Barry Allen is the Flash, the fastest man alive and the protector of Central City.
History
Before Metropolis
Barry Allen was a young boy when a time-travelling speedster went back in time and killed his mother in front of him. Barry's father was blamed for the murder and taken to jail. [1]
Barry grew up and, while working for the Central City Police Department, was struck by lightning, giving him a connection to the Speed Force, making him the fast man alive. Inspired by an earlier speedster from the mid-1900s named Jay Garrick - the original Flash, Barry made a super suit of his own and became his successor, the second Flash.
Barry joined a new superhero team called Justice League and helped protect the world for years. He took on a sidekick - his time-travelling grandson from the future Bart Allen, who was given the codename Kid Flash.
Barry maintained a relationship with a local Central City reporter named Iris West.
Destruction of Metropolis
On the day that the Joker initiated his plan against Superman, Flash and the rest of the Justice League were called in to scour Metropolis to try and find Lois Lane, having been kidnapped by the clown. Though the Flash looked everywhere in Metropolis, Superman found Joker first and fell right into his trap, being tricked into killing his own wife and detonating a bomb that destroyed Metropolis. The Flash quickly tried to rescue as many survivors from the blast as he could.
Superman, overcome with grief, broke into the detention center the Joker was being held and murdered him in front of Batman, altering history forever.
Year One
Main article: Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol 1
Directly after the attack on Metropolis, Barry visited his girlfriend Iris West in Central City. The two talked about the incident, and Barry made a promise to Iris that, if Superman went too far in his vengeance, that the Flash would stand up to him. [2]
The US government tried to gain control of the situation with Superman and hired the Flash's enemy Mirror Master to abduct Superman's parents for leverage. This move backfired, however, as it rallied the other members of the Justice League to Superman's cause as they interrogated the other members of the Flash's Rogues for information. The League eventually found the Kents and began a new mission to de-militarize nations and forcibly end conflicts across the world.
Even after being ex-communicated from the League for his refusal to join them, Batman re-hacked into the Justice League communicators and reached out to the Flash, who had just witnessed Superman and Wonder Woman cripple a young freedom fighter named Galaxor in Australia. Batman tried to convince the speedster he was working for the wrong side. Batman's words got to Barry, who realized his guilt from the situation, and instead chose to run away from the feeling instead of confronting it. [3]
Clark and Barry, in their downtime, used their superspeed to play each other in multiple games of chess while discussing their philosophies on the effects of their exertion of power. Though Superman attempted to defend his authoritarian actions, the Flash began to win more games in quick succession, deconstructing Clark's arguments as a slippery slope.
A month after the destruction of Metropolis, when Kalibak invaded Earth with the forces of Apokolips, Superman went to the Flash, both moving faster than the speed of light to discuss the possibility of murdering the invading parademons to save the world. Though Barry disapproved of the action, he knew Clark had already made up his mind and refused to give him the validation he desired. Superman, as expected, flew around the Earth and murdered all the invading forces, saving the day at a high cost.
Tensions continued to mount as Superman formed his own Regime and Batman formed an Insurgency in response. The first year of Superman's rule ended with the man of steel murdering Green Arrow for infiltrating the Fortress of Solitude, a death the rocked the superhero community on both sides.
At some point, Iris and Barry broke up over his involvement with the growing Regime. [4]
Year Two
Main article: Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two Vol 1
In the beginning of the second year of the Regime, the Flash and Hal Jordan were assigned by Superman to threaten the US Congress after the politicians had suggested shutting down. The superheroes stood on the floor of Congress and told the elected officials to do the jobs they were expected to before being greeted by Guy Gardner and Ganthet, disappointed in the totalitarian direction Earth had taken. [5]
Superman shooed Ganthet away from the planet, instead choosing to side with the villain Sinestro. The Flash urged Superman that Sinestro was dangerous, but Sinestro handed over his power ring to prove allegiance to the Regime. [6]
Seven months later, on the day of the Green Lantern Corps' main assault to end Superman's regime, the Flash was defeated by a clever operation performed by the Insurgency at the Hall of Justice. Flash was taken captive and, because he was not seen as a lost cause like some of the other heroes, was handed over to Harley Quinn for forced psychiatry, as a way to undo his "brainwashing". [7]
Year Three
Main article: Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three Vol 1
For almost the entirety of the third year of the Regime, the Flash was held in Insurgency captivity within the Tower of Fate.
Eventually, when the Regime came to rescue the captives, the Insurgents moved Barry and the other captives to their new base in the House of Mystery.
