Flash
Jay Garrick, Bart Allen, and Wally West on the cover to The Flash (vol. 2) #208. Art by Michael Turner.
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Flash Comics #1 (January 1940)
Created by	Gardner Fox Harry Lampert
Characters	Jay Garrick Barry Allen Wally West Bart Allen
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The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 (1940). The Flash was a live action CBS television series from 1990-1991 that starred John Wesley Shipp as the superhero, The Flash, and co-starred Amanda Pays. ... Jay Garrick is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe and the first Flash. ... Bartholomew Bart Allen II is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... For the science fiction author, see Wallace West. ... Michael Turner is: Michael Turner (artist), a comic book publisher and artist known for his work on Witchblade and Fathom. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... The Golden Age Flash as created by Gardner Fox & Harry Lampert The Flash is a DC Comics superhero possessing super-speed. ... Gardner Francis Fox (May 20, 1911, Brooklyn, New York – December 24, 1986) was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. ... Harry Lampert seen at Motor City Comic-Con 2002 Harry Lampert (November 3, 1916 in New York - November 13, 2004 in Boca Raton, Florida) was a cartoonist and author. ... Jay Garrick is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe and the first to use the name Flash. ... Barry Allen is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe and the second Flash. ... For the science fiction author, see Wallace West. ... Bartholomew Bart Allen II is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... A fictional character is any person, persona, identity, or entity that is created from ones imagination or from an adaption of an existing entity. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... For other uses, see Superhero (disambiguation). ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared setting where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. ... Gardner Francis Fox (May 20, 1911, Brooklyn, New York – December 24, 1986) was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. ... Harry Lampert seen at Motor City Comic-Con 2002 Harry Lampert (November 3, 1916 in New York - November 13, 2004 in Boca Raton, Florida) was a cartoonist and author. ... The Golden Age Flash as created by Gardner Fox & Harry Lampert The Flash is a DC Comics superhero possessing super-speed. ...

Once nicknamed the Scarlet Speedster, the Flash possesses "super-speed," which includes the ability to run and move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and seemingly violate certain laws of physics. Thus far, four different characters, each of whom somehow gained the power of "super-speed", have assumed the identity of the Flash: Jay Garrick (1940-), Barry Allen (1956-1986), Wally West (1986-2006, 2007-), and Bart Allen (2006-2007). A physical law or a law of nature is a scientific generalization based on empirical observations. ... Jay Garrick is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe and the first to use the name Flash. ... Barry Allen is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe and the second Flash. ... For the science fiction author, see Wallace West. ... Bartholomew Bart Allen II is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ...

The second incarnation of the Flash is generally considered the first hero of the Silver Age of comic books and the superhero has remained one of DC‘s most popular ever since. Each version of the Flash has been a key member of either the Justice Society of America or the Justice League, DC’s all-star teams. Wally West has recently rejoined the Justice League. Showcase #4 (Oct. ... The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. ... For the animated television series, see Justice League (TV series) or Justice League Unlimited. ...

The Barry Allen version of the character (with Wally West elements) was featured in a live action television series in 1990, starring John Wesley Shipp. The Wally West version of the Flash is featured in the animated series Justice League. The Flash was a live action CBS television series from 1990-1991 that starred John Wesley Shipp as the superhero, The Flash, and co-starred Amanda Pays. ... John Wesley Shipp (born January 22, 1955 in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American actor best known as Mitch Leery, the title characters father on the television drama Dawsons Creek from 1998 to 2002 and for roles in several daytime soap operas. ... The bouncing ball animation (below) consists of these 6 frames. ... Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. ...

