- Hey, Kid. Name's The Flash, nice to meet ya.
- — The Flash src
Barry Allen is the second incarnation of The Flash, the fastest man alive. Using his super-speed powers, he taps into the Speed Force and becomes a costumed crime-fighter. His position is a legacy in the Flash Family, successor to the original Jay Garrick and predecessor to Wally West. He is a founding member of the Justice League of America.
History
Origins
Main article: Flash Origins
Barry Allen and a twin brother were born two weeks late, to Henry and Nora Allen in the small midwestern town of Fallville, Iowa. The brother was pronounced stillborn by Dr. Gilmore. However, in actuality, he had been born healthy, but given to another family, the Thawnes, whose child had died during birth. The lateness of Barry's birth only foreshadowed his bad habit of always being late. Barry grew up reading the adventures of his favorite superhero, Jay Garrick, the original Flash and acted many of his hero's adventures out with his friend and future actress, Daphne Dean.
When he was a child, his mother was killed and his father was convicted of the crime. The drive to prove his father was innocent gave Barry a strong belief in justice.
In high school, Barry had a reputation for being slow and easy-going. On his first date, he went to a carnival. His date had wanted to put a little motion in his life, and they went on the roller-coaster first thing. Because of this, he developed a fear of roller-coasters, a fear that he didn't get rid of until much later in his life.
Barry loved chemistry from an early age, and that helped his skills as a farmer. He won first place in the Fallville County Fair Agricultural Competition, a prize which included a scholarship to Sun City University. He graduated in three years with a major in organic chemistry and a minor in criminology.[2]
While a senior, Barry helped the authorities apprehend a bank robber, and he was offered a job as a police scientist for the Central City Police Department Scientific Detection Bureau. Eager to be in the sister city of his childhood hero's home, Keystone City, he accepted the offer.[2]
After moving to Central City and getting an apartment with a laboratory in the back, Barry began dating Picture News reporter Iris West, whom he met while examining an apparent murder that she was reporting. She was charmed by his honesty and stability.
That night during an electrical storm, Barry returned to an experiment after a short break. All of a sudden, a bolt of lightning streaked through a window, shattered a chemical cabinet and covered Barry in the electrified chemicals. Dazed, he decided to return home in a taxi. However, the taxi started to pull away without noticing him. Barry sprinted after it, only to run straight past it as if it had been standing still. He decided to sit down and recollect his thoughts at a diner. A passing waitress accidentally spilled the items of her tray onto Barry, who amazingly caught them all in mid-air and returns them to the tray. The next day, Barry saved Iris from a stray bullet. There was no question about it: the freak accident had somehow given Barry superhuman speed!
The Flash
Deciding to use his powers to help humanity, Barry designed a special costume. He used a special cold cast polyester he developed in college, which could be molded into miniature outfits from liquid material, that, when submerged in a special liquid, became sensitive to hydrogen, expanding on contact with the hydrogen in the air. A charge from a battery-powered ring he wore on his finger caused the fabric to release the extra hydrogen and shrink into the ring. He later revised the process, making the fabric sensitive to nitrogen instead. He called himself the Flash, a tribute to his childhood idol He briefly considered wearing a costume that would show his face, like Jay had, but decided that it would be best to wear a mask to conceal his true identity.[3] The first villain he faced was the Turtle Man.
Justice League
Main article: Justice League Origins
As the Flash, Barry later became a founding member of the Justice League of America, where he befriended Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, with whom he had many adventures both with and without the Justice League. Later still, he discovered that Jay Garrick was real, and became friends with him as well.
Kid Flash
During one summer, Iris's nephew Wally came to visit her in Central City. He was an incredible Flash fan, and he knew his aunt's boyfriend was a "friend" of the Flash, so a meeting was arranged. The Flash offered to answer all of Wally's questions, so Wally asked how the Flash had gained his powers of super-speed. The Flash explained the events of what had happened, causing Wally to wish out loud that something like that would happen to him. It just so happened that Barry had set up the chemical cabinet in his lab just as it had been during that fateful night, and there was a thunderstorm on the afternoon of Wally's visit. All of a sudden, almost in answer to Wally's wish, the freak accident that gave Barry his powers repeated itself, this time covering Wally in electrically-charged chemicals. Now possessing the same powers as the Flash, Wally at first donned a smaller-sized copy of Barry Allen's Flash costume, with the Picture News dubbing the young crime fighter 'Kid Flash' in a headline. Wally's original costume was later transformed into a new yellow and red design with which the Flash had been toying, following an accident with a matter-transforming machine. As Kid Flash, Wally wore this costume for many years until he outgrew his teenage appellation and became the new Flash, exchanging it for the outfit originally worn by Barry.
Marriage
Eventually, Barry proposed to Iris on a Ferris wheel at the fair. She accepted, and they were married, in spite of the efforts of Professor Zoom, who attempted to foil the ceremony. Barry hid his identity from Iris for a year, although she had known the entire time because he had spoken in his sleep on their honeymoon. He was worried that the accident had made him less human and that they would not be able to have children. However, after performing many tests that first year, he determined that they still could, and he revealed his secret.
However, it was not long before Professor Zoom took Iris's life at a masquerade party. Barry chased him into the timestream and left him there.
Trial of the Flash
Barry met and began to date another woman, Fiona Webb. However, on the day they were supposed to be married, Zoom showed up again, claiming that he would once again kill the wife of the Flash. Barry chased him across the world and failed to show up for his own wedding. In the end, Zoom was about to kill Fiona, but Barry unwittingly killed him. The Flash was charged with manslaughter and had to face a long trial.
Barry's face was disfigured severely in a battle with Big Sir. He went to Gorilla City to have his face repaired. Since Barry Allen had supposedly been missing, he decided to have it reconstructed into a completely new face, so that he could keep his secret identity dead.
Retirement
Later, Barry was brought to the 30th century, where Iris was from and had been reborn. For about a month, they lived in happiness and thanks to great advances in reconstructive surgery that had been made in this era, Barry's original features were restored. Iris would later have twins, Don and Dawn Allen.
Barry made a stop in time during his trip to the future and met up with Wally West in a battle against Professor Zoom. There were two Zooms at the time and they each took one. Barry fared much better than Wally and sent his Zoom through the timestream. It is unclear what happened to him, but he does end up in the 30th century.[4]
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Main article: Crisis on Infinite Earths
The Crisis on Infinite Earths brought Barry out of retirement. The 30th Century was beginning to fall apart: natural disasters were occurring despite the technology that had been created to stop them, and reality itself was fraying. Flash returned to the 20th century to warn his fellow heroes. Just as he started to warn Batman, he was pulled into the Antimatter Universe by the Anti-Monitor, where he was mentally tortured by the Psycho-Pirate. Finally, he used the Psycho-Pirate to turn all of the Anti-Monitor's servants, the Thunderers, against him. This gave him enough time to destroy the Anti-Monitor's anti-matter cannon by running around it and destroying the outer casing. He ran so incredibly fast that he entered the Speed Force forever.[5]
Afterlife
There were several differing accounts on what happened to Barry following his death. He had been shown to transform into electricity as he gone back in time, eventually becoming the lightning bolt that first struck him and gave him his powers.[6]
There was an extra-dimensional amnesiac character who later showed up in the Marvel Universe, implied to be Barry and remembering his name as something like Buried Alien.[7] He later adopted the alias Fastforward.[8]
The Terminal Velocity storyline introduced the concept of the Speed Force, portrayed as a sort of Valhalla for speedsters. Barry was shown to have joined the ranks of legendary speedster heroes throughout time in death.[9] This still allowed him to become the lightning bolt that struck him in the chemical accident.[10]
Oliver Queen later met Barry when he visited an aspect of Heaven following his own resurrection in Quiver. Hal Jordan and Jason Todd were also seen, as Barry gave Oliver advice on the afterlife.[11]
The Witch Thessaly also encountered him at the Dead Legends Cafe. In death, he was portrayed as an amnesiac who doesn't even remember his own name, but still, maintains some of his heroic characteristics.[12]
Identity Crisis
Main article: Identity Crisis
In a flashback, it was revealed that Barry was part of a conspiracy where Zatanna brainwashed Doctor Light, and mind wiped Batman's memory of the event. He was also the one who decided to do so, not wanting an instance like when Professor Zoom killed Iris to happen again.[13]
Infinite Crisis
Main article: Infinite Crisis
Barry Allen's soul appeared from the Speed Force, along with Johnny Quick and Max Mercury, to help his grandson Bart deal with Superboy-Prime, taking the villainous lad with him into the Speed Force. Bart Allen later emerged from the Speed Force, wearing Barry Allen's costume, in Tokyo to tell the heroes that Superboy-Prime had escaped. Bart again reappeared to combat Superboy-Prime once more. Barry spent four years in an alternate Keystone City along with Max Mercury, Johnny Quick and an alternate Jay Garrick, until he met Bart and Wally West, joining him after the battle against Superboy-Prime. After Superboy-Prime escaped, Barry suggested that someone of the still living speedsters had to absorb the whole Speed Force and cross the dimensional bridge back to Post-Crisis Earth. As Bart volunteered, Barry gave him his suit as a last gift, to keep the Force contained, and stayed behind.