The Insurgency debated holding onto the prisoners, some seeing them as a liability, but the Regime continued to hunt for their team members back. Though Hal Jordan almost successfully rescued the Flash, the fight was ended when the dimension of Hell began to interfere with the hero's dimension, cutting off Hal's connection to his power ring. The Flash, wanting to save everyone he could before the dimensions collided, asked to be freed to bring everyone inside the House of Mystery. Doctor Fate and Constantine agreed, and Barry hurriedly brought the heroes inside either the House of Secrets or the House of Mystery for protection except those that died and Swamp Thing. [8]
Thanks to a collaboration between the Insurgents and the Regime, Shazam and Doctor Fate managed to banish Trigon and Mxyzptlk into the void, saving the day. In the aftermath, Superman and his Regime regrouped at the Hall of Justice, and he thanked them for standing by him. [9]
Year Four
Main article: Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four Vol 1
During the fourth year of the Regime, the Flash sprung into action when Superman was challenged by Renee Montoya at the Washington Monument. However, he arrived too late, and Montoya succumbed to overdosing on super pills. Afterwards, the Flash and Cyborg tried to talk to Robin about the incident, the boy having been used as bait by Montoya, but Damian refused their friendship, seeing them both as broken as he was. [10]
Afterwards, the Flash watched as the Insurgency, having teamed up with the Gods of Olympus and the Amazons of Paradise Island, tricked Wonder Woman into evoking one-on-one combat between herself and Superman. When this combat failed due to interference from Sinestro, the Flash participated in the war against the Amazons, knocking out Harley Quinn. The Flash was caught by Hermes and almost executed but was saved just in time by Superman. [11] The gods relented and gave Superman 24 hours to regroup.
However, before departing, the gods demanded Wonder Woman join their side on Zeus' orders. Refusing to give up their teammate, the Flash struck back the gods, initiating another conflict. The fighting escalated to the point that Zeus came down from Olympus and threatened to kill Billy Batson if Superman didn't disband his Regime. Superman complied for the sake of Billy's life and told his team members to go back to their original cities until further notice. [12]
Days later, with the Regime seemingly disbanded, Batman attended a tribute dinner on Themyscira until Poseidon, having allied himself with Superman, prepared to drown the city with a tidal wave. [13] The Flash arrived to help get the Amazonians to safety. [14]
Afterwards, Flash reconvened with members of the Regime in Atlantis to formulate their plan [15] before returning to Themyscira to depose the old gods. [16] Cyborg detected that the United Nations had launched nukes on their location in an effort to end the conflict, but Wonder Woman and Superman successfully negated them in time. [17] Highfather arrived, thanks to a conversation with Batman, and deescalated the conflict with the old gods peacefully.[18]
Later, at the end of the year, the Flash helped stop a group of protestors after they blew up a statue of Superman. One of the demonstrators turned out to be Luke McDunnagh, the son of Plastic Man. Once Luke was thrown into the Regime's maximum security prison at the bottom of a trench, Plastic Man contacted the Regime to get his son back. Negotiations fell through, and O'Brien decided he needed to break his son out of prison instead. Plastic Man used his powers to secretly incapacitate the Flash and impersonated the speedster for information about the prison. By the time the Flash had reawakened, Plastic Man had freed all the prisoners. [19]
Year Five
Main article: Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Vol 1
In the beginning of the fifth year of the Regime, the Flash had his hands full picking up the pieces of Plastic Man's massive prison break. The Flash ran around the world trying to recapture the villains that had escaped. Though he and Superman successfully caught a few, Barry was incapacitated when Doomsday returned to Earth and shattered the Flash's leg. [20]
Barry used his super-healing to recover and, after the fight, began working on the new super-prison for the Regime with Lex Luthor. Flash expressed his displeasure to Superman about the Kryptonian's decision to start working with escaped prisoners. [21]
Later, when Lex Luthor pitted Bizarro against his mind-controlled Doomsday, Superman intervened, wanting to save Bizarro for questioning. Luthor, secretly wanting to stop Superman, turned Doomsday on the man of steel, and the Flash, watching on a computer screen, went to their location and saved Superman from an imminent death. [22]
Barry attended the funeral of his enemies Heat Wave and Weather Wizard after the Rogues were killed by Bizarro. The Flash wished his condolences to the remaining Rogues and, even though he was supposed to apprehend them for the Regime, agreed to have beer with them instead before leaving. [23]
After Alfred Pennyworth was killed by Victor Zsasz on orders from Superman, Batman met Superman at Zsasz's location and beat the dictator into submission. The Flash arrived on the scene to break up the fighting, but as more Regime heroes arrived, the fighting once again escalated. The Flash sarcastically abstained from the fighting, causing Damian to ask which side Barry was even on. Batman was eventually subdued by other members of the Regime until, at the last second, he was rescued by the Flash. Batman told Flash that Superman would never forgive the speedster for betraying him like that, but Barry said it was necessary, because Alfred deserved a proper funeral with Bruce in attendance.