Publication history

Golden Age

The Flash first appeared in the Golden Age Flash Comics #1 (Jan. 1940), from All-American Publications, one of three companies that would eventually merge to form DC 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 of hard water vapors (later retconned into heavy water vapors), and who wore a winged metal helmet reminiscent of the mythological Greek god Hermes. He is notable as the first super-speedster in comics, and one of the first to have a single super-power as opposed to multi-powered heroes such as Superman. In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... Superman, catalyst of the Golden Age: Superman #14 (Feb. ... The All-American logo, used on their titles during the 1945 split with National All-American Publications is one of three American comic book companies that combined to form the modern-day DC Comics, one of the worlds two largest comics publishers. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... The hardness of the water results in a calcification Hard water is a type of water that has high mineral content (in contrast with soft water). ... Retroactive continuity – commonly contracted to the portmanteau word retcon – refers to the act of changing previously established details of a fictional setting, often without providing an explanation for the changes within the context of that setting. ... Heavy water is dideuterium oxide, or D2O or 2H2O. It is chemically the same as normal water, H2O, but the hydrogen atoms are of the heavy isotope deuterium, in which the nucleus contains a neutron in addition to the proton found in the nucleus of any hydrogen atom. ... The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ... For other uses, see Hermes (disambiguation). ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ...

Garrick was a popular character in the 1940s, supporting both Flash Comics and All-Flash Quarterly (later published bi-monthly as simply All-Flash); co-starring in Comic Cavalcade; and being a charter member of the Justice Society of America, the first superhero team, whose adventures ran in All Star Comics. With superheroes' post-war decline in popularity, Flash Comics was canceled with issue #104 (1949). The Justice Society's final Golden Age story ran in All Star Comics #57 (1951; the title itself continued, as All Star Western). Green Lanterm, Wonder Woman and the Flash do their bit for the war: Comic Cavalcade #6 (Spring 1944), cover art by Paul Reinman. ... The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. ... This article is about the 1940s comic book series. ...

Silver Age

In 1956, DC Comics successfully revived superheroes, ushering in what became known as the Silver Age of comic books. Rather than bringing back the same Golden Age heroes, as Atlas Comics, the 1950s precursor of Marvel Comics, unsuccessfully tried to do, DC reimagined them as new characters for the modern age. The Flash was the first revival, in the aptly named tryout comic book Showcase #4 (Oct. 1956). Showcase #4 (Oct. ... Atlas Comics is the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. ... This article is about the comic book company. ... Showcase Comics was a series used to try out new characters by DC Comics. ...

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 name The Flash after reading a comic book featuring the Golden Age Flash. After several more appearances in Showcase, Allen's character was given his own title, The Flash, the first issue of which was #105 (resuming where Flash Comics had left off).

The Silver Age Flash proved popular enough that several other Golden Age heroes were revived in new incarnations. A new superhero team, the Justice League of America, was also created, with the Flash as a charter member. For the animated television series, see Justice League (TV series) or Justice League Unlimited. ...

"The Flashes of Two Worlds"

The Flash also introduced a much-imitated plot device into superhero comics when it was revealed that Garrick and Allen existed on fictional parallel worlds. Their powers allowed them to cross the dimensional boundary between worlds, and the men became good friends. Flash of Two Worlds (The Flash vol.1 #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. Parallel universe or alternate reality in science fiction and fantasy is a self-contained separate reality coexisting with our own. ... The much-homaged cover of The Flash #123 Flash of Two Worlds! is a landmark [1] comic book story that was published in The Flash #123 (Sept. ...

Allen's adventures continued in his own title until the advent of Crisis on Infinite Earths. The Flash ended 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 in Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 (1986). Thanks to his ability to travel through time, he would continue to appear occasionally in the years to come. Crisis on Infinite Earths was a 12-issue American comic book limited series (identified as a 12-part maxi-series) and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify their then-55-year-old continuity. ...

Modern Age

The third Flash was Wally West, introduced in Flash #110 (Dec. 1959) as Kid 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 the Teen Titans for years. Following Allen's death, West adopted the Flash identity in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 and was given his own series, beginning with The Flash vol. 2, #1 in 1987. Many issues began with the simultaneously glad and rueful catchphrase: "My name is Wally West. I'm the fastest man alive. I'm the Flash." For the science fiction author, see Wallace West. ... Teen Titans redirects here. ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ...

Due to the Infinite Crisis miniseries and the "One Year Later" jump in time in the DC Universe, DC canceled The 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 by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo with art by Ken Lashley, focused on Bart Allen's acceptance of the role of the Flash. Infinite Crisis was a seven-issue limited series of comic books published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005. ... One Year Later event logo. ... Cover to the History of the DC Universe trade paperback. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Danny Bilson is a writer, director, and producer in movies, television, videogames, and comic books. ...

