The Flash FAQ

[Bored at 3:00AM]

WHO IS THE FLASH?

Along with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, The Flash is one of DC Comics' most popular and longest running super-heroes.

Although a few characters have been The Flash, the concept is pretty much the same; a guy gains super-speed and he decides to fight evil. The Flash’s most defining image is a stylized yellow thunderbolt worn on the chest.

HOW MANY SUPER-SPEEDSTERS HAVE THERE BEEN?

There are three main heroes who have starred as The Flash, but there are dozens of super-speedsters throughout DC history and it has recently been established that the legacy of The Flash will span thousands of years.

WHO WAS FIRST?

In 1940, vastly-influential comic book writer Gardner Fox came up with JAY GARRICK, a Keystone City college student unable to nab a girlfriend because he was too slow to make the football team. Accidentally inhaling super-charged “hard water” fumes, Garrick gained the ability to think and move at near light speeds. Donning a funky hat that alluded to the swift mythological god Mercury, Garrick fought crime as “The Flash”.

The Flash was the first chairman of the Justice Society of America, comics’ original super-team, and remained one of DC's most popular heroes until the late 1940s, when most costumed crime-fighters pretty much disappeared.

WHO CAME NEXT?

In 1956, editor Julie Shwartz asked Bob Kanigher and Carmine Infantino to revamp The Flash for a modern audience. Their experiment was such a success, The Flash ended up reviving the entire super-hero genre and launched what is now known as the Silver Age of Superhero Comics.

This new hero was police scientist BARRY ALLEN, who also had girl problems from his perpetual lateness. Stuck by lightning and electrified chemicals, Barry was inspired by his comic book hero, The Flash, to use his newfound super-speed as a costumed crime-fighter.

Like the original, The Flash became the first chairman of the Justice League of America in 1960 and remained one of DC’s most dependably popular super-heroes for decades to come.

WHO'S THE NEWEST ONE?

The current Flash is WALLY WEST, nephew and former protégé of Barry Allen. Since 1959, Wally West had been The Flash’s young sidekick, Kid Flash. Wally even joined DC’s premier sidekick team, The Teen Titans, in the sixties and was a prominent member of Marv Wolfman & George Perez’s revamped New Teen Titans during the eighties.

When Barry Allen sacrificed his life to save the universe during the Crisis on Infinite Earth, Wally became the first sidekick in comic history to actually take his mentor’s place and assumed the mantle of The Flash in 1986.

Like his two predecessors, the newest Flash joined the revamped Justice League and his comic has often been ranked amongst DC’s best super-hero books in recent years thanks mainly to the efforts of writers Mark Waid and Geoff Johns and the incredible artists they’ve been teamed with.

HOLD UP, WHAT’S THE CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS?

The Crisis of Infinite Earths was a giant cross-over DC put together in 1985 to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. The story combined all the various alternate realities into one world and re-launched their major characters.

The story’s premise originated in the first team-up between Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash and Barry Allen, the Silver Age Flash, which established the multiple Earth concept within the DC Universe. So it was sort of fitting that the last Crisis story was Barry Allen swan song. Barry died by running faster than the speed of light, leaving behind only an empty costume. The Barry Allen incarnation of The Flash has since become the Patron Saint of DC Super-Heroes—a perfect, untarnished hero who represents all that was good about being a superhero.

WHO'S THE KID FLASH IN TEEN TITANS?

Created by Mark Waid in 1994, Bart Allen was introduced as Barry Allen’s hyper-active grandson from the future. Originally named IMPULSE, Bart had his own monthly series for a time and joined forces with DC’s modern teen sidekicks in Young Justice, which has recently been revamped as a new version of the Teen Titans.

WHO ARE THE OTHER SUPER-SPEEDSTERS?

JOHNNY QUICK was another super-fast character created during the forties. He was a member of Roy Thomas’ 1940s super-hero opus, All-Star Squadron. His daughter, JESSE QUICK, was a member of the Titans for awhile and shows up from time to time in The Flash and JSA.

MAX MERCURY was originally known as Quicksilver, but his name was changed to avoid confusion with the Marvel Comics speedster of the same name. Mark Waid plucked this old character out of limbo to establish him as a sort of super-speedster Yoda to Wally. It was revealed that Max had been around since the early 19th Century and been periodically bumped ahead in time due to his brushes with near light speeds. Eventually, Max ended up serving as mentor and straight man to Impulse during most of his monthly series.

