,[31]Roy Lichtenstein,[32]Mel Ramos,[33]Dulce Pinzon,[34][35]and others.
In popular culture
Ever since the Flash has been published as a comic, many TV shows and films have been making references to the popular character. As you'll see below, there are some notable references to the Flash that appear inThe Big Bang TheoryandThe Simpsons.
Numerous references to the Flash are presented on the television showThe Big Bang Theory.A particular reference is main characterSheldon Cooper's Flasht-shirt,which has become a staple ofmerchandiseclothing. In the season 1 episodeThe Middle-Earth Paradigm,the four main male characters on the show all independently dress up for a Halloween party as the Flash before deciding that they can't all be the Flash so no one gets to. In the season 10 episodeThe Birthday Synchronicity,Sheldon bought a Flash onesie for Howard & Bernadette's newborn.
Inseason 3ofLost,in the episode "Catch-22",Charlie and Hurley debate over who would win a footrace between the Flash and Superman.
The false nameBarry Allenis used by character of con artistFrank Abagnale, Jr.(posing as a Secret Service Agent), in the movieCatch Me If You Can.When a coffee shop waiter notices the notes ofFBIagent Carl Hanratty, he reveals that Barry Allen is the Flash, giving Carl a vital clue to his unknown subject's identity.
In 2006, a near-pristine copy ofFlash Comics#1 was sold in aHeritageAuction for $273,125. The same book was then sold privately for $450,000 in 2010.[36]
Renan Kanbay wears a Flash costume while playing Carrie, the manager of acomic book store,inJoe Lipari'sDream Job(2011).[37]
The bandJim's Big Egowrote the song "The Ballad of Barry Allen" detailing the hardship having to watch time moving so slowly from the perspective of Allen. The frontman of the band, Jim Infantino is the nephew of Flash artistCarmine Infantino.
In the filmDaddy Day Care,one of the day care kids named Tony wore a Flash costume for the majority of the film.
In theMy Little Pony: Friendship Is Magicepisode "Power Ponies",Pinkie Pie becomes a superhero based on the Flash called Fili-Second.
In an episode ofThe Simpsons,Comic Book Guydresses as The Flash while running in a marathon. He says "No one can outrun the Flash" but ends up falling in a pothole and gets stuck.
Rogues
LikeBatman,Superman,andGreen Lantern,the Flash has a reputation for having fought a distinctive and memorablerogues galleryof supervillains. In the Flash's case, some of these villains have adopted the term "Flash's Rogues Gallery" as an official title, and insist on being called "Rogues" rather than "supervillains" or similar names. At times, various combinations of the Rogues have banded together to commit crimes or take revenge on the Flash, usually under the leadership of Captain Cold.
The Rogues are known for their communal style relationship, socializing together and operating under a strict moral code, sometimes brutally enforced byCaptain Cold.Such "rules" include "no drugs" and, except in very dire situations or on unique occasions, "no killing".
References
- ^abcdJimenez, Phil(2008). "The Flash". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.).The DC Comics Encyclopedia.New York:Dorling Kindersley.pp. 124–127.ISBN978-0-7566-4119-1.OCLC213309017.
- ^Rogers, Vaneta (July 15, 2007)."Mark Waid Returns toThe Flash".Newsarama.Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2007.RetrievedJuly 15,2007.
- ^"DC Universe".Previews.17(#5): 82. May 2007.
- ^"DC Universe".Previews.17(#6): 86. June 2007.
- ^"SDCC News: Johns and Van Sciver Announce Flash Rebirth: News Bulletins".Comics Bulletin. July 24, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon October 15, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 14,2010.
- ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon May 14, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 29,2015.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ab"SDCC '08 – Johns & Van Sciver TalkFlash: Rebirth".Newsarama.RetrievedSeptember 14,2010.
- ^Johns, Geoff (w).The Flash,vol. 3, no. 1 (April 2010). DC Comics.
- ^Justice League of America(vol. 2) #10
- ^"NYCC – DC Universe Panel – CBR".Comicbookresources. February 7, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 14,2010.
- ^The Flash(vol. 2) #97–99.