Flash: Fastest Man Alive was canceled with issue #13. In its place The Flash (vol. 2) was revived with issue 231, with Mark Waid as the initial writer. Waid also wrote All-Flash #1, which acted as a bridge between the two series.^[1] DC had solicited Flash: Fastest Man Alive through issue #15. All Flash #1 replaced issue #14 and The 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.^[2][3] Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. ...

Fictional biographies

This comics-related article or section describes an element of the series in a primarily in-universe style. Please rewrite this article or section to explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective.

While several other individuals have used the name Flash, these have lived either on other parallel worlds, or in the future. Garrick, Allen and West are the best-known exemplars of the identity.

Jay Garrick

Main article: Flash (Jay Garrick)

Jason Peter "Jay" Garrick was a college student in January 1940 who accidentally inhaled heavy water vapors after falling asleep in his laboratory where he had been smoking. As a result, he found that he could run at superhuman speed and had similarly fast reflexes. After a brief career as a college football star, he donned a red shirt with a lightning bolt and a stylized metal helmet with wings (based on images of the Greek deity Hermes), and began to fight crime as the Flash. His first case involved battling the "Faultless Four", a group of blackmailers. Jay 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 from Earth-Two he was incorporated into the history of New Earth following the Crisis on Infinite Earths and is still active as the Flash operating out of Keystone City. He is a member of the Justice Society. Jay Garrick is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe and the first to use the name Flash. ... See also: List of deities Look up deity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... First appearance of Earth-Two Earth-Two was a fictional reality within the stories of DC Comics. ... Star Trek novels, see Pocket Books Star Trek novels. ... The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. ...

Barry Allen

Main article: Flash (Barry Allen)

Bartholomew "Barry" Henry Allen was a police scientist with 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 lightning bolt shattered a case full of chemicals and spilled them all over Allen. As a result, Allen 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 original Captain Marvel), dubbed himself the Flash (after his childhood hero in the comic books, Jay Garrick), and became a crimefighter. In his civilian identity, he stored 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 Allen is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe and the second Flash. ... This article is about the DC Comics character. ...

Wally West

Main article: Wally West

Wallace Rudolph West was the nephew of Iris West and Barry Allen by marriage, and was introduced in The 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 of Crisis on Infinite Earths, where Barry Allen was killed, Wally took over as the fastest man alive. Though initially powered down as a result of events in "Crisis" Wally is now arguably more powerful than his predecessor. Following the events of Infinite Crisis, Wally, his wife Linda, and their twins left Earth for an unknown dimension. Wally, his wife and twins were pulled back from the Speed Force by the Legion of Super-Heroes.^[4] This set the stage for Wally West's return as the Flash after the events of The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #13 (see Bart Allen), in All Flash #1, and with The Flash (Vol. 2) series, which resumed with issue #231 in August 2007. For the science fiction author, see Wallace West. ...

Bart Allen

Main article: Bart Allen

Bart Allen as the fourth Flash. Variant cover of The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 (2006). Art by Andy & Joe Kubert

Bartholomew Henry Allen II ("Bart") was the grandson of Barry Allen and his wife Iris. Bart suffered from accelerated aging and, as a result, was raised in a virtual reality machine until Iris took him back in time in order 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 kneecap by Deathstroke, Bart changed both his attitude and his costume, taking the mantle of Kid Flash. During the events of Infinite Crisis, the Speed Force vanished, 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 is Barry Allen's cloned Flash suit in the form of Wally West's suit. Bart Allen was recently killed by the Rogues in the 13th and final issue of The Flash: Fastest Man Alive. Bartholomew Bart Allen II is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... Image File history File linksMetadata New_flashl. ... Image File history File linksMetadata New_flashl. ... Cover of Batman #655, the first issue of Batman & Son Andy Kubert is an American comic book artist, the son of Joe Kubert and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists. ... Joe Kubert (born September 18, 1926, Poland) is an American comic book artist who went on to found the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. ... Deathstroke the Terminator (Slade Wilson), also called simply Deathstroke (and originally simply the Terminator) is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. ... Bart Allen surrounded By the Speed Force after absorbing it. ...