Final Crisis
Main article: Final Crisis
Barry Allen had recently reappeared during the Final Crisis. He had been seen chasing the bullet fired backward through time that killed Orion, and being chased by the Black Racer and what appeared to be the Morticoccus Virus.[14] He simply said to Wally West and Jay Garrick "Run!". Barry and Wally accelerated one month into the future, only to find that Darkseid had conquered the world. They are soon discovered by a group of Female Furies composed of the Anti-Life corrupted Wonder Woman, Batwoman, Catwoman and Giganta. Evading the Furies, they headed to Iris's apartment, where Barry was able to break the Anti-Life Equation's hold over her with a kiss, assuring Iris that everything was going to be all right.[15]
Shortly afterward, Jay Garrick made his way to Iris' home and reunited with Barry and Wally. Once Jay was there, Barry explained his plan: because they had led the Black Racer to the present, Barry would lead him to Darkseid and let his soul be claimed. Although Barry wanted to go alone, Wally insisted on going with him, and Barry relented, asking Jay to keep Iris safe.[16] Managing to hit light speed, Barry and Wally lead the Black Racer to Darkseid's base in Bludhaven. Aware of the threat the speedsters posed, Darkseid fired his Omega Beams through his Anti-Life slaves, but the two Flashes managed to outrace them. At the last second, Barry told Wally to save himself, but both Flashes went through together, running past Superman (who was naturally surprised to see Barry) and vibrated through Darkseid, causing the Omega Beams to hit Darkseid and allowing the Black Racer to remove Darkseid's essence from Dan Turpin.[17]
Rebirth
Main article: The Flash: Rebirth
Shortly afterward, although his family and friends were overjoyed that he was back, Barry himself was uneasy, as he was unable to explain how he alone escaped the Speed Force, while others such as Max Mercury and Johnny Quick were still trapped inside. Deciding not to waste this second chance, Barry went to the Flash Museum to catch up on what he had missed. While there, he met up with his old friend, Hal Jordan, who had also died and returned. Barry discussed his unease over his return with Hal, and how he felt that he did not need to come back. Barry told Hal to tell Wally and Jay that he wasn't going to the parties that had been set up in honor of his return, then sped off on patrol. While running, a rogue speedster Wally had encountered named Savitar somehow escaped the Speed Force through Barry. When Barry managed to catch him, Savitar disintegrated before Barry's eyes.[18]
Recently Barry and Wally found the Black Flash "apparently dead". After that Barry became the new Black Flash.[19] When he realized that his presence could damage or kill other innocents, Barry fled back into the Speed Force, where he encountered old friends Johnny Quick and Max Mercury. Max attempted to tell Allen that him becoming the Black Flash wasn't his fault, and when Max and Barry are pulled into another pocket of the Speed Force, the real culprit revealed himself: Professor Zoom.[20]
Zoom revealed the depth of his plan: after Barry briefly aided Kid Flash against Superboy-Prime during the Infinite Crisis, Thawne was able to send a subliminal pulse into the Speed Force to draw back what was left of Barry's self-awareness. This led to the hero's reappearance during the Final Crisis. Afterward, Zoom transformed himself into "a new kind of speedster and created his negative Speed Force to contaminate Barry and the other heroic speedsters. Before Barry could fight any further, Zoom faded away. Wally entered the Speed Force to retrieve his uncle, and after venturing deeper into the Speed Force, Max revealed to Barry that it was Allen himself who created the speedsters' source of power. Barry unknowingly did the same throughout his career to create the normal Speed Force. Meanwhile, Wally managed to reach Barry and Max, and the three began their escape. As the heroic speedsters were recharged with energy, Barry, Wally, Jay, Max and Bart charged towards Zoom.[21]
The seven speedsters battled against Zoom, and despite being outnumbered, Zoom pulled Barry away. He revealed that everything horrible that happened to Barry's life, including the murder of Barry's mother, was caused because of Zoom. He, then, decided to destroy everything by killing Barry's wife, Iris, before they even met.[22]
Barry chased after Zoom and was joined by Wally, who told Barry to push as hard as he could to break the time barrier. Doing so, they reached Thawne, becoming the lightning bolt that turned Barry into the Flash as they were able to stop Zoom from killing Iris. As the two Flashes pushed Zoom back through time to the present, the two Flashes saw that the Justice League, the Justice Society and the Outsiders have built a device specifically for Thawne. Barry tossed him in and activated the device, severing his connection to the negative Speed Force. The Flashes tied Zoom up to stop him from running. With the threat ended, everyone celebrated by welcoming Barry back and the speedsters in general. Later, Barry closed the case on his mother's death and opted to take all the other cold cases they had after his death. Barry spent some time with Iris before racing to Washington to celebrate his return to the Justice League, apologizing for being late.[23]
Blackest Night
Main article: Blackest Night
A few months later, at the grave of Bruce Wayne in Gotham City, Hal Jordan and Barry Allen reflect on Batman's death and how the hero community is avoiding linking Wayne and Batman.
This reflection turns to the pair looking at their own deaths, comparing the sadness that Barry's death engendered in others while Hal's death produced anger. Hal sums it up by telling Barry, "I died a sinner. You died a saint." The conversation moves on to the world becoming "more dangerous" after Barry's death and observing that the deaths of Arthur Curry and Martian Manhunter cost the Justice League its "heart and soul". As they leave the cemetery, Barry expresses hope that their dead comrades will be returned to them. He specifically cites Batman noting, "If there's an escape, you can bet Batman's already planning it."[24]
Barry also appears alongside Hal in the July issues of Green Lantern tying into the event. Recently, in a fight with Black Lantern J'onn J'onzz, he found a mysterious black residue at Bruce Wayne's grave-a black form coagulating much like blood that started corrupting him by partly decaying his skin and muscle during the fight against his former friend, who is intent on killing both Hal and Barry, seeing how they both died, and in the eyes of the Black Lanterns, must return to that state to keep the universe in balance.[25][26]
After fighting off the undead Martian and the subsequent Black Lanterns with Hal and the arriving Atom, Mera, Firestorm and two of the Indigo Tribe members, Barry, along with Wally and Bart, races across the globe to warn every superhero community across the planet.[27] His message also inadvertently warns the Rogues, who all realize that their deceased members would come after them and decide to strike first at Iron Heights Penitentiary, unaware that Sam Scudder, the original Mirror Master, who is now a Black Lantern, is watching them. While doing so, Barry meets a Black Lantern version of Professor Zoom for a brief battle. Barry decides to go to Gorilla City to seek aid from its ruler Solovar, unaware the gorilla leader had been killed years before. Finding the city attacked, Barry assumed Grodd had struck only to be horrified to learn Solovar was now a Black Lantern. Their fight was shortened by Barry racing to Coast City.[28]
After he stops at the city's memorial, where he witnesses the arrival of the Black Lanterns' demonic lord, Nekron and his disciples Scar and Black Hand.[29] The Justice League, the Titans, Wally and Bart arrive to aid Barry to take a stand against Nekron. However, Nekron reveals however that all the resurrected heroes are tied to him because he allowed them to rise again. And as such, they belong to him. Nekron then used a series of black rings to turn Superman, Green Arrow, Bart and several other resurrected heroes into Black Lanterns.
Barry himself soon finds himself being targeted by a black ring and is forced to flee or risk joining the others as Black Lanterns.[30] When it was decided to deputize an individual for each Lantern Corps for 24 hours, the Flash was chosen as the deputy for the Blue Lantern Corps. During the battle, Barry is forced to fight his own grandson, who his ring detects is still alive but would eventually die if not free from the black ring soon. Barry is shown to be skilled with his ring in creating energy constructs based on his imagination (possibly because of the understanding with his friend Hal Jordan's ring), as he is able to create images of Bart as Impulse and Kid Flash against him in order to make him feel again. Barry's plan almost works as Bart reacts to the images of his past and the constructs begin to attempt to take the black ring from him, but later is interrupted by the Black Lantern Professor Zoom and Solovar. Wally and Walker later join Barry to fight against them.[31]
The Rise and Fall
Afterwards, Barry and Hal begin searching the country for Prometheus, who had escaped after destroying Star City during Justice League: Cry for Justice. The pair goes to the Shade, who then reveals that he helped Ollie track down Prometheus and that he killed the villain in cold blood. After confronting Ollie with this knowledge, he flees through use of a transportation key that Prometheus had used to escape during a previous encounter with the JLA. Barry then vows that he and the League have to track down Ollie before he kills again.[32]
With Hal and Dinah by his side, Barry searches the city for Green Arrow, and at some point, tells Ollie's son Connor Hawke about his father's crime. After eventually tracking down Ollie, the trio confronts him, with Barry telling his old teammate that he hates him more and more every time he sees him. Barry makes the foolish mistake of trying to grab Ollie and is electrocuted after touching the archer's booby-trapped quiver.[33]
Dastardly Death of the Rogues
Barry reintegrates himself into life in Central City. Under the cover of having been in witness protection, Allen returns to the Central City Police Department's crime lab and returns to the streets as the Flash. While readjusting to life as the Flash, a man appears out of thin air in the costume of Flash rogue the Mirror Master, and promptly dies on the street.