JOHN FOX is a time-travelling Flash from the distant future. John bounced around time thanks to his snazzy time gauntlets and even filled in for Wally in the present a few years ago. He is currently a member of Justice Legion A, the premier super-team of the distant future.

XS is the super-fast grandaughter of Barry Allen and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Barry had two children with his wife Iris West while living in the time of her birth, the 30th Century. Their children grew up to become the first heroes of their era, THE TORNADO TWINS. The twins’ children are Impulse and XS respectively.

WHAT CAN THE FLASH DO?

Aside from thinking, moving and running really, really fast, Jay, Barry and Bart can vibrate their molecules through solid matter. Wally used to be able to do this, but if he does it now, whatever he vibrates through blows up. Wally can also lend other moving objects some of his own speed by extending his “aura”, an energy field that protects a super-speedster from the friction and heat their velocity creates.

Mark Waid revealed during his memorable run on The Flash that most super-speedsters derive their power from a quasi-mystical concept known as the “Speed Force”. If a speedster runs too fast, like Barry Allen did during Crisis, they are absorbed into the Force, which is sort of a speed-freak Valhalla.

HAS THE FLASH APPEARED OUTSIDE OF COMICS?

The Barry Allen version had his own cartoon that was a part of the Justice League of America show during the sixties and was also a member of the Superfriends (which was basically the Justice League with a different name) during the seventies.

The Flash had his own live-action TV series during the early nineties. The series starred police scientist Barry Allen, but was mixed heavily with elements from the Wally West incarnation of the character.

Most recently, Wally West (with Barry’s origin) is currently appearing in the new Justice League cartoon. He is a younger and less experienced version of The Flash in the comics though. He is voiced by Michael Rosenbaum, the same actor who plays Lex Luthor on “Smallville”.

Jay Garrick also appeared on Justice League as The Streak. Originally, the episode was to feature the Justice Society, but it was changed at the last minute to the Justice Guild.

There is also tons of Flash merchandise out there, including T-Shirts, statues and action figures…but no running shoes yet.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW?

Current Flash scribe Geoff Johns has shaken the comic up by having the world forget that Wally West is the world-famous Flash following his devastating battle with his arch-rival Zoom. Meanwhile, Johns is also evolving Impulse into Kid Flash over in Teen Titans.

[niall mc cann]

Hi bored. I've been looking for somewhere to ask a few flash questions i came up with after reading a few of the Geoff Johns trades.

First of all; Wally has a scar on his chest in the shape of the Flash logo. What's its origin? Does his costume come out of that or what?

How did the world come to know his identity? I was sorry when the Spectre erased it. His public identity gave the book a wierd, silver-agey kind of feel, imo.

Are there trades covering any of Waid's run? I've heard it's good, but i don't want to arse about collecting.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Hi bored. I've been looking for somewhere to ask a few flash questions i came up with after reading a few of the Geoff Johns trades.

1) First of all; Wally has a scar on his chest in the shape of the Flash logo. What's its origin? Does his costume come out of that or what?

2) How did the world come to know his identity? I was sorry when the Spectre erased it. His public identity gave the book a wierd, silver-agey kind of feel, imo.

3) Are there trades covering any of Waid's run? I've heard it's good, but i don't want to arse about collecting.

1) During Grant Morrison & Mark Millar's run on The Flash, they established that Wally could create a Flash costume from "Pure Speed Force", which would wrap around his body. It was kind of their riff on Barry's miniturized costume poping out of his ring and expanding to full-size. Anyways, in one of the early Geoff Johns Flash stories, a religious fanatic obsessed with The Flash cut the lightning symbol into Wally's chest. Since then, the scar lights up whenever he activates his Speed Force costume.

2) I believe Wally made his identity public once he became The Flash following the death of Barry Allen.

3) Much of Waid's run has been collected. I'd start with Flash: Born to Run, which is essentially Wally's Year One story as Kid Flash. Then I'd move onto The Return of Barry Allen. The next trade after that is Terminal Velocity. The one with Savitar is really cool, but I can't remember for the life of me what that story was called. I'd check out www.dccomics.com and look up Flash under their TPB listings.

[niall mc cann]

Cheers.

Great help.

[Clear]

The Savitar one was Dead Heat, which I really liked.

The best Flash reference site is Hyperborea (http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/), which includes a list of all Flash trades (http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/books.html).

[mckracken]

Good work on the Faq (again), Bored!