Others to carry the mantle of the Flash

Jesse Chambers

Main article: Jesse Chambers

Daughter of the speedster Johnny Quick, Jesse Chambers became a speeding superhero like her father. She later met Wally West, the Flash, who would ask 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. ^[5] Jesse Chambers is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. ... Johnny Quick is the name of a Golden Age DC Comics character with the power of superhuman speed. ...

Unnamed Allen of the 23rd Century

The father of Sela Allen, his wife and daughter were captured by Cobalt Blue. He was forced to watch his wife die and his daughter become crippled. As he and Max Mercury killed Cobalt Blue, a child took the gem and killed Allen. This Flash was one of the two destined Flashes to be killed by Cobalt Blue (Eobard Thawne). Cobalt Blue is a DC Comics supervillain and an enemy to the Flash. ... Max Mercury is the name of a superhero in the DC Comics universe. ...

Sela Allen

Sela Allen as the Flash of the 23rd century.

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.

John Fox

John Fox as the Flash.

When Manfred Mota resurfaced in 27th century, John Fox, a tachyon scientist, traveled back in time to gain aid from the three Flashes who had defeated Manfred before. He failed to make contact but the time travel left him with superspeed. He used a combination of various previous Flash costumes to create his own costume. After defeating Mota he was sidelined by the invention of speed metal. He began searching the timestream for a time where he could belong, briefly replacing a time-displaced Wally West in the 20th century before finally settled in the year 85,265 where he joined the Justice Legion. In issue #2 of the 2007 Booster Gold series, there is a panel depicting Dr. Thirteen's group breaking the fourth wall by complaining about the Architects' only using popular "fellows" in new comics, John Fox was mentioned by name. Manfred Mota is a DC Comics villain and adversary to The Flash. ... This box:      A tachyon (from the Greek , takhyónion, from , takhýs, i. ... The Justice Legion Alpha is a DC Comics superhero team, who exist in the far future of the DC Universe. ... Booster Gold is a fictional character, a superhero in publications from DC Comics. ... The fourth wall is the imaginary wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theater, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. ...

Blaine Allen

Blaine Allen as the Flash of the 28th century.

Blaine and his son lived on the colony world of Petrus in the 28th century. In an attempt to end the Allen blood line, Cobalt Blue injected Allen's son Jace with a virus. Lacking superspeed, Jace was unable to shake off the virus. In despair, Blaine took his son to the Speed Force in the hopes that it would accept him. It took Blaine instead, and gave superspeed to Jace so that he could shake off the sickness.

Jace Allen

Jace Allen gained superspeed when his father brought him into the Speed Force to attempt to cure him of a virus injected into his body by Cobalt Blue in an attempt to end the Allen bloodline. In memory of his father, Jace took up the mantle of the Flash and continued the feud against Cobalt Blue.

Kryad

After an alien creature invaded Earth, a history buff named Kryad traveled back in time from the 98th Century to acquire a GL power ring. He failed, so he tried to capture The Flash's speed instead. After being beaten by Barry Allen (The Flash #309,May 1982), he went back further in time and used the chemicals from the clothes Barry Allen was wearing when he gained his powers. Kryad gave his life to defeat the alien creature. The Green Lantern redirects here. ... This article is about the Green Lantern Corps weapon. ...

Alternate versions

Tanaka Rei from Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths. Art by Paul Ryan and Bob McLeod.

In the final issue of 52, a new Multiverse is revealed, originally consisting of 52 identical realities. Among the parallel realities shown is one designated "Earth-2". As a result of Mister 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.^[6] Based on comments by Grant Morrison, this alternate universe is not the pre-Crisis Earth-2.^[7] 52 is the title of a comic book limited series published by DC Comics, which debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. ... Prominent members of the Monster Society Of Evil. ... Grant Morrison (born January 31, 1960) is a Scottish comic book writer and artist. ...

A variant of the Flash - a superfast college student named Mary Maxwell - was seen in the Elseworld book Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating The Flash. Just Imagine Stan Lees is a comic book published by DC Comics. ...