When Barry arrives on the scene to investigate, he sees the man is neither original Mirror Master Sam Scudder, or the current Rogue, Evan McCulloch. Hearing of another portal appearing, Barry transforms into the Flash and runs to investigate. When he arrives, a group of people in costumes similar to the Rogues, called The Renegades appear and tell Barry that they are from the 25th century, and that he is under arrest for murdering the "Mirror Monarch." Barry tells the crew that he hasn't killed anyone, to which their leader, "Commander Cold," tells him, "Not yet. But you will."[34]
After a brief struggle, the Renegades retreat but accidentally destroy an apartment building in their jump back to the 25th century. Barry saves everyone in the building, even rebuilding the building in minutes, and goes on to search for the true killer of Mirror Monarch. He is attacked again by the Renegades, but only before Captain Boomerang shows up, now wielding explosive energy boomerangs. Boomerang fights both the Flash and the Renegades and a confused Top (one of the Renegades from the 25th century) questions his teammates on whether or not Barry Allen is the man they are looking for, pointing out that in their timeline, Boomerang never showed up.
The Renegades finally corner Captain Boomerang when the Rogues arrive with a giant mirror left by the previous Mirror Master that says, "In Case The Flash Returns Break Glass." An all-out brawl ensues as the Rogues battle the Renegades. Meanwhile, Flash is confronted by Top who warns him that the reason he will eventually kill Mirror Monarch is because of Iris's death, which he claims will be caused when the giant mirror breaks, releasing the Mirror Lords. Top tells Barry that one of the Mirror Lords will possess Iris and take her away from him. Barry races to stop the mirror from breaking, with Top at his side. However, when the White Lantern entity reaches out to Captain Boomerang, telling him to "Throw the Boomerang", Boomerang responds by throwing dozens of boomerangs in every direction. One of them hits the glass and it begins to break. Top tells the Flash to stop the Mirror Lords, while he goes and protects Iris. Flash questions, "This doesn't make any sense," but Top throws him into the mirror and flees.
In the mirror, Flash is exposed to strange visions of his mother. Outside, the Rogue Mirror Master tells the others that the mirror is actually a slow acting poison, and they flee. Barry escapes the mirror confused and asks, "Where are the Mirror Lords?" He is then arrested by the Renegades, who realize that this was all a setup by Top to frame the Flash for his own personal gains. Barry is transported to a 25th-century court, while Top confronts Iris.
Barry escapes the 25th-century court and goes after Top. Top reveals that the reason for all of his crimes is because Barry reopened a previously closed case. Barry felt that the person convicted was actually innocent. The person who is actually guilty of the crime is one of Top's ancestors. Top reveals that they do not allow anyone in the Renegades who have any ancestors with a criminal record. The Flash is able to beat Top and convict the right man for murder, letting go the innocent man who was sent to prison. Afterward, the 25th-century court and the Renegades go over the facts, realizing that the Flash was right and that their entire record of history is wrong.
Hot Pursuit
That morning, Barry arrives late for work after having battled Gorilla Grodd at the zoo. He is sent to investigate a potential homicide. The victim's prints and costumed match those of the Elongated Kid. However, the body is that of a very old man. The investigation causes Barry to miss a family picnic.
That night, Barry calls his old colleague, Patty Spivot, hoping to get her help on the case. However, the power suddenly goes out and the crime lab is attacked by the mysterious Hot Pursuit. Changing into the Flash, Barry chases him to the river. Here, Hot Pursuit reveals himself to be an alternate version of Barry.
Hot Pursuit explains to the Flash that he came to New Earth to investigate about a mysterious anomaly that could affect New Earth and all realities as well. Then, Kid Flash rushes in front of them, explaining that he came to check on him since he didn't go to the family picnic. Hot Pursuit is interested in Bart and his connection to the Speed Force. Hot Pursuit explains that since Bart is from the future, he could cease to exist due to the anomaly. Barry offers to help Hot Pursuit, but Hot Pursuit simply wants to work alone. But somehow, Hot Pursuit's Cosmic Motorcycle pulls the Speed Force right out of Barry, and he falls to the ground. When Bart catches up to him, he automatically assumes that he is going to help Barry, but he refuses. Bart then says that Barry is no better than Hot Pursuit, then begins to question Barry's absence from the picnic even further, and says that the only reason Barry wasn't there, is because Bart was there. He then runs off.
Later, back as Barry Allen, he is in his crime lab, analyzing some DNA he pulled from Hot Pursuit. The analysis confirms that he is Barry Allen. Soon after, Patty Spivot walks in, and after a small reunion, Barry asks her to help with the case regarding the Elongated Kid. But she declines, saying that because she no longer works at the crime lab, she can't get involved. Then, Barry gets a call from David Singh. They have another body. At the crime scene, they notice that he, like the Elongated Kid, looks very old, however, he is identified as 30 years old, airman Jay Nicolosi, because he has a wallet on him, and near the crime scene they find a rut in the ground that looks like a tire track. Then, something in the distance gets their attention, it's a little boy, a witness.[35]
In the crime labs, Barry and Patty continue investigating the case. David Singh then walks in, saying that the kid is in child services and that he's alright, but they can't find his parents. And the kid isn't saying a word. In the front lobby, the kid is curled up in one of the chairs. Patty tells Barry that he should talk to him, maybe he can make the kid more comfortable. But just then the kid leaps from his chair and clings to Patty. She once again says that she can't get involved, but as Barry asks her again, she accepts and brings the boy down to the cafeteria for something to eat.
Once again at the crime lab, Barry and James Forrest brainstorm on the tire tracks found at the scene of both crimes. However, they don't get far, because Barry gets a text from Iris, reading: "Need You Home. 911." Barry races home, to find his entire family all in his living room. Iris says that they need to talk about how Barry has been going nonstop, about why Barry wasn't at the picnic. Barry explains that he's been really busy and that there is someone really dangerous on the loose out there. Jay reminds him that every second counts and that he needs to slow down and live his life. Wally West then says that Barry taught him that same principle that Jay just said years ago. He then asks, why won't he live it. Then, Iris asks Bart Allen if there is anything he wants to say. Bart declines, and Barry apologizes to him for being so distant. Bart jumps from his seat and just wants to know why Barry can't be the person he's supposed to look up to and respect. He runs off, and Barry chases after him. Hot Pursuit rushes up to Bart on the street and grabs him, but before he can take him, the Flash steps in his way. Hot Pursuit explains that Bart is the anomaly and must be sent back to the future.[36]
As Flash and Hot Pursuit fight, Hot Pursuit's club detects the actual anomaly. Hot Pursuit goes after the anomaly, and Flash and Kid Flash follow him. The anomaly is, in fact, Professor Zoom, who is attacking Patty. The Flash takes Patty to safety, and Patty reveals to him that Zoom transformed himself into the boy the police found in Jay Nicolosi's murder scene. The Flash then returns to attacks Zoom. Hot Pursuit uses his stick to drain the Speed Force out of Zoom and tells the Flash and Kid Flash to evacuate the building because when the Speed Force process ends, everything within one hundred feet will age to dust. The Flash and Kid Flash evacuate the building but Zoom overcomes Hot Pursuit's club and kills him. The Flash and Kid Flash pursue Zoom to a park, but Zoom disguises himself as an old man, and the two heroes lose him. The Flash and Kid Flash then check up on Hot Pursuit's empty suit, and the Flash reveals to Kid Flash that Thawne is the one who killed his mother.
In the police station, Barry checks on Patty. Although Patty is unscathed, she feels she made a mistake in coming back to Central City, revealing that when she worked as Barry's assistant, she had a crush on him. However, she felt that since he was obsessed with his mother's case, she felt that she had to back away until Barry could close that chapter of his life. But when Barry finally became more open, he fell in love with Iris. In that moment, Iris appears, and Patty leaves, not wanting to have an awkward moment.
Later on, Barry and Iris are having a talk in the coffee house. She is concerned because he is turning into a workaholic again. He explains that he grew out of that because he managed to stop blaming himself for his mother's death. However, with the revelation that Professor Zoom - one of his enemies - traveled through time and killed his mother, those feelings have come back. Iris says that he has friends and family, and he can forgive himself for the actions of his enemy.
Later that day, Barry goes to leave flowers on his mother's grave and apologize for his part in her death. He then walks away as the day ends. Suddenly, Professor Zoom begins his plan to destroy the Flash once and for all.[37]
Flashpoint
This section of the history takes place during Flashpoint, a massive crossover event set in an alternate timeline to the mainstream DCU. History was completely changed when Professor Zoom finally found a way to erase his nemesis the Flash without harming his own legacy.