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Good work on the Faq (again), Bored!

Thanks, are there any other characters or teams you'd like to see an FAQ for? I've been mulling over writing a Teen Titans FAQ, but, like with the Legion FAQ, I think it'd be better if someone else wrote it.

[Dr. Simian]

Heck, I wouldn't mind a J'onn J'onnz FAQ.

Seriously.

[hitokiri_]

why did impulse became kid flash? damn you geoff! alot of people share the same feeling btw.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

why did impulse became kid flash? damn you geoff! alot of people share the same feeling btw.

Do you actually want me to answer this question or are you just venting?

[hitokiri_]

Do you actually want me to answer this question or are you just venting?


why did impulse became kid flash?

[Bored at 3:00AM]

why did impulse became kid flash?

According to Johns, the idea was to move Impulse to a place where he could be seen a true heir to the Flash mantle. So, in addition to maturing Bart past the ADD stage, he also changed his name to reflect that Bart had now reached a point where he could possibly follow in Wally's footsteps as the next Flash.

[mckracken]

Thanks, are there any other characters or teams you'd like to see an FAQ for? I've been mulling over writing a Teen Titans FAQ, but, like with the Legion FAQ, I think it'd be better if someone else wrote it.
I cant stand teens. Maybe go for some of the more obscure JSA members under a JSA faq?

What I found a tad incomplete on the Flash faq (possibly others as well?) was the lack of any villains. Only the major ones would suffice. After all they ultimately shape a character.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

No teens what so ever for me, thanks.

What I found a tad incomplete on the Flash faq (possibly others as well?) was the lack of any villains. Only the major ones would suffice. After all they ultimately shape a character.

That's a great idea. I'll revise all the FAQs with more villainous info within the next few days.

[mckracken]

Thinking a bit more about it, Hawkman would be a prime candidate for a faq.
(still in a JSA FAQ - as hes not as popular as Flash or Green Lantern)

Hes a complete mess, as far as continuity and relaunches go.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Thinking a bit more about it, Hawkman would be a prime candidate for a faq.
(still in a JSA FAQ - as hes not as popular as Flash or Green Lantern)

Hes a complete mess, as far as continuity and relaunches go.

I agree, he should be a part of a JSA FAQ--however, there's a JLA/JSA board for that.

[Mia]

What's this I hear about Flash no longer having a wife? Is she dead? Or did they split?

[hitokiri_]

What's this I hear about Flash no longer having a wife? Is she dead? Or did they split?


well... she left wally in issue 206. and she won't be around till december.

[Trystenn]

This may have been asked before, but exacly how fast is the Flash? i always assumed he was Light Speed, but apparently he is much faster than that.

[hitokiri_]

This may have been asked before, but exacly how fast is the Flash? i always assumed he was Light Speed, but apparently he is much faster than that.


he is faster than light. but when he reaches that, he will be catapulted to the speed force which causes him to time travel.

[Rugal 3:16]

Is the Wally-Linda split kinda similar in tone to the recent Pete-MJ split pre ASM vol 2 # 50?

[WolverineEatsBabies]

Not quite.
MJ left Pete after the incident involving her kidnapping by a stalker, and her faked death.
Linda left Wally after learning the Spectre altered her memories, along with the rest of the planet's.

[Blueferret]

Not quite.
MJ left Pete after the incident involving her kidnapping by a stalker, and her faked death.
Linda left Wally after learning the Spectre altered her memories, along with the rest of the planet's.
Don't forget the loss of their twins.

[Smarty Jones]

I'm a little confused about the wife of the Silver Age Flash, Iris Allen. I have read parts where she died and then I have seen references to her being alive. What gives?

[tymac]

Smarty, you can find it here. Make sure you have aspirin on hand before you read it.

http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/iris.html

[Adam West]

How strong is the speedforce auro when Flash runs?
I mean, it protect Flash from friction and heat, but I read somewhere that that aura is also protect Flash from injury if he ever run into an object. Is this true?

thanks :).

[dancj]

How strong is the speedforce auro when Flash runs?
I mean, it protect Flash from friction and heat, but I read somewhere that that aura is also protect Flash from injury if he ever run into an object. Is this true?

thanks :).
It must do - when he hits things with super speed his hands don't turn to mush

[Naldo]

I don't know where else to put this so here goes.

I've only recently started reading Flash. I admit it was the Turner covers that made me finally decide to pick up an ish or two. So I went back and picked them all up from 207 onward.