Tanaka Rei

The Flash of Earth-D, Rei was a Japanese man who idolized Barry Allen, whose stories only existed in comic books. 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 met during the Crisis on Infinite Earths when Barry was coming back from the 30th century and arrived in the wrong universe. As that earth 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 a cosmic treadmill and made an evacuation. The Justice League left, but 39 seconds later, Earth-D perished. A depiction of several alternate Earths within the Multiverse and the different variations of the Flash inhabiting each Earth. ... The 30th century of the anno Domini (common) era will span the years 2901–3000 of the Gregorian calendar. ... In DC Comics publications, the cosmic treadmill is a time travel device that was invented by Barry Allen, the second Flash. ...

Rei made his only appearance in Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Lia Nelson

The young, female Flash of the Tangent Universe is not a speedster, 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 other Flashes, as only Wally West has ever survived a Light speed run without becoming trapped in the speed force.^[8] She recently reappeared in Justice League of America #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.^[9] Lia Nelson also appeared in Countdown: Arena battling two versions of the Flash from other Earths within the Multiverse.^[10] In the 52-Earth Multiverse, the Tangent Universe is designated Earth-9. Tangent Comics was a DC Comics imprint created in 1997-1998, developed from ideas created by Dan Jurgens. ... SPEEDSTER ROCKS>..... all hail speedster. ... For the science fiction author, see Wallace West. ... A depiction of several alternate Earths within the Multiverse and the different variations of the Flash inhabiting each Earth. ... // Traditionally, the numbered Earths were spelled out as words rather than with numerals—e. ...

Superman & Batman: Generations

In Superman & Batman: Generations 2, three different Flashes appear: Wally West as Kid Flash in 1964, Wally's cousin Carrie as Kid Flash in 1986 and Jay West, the son of Wally and his wife Magda and the fifth Flash in 2008. Superman & Batman: Generations is an Elseworlds comic book series written and illustrated by John Byrne. ... Kid Flash is the name of three fictional characters, all superheroes, in the DC Comics universe. ...

Powers and abilities

The references in this article would be clearer with a different or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking.

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (October 2007)

All incarnations of the Flash can move, think, and react at superhuman speeds; and vibrate so fast that the Flash can walk through walls.

However, when Barry Allen pushed himself further (while imploding the Anti-Monitor's chief weapon during the Crisis on Infinite Earths) he appeared to waste away as he was converted into pure kinetic energy, traveled back in time, and was revealed to be the very bolt of lightning that gave him his powers. He could run on thick snow clouds. Most unusual was Allen's complete control of his molecules, allowing him to vibrate through solid matter and, on one occasion when transformed into a mirror, "melt" himself and reform as a human to defeat his foe, the Mirror Master. The Anti-Monitor is a fictional comic book supervillain, the antagonist of the 1985 DC Comics miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths. ... Mirror Master is a fictional character, a recurring foe of the Flash with large technical knowledge and skills involving the use of mirrors. ...

Wally West has said more than once that Barry Allen was the Flash most experienced with time travel. However, Wally has been shown to have a connection to the Speed Force, an extra-dimensional energy source, which provides his powers and gives him several other abilities. While all speedsters are powered by the force, West mainlines the power from the force itself and cannot be cut off from the source, unlike the others. He can use the Speed Force to create a costume for himself, and can either impart his high velocities to other people and objects already in motion or steal the velocity they possess. Jay Garrick also possesses this ability to some degree; he stole speed from Black Adam in order to defeat the villainous Johnny Sorrow, and he has threatened to steal Bart Allen's (formerly Impulse and Kid Flash, and for a short while the Flash) speed on at least one occasion when he was misbehaving. West can vibrate through objects; in the past, West would cause whatever he vibrated through to explode, but has recently shown an ability to avoid this side effect. Although not nearly as precise as Allen when he used his cosmic treadmill, West has shown to be able to traverse time and dimensions with his own powers, like Allen in Showcase #4 in 1956. However, Wally now accelerates to the point that he is skirting the very edge of the Speed Force dimension, and can traverse along the timestream to specific points as they become visible, much like watching a movie in fast forward or reverse (however, he must have a particular speedster's vibratory signature to search for and lock onto, or be very familiar with the vibration of that time period). He is the only speedster to survive a Light Speed run; all others have either died or been absorbed into the speed force. Bart Allen surrounded By the Speed Force after absorbing it. ... Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C.C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. ... Johnny Sorrow is a DC Comics supervillain and a recurring Justice Society of America foe. ...