Waking up suddenly at his desk, Barry Allen has only a few seconds to puzzle out the fact that something in his work environment has changed before he hears that a Rogue named Miss Alchemy is engaging in a felony. Barry starts running to get there, only to fall down a nearby flight of stairs. This alone is a puzzle to him, but then he is greeted by an even bigger shock Nora Allen, still alive in the present day and coming to visit him.[38]
After some investigation he is struggling to find any heroes to help as Superman is missing and Wonder Woman and Aquaman leading their respective nations in a war, his wife Iris is unmarried and himself currently powerless. Barry seeks Batman who might help, and he drives to Gotham City and enters a run-down Wayne Manor and explores a small Batcave until he is attacked by Batman. Barry tries to explain who he is by saying he knows Batman is Bruce Wayne, although then he realizes that Batman is Thomas Wayne.[38]
While Barry is being beaten up by Batman, he explains about his secret identity as the Flash and his relation to Bruce Wayne. Barry's memories spontaneously change and learn that the world of Flashpoint is not an alternate dimension, but his own. Barry uses his ring, which he uses to contain his Flash outfit, but the ring, instead ejects Professor Zoom's costume and Barry tells Batman that Zoom is taunting him with it. Barry explains that both he and Zoom have the ability to alter time, leading Batman to ask him about how Bruce was to have lived in his place and if he can really change the world, Barry needs his speed first. Later, Barry and Batman create an electric chair-like device to try and recreate the accident that gave him his speed, however, the first attempt met with failure, leaving Barry severely burned.[39]
Barry awakens on an operating table in the Batcave and is covered in bandages and third-degree burns. Despite Thomas' advice, Barry sits back down in the electric chair device. When lightning strikes grant Barry's super-speed to return and he then saves the Batman from being impaled on a fence, Barry's injuries are healing rapidly the speed-enhanced regeneration and he recreates his Flash costume. The Flash researches the incarnations of heroes of the DC timeline, believing that Zoom deliberately changed their lives to prevent the Flash from creating a Justice League and learns of a rocket that crashed into Metropolis which carried the infant Superman, who instead of being raised in Kansas was taken in by the government. They then contact Cyborg for his help in sneaking into the government bunker of "Project: Superman" that is 'raising' Superman after his rocket destroyed Metropolis upon its arrival, only to be disappointed at Superman's frail appearance. They head towards Project: Superman's underground base via the sewer. The group comes across a giant vault door bearing the Superman logo. After they open the door, the three see a pale, weakened form of Superman. Despite his appearance, Barry says that no matter what, Superman will always be a good person. When the arrival of guards forces them to escape, Superman gets his powers that begin to manifest and he flies off leaving them at the hands of the guards.[40]
While they fend off the guards, they are rescued by Element Woman. Barry's memories begin to change much more drastically, altering his past and states that he is running out of time and soon he will not be able to restore the timeline to normal. After Barry is recovering, he asks the heroes to stop the Atlantean/Amazon war from creating more casualty, although the heroes are not willing to unless Batman wants to join them. Cyborg explains to him that they believe Batman was invincible. However, Barry convinces him that no one is invincible; the Marvel Family are agreeing to join him which Batman is agreeing too as well. The heroes arrive at New Themyscira to stop the Atlantean/Amazon war and appear to be winning until Enchantress reveals herself as the Amazon spy and uses her magic to separate the Marvel Family and restore them to their mortal forms. Penthesileia kills Billy Batson just as Professor Zoom reveals himself to Barry.[41]
Professor Zoom reveals to him that the Flashpoint universe was actually created by Barry himself after he traveled back in time to stop Zoom from killing his mother. He continues to taunt Barry with this knowledge, but he was stabbed in the back by an Amazonian sword and killed by Batman. Before Barry returns the timeline to normal, Batman thanks him for all he's done and gives him a letter addressed to his son. After this, Barry bids a farewell to his mother, knowing he must travel back in time to stop his younger self from altering time. Barry merges with his past counterpart in an attempt to stop him, creating a new different timeline. After Barry restores the timeline, he visits the original Bruce Wayne and gives him a letter from his alternate father. Bruce is grateful to Barry of informing him of the events of the Flashpoint before the timeline was apparently returned to normal.[42]
The DC Universe was rebooted in 2011 as part of the Flashpoint event. This was an attempt to simplify continuity, and make DC Comics more accessible to new readers. Prior to this, mainstream comics took place in New Earth continuity since the Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985. The continuity established following Flashpoint is Prime Earth.
Convergence
This section of the history takes place during Convergence, a massive crossover event revisiting characters from past eras and realities. The villains Brainiac and Telos plucked them from their own timeline and stored them together, causing them to cross over into each others' reality. Its precise chronological placement and canonicity may be unclear.
Main article: Convergence (event)
Barry and his whole city were pulled out from the timestream by a version of Brainiac and Telos before the first Crisis, specifically, right before he was tortured by Psycho-Pirate.[43] After the dome goes down, he fights Superman of Earth-9 and loses. During that time, Barry learnt about his fate. He was willing to make the sacrifice anyway, but Brainiac stated a heroic sacrifice wouldn't fix the timestream: they had to destroy the Anti-Monitor before he obliterated the Multiverse. Brainiac sent Barry, Earth-One Supergirl, Parallax Hal Jordan and New Earth Superman together with his wife and son back to the first Crisis.[44] They managed to defeat the Anti-Monitor and prevent the death of the Multiverse.[45]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Speed Force Generation: Barry Allen is the very source and creator of the Speed Force, and generates it with every step he takes. For this very reason, he is unaffected if any other speedster tries to steal or drain his speed. Barry has shown that he cannot be stopped by any force if he absorbs the Speed Force.
- Superhuman Speed: Barry has the potential to be the fastest of the Flashes, and is arguably one of the fastest beings in all of existence. He is fast enough to easily outpace Superman, as well as break any dimensional barrier and even enter the Speed Force itself,[20] and is one of the few people to have ever escaped from it. Barry is fast enough to run on actual photons, molecules, clouds and even ride on energy blasts.[46][47][48][49][50][51] His speed is so immeasurable that he has moved faster than and reacted to and less than an attosecond (an attosecond is one quintillionth of a second. To put this in perspective, one attosecond is to one second, what one second is to the age of the universe).[52] When lost in thought, he managed to travel 26 trillion miles, according to the Cosmic Treadmill.[53] Flash has shown that he can appear in two places at once.[54][55] Barry's speed is so impressive, that he was called upon Highfather himself, to join Metron and Lightray on a quest to enter the Source and to save Orion, cause he was the only one fast enough to do it.[56] Without his powers, Barry's comparable to the average track runner and can run at least 20 mph.[57] He can effortless run on a stream of water, even while carrying two people at the same time.[58] Barry's even fast enough to run on flying chunks of debris.[59] His super speed also makes Barry immune to time being slowed down to a near halt.[60] When Snapper Carr challenged Barry's speed to a computer's search engine for Ohm's Law, Barry found the description instantly, before the computer finished searching for the info.[61] Flash is so fast that even Mopee a Heavenly Helpmate, struggles to keep up with him and needs to catch his breathe.[62] Even with just one leg, Superman being blind, Green Arrow without arms, Hawkman with asthma and Green Lantern with stuttering; Barry and the Justice League of America are still capable of using their powers to defeat Brain Storm.[63]
- Superhuman Reflexes: Barry possesses reflexes far greater than a normal human being. This allows him to easily react to danger and events and perceive the world in slow motion.[19] Despite being powerless, Barry's fast enough to tag Wally West with Mr. Element's element gun. [84] Due to his time of having superspeed, his reflexes became discipline enough to allow him to catch Sinestro's Yellow Lantern Ring, when it was flying through the air due to an explosion, even without his powers.[85] Managed to dodge Black Manta's blast beams (operates on eyebrow movement and blinking) while in the back of a car. Along with avoiding a collision between Wally West and Donny Troy, with no superspeed.[86]
- Superhuman Stamina: Barry's body can handle the stress of moving at superhuman speeds for extended periods of time without getting tired or weak.[18] Survived having enough PCP/Angel Dust in his system that's enough to kill an elephant, for more than a week.[87] When fighting alongside the Justice League of America, Barry and the rest of the League fought non-stop, for nearly 24 hours.[88]
- Superhuman Agility: Barry's agility, balance and bodily coordination are enhanced to superhuman levels.[89] This allows him to easily make sharp turns and leap far distances while moving at superhuman speed.[18]
- Superhuman Strength:[90][91][92] In order to keep in shape, the Flash routinely engages in super speed exercises. [93][94][95][96] Barry's strong enough to carry King Solovar from Central City all the way to Gorilla City, in Africa.[97] He even carried Gorilla Grodd back up to the surface, from a subterranean world.[98][99][100] Both Barry and Wally each pushed a heavy steel cable drum, to use to wrap up a giant.[66] Barry manages an out of control car with rapid fire pushes at super speed.[101] Barry grabbed and pushed an ambulance all the way to a car accident and even managed to bring it to a complete halt.[102] He carried all of the blocks of a pyramid and rebuilt it in a few seconds.[103] Flash has also carried and lifted a giant glass prism with Batman inside it.[104] Barry even managed to carry Elasti-Woman on his back while she was growing, supporting her weight long enough to grab a rocket, before it reached the atmosphere.[105] He even managed to carry an 8'3 tall wooden life-size carving of Bork, with the option of either both hands or just one, to even pulling it on a tether.[106] Even while groggy and weakened, Flash has the strength to throw an mystic Ankh hard enough, hurling it into deep space.[107] Barry has shown being strong enough to hold onto the wing of commercial airliner, while it's already 20,000 feet in the air.[108] Managed to move several tons of debris and rip off a car door with just his hands.[109] Barry even managed to stop a train that was moving at top speed, bringing it to a dead halt by acting as its braking effect.[110] When serious, Flash can even harm the likes of Superman, with his punches.[111] Flash has thrown several tons of giant rocks at the Shaggy Man II, is strong enough to actually lift him over his head & carry Shaggy Man II over a considerable distance, without experiencing any sign of fatigue.[112] Barry pulled a time traveling vehicle to a halt when it was in motion and shown capable of maintaining his grip on the vehicle when traveling through time.[113]
- Speed Force Aura: The Speed Force manifests an aura around the speedster and whatever they are carrying, protecting them from adverse effects of their speed, such a friction with the air, airborne particulate matter, kinetic impacts, G-Force and the like.