What a great decision. Great art, great stories but one other thing that I absolutely love about this comic: The paper. It might sound strange, but to tell the truth, the high gloss paper in other comics just doesn't feel right. Now that I think about it, it's something I love about Fables as well, they have the same thing.

Anyone know of any other comics like Flash or Fables that use the new acid free thick newsprint type paper rather than the high gloss?

Thanks for letting me vent and if this post belongs somewhere else, I'm sorry...I'm new.

[Adam West]

It must do - when he hits things with super speed his hands don't turn to mush

so, how come Bart can still got shot in the knee on Teen Titans in and Wally got stab on IC?

or the rule doesn't apply on sharp objects? :D

[WolverineEatsBabies]

so, how come Bart can still got shot in the knee on Teen Titans in and Wally got stab on IC?

or the rule doesn't apply on sharp objects? :D

Or, maybe Deathstroke is just a badass.
Sounds good to me.

[Jessica Drew]

I read the Flash link provided by Tymac, but I'm still curious...in what issue did Iris Allen "die?" In what issue did Barry kill Zoom?

[dancj]

so, how come Bart can still got shot in the knee on Teen Titans in and Wally got stab on IC?

or the rule doesn't apply on sharp objects? :D
I don't know what rules apply to Bart. As for Wally,l I'm waiting for the trade of IC, so I don't know, but was he moving at super speed at the time? If not he wouldn't be protected

[hitokiri_]

so, how come Bart can still got shot in the knee on Teen Titans in and Wally got stab on IC?

or the rule doesn't apply on sharp objects? :D



PIS and CIS.

[TheFlash]

Two questions:

1. Why doesn't Flash train in the Speed Force like Savitar? Learning flight would be pretty helpful....

2. Why couldn't Flash steal Superman's speed in Flash#209? He gave a technobabble explanation....

[hitokiri_]

Two questions:

1. Why doesn't Flash train in the Speed Force like Savitar? Learning flight would be pretty helpful....

2. Why couldn't Flash steal Superman's speed in Flash#209? He gave a technobabble explanation....



1) because if flash started flying, i guess he will be a dc nothstar.

2) the explanation was clearly stated. if he stole supes speed, there will be a wreckage from keystone to russia.

[TheFlash]

2) the explanation was clearly stated. if he stole supes speed, there will be a wreckage from keystone to russia.

But that explanation is inconsistent internally as well as with what has happened historically. Jay was able to steal Superman's speed, while they were both moving full steam, to no adverse effect. There's other examples (Bart in Titans vs Future Flash, etc) but that's enough. Internally it's inconsistent because he says he could steal ALL of Superman's kinetic energy and stop him cold. If that's true, then there's no destruction (or fear of wreckage). How could there be any damage if Superman's not moving? If he IS moving, then that means Wally's wrong by saying he can steal all of Superman's energy and stop him cold.

[hitokiri_]

But that explanation is inconsistent internally as well as with what has happened historically. Jay was able to steal Superman's speed, while they were both moving full steam, to no adverse effect. There's other examples (Bart in Titans vs Future Flash, etc) but that's enough. Internally it's inconsistent because he says he could steal ALL of Superman's kinetic energy and stop him cold. If that's true, then there's no destruction (or fear of wreckage). How could there be any damage if Superman's not moving? If he IS moving, then that means Wally's wrong by saying he can steal all of Superman's energy and stop him cold.



well, you know wally... he really cares for supes, sides, i bet he want a race.

[icctrombone]

Very informative , but I have a question regarding Johnny Quick . Didn't he get killed off in one of the Flash issues ?

[dancj]

Yes he did

[GreenHornet]

Hey Folks
I just started to get Flash since the I.C. story so I got a couple of questions and if they were answered earlier in this thread then I am soory I didn't see it as I was strolling.

1=The the ROGUES know that this is a "kinda new" Flash? What I mean is do they know this is Wally not Allen?

[TheFlash]

Do the the ROGUES know that this is a "new" Flash? What I mean is do they know this is Wally not Allen?

Since the Blitz storyline (ending Flash #200), Wally and Barry no longer have public identities. But most of Flash's enemies know that there was an older Flash who died during Crisis and was replaced by Kid Flash. Flash's closest enemies could tell simply by the fighting style. I'm pretty sure it's public knowledge at this point that there's a new Flash.

[TheBatGotHim]

Man this forum has helped me quite a bit. :) Thanks guys.