After his rescue, Batman asked the Flash to use the Speed Force to go back in time and stop the Joker's attack on Metropolis from ever happening. The Flash said he would consider it. [24]
Back at the Hall of Justice, Superman, so furious that the Flash had abetted Batman's escape, got in a fist fight with the speedster. Superman demanded that the Flash decide whether he's an ally or an enemy of the Regime before Barry ran away.
Barry ran to Central City where he tried to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend Iris West, but she refused to talk to him due to his association with the Regime. He later discovered that she and friends of his from the Central City Police Department were part of an insurgent group against Superman. Though they were almost arrested by Regime-controlled supervillains King Shark and Girder, the Flash stepped in to save them, only to accidentally kill King Shark in defense of Iris, only solidifying his villainy to the people he was trying to save. In the middle of battle, the Flash ran Iris away from to talk to her, but she only condemned him further for associating with Superman. Frustrated, Barry once returned Iris to the fight and allowed her and the Insurgents to be arrested by Girder.
The Flash reconnected with Batman and decided not to go back in time to change the timeline. Batman insisted that their timeline was broken, but Flash responded that maybe this was how it was supposed to be. The Flash then returned to the Hall of Justice and asserted his allegiance to Superman. [25]
The Flash aided Superman when Hawkman returned to Earth with a Kryptonite mace, intending to kill the Kryptonian. Without his mace, Hawkman didn't stand a chance and was murdered by Superman in combat. [26]
Fall of the Regime
Main article: Injustice: Gods Among Us (Video Game)
Barry joined The Regime at first, because he did believe that the Man of Steels plans for protection of Earth. However after witnessing the High Councilor kill Shazam in cold blood made Barry question the whole purpose of the Regime. Barry decided that he must leave the Regime and join and help Batman's Insurgency, because "Superman has gone too far.".
After joining the Insurgency, Barry warned the Insurgents on Superman's plan on destroying Gotham and Metropolis to set an example towards the Insurgency. Barry helps the Insurgency protect Gotham, but is blasted away by Yellow Lantern. Barry is later seen let himself arrested due to having most of his crimes from the time he was in the Regime. Before he escort himself to the police van consisting the other Regime members, who are now arrested for fully aligned with Superman, Barry gives a smile to original universe's Green Arrow, amends that Barry will find a new and better life after his imprisonment.
Possible Post-Regime Epilogue
Upon beating "Classic" mode in Injustice: Gods Among Us or "Multiverse" mode in Injustice 2 with any playable fighter, the player would receive a possible alternate ending to the game's story featuring their fighter. These alternate histories should not be seen as relevant to future sequels or comic adaptations.
The Flash had taken down the High Councilor, but the atrocities he had abetted during Superman's Regime continued to haunt him. His shame eventually drove him into exile.
Whether wishing to make further amends or simply unable to stop himself, Flash continued to use his powers in the pursuit of justice. Rumors of a mysterious red streak of energy that would set upon and incapacitate criminals circulated throughout Central City. While only some deduced his real name, most felt gratitude and affection for the new hero they called, 'The Ghost.'
Before Brainiac
Main article: Injustice 2 Vol 1
Barry was given a lighter sentence then most members of the Regime. Instead of being sent to prison, Barry was sent to a climate research facility owned by Luthor-Wayne Industries with a strict no powers probation. Many of his co-workers despised Barry for his role, however the lead, Dr. Randall, didn't.
Brainiac's Invasion
Main article: Injustice 2 (Video Game)
When Brainiac takes down the world's communications, Dr. Randall used an old HAMM Radio to learn of the Metropolis invasion. She sent Barry out, reminding him that if Batman thought Barry deserved a second chance, so should The Flash. Barry ran out to fight the Betas in Metropolis, only to run into both Deadshot and Captain Cold, both acting on orders from Grodd. Snart specifically still holds animosity towards Barry for the Regime killing Lisa. After The Flash defeats the two, he is directly confronted by Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash and another member of The Society. Thawne reveals that due to the Regime, he is now a living paradox with one of his ancestors dead at their hands. The fight is brief, leading them to Gotham. After Thawne's defeat, Barry is greeted by the recently reinstated Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. The two fight due to a misunderstanding, where Barry admits he's tired of fighting his friends.
Barry later runs all over the world, getting intel on where the betas are attacking, then he isn't seen for some time.