- Superhuman Durability: Barry is capable of resisting tremendous kinetic impact forces that could easily crush or kill a human, without suffering any serious external or internal injuries, making him much more durable than any human. He has even survived blows from Superman himself, when they were forced to fight.[114] According to Barry, all of his years of super speeding has toughened his body up, that even without his aura he can survive in a vacuum with no oxygen and air pressure.[115]
- Accelerated Healing: Like all conduits of the Speed Force, Barry is capable of regenerating from harm much faster than any normal human.[116]
- Decelerated Aging: Along with every speedster that draws from the speed force, the loved ones of the speedsters will gain eternal youth like Jay's wife and Barry's wife ages have shown.[22]
- Electrokinesis: As the generator of the Speed Force, Barry is the very source of the electrical Speed Force energy that all speedsters generate. This Speed Force lightning emanates off of him, especially when moving at super-speed.[21]
- Negate Anti-Life Equation: Barry is capable of negating the effects of Darkseid's Anti-Life Equation, through physical contact of his Speed Force energy.[15]
- Enhanced Mental Process: Barry's mental capacities are greatly enhanced by the Speed Force, allowing him to think at the speed of light and perceive events that last less than an attosecond.[117][118] He is also capable of reading at superhuman rates, accumulating mass amounts of knowledge in seconds. However, unlike his grandson, the knowledge does not stay in his memory very long and disappears after a short time.
- Enhanced Senses:[119] The Speed Force grants Barry enhanced senses that allow him to perceive the world at a rate attuned to his reaction speed.
- Superhuman Hearing: Barry can hear supersonic sounds, due to his super swift body being geared to those vibrations.[65][120][121]
- Enhanced Vision: Barry can see objects and beings that are rendered invisible at normal speed, but visible to him at superspeed.[122]
- Precognition: Barry possesses a sixth sense that warns him of danger.[123][124][125][126][39]
- Cheating Death: Despite being accurately preordained to die according to the Photo-Synth, Barry changed the result of outsmarting fate by outrunning his own image.[127] He even managed to kill Death in Iris's Dream when he traveled to the Dream Dimension.[128]
- Flight: Barry can achieve aerial locomotion either by creating cyclones or spinning his body like a propeller. Like his nephew Wally, Barry's capable of running in the frictionless vacuum of space/time or even from beyond the life barrier without need of a solid surface to run along.[129] By running around the Earth until he reaches escape velocity, allows Barry to traverse through outer space, while providing internal vibrations so that he can remain in jet-propelled thrust for flight.[130] Flash can also rotate his arms to create vortexes that can help him fly through the air or create a cushion of air to land safely.[131][132] When kicking his feet at super speed, he can create an air cushion or an updraft.[133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141] Flash can even propel himself into the sky, flying around in the air, at the expense of shedding his body cells.[142]
- Interstellar Travel: One of the most advanced ways Speed Force users fly is by directing one's own atomic-molecular motion in the direction one wishes to travel in, i.e. syncing his vibrational frequency with those of ultra-light waves to traverse planetary distances with ease.[143][144] By running around the Earth until he reaches escape velocity, Barry can soar throughout outer space, as long as he provides internal vibrations to grant him jet-propelled thrust in mid-flight.[130] Barry escapes off a planetoid and returns to Earth by reaching the escape velocity after Abra Kadabra sends him into space.[3][145]
- Molecular Acceleration: Barry can vibrate his own molecular structure at varying degrees for a number of purposes.[146][74][75][147] By vibrating his vocal cords, Flash can alter his voice, disguising it so that no one can discover his identity via auditory.[148] Barry can push his vibrations even further to alter his molecules and atoms and those of others, he can even scatter and shake them a part.[149][150][151] He can draw billions of molecules into a single chain reaction, with his vibrations.[152] Flash can even counter paralysis with super speed by vibrating in order to get the molecules active again.[153][154][155] Whether to seal up breaches in dimensions,[156][157] create duplicates of himself for short time,[158] and re-structure his body whether being physically morphed and/or being dissembled at the atomic level thus allowing him to develop a resistance to atomic reconstruction and molecular destruction;[159][160][161][162] resulting in him having complete mastery over his molecules and atoms.[163] Due to his mastery over his atoms and molecules, he can turn his molecules into super conductors to counteract extreme temperatures.[164] He even managed to restore himself even after his molecules were scattered across time and space.[165] E.g. by vibrating at super speed, Barry can detect the directions of broadcast signals to different tv stations, electrons, etc., by adjusting to different frequencies (can vibrate at hundreds of varying frequency levels) to home in on their point of origin.[166][3][167][168][169][170][171][172] He can use his super speed vibrations to make a dimensional window, that has no more substance than a mirage.[173] Barry can create vibration-frequencies swift enough to let objects or people pass through each other harmlessly, even when they leave his physical contact.[174] He has used his vibrations to allow himself to be able to run on actual photons, electrons, molecules, clouds, tornadoes, and even ride on controlled energy blasts.[46][175][47][48][49][50][176][51][177][178][179][180][181] Flash even managed to prevent the destruction of all time and space/DC Universe, by sending our ultra-vibrations from his hands into the sky and neutralized the lethal energy inside Iris West Allen. Something that not even Doctor Fate's magic could prevent.[182] Flash can use his superspeed vibrations to his maintain his molecules in a non-solid state to survive in an ocean of lava, causally passing through him.[183] He can survive and think for several hours after being turned into a puddle.[184] Barry can even cause instant disintegration,[185][186] as shown when he destroyed a helicopter blade by using ultra intense vibration waves.[187] He can even use his vibrations to cancel out a magic spell that kept his astral body and subconscious mind trapped in a nightmare dream world.[188]
- Phasing: By vibrating his molecules on an atomic level, and by doing so at just the right frequency, Barry can allow himself to become momentarily intangible, and phase through objects such as walls and people.[74][75][189][6][190] Barry even vibrate other people's molecules to allow them to pass through solid objects and can even do it, when throwing them at superspeed.[191] Barry can push his vibrations even further, by shifting his atoms to phase through solid objects.[192] Due to his mastery over his atoms and molecules, Barry can adjust his vibratory frequency to even phase through energy/radiation.[193][194][134][195][196][197]
- Bio-Fusion: Flash merged with a version of himself, when he was in the Dream Dimension, battling Death itself.[198] Barry can even merge his atoms with other people, including other speedsters (Jay Garrick and Wally West) to become a superior speedster Flash.[199]
- Photokinesis[200]
- Magnetic Manipulation: By vibrating at super-speed, Flash can create multiple magnetic fields.[201]
- Shockwave Projection: By just clapping his hands, Barry can release a devastating sound wave that can not only mess with a person's hearing and cause great pain, but can even destroy steel and crush cars.[202] Flash can even interfere with the sound waves from a person's voice, with a invisible vortex.[203]
- Dimensional Travel: Barry is capable of breaking the dimensional barrier with his speed to traverse between dimensions, to enter the Speed Force at will.[20] Barry and Wally pierced the dimension barrier to the world of Ikora, after Wally regained his memory of being Kid Flash.[73] When Barry traveled to Earth-2 and met Jay Garrick, he vibrated his body and moved at super speed in order to get there. He repeated the process in almost the exact same way, but only just by vibrating instead.[204][205] Flash along with Batman, through the right vibratory velocity have transcended the very laws of time and space, where they traversed the Valley of Limbo.[206] Barry managed to escape the Phantom Zone by vibrating his molecules, since the zone couldn't take the teleportation of his Earth Molecules.[207]
- Time-Travel: Barry first traveled through time when he helped Mazdan travel back to the future.[208] While searching for Iris West, Barry breaks through the time barrier to look for her, after reuniting with Iris; he breaks through the time barrier again so that they can return home.[146] Barry is capable of using his speed to break the time barrier, allowing him to travel throughout various points in time.[42] Barry can even run 2 seconds into the future, without the Cosmic Treadmill.[209] He was the one who taught Wally how to time travel, by relying on their powers, back when Wally was still starting off as Kid Flash.[66] Even without the Cosmic Treadmill, Barry and Wally were capable of traveling through the timestream, to the year 3780; by running at super speed and vibrating at the same time.[210]
- Reality Alteration: By preventing events in the past while time-traveling, Barry can unintentionally alter the present reality. This was displayed when Barry traveled back in time and saved his mother from being killed, and accidentally altered the entire universe, creating the Flashpoint timeline.[42] Barry even managed to restore color to Central City, by utilizing his powers to create ultra-intense vibration waves.[211]