On several occasions, the Flash has been shown in various races against Superman to determine which one is faster (or as part of a mutual effort to thwart some type of threat); these races, however, often resulted in ties because of outside circumstances. Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ...

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 (Bart Allen seems to be the exception, though in earlier years, Max Mercury believed that Bart's speed learning would not stick).

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 the Titans and the JLA in The 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 (Wally West once became so surprised that he generated a small sonic boom with his voice). Teen Titans redirects here. ...

Awards

The comics and characters have been nominated for and won several awards over the years, including:

• 1961 Alley Award for Best Cover (Flash #123)
• 1961 Alley Award for Best Single Comic (Flash #123 by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino)
• 1963 Alley Award for Cross-Over of DC Heroes for The Brave and the Bold (with Hawkman)
• 1964 Alley Award for Best Short Story ("Doorway to the Unknown" in Flash #148 by John Broome and Carmine Infantino).
• 2008 Salou Award for Best Super Hero (Flash- Danny Holmes by BUAFC)

Cover for Spider-Woman #8 (November 1978). ... The Brave and the Bold is a DC Comics comic book that is currently in monthly publication in a second volume. ... For other meanings of the term, see Hawkman (disambiguation) Hawkman is a superhero in the DC Comics universe. ... John Broome (aka: pen names John Osgood and Edgar Ray Meritt) was a writer-contributor to DC Comics. ...

Appearances in other media

Main article: The Flash in other media

Throughout his 60 year history, the Flash has appeared in numerous media. The Flash has been included in multiple animated features, such as Superfriends and Justice League, as well as his own live action television series, and some guest star appearances on Smallville. There are numerous video games that feature the character. Throughout his 60 year history, the Flash has appeared in numerous media. ... Super Friends is an animated series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1973 to 1985. ... Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. ... The Flash was a live action CBS television series from 1990-1991 that starred John Wesley Shipp as the superhero, The Flash, and co-starred Amanda Pays. ... Smallville is an American television series created by writer/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and was initially broadcast by The WB. After its fifth season, the WB and UPN merged to form The CW, which is the current broadcaster for the show in the United States. ...

In the Challenge of the Superfriends Series which ran from 1978-1979, 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 Cold and Gorilla Grodd. Captain Cold, also known as Leonard Snart, is a comic book villain created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino for The Flash comic book, and is one of the scarlet speedsters enemies. ... Gorilla Grodd is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an opponent of The Flash. ...

The Flash also appeared for one season (1990-1991) on the CBS network starring double-Emmy Award winner John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen. Produced by Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo, the series was a mild amalgamation of the Barry Allen and Wally West vesrions of the comics in that the female lead was Tina McGee (portrayed by Amanda Pays) and Wally's need for large amounts of food after expending so much energy running all over Central City was 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 the Trickster (Mark Hamill) ("The Trickster" and "Trial of the Trickster"). The Flash also fought a clone of himself wearing a blue costume. An Emmy Award. ... John Wesley Shipp (born January 22, 1955 in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American actor best known as Mitch Leery, the title characters father on the television drama Dawsons Creek from 1998 to 2002 and for roles in several daytime soap operas. ... Barry Allen is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe and the second Flash. ... For the science fiction author, see Wallace West. ... Amanda Pays (born on 6 June 1959 in London, England) is an English actress. ... There are several cities, real and fictional, named Central City. ... Jay Garrick is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe and the first Flash. ... Mirror Master is a fictional character, a recurring foe of the Flash with large technical knowledge and skills involving the use of mirrors. ... This article is about David Cassidy the actor. ... The Trickster is a morally ambiguous demigod on The CW Television Networks Supernatural, and is portrayed by Richard Speight, Jr. ... Mark Richard Hamill (born September 25, 1951) is an American actor. ...