Im really getting interested in Flash. I picked up my first trade of his today, FLASH: BLITZ. I loved it. Great story and art.

I think Ill be picking up FLASH: RETURN OF BARRY ALLEN next. :)

[hitokiri_]

what is wally's job before he became a mechanic? you know, when he's id is still public.

[Mainline]

Do you mean, "What do people think Wally did before becoming a mechanic?" He's still a young guy so basically you waste 4 years in a community college (maybe you get a degree, maybe you do some vocational training), and bum around for 2 years and you're about Wally's age. Basically... not much.

Amongst those who know his identity, though, of course he's always been a full-time superhero... even making a living that way.

[Mainline]

What's Flash's highest speed steal and speed lending feats?

Off the top of my head:

Steal:
During Young Justice: Sins of Youth while Wally was reduced to a teen, he stole the speed of an enormous tidal wave threatening to engulf a city.

Lend:
Boosting the heroes fighting the Anti-Monitor.

[Guts/Batman]

when going super speed?

[Captain Smith]

I'm sure we can find an image of such. If anyone argues physics - Uh - this is the Flash going FTL and vibrating through walls. Never mind.

[PatrickG]

He can run in circles faster than the speed of sound. He can run faster than escape velocity and keep his feet on the ground. I'd say 90 degree turns are no problem.

[Crinos]

I get this hilarious mental image of Flash running after a badguy and not being able to since he keeps running into things.

"Yoinks and away! *Splat*"

"Yoinks and aw- *Splat*"

"Yoinks an- *Splat*"

"DAMNIT ZOOM! STOP PUTTING THINGS IN FRONT OF ME! ISNT IT BAD ENOUGH YOU KILLED MY KIDS NOW YOU GOTTA MAKE ME LOOK STUPID?"

Zoom: "Hey, I'm evil. and I'm bored. What can I say? Its a dangerous combination. :evilsmile "

that would be, bar none, the best issue of the flasth ever.

[Clear]

Actually, I don't think he could. I just don't think of Flash being able to do motions with his body that couldn't be done at normal speed.

[PatrickG]

A dancer could make a 90 degree turn.

The way Flash runs is practically the way a dancer moves.

[Emerald Ghost]

Actually, I don't think he could. I just don't think of Flash being able to do motions with his body that couldn't be done at normal speed.

Flash controls motion completely. He can even zap other things of their momentum, or give momentum to an object in motion.

So, yeah, 90 degree turns are nothing to him. He can even stop on a dime, from what I've seen.

[Mainline]

A practical example of Flash making extreme 180s at high speeds with no effort is in the classic after-image duplicate used to preserve his secret identity. Flash, in costume, stands in one place... sprints to another spot while changing his clothing to his civilian street clothes... makes a dead stop, stands there, then blasts back to where he started, donning the costume and cowl once again... all before the human eye can perceive it all as anything but both Flash and Wally (or Barry) standing in the room simultaneously.

[The Dark Knight]

Okay, I've been reading the Flash lately, and I know I can't be the only one asking this question: Who/What exactly is Zoom? What are his powers and motives?

[Kevinroc]

Zoom I:

http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/zoom.html

Zoom II (current Zoom):

http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/zoom2.html

[LordKaos]

I hear Flash can go 100XLightSpeed is there any truth to this?

[yonoid]

I just finished reading Crisis on Infinite Earths and am still very confused about how somebody like Wally West can talk about Barry Allen dying to save everyone from the Anti-Monitor and have characters like Superman and Batman who's histories completely contradict that the crisis even involved their help, because that pre-crisis Superman and that pre-crisis Batman obviously don't exist today.

[Jessica Drew]

How in the world does Wally ever come close to getting hurt. Shouldn't he win just about every single fight in a matter of seconds? I mean, I'm sure some of the near-invulnerable characters might give him a bit of trouble for almost a minute, but the rest...his rogues...I mean...shouldn't they all be toast the minute they lift a finger?

I'm not dissing the Flash; I'm just curious.

[Jessica Drew]

Since Flash can travel at light-speed, he should--theoretically speaking--should be almost completely undefeatable, right?

[Grimm24]

Not nessesarily because he isnt always travaling at light speed and other than that there are some villans that are a fast as him such as Zoom and Deathstroke

[Erebus]

You have to remember that while Barry was a genius, Wally is more of a goofball. I have nothing against the current flash, but if he were just a little bit smarter and more serios, he'd be the most powerful super hero alive. The creator of JLU (I forgot his name) said he wished he could kill off Flash because he's so powerful.