- Vortex Creations: By rotating his arms at super speed or running in a circular motion, Barry can manipulate the airflow around him to create strong vortexes of wind.[19][212][213] He can create tornadoes using his super speed by running around a circular motion and even run up the outside of a column of smoke and a tornado, like on a spiral staircase.[214][215] Barry can create a whirlwind that can suck and bring his enemies to him.[216][217] They're strong enough to rip out the foundation of the Turtle Man's dome shelled hideout.[218] Flash can create a vacuum, sucking up the air to create an effect that can cause objects or people to be pulled together.[219] He can even blow back colored beams of light with his whirlwind vortexes.[134] Barry can create a whirlwind with just his finger, that's strong enough to blow off Hal Jordan's Green Lantern Ring.[220]
Abilities
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced): Barry reveals that he was taught by Batman, has had advanced police training and has trained with the Justice League of America, that teaches members how to protect and fight at the beginning of membership.[221][222][223][224] After being trained by Dexter Myles, Barry learned how to improve his concentration, thus by doing nothing and rolling with attacks in a fight by relaxing his body, which aided him in battle against a trio of thugs, when he was suffering under the effects of a virus.[225] Flash managed to beat Mad Hagdar in deep space combat.[226] Barry can throw a 1000 punches in the time someone else would hit once and within a split-instant, [227][228][229][230] relinquish a few million high speed punches,[231] can even deliver millions of blows within a short time frame,[232] and unleash millions of foot stomps in a single second, if he desires.[233] Even when half his body was paralyzed, both he and a weakened Superman still put up a fight and defeated 3 Phantom Zone criminals.[234] Due to his time in suspended animation by Snart's Cold Gun had given Barry the effects of a rest cure, resulting in Flash's speed and attacks becoming sharper.[235] When enraged and with PCP/Angel Dust in his system, it took Hal Jordan, Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman combined, just to subdue Barry.[236][237] After an intense war with Goldface, Barry finally managed to beat him in their final battle.[238][239][240] Both Barry and Jay were the first beings capable of beating Tempus in combat.[241] Without using his superspeed behind his punch, he managed to knock Clive Yorkin off his body, who had 10 times the strength than Yorkin usually does.[242] Easily subdued the Floronic Man and Blockbuster when they possessed Wonder Woman and Batman's bodies.[243] Barry has shown capable of helping take down the Key's bodyguards and send Amazo flying with a punch alongside the Elongated Man, without powers.[244] Barry also has defeated a 4th dimensional duplicate of Hal Jordan, who possessed all of Hal's memories and even a more powerful version of his Green Lantern Ring; a feat that not even Hal could accomplish.[245] Even with a leg broken in two places, Barry spent multiple weeks fighting and training alongside the Blackhawk Squadron during World War II.[246] While possessed, he even managed to beat the Spectre in combat, forcing him to run away and lure Barry into a trap, in order to be defeated.[247] Barry has shown he possesses a certain level of emotional control when fighting his enemies, thus can fight without feelings and emotional attachment.[248] After receiving a beating from Flashpoint Batman, even with a near broken arm with a broken finger, Barry has shown being quick enough to dodge his attack without looking and punch Thomas in the chest.[39][249][37][250][251][252][253][254]
- Archery[69]
- Boxing: Barry without his powers can deliver a punch/left hook that can daze an ordinary man. Also delivered a strong uppercut with Elongated Man to send Amazo flying.[255][256][134][257][258][259][250][260][261]
- Capoeira[262][263][264][265][266]
- Judo[74][134]
- Karate: The Flash incorporates a series of karate punches, kicks and chops into his fighting style. Barry's not afraid to use the hammer blow to disarm his enemies of their guns and performed his variation of the do mawashi kaiten geri.[267] [268][134][269][270][271][272][273][274][275]
- Taekwondo[276][277]
- Wrestling[278][279][280][281][282]
- Military Protocol: Barry spent weeks fighting alongside and training with the Blackhawk Squadron, during WWII.[283][284]
- Mushin [291][292]
- Weaponry[293][294][295][69][296][297]
- Indomitable Will[311][312]
- Chemistry[313][314][315][316]
- Criminology
- Investigation[317][318][319][320][321]
- Genius Level Intellect: A incredibly intelligent scientist, that even Lightray confirms that Flash has a brilliant mind.[322] Barry managed to create his own automation/robot out of his own Flash costume and miniature transistor circuits.[323] Saw through the illusion made from Abra Kadabra, where he tried to convince Barry he wasn't the Flash.[324] Doctor Light even respects Flash's intelligence believing Flash would figure out part of his plan to destroy the Justice League, except Barry managed to figure out Dr. Light's entire plan just by being faster.[325] Figured out how to repress the Nok into a docile state, when the alien that originally captured it couldn't do it.[326] When Barry came across an advanced ancient alien solar tablet, and he was capable of repairing it.[327][328] Flash even managed to come up with plans that managed to incapacitate the Shaggy Man and Shaggy Man II, for a limited time.[329][330] The two hyper intelligent aliens known as Duus and Unuus from a planet light years more advanced than Earth, stated that Barry's smarter than they evaluated.[331] While in the Dream Dimension Death itself remarks on Barry's intelligence, claiming that he's clever.[332]
- Pedagogy: Barry has trained Wally West in everything he knows.[333] A time traveler known as Kryad, claims that Flash's mind is a excellent source of instruction.[334]
- Tactical Analysis[335][336][337][338][339][340][341][342][343]
- Leadership: Back when the Justice League of America first started. Barry was considered the leader of the group over Hal Jordan, as chosen by Black Canary, Martian Manhunter and Aquaman.[344] Even Hal Jordan recognizes Barry as a better leader than him.[345]
- Stealth[346][347][348]
- Acting: Barry has had stage-training back in college, which aided him to develop the Flash ID. He also received acting lessons from Dexter Myles, when preparing for his role of Horatio for the Hamlet play. Barry showed that he's so skilled in acting that he managed to act out the entire case of Hamlet by himself, as the Flash.[349] He even managed to play a convincing role of being an old man, that managed to fool the Top.[350] While under the moniker of the Dude, Barry fooled most of the Rouges into thinking he's a fellow Rouge.[351]
- Disguise: Was trained by Dexter Myles in the art of make-up.[74] He also took on the appearance Negative Man that fooled most members of the Doom Patrol.[352][353][354][355][356][357][358][359][360][361][362][363]
- Cooking[364][365][366]
- Computer Operation[367][368][369][370]
- Mechanical Aptitude[371][372][373][374][375][376][377]
- Psychology[378]
- Forensic Pathology
- Ventriloquism[65]
- Seismology[379]
- Morse Code[380]
- Hope
- Hypnosis[381]
- Music: The Flash used to play the clarinet in his High School Band, yet when playing multiple instruments at once. Even the Pied Piper admits that Barry sounded fine.[382]
- Acrobatics: Barry can maneuver through and can even jump on flying debris.[136][383][384][385][58][386][387][388]
- Athletics: Barry has shown an affinity for Basketball and Table Tennis.[389][136][390][391][392][393]
- Peak Human Balance: Barry has shown to been able to run and walk on high wires, proving that he has good balance.[394][65][395] He can even carry two people at once, while running on a stream of water.[58] Even with his legs stolen by Mirror Master, Flash was capable of using and balancing on his hands to move at superspeed, instead.[396][397]
- Adaptability: The Flash has stated that he's a fast learner.[398] Barry has shown that he can adjust to almost any scenario, such as when he was switching between powers unexpectedly, between Green Lantern, Hawkman, Aquaman and the Atom.[399] Despite being forced to operate with one leg, Barry still managed to engage in a fight with the rest of Justice League of America against Brain Storm, when they all had physical handicaps.[400] Even when blind, he's capable of dodging bullets with his super-fast hearing. He can use his hearing to catch the Shade and maneuver through multiple obstacles at super speed, without his sight. Also, Barry managed to defeat the assassin Saber Tooth when he went blind, due to chemicals being in his eyes. He even compensated for his lack of eyesight, by maintaining constant internal vibrations while running at superspeed, to make sure he didn't hit anything.[401][402][403][404] When his legs were replaced, Flash resorted to moving with a handstand at superspeed, to compensate. Barry even did it again, resorting to using a handstand to take out Mirror Master, when his legs were encased in liquid-mirror. Along with him utilizing a handstand and his feet to defeat a projected energy being. [405][406][407] Even when the world was turned upside down, Flash managed to regain his reflexes, coordination, and sense of balance, by practicing the basic skills of basketball non-stop, for several minutes.[408] Barry's even capable of fighting effectively, even while in water.[409][410] Even when suffering from a broken leg, he's shown capable of traversing throughout the city while in a wheelchair.[411]Barry can even utilize a Green Lantern Ring and Blue Lantern Ring.[412][413][414][415][416][417]
Weaknesses
- Hyper-Metabolism: While moving at accelerated speeds, Barry burns calories much faster than a normal person. While breaking down food far more efficiently, it requires him to consume large amounts of nutrients.