A few episodes were written by comics legend Howard Chaykin and the TV costume was designed by Dave Stevens (The Rocketeer). While a critical success and vigorously backed by the network, the series had the dubious distinction of being aired against ratings powerhouses The Cosby Show on NBC and FOX's The Simpsons. If that wasn't enough, the FLASH was preempted by Christmas specials and the Desert Storm war in Iraq and constantly moved all over the schedule that it couldn't find its audience and thus cancelled after its first and only season. Warner Brothers released the series in a 6-disc DVD box set on January 10, 2006. Howard Victor Chaykin (born 1950 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial material. ... Dave Stevens (1955- ) is an American illustrator and comics artist. ... Rocketeer Adventure Magazine #1 (1988), Comico Comics. ... The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom starring Bill Cosby, first broadcast on September 20, 1984 and ran for eight seasons on the NBC television network, until April 30, 1992. ... This article is about the television network. ... This article is about the animal. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

Rogues

Main article: Rogues (comics)

See also: List of Flash enemies

Like Batman, the Flash has a reputation for having fought a distinctive and memorable rogues gallery of 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 in order to commit crimes or take revenge on the Flash, usually under the leadership of Captain Cold. Some members of the Flashs Rogues Gallery. ... This is a list of fictional characters from DC Comics who are or have been enemies of The Flash. ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... Rogues gallery is a police collection of pictures of criminals and suspects kept for identification purposes. ...

The Rogues are known for their communal style relationship, hanging out together and operating under a pretty strict moral code, sometimes brutally enforced by Captain Cold. Such "rules" include "no drugs" and, except in very dire situations or on unique occasions, "no killing".

Considering the blue collar nature of the Flash's Rogues, more than a few have protested the inclusion of Professor Zoom and Abra Kadabra, often labeling them psychotic, as time travel generally works against their crimes and, at least in the original Zoom's case, they found him dangerous and all-too willing to kill.

In contrast, several new Flash villains have been considered Rogues, including Murmur, Double Down, and Peekaboo, but they play second fiddle to new incarnations of Captain Boomerang, Zoom, Mirror Master, and Inertia (a variation on Reverse Flash, clone of Impulse) Double Down is DC Comics supervillain and one of the new rogues of the Flash. ...

References

• Hyperborea.org: Flash
• “How Do You Kill A Legend?” Flash #309 (May 1982) - Cary Bates
  
• “Chain Lightning Part 2: Time Like a River...” - Flash vol. 2 #146 (March 1999), Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn
• “Chain Lightning Part 3: Shooting the Rapids...” - Flash vol. 2 #147 (April 1999), Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn
• “Generations” - Flash 50th Anniversary Special (1990), Mark Waid
• “Race Against Time Part 3: Speed Metal” - The Flash vol. 2 #115 (July 1996), Mark Waid
• DC One Million #1 (November 85,271/1998) - Grant Morrison
  
• “The Sacrifice” - Speed Force #1 (November 1997), Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 52 is the title of a comic book limited series published by DC Comics, which debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 128th day of the year (129th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Tangent Comics was a DC Comics imprint created in 1997-1998, developed from ideas created by Dan Jurgens. ... Infinite Crisis was a seven-issue limited series of comic books published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ...

Notes

1. ^a Dan Didio on the New Flash Team (newsarama.com)
2. ^b The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 (dccomics.com)

External links

• The Flash's Official Website
• The Flash at Internet Movie Database
• Crimson Lightning - 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.
• Golden Age Flash Toonopedia entry
• Silver Age Flash Toonopedia entry
• Alan Kistler's Guide To The Crisis
• The Flash: Those Who Ride The Lightning - Fan site with information about the super-speed characters of the DC Universe.
• How to Make The Flash Into an Awesome and Lucrative Franchise - A passionate blogger makes his case.
• Index to Barry Allen's Earth-One adventures
• Comic Book Awards Almanac
• comicfoundry.com Conversation with Flash writers Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo about Bart Allen as the new Flash
• Stan Lee's Flash Profile for one Elseworld version of the character
• Due Giorni Alla Fine - Utterly random and inexplicable, The Flash appears on the cover of the Italian edition of the cult novel, Just a Couple of Days