[handOFfate]

You have to remember that while Barry was a genius, Wally is more of a goofball. I have nothing against the current flash, but if he were just a little bit smarter and more serios, he'd be the most powerful super hero alive. The creator of JLU (I forgot his name) said he wished he could kill off Flash because he's so powerful.

I wouldn't say Wally is an idiot or anything, but it's pretty clear that Barry was more cerebral in his crime-fighting methods. I think that this has been compensated with Wally by making him more powerful than Barry ever was. He can afford to make mistakes that Barry couldn't.

How in the world does Wally ever come close to getting hurt. Shouldn't he win just about every single fight in a matter of seconds? I mean, I'm sure some of the near-invulnerable characters might give him a bit of trouble for almost a minute, but the rest...his rogues...I mean...shouldn't they all be toast the minute they lift a finger?

The same can be said about Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Captain Marvel and about a half-dozen other heroes. I think that any writer's biggest obstacle when writing the Flash is finding new foes that can be a legitimate danger to Wally. Let's face it, with the exception of Zoom, Grodd, and maybe a couple of others, the rogues (even banded together) aren't much of a threat. Flash's rogues are defined by their personalities.

[Phatboi96]

Yes. they just have to find good villians. and this is also part of why most comics aren't just about fighting villians.The writers now write about more personnal matters. but you sure know a lot about comics.

[ocelotrevs]

Can Flash change his vibration frequency so that he can move faster than everyone else without having too run at super speeds?

[marvelboy]

A good idea for this faq would be to describe the Flash's powers in complete detail and what feats he has performed with his speed. Personally as someone who has studied physics I have no idea how Flash can go faster than lightspeed. Because there is nothing faster than light.

[davids]

The speed of light is a constant, but i will give flash an exsamtion and allow him to travel faster than the speed of light using the speed force. But if he is moving faster then the speed of light how can light reflected off an object reach his optic nerve to allow him to see?

[The Adventurer]

The Speed Force did it.




:)

[Michael P]

More or less. When Flash exceeds lightspeed, he leaves the physical realm and enters the speed force. At that point, he's basically living energy, and has no eyes or other sense organs. His brain "translates" everything into familiar shapes and patterns so he doesn't go loony from gazing upon the unfettered core of all creation, but in a strictly physical sense, he's not seeing at all.

[Patience]

From JLA #19 (They were discussing size, but it's the same basic idea)
Green Lantern: "Wait, I'm confused. If we're smaller than light particles right now, how are we even seeing?"
Atom: "You're not...not in any human way. The five senses become something else entirely at the quantum level. Your mind's doing you a favor. It's processing all this into familiar visuals so you won't go insane. By the way, you're not breathing oxygen either. It's best not to think about it."

From Professor Palmer himself -- Your body becomes energy, your mind compensates.

[Asian Knight]

The Flash had his own live-action TV series during the early nineties. The series starred police scientist Barry Allen, but was mixed heavily with elements from the Wally West incarnation of the character.

If I can recall, there was a reason why it was cancelled. DareDevil was a guest character on this. Or am I wrong about this? DareDevil saw in a green infra-red type of thing. He wore a black and red costume I think or was it just red?

[Erebus]

I just thought of something a couple days ago, and its been bugging me. Barry Allen sacrificed himself to destroy the Anti-Moniter's cannon, and since that was Pre-Crisis, and no one remembers the events of Crisis, how does everyone think Barry died?

[The Wayner]

If I can recall, there was a reason why it was cancelled. DareDevil was a guest character on this. Or am I wrong about this? DareDevil saw in a green infra-red type of thing. He wore a black and red costume I think or was it just red?

Daredevil... the Marvel character? I know he appeared in a Hulk tv movie, but don't remember him on The Flash tv show.

[Ryujin]

Hey people. I'm new-ish to the whole comic collecting thing but I am interested in the Flash, until I read this FAQ I didn't know much about him because I had never read any Flash comics but this was very informative, thanks.

My main question as a Flash newbie is: Where do I start?

What I mean is that obviously the Flash franchise of comics has been going on for some time. Is there any particular part that is best for me to begin and still in circulation? The main problem is availability I think, comics don't stay on store shelves or in online stores for long.

So does anyone know any good online sites for buying comics? And more importantly does anyone have any idea of where I should start (assuming it's still available for purchase).

Thanks in advance for any help.