- Allergies: Barry is allergic to wisteria.[418]
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Costume Ring
- Blue Power Ring (Formerly)
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.
- For a brief time, it was implied that the post-Crisis' Barry Allen's origin was a time loop where he becomes the very lightning bolt that struck him and gave him his powers.[6]
- Pre-Crisis, Barry's full first name was "Barrence". It was later changed to Bartholomew.[419]
Trivia
- During the first year of Justice League of America, Barry was the first of the League to reveal his identity.[420]
- Batman and the Flash were charter members of the Justice League of America.[421]
- Batman has always admired Barry’s analytical mind and methodical approach to investigations.[422]
- One of Barry's favorite meals is veal scallopin. [423]
- In the heat of the moment, Black Canary kissed Barry on the battlefield.[424]
- Barry Allen is one the first beings to arrive at and discover the existence of DC Comics and discover he's a comic book character. Thus, he became good friends with writer and comic book editor, Julius Schwartz.[425][426][427]
- Mopee stated that Barry's brave, honest and sincere enough to have earned his gift of super speed.[428]
- In the eyes of the public, the Flash can fix anything and anything is possible with him.[429][430]
- Barry once suggested that the JLA should call themselves the Avengers.[431]
- Golden Glider admits that she always found Barry cute and a good kisser.[432]
- Barry admits that he doesn't like the idea of Flash Day. According to him, he doesn't like the spotlight, it's not his style and finds it embarrassing.[433]
- Flash gained the respect of Po-Siden.[434]
- Even in his world, Barry has comic books based on him.[435]
- To protect their secret identities, Wally West has recalled that Barry insisted they be late for everything. He mentions not having seen the beginning of a movie for ten years.[436]
- King Solovar regards himself and Barry as brothers and respects him enough to attend a meeting as the only human being, in regarding the diplomacy and future between Apes and Humans.[437][438]
- When it comes to the Flash, he and King Solovar were the only two beings that Gorilla Grodd ever feared.[439]
- Barry's considered to be methodical and pensive as contrast to Hal Jordan for being a reckless hotshot.[440][441][442][443]
- Within the first year of being a superhero, Central City built the Flash Museum dedicated to him and declared Flash to be Central City's Favorite Son. [444][445]
- During Barry's third race with Superman, they're both regarded as warriors.[446]
- On the 1976 DC Comics Calendar, his birthday was listed as March 19. In The Life Story of the Flash (1997), it was made May 13.
- When Barry died during Crisis, his soul went to Heaven along with Jason Todd.[447]
- Barry is the younger twin, as his twin brother Malcolm was the first baby removed from the womb by Dr. Gilmore.[448]
- As a hobby, Barry liked to research trivia and would occasionally recite them to other people; dubbing them "Flash Facts".
- Among all of the detectives in the superhero community, Batman appreciated Barry Allen's optimistic outlook - a man who saw his work as protecting the innocent, instead of damning the guilty.
- Barry Allen supports the death penalty.[449][450]
- Following Barry's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths, a blond, amnesiac speedster calling himself "Buried Alien" appeared in Marvel Comics. Buried Alien is clearly intended to be Barry, as he appears in a lightning bolt, wears the rags of a red and yellow costume, is noted as being from a reality other than the Marvel Universe and says that being the Fastest Man Alive feels "right".
Related
- 1,251 Appearances of Barry Allen (New Earth)
- 374 Images featuring Barry Allen (New Earth)
- 48 Quotations by or about Barry Allen (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Barry Allen (New Earth)
External Links
Footnotes
- ↑ Justice League of America #173
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Life Story of the Flash
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Flash #128
- ↑ The Flash #224–225
- ↑ Crisis on Infinite Earths #8
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Secret Origins Annual (Volume 2) #2
- ↑ Quasar #17
- ↑ Quasar #58
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #95–100
- ↑ JLA Incarnations #5
- ↑ Green Arrow (Volume 3) #7–8
- ↑ Sandman Presents: The Thessaliad #3
- ↑ Identity Crisis #2
- ↑ Final Crisis #2
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Final Crisis #4
- ↑ Final Crisis #6
- ↑ Final Crisis #7
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 The Flash: Rebirth #1
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 The Flash: Rebirth #2
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 The Flash: Rebirth #3
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 The Flash: Rebirth #4
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 The Flash: Rebirth #5
- ↑ The Flash: Rebirth #6
- ↑ Blackest Night #0
- ↑ Blackest Night #1 (July 2009)
- ↑ Green Lantern (Volume 4) #44 (July 2009)
- ↑ Blackest Night #2–4
- ↑ Blackest Night: The Flash #1 (February 2010)
- ↑ Blackest Night #4
- ↑ Blackest Night #5
- ↑ Blackest Night: The Flash #2
- ↑ Justice League: Rise and Fall Special #1
- ↑ Green Arrow (Volume 3) #31
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 3) #1
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 3) #10
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 3) #11
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 The Flash (Volume 3) #12
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Flashpoint (Volume 2) #1
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Flashpoint (Volume 2) #2
- ↑ Flashpoint (Volume 2) #3
- ↑ Flashpoint (Volume 2) #4
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Flashpoint (Volume 2) #5
- ↑ Convergence #6
- ↑ Convergence #8
- ↑ Superman: Lois and Clark #1
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 The Flash #219
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 The Flash #255
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 The Flash #241
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 The Flash #111
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 The Flash #223
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 The Flash #258
- ↑ Superman #710
- ↑ The Flash #263
- ↑ The Flash #121
- ↑ The Flash #197
- ↑ Super-Team Family #15
- ↑ The Flash #284
- ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 The Flash #279
- ↑ The Flash #253
- ↑ DC Comics Presents #38
- ↑ JLA: Year One #3
- ↑ The Flash #167
- ↑ Justice League of America #36
- ↑ The Flash #116
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 65.3 The Flash #117
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 The Flash #120
- ↑ The Flash #125
- ↑ The Flash #130
- ↑ 69.0 69.1 69.2 The Flash #131
- ↑ The Flash #134
- ↑ The Flash #139
- ↑ The Flash #146
- ↑ 73.0 73.1 The Flash #149
- ↑ 74.0 74.1 74.2 74.3 74.4 The Flash #157
- ↑ 75.0 75.1 75.2 The Flash #170
- ↑ The Flash #190
- ↑ The Flash #242
- ↑ DC Comics Presents #73
- ↑ Adventure Comics #462
- ↑ The Flash #268
- ↑ The Flash #272
- ↑ The Flash #291
- ↑ Justice League of America #40
- ↑ Silver Age: The Flash #1
- ↑ Silver Age #1
- ↑ Silver Age: Teen Titans #1
- ↑ The Flash #277
- ↑ JLA: Year One #11
- ↑ DC Special Series #11
- ↑ The Flash #203
- ↑ The Flash #217
- ↑ The Flash #260
- ↑ The Flash #234
- ↑ The Flash #240
- ↑ The Flash #270
- ↑ DC Special Series #11
- ↑ The Flash #106
- ↑ The Flash #107
- ↑ The Flash #108
- ↑ The Flash #127
- ↑ The Flash #126
- ↑ The Flash #317
- ↑ Showcase #13
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #194
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #65
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #81
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #99
- ↑ The Flash #293
- ↑ The Flash #265
- ↑ Justice League of America #191
- ↑ Action Comics #437
- ↑ Justice League of America #186
- ↑ The Flash #309
- ↑ Action Comics #437
- ↑ The Flash #259
- ↑ The Flash #190
- ↑ The Flash #218
- ↑ Superman #709
- ↑ The Flash #235
- ↑ The Flash #195
- ↑ Adventure Comics #460
- ↑ The Flash #109
- ↑ The Flash #124
- ↑ The Flash #188
- ↑ The Flash #206
- ↑ The Flash #288
- ↑ The Flash #116
- ↑ The Flash #176