- ^abSpeed Force#1 (November 1997)
- ^The Flash(vol. 2) #145 (February 1999)
- ^ Kakalios, James(2005).The Physics of Superheores.New York: Gotham Books/Penguin Group, Inc.ISBN978-1-59240-146-8. The author, James Kakalios, is a physics professor. Page 250, caption: "Fig. 33. Scene from" Flash #123, where Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash, demonstrates the quantum mechanical process known as 'tunneling.' Page 251: There is no doubt how The Flash, both the Golden and Silver Age versions, is able to use his great speed to pass through solid objects, as shown in fig. 33. He is able to increase his kinetic energy to the point where the probability, from the Schrodinger equation, of passing through the wall becomes nearly certain. "
- ^McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1960s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.).DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.Dorling Kindersley.p. 124.ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9.
Since the dawn of comics' Silver Age, readers have asked 'Who's faster: Superman or the Flash?' Writer Jim Shooter and artist Curt Swan tried answering that question when the Man of Steel and the Fastest Man Alive agreed to the U.N.'s request to race each other for charity.
- ^The Flash#175 (December 1967)at the Grand Comics Database
- ^"Flash: The Human Race#136–141 (2009) ".Archived fromthe originalon October 3, 2015.RetrievedMarch 4,2016.
- ^"Wally West vs Barry Allen: Who Would Win?".Fiction Horizon. October 20, 2020.RetrievedDecember 12,2020.
- ^52,no. 52, p. 13/3 (May 2, 2007).DC Comics.
- ^Brady, Matt (May 8, 2007)."the 52 exit interviews: grant morrison".Newsarama.Archived fromthe originalon May 10, 2007.RetrievedMay 12,2007.
- ^Tangent Comics: Flash,no. 1 (December 1997).Tangent Comics.
- ^Infinite Crisis,no. 7 (2006).DC Comics.
- ^Countdown: Arena,no. 3 (2007).DC Comics.
- ^Green Lantern: Circle of Fire#1 (October 2000)
- ^Ame-Comi Duela Dent#2 (July 2012)
- ^Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew#14–15, April–May 1983
- ^Justice League Beyond#25
- ^Goldberg, Lesley (July 30, 2013)."'Flash' Writers Preview the CW's Newest Superhero ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJuly 30,2013.
- ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 6, 2020)."'The Batman' Flies To 2022 Post 'Dune' Drift, 'Matrix 4' Moves Up To Christmas 2021, 'Shazam! 2' Zaps To 2023 & More WB Changes – Update ".Deadline.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
- ^Goodman, J. J. (January 8, 2020)."EXCLUSIVE: Flash Movie Won't Feature The Flashpoint We Expect, Says Director".That Hashtag Show.RetrievedAugust 19,2020.
- ^"Andy Warhol. Flash-November 22, 1963. 1968 | MoMA".The Museum of Modern Art.RetrievedJuly 10,2020.
- ^"Roy Lichtenstein | Biography, Artworks, & Facts".Encyclopedia Britannica.RetrievedJuly 10,2020.
- ^"Mel Ramos: Superheroes of 1963 | Louis K. Meisel Gallery | Artsy".artsy.net.RetrievedJuly 10,2020.
- ^"Galería de la Raza: No Distance Is More Awesome".galeriadelaraza.org.RetrievedJuly 10,2020.
- ^"Everyday Superheroes".The New York Times.September 23, 2006.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJuly 10,2020.
- ^"Edgar Church/Mile High Flash Comics #1 Sells for $450,000".Itsalljustcomics. March 16, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 14,2010.
- ^"IMDB Connections".IMDb.
External links
This section includes a list ofgeneral references,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(November 2009) |
- Official website
- The FlashatIMDb
- Crimson LightningArchivedMarch 29, 2021, at theWayback Machine– An online index to the comic book adventures of the Flash.
- Alan Kistler's Profile On: The Flash– An analysis of the history of the Flash by comic book historian Alan Kistler.
- Alan Kistler's Guide To The Crisis
- Index to Barry Allen's Earth-One adventures
- comicfoundryConversation with Flash writers Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo about Bart Allen as the new Flash.