[mosnab]

I just got a chance to look at these FAQs today, and they are great. Thanks to everyone for putting them together and/or contributing information. I've been a fan of the Flash since I was a kid, but haven't really read the comics until the last year or so (got my comics at drug stores, etc. when I was a kid, and they didn't carry all titles). Anyways, its been great catching up on more history on the Flash here. I'm a fan of the Wally West Flash in particular, and I was wondering if there were any current TPBs that people could recommend? I've heard good things about Geoff Johns' run (and have a few issues from last year of his), as well as Mark Waid. Any TPBs titles in particular you could recommend? Something "Flash" to read until the title relaunches this summer :P.

[DCKar2nist]

Very Thorough! Great work, I thought everyone forgot about John Fox, hope he survives the crisis (though seriously doubt he'll be mentioned).

[Kain Darkwind]

If I can recall, there was a reason why it was cancelled. DareDevil was a guest character on this. Or am I wrong about this? DareDevil saw in a green infra-red type of thing. He wore a black and red costume I think or was it just red?

There was a black, Golden Age crimefighter called Nightshade who guest starred in two episodes of the series. He wore some form of infrared goggles. Daredevil guest stared on Hulk, not the Flash.

[Kain Darkwind]

I read the Flash link provided by Tymac, but I'm still curious...in what issue did Iris Allen "die?" In what issue did Barry kill Zoom?

Iris was killed in The Flash issue 275 (original series)
Zoom was killed in The Flash issue 324. (original series)

[GeorgeG]

I remember reading somewhere that, maybe it was a Jay Garrick story, came upon a black speedster (I think they were adversaries for an issue or two), but then the guy went off to college, never heard of again. Anybody know of the guy's name?

I'm asking because I'm looking at The Flash pic that's been going around (he's reaching out for ring) and it looks like it's a black character to me.

[phantom1592]

I just thought of something a couple days ago, and its been bugging me. Barry Allen sacrificed himself to destroy the Anti-Moniter's cannon, and since that was Pre-Crisis, and no one remembers the events of Crisis, how does everyone think Barry died?

Apparently everyone knows there was a "Crisis" they just don't remember how vast it was. a Lot of Gls were killed to protect the Anti Monitors moon, and heroes went up and fought the Anti Monitor, and won :) Flash disappeared and Wally got the costume.

The don't realize the world shuffled after it. (personally I wish E2 Superman had asked what they all remembered, but that shipped sailed :( )

[KnOwMaN]

Have Wally gone the same path as Barry? I haven't read any Infinte titles yet but I browsed through the new Flash title which there is no Wally.

[phantom1592]

Have Wally gone the same path as Barry? I haven't read any Infinte titles yet but I browsed through the new Flash title which there is no Wally.

No. Wally went "somewhere else.." with his family. DC apparently got rid of him, but kept it vague enough to give them a loophole to bring him back if they want.

If he went into the Speed Force with Barry, then he would have been stuck there forever.

[riftt]

sorry if this has been asked but I dont want to read through the whole thread for fear of spoilers.

I am thinking of finally picking up the Johns Flash tpb's that I always heard so much about a few years ago, but after the events of Infinite Crisis I'm wondering if there is still a point. Now that Wally is gone, does his run still read well? Do things matter less? Also, was it Geoff's idea to have the mantle go ahead and shift to Bart? Or was it a DC directive he was forced to shoehorn in?

[Speed Force]

When Flash regained his speed after that chemical shower, (back in the day) he was found with a ton of spikes sticking out of him...
It was assumed that it was a physical manifestation of his aura...
Is this total bull?

Silly question:
(but I still want an answer)
Who has cooler hair?
Jay-Dignified grey streaks
Impulse-Flash grunge
Quicksilver-He's slower that molasses, speed-wise, but what a 'do!!!

[SuperSince92]

I think the Flash FAQ is due for an update given we have a new Flash, no?

[spidervenom]

what can mirror master do beside traveling through mirrors and trapping people in it.

[Violently Apathetic]

Mirror Master (the current version) can not only travel through mirrors, but any reflective surface, including Cold's ice and the little wing thingies on the Flash's costume. He can also turn people into mirrors (and easily smash them), create mirror duplicates of himself and make himself look like other people using reflective images. I have a few annoying holes in my collection, but early issues in Johns' run (164-169) show that there are alternate realities (or reflections of reality) that Mirror Master can access through mirrors. McCulloch is actually one of the more dangerous of the Flash's Rogues, mostly because he is so difficult to pin down and makes it next to impossible to keep any of the other Rogues in prison.