The Flash is the second opponent for the Absolute Power timeline, where the Player chooses Superman in the final chapter. Flash sides with Batman on the decision to keep Brainiac alive to turn the cities he's captured back to normal. Flash and Supergirl confront Superman after he defeats Green Lantern. Here Superman openly blames Brainiac's invasion in part on Barry. The way Clark saw it, when Flash lost his nerve, the Regime fell apart. Flash replies stating he lost his nerve when he refused to stand up to Clark the first time. Despite his efforts, Barry is defeated by Superman.[27]
Possible Post-Brainiac Epilogue
Upon beating "Classic" mode in Injustice: Gods Among Us or "Multiverse" mode in Injustice 2 with any playable fighter, the player would receive a possible alternate ending to the game's story featuring their fighter. These alternate histories should not be seen as relevant to future sequels or comic adaptations.
"So much for heroes. Brainiac had barely hit the floor when the arguing started. Should we kill him? Keep him alive? I couldn't watch them go to war. Not again. So I ran ... into the Speed Force. Brainiac wanted the universe to himself, so I dropped him off at the end of history. But I still keep running. I needed to be alone.
Then I heard a familiar voice. It was Jay and the other speedsters! A crisis is coming, he told me. But if we run fast enough, together, we just might save the multiverse! I thought I'd been running away. But I was running towards something. It's good to believe in heroes again."
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Speed Force Conduit[28]
- Accelerated Healing: After being shot in the knee by Deadshot Barry healed in a brief time.[27]
- Superhuman Speed[28]: Barry's connection to the Speed Force allows him to move at incredible superhuman speeds. During their fight with the Gods of Olympus Barry was able to quickly knock out many Amazons before they had a chance to react.[29] He could disarm houndreds of Regime soldiers without giving them a chance to react and by pushing himself to his limits he was able to run all over the world to find the headquarters of the Insurgency.[30]
- Superhuman Agility[28]: Barry's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to superhuman levels.[31]
- Superhuman Reflexes[28]: Barry can dodge arrows shot at him from behind.[31]
- Superhuman Stamina[28]
- Superhuman Durability[28]
- Intangibility[28]
- Phasing[28]
- Time Travel[28]
- Dimensional Travel[28]
- Electrokinesis: The Flash generates large amounts of Speed Force lightning that he is able to charge his punches and kicks with.[28]
- Electro-Blast: The Flash can project a small burst of lightning from his chest,[28] as well as hurl balls of lightning.[32]
- Vortex Creations[28]
- Shockwave Generation: Barry can generate powerful shockwaves by clapping his hands at high speed.[33]
Abilities
- Acrobatics[28]
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic): Barry was capable of defeating Hermes in a rematch.[34] Managed to put Deadshot in a suppression lock, for a little bit.[35]
Notes
- This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the video game Injustice: Gods Among Us and its tie-in comic book series. It is an adaptation of Barry Allen. The original character was created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino and first appeared in Showcase #4.
- Flash was voiced by Neal McDonough in Injustice: Gods Among Us, by Taliesin Jaffe in Injustice 2 and by Yuri Lowenthal in Injustice.
Related
- 124 Appearances of Barry Allen (Injustice)
- 19 Images featuring Barry Allen (Injustice)
- 3 Quotations by or about Barry Allen (Injustice)
- Character Gallery: Barry Allen (Injustice)
Footnotes
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #6
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #27
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us #13
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #27
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two #1
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two #7
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two #23
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #22
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #24
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #6
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #10
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #15
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #15
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #20
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #22
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #23
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #23
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #24
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four Annual #1
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #1
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #9
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #20
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #21
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #26
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #28
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #32
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Injustice 2 (Video Game)
- ↑ 28.00 28.01 28.02 28.03 28.04 28.05 28.06 28.07 28.08 28.09 28.10 28.11 28.12 28.13 "Injustice: Gods Among Us (Video Game)"
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #5
- ↑ Injustice: Ground Zero #11
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #7
- ↑ "Injustice 2 (Video Game)"
- ↑ Injustice: Ground Zero #11
- ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #23
- ↑ [1]
Flash Family member This character is or was an incarnation of or an ally of The Flash, and a member of the Flash Family of speedsters. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the "Flash Family members" category. |
Justice League member This character has been a member of the Justice League of America, or the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from the clutches of both interstellar and domestic threats. |
Insurgency member This character is or was a member of the Insurgency, a gathering of heroes and villains who have come together to usurp Superman's Regime and restore democratic order on Earth in the events that precede and include the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game. |
Regime member This character is or was a member of the New Regime, a regime formed by Superman enforcing the law with an iron hand in the events that precede and include the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game. |
Batman Villain(s) |