- ↑ Super-Team Family #15
- ↑ 130.0 130.1 The Flash #216
- ↑ Justice League of America #25
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #30
- ↑ The Flash #158
- ↑ 134.0 134.1 134.2 134.3 134.4 134.5 The Flash #171
- ↑ The Flash #222
- ↑ 136.0 136.1 136.2 The Flash #251
- ↑ The Flash #253
- ↑ The Flash #255
- ↑ The Flash #257
- ↑ The Flash #258
- ↑ The Flash #268
- ↑ The Flash #312
- ↑ The Flash #188
- ↑ The Flash #197
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #81
- ↑ 146.0 146.1 Showcase #14
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #81
- ↑ The Life Story of the Flash
- ↑ The Flash #246
- ↑ The Flash #247
- ↑ The Flash #308
- ↑ The Flash #266
- ↑ The Flash #247
- ↑ The Flash #260
- ↑ The Flash #309
- ↑ The Flash #124
- ↑ The Flash #160
- ↑ The Flash #136
- ↑ Justice League of America #9
- ↑ The Flash #158
- ↑ The Flash #307
- ↑ The Flash #320
- ↑ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #8
- ↑ The Flash #140
- ↑ The Flash #283
- ↑ The Flash #122
- ↑ The Flash #260
- ↑ The Flash #265
- ↑ The Flash #268
- ↑ The Flash #301
- ↑ The Flash #304
- ↑ The Flash #320
- ↑ Adventure Comics #463
- ↑ The Flash #268
- ↑ Adventure Comics #466
- ↑ The Flash #238
- ↑ The Flash #285
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #194
- ↑ The Flash #291
- ↑ The Flash #293
- ↑ Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold #6
- ↑ The Flash #237
- ↑ DC Comics Presents #73
- ↑ The Flash #253
- ↑ The Flash #257
- ↑ The Flash #301
- ↑ The Flash #298
- ↑ Adventure Comics #460
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #63
- ↑ JLA: Year One #10
- ↑ The Flash #179
- ↑ The Flash #236
- ↑ The Flash #158
- ↑ The Flash #168
- ↑ The Flash #245
- ↑ The Flash #251
- ↑ Justice League of America #126
- ↑ The Flash #176
- ↑ DC Special Series #11
- ↑ The Flash #176
- ↑ Justice League of America #127
- ↑ The Flash #281
- ↑ The Flash #244
- ↑ The Flash #123
- ↑ The Flash #129
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #99
- ↑ DC Comics Presents #73
- ↑ Showcase #4
- ↑ Blackest Night #6
- ↑ The Flash #159
- ↑ The Flash #298
- ↑ The Flash #255
- ↑ The Flash #277
- ↑ The Flash #206
- ↑ The Flash #238
- ↑ The Flash #252
- ↑ The Flash #254
- ↑ DC Special Series #11
- ↑ The Flash #140
- ↑ JLA Incarnations #1
- ↑ The Flash #157
- ↑ The Flash #240
- ↑ Identity Crisis #3
- ↑ Batman Confidential #50
- ↑ The Flash #197
- ↑ Super-Team Family #15
- ↑ The Flash #115
- ↑ The Flash #136
- ↑ The Flash #248
- ↑ Action Comics #437
- ↑ Secret Origins (Volume 2) #32
- ↑ The Flash #283
- ↑ The Flash #225
- ↑ World's Finest #199
- ↑ The Flash #193
- ↑ The Flash #276
- ↑ The Flash #277
- ↑ The Flash #315
- ↑ The Flash #316
- ↑ The Flash #317
- ↑ The Flash #215
- ↑ The Flash #274
- ↑ Justice League of America #168
- ↑ Justice League of America #191
- ↑ The Flash #143
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold (Volume 3) #28
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #72
- ↑ Blackest Night: The Flash #1
- ↑ Convergence: The Flash #2
- ↑ 250.0 250.1 Green Lantern (Volume 2) #20
- ↑ The Flash #182
- ↑ Justice League of America #26
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #149
- ↑ Justice League of America #49
- ↑ The Flash #143
- ↑ The Flash #158
- ↑ The Flash #173
- ↑ The Flash #274
- ↑ The Flash #314
- ↑ Justice League of America #191
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 3) #12
- ↑ The Flash #131
- ↑ The Flash #182
- ↑ The Flash #241
- ↑ The Flash #284
- ↑ The Flash #310
- ↑ The Flash #273
- ↑ The Flash #133
- ↑ The Flash #193
- ↑ The Flash #219
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #53
- ↑ The Flash #259
- ↑ The Flash #266
- ↑ The Flash #272
- ↑ Convergence: The Flash #2
- ↑ The Flash #181
- ↑ The Flash #278
- ↑ The Flash #232
- ↑ The Flash #234
- ↑ The Flash #276
- ↑ The Flash #314
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #225
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold (Volume 3) #28
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ The Flash #133
- ↑ The Flash #193
- ↑ The Flash #234
- ↑ Action Comics #441
- ↑ Adventure Comics #465
- ↑ DC Special Series #11
- ↑ The Flash #188
- ↑ The Flash #206
- ↑ The Flash #180
- ↑ The Flash #181
- ↑ 295.0 295.1 The Flash (Volume 2) #168
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold (Volume 3) #28
- ↑ Action Comics #437
- ↑ The Flash #124
- ↑ The Flash #125
- ↑ The Flash #274
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #149
- ↑ The Flash #157
- ↑ The Flash #179
- ↑ The Flash #316
- ↑ Silver Age: The Flash #1
- ↑ Silver Age: Teen Titans #1
- ↑ Booster Gold (Volume 2) #17
- ↑ The Flash #272
- ↑ The Flash #180
- ↑ The Flash #181
- ↑ The Flash #293
- ↑ The Flash #317
- ↑ The Flash #264
- ↑ Silver Age: The Flash #1
- ↑ JLA: Year One #3
- ↑ Blackest Night #2
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #81
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #99
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 151) #
- ↑ The Flash #300
- ↑ The Flash #306
- ↑ Super-Team Family #15
- ↑ The Flash #190
- ↑ The Flash #300
- ↑ The Flash #223
- ↑ The Flash #179
- ↑ Adventure Comics #463
- ↑ The Flash #219
- ↑ Justice League of America #45
- ↑ Justice League of America #186
- ↑ The Flash #206
- ↑ The Flash #176
- ↑ Silver Age: Teen Titans #1
- ↑ The Flash #309
- ↑ Justice League of America #45
- ↑ World's Finest #198
- ↑ The Flash #215
- ↑ The Flash #256
- ↑ JLA: Year One #2
- ↑ JLA: Year One #5
- ↑ JLA: Year One #10
- ↑ JLA: Year One #11
- ↑ JLA: Year One #12
- ↑ JLA: Year One #9
- ↑ JLA: Year One #10
- ↑ The Flash #157
- ↑ The Flash #167
- ↑ Silver Age: The Flash #1
- ↑ The Flash #197
- ↑ The Flash #157
- ↑ The Flash #231
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #65
- ↑ Action Comics #441
- ↑ The Flash #218
- ↑ The Flash #224
- ↑ The Flash #231
- ↑ The Flash #234
- ↑ The Flash #249
- ↑ The Flash #255
- ↑ The Flash #256
- ↑ The Flash #281
- ↑ The Flash #316
- ↑ Superman #220
- ↑ The Flash #231
- ↑ The Flash #302
- ↑ JLA: Year One #4
- ↑ The Flash #290
- ↑ JLA: Year One #10
- ↑ Justice League of America (Volume 2) #29
- ↑ JLA 80-Page Giant #1
- ↑ The Flash #125
- ↑ The Flash #179
- ↑ The Flash #190
- ↑ The Flash #247
- ↑ The Flash #304
- ↑ Legionnaires Annual #3
- ↑ The Power Company: Bork #1
- ↑ The Flash #308
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #99
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #99
- ↑ The Flash #240
- ↑ The Flash #293
- ↑ The Flash #266
- ↑ The Flash #273
- ↑ The Flash #277
- ↑ The Flash #288
- ↑ The Flash #310
- ↑ The Flash #320
- ↑ Adventure Comics #464
- ↑ The Flash #253
- ↑ The Flash #257
- ↑ The Flash #267
- ↑ Superman #199
- ↑ Showcase #8
- ↑ The Brave and the Bold #67
- ↑ The Flash #146
- ↑ The Flash #241
- ↑ Adventure Comics #464
- ↑ The Flash #158
- ↑ Justice League of America #36
- ↑ The Flash #195
- ↑ Adventure Comics #460
- ↑ The Flash #291
- ↑ DC Special Series #11
- ↑ The Flash #131
- ↑ The Flash #146
- ↑ The Flash #241
- ↑ Adventure Comics #464
- ↑ Adventure Comics #465
- ↑ The Flash #158
- ↑ The Flash #190
- ↑ The Flash #143
- ↑ The Flash #158
- ↑ Green Lantern (Volume 2) #20
- ↑ Blackest Night: The Flash #2
- ↑ Blackest Night: The Flash #3
- ↑ JLA: Year One #6
- ↑ Justice League of America #56
- ↑ The Flash #324
- ↑ JLA: Year One #10
- ↑ The Essential Batman Encyclopedia
- ↑ The Essential Batman Encyclopedia
- ↑ The Flash #272
- ↑ JLA: Year One #11
- ↑ The Flash #179
- ↑ DC Comics Presents: The Flash #1
- ↑ DC Comics Presents: Justice League of America (Volume 2) #1
- ↑ The Flash #167
- ↑ The Flash #298
- ↑ Adventure Comics #465
- ↑ Secret Origins (Volume 2) #32
- ↑ The Flash #302
- ↑ Silver Age: The Flash #1
- ↑ The Flash #113
- ↑ The Flash #259
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #30
- ↑ The Flash #294
- ↑ The Flash #295
- ↑ The Flash #295
- ↑ The Life Story of the Flash
- ↑ JLA: Year One #3
- ↑ JLA: Secret Origins
- ↑ The Essential Batman Encyclopedia
- ↑ The Life Story of the Flash
- ↑ JLA-Z #1
- ↑ World's Finest #199
- ↑ Green Arrow (Volume 3) #7
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #144
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #219
- ↑ The Flash #300
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. |
Blue Lantern Corps member |
White Lantern Corps member This character is or was a member of the White Lantern Corps, guided by the Life Entity to wield the White Light of Life. |