I may be missing some of his abilities actually, his powers are very versatile.

[spidervenom]

how does he create mirror duplicates of him self

[Magneto Rocks]

He has a special mirror gun thing which was originally owned from the previous Mirror Master.

[Matias]

A good idea for this faq would be to describe the Flash's powers in complete detail and what feats he has performed with his speed. Personally as someone who has studied physics I have no idea how Flash can go faster than lightspeed. Because there is nothing faster than light.

Tachyons may be faster than light particles so that's not strictly true, we just don't know yet.

[Aftermath]

WHAT CAN THE FLASH DO?

Aside from thinking, moving and running really, really fast, Jay, Barry and Bart can vibrate their molecules through solid matter. Wally used to be able to do this, but if he does it now, whatever he vibrates through blows up. Wally can also lend other moving objects some of his own speed by extending his “aura”, an energy field that protects a super-speedster from the friction and heat their velocity creates.


It looks like Wally can still do this without exploding stuff as he vibrated through the heads of Piper and Trickster to remove some explosives in Countdown #32.

[Speed Force]

When Flash regained his speed after that chemical shower, (back in the day) he was found with a ton of spikes sticking out of him...
It was assumed that it was a physical manifestation of his aura...
Is this total bull?

Silly question:
(but I still want an answer)
Who has cooler hair?
Jay-Dignified grey streaks
Impulse-Flash grunge
Quicksilver-He's slower that molasses, speed-wise, but what a 'do!!!

Still waiting...

[Omar Karindu]

how does he create mirror duplicates of him self

It's been stated that he takes them from the almost infinite number of unstable, short-lived "mirror realities" that his equipment can access. The transfer leaves them suggestive, and thus controllable. He's produced mirror doubles of the Flash in the same way.

Both Mirror Masters have also displayed mirror-based hypnotic powers on many occasions.

[Kelson]

When Flash regained his speed after that chemical shower, (back in the day) he was found with a ton of spikes sticking out of him...
It was assumed that it was a physical manifestation of his aura...
Is this total bull?

It was never referred to again, and never contradicted. May as well assume it was accurate.

[YoungG03]

Can the Flash give several people some of the sppedforce at one time and if so is there a limit?

Flash has a high metabolism regardless of the speedforce rite? I was wondering how mhe maintain his shape However if say a regular American (out of shape and such) gets somespeed force) would he be out of breath?

[Kelson]

Can the Flash give several people some of the sppedforce at one time and if so is there a limit?

I seem to recall him doing this during "Dead Heat," when Savitar had sapped the rest of the Speed Force's power from everyone else, but I don't remember what limits were established.

Flash has a high metabolism regardless of the speedforce rite? I was wondering how mhe maintain his shape However if say a regular American (out of shape and such) gets somespeed force) would he be out of breath?

Actually, it's more that the speed force makes up for the extra energy needed for super-speed beyond what he can get from food.

[K33p3r]

when flash took on zoom in this comic.
which comic was it and what year??

http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=8uv0.jpg

http://img406.imageshack.us/my.php?image=9na2.jpg

http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=10ky7.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11ul8.jpg


in these pics did he know how to use the speed force properly??
is he faster now, than he was back then in those pics??
does wally control the speed force like bart did??

[Damilkster]

its been awhile since that has come out. i know geoff johns wrote it, was it called blitz or something like that? if not its right around that arc when flash takes on zoom

[Kelson]

its been awhile since that has come out. i know geoff johns wrote it, was it called blitz or something like that? if not its right around that arc when flash takes on zoom

Yeah, it's from "Blitz" -- most likely from Flash #200, the final chapter of that story. Written by Geoff Johns with art by Scott Kolins.

[joemagnum611]

Hey you forgot to mention that that Wally can also steal speed too.

[apoehler]

when flash took on zoom in this comic.
which comic was it and what year??

That was in The Flash, in the Blitz storyline. 2003.

in these pics did he know how to use the speed force properly??

Yes.

is he faster now, than he was back then in those pics??

No. Quite a bit slower as of recent events in The Flash.

does wally control the speed force like bart did??
Not in exactly the same way, no.

[jdwrocks]

Can anyone tell me what comic & issue #, the 2nd Mirror Master, Evan McCollough first appears. Also when does he become a member of The Rogues?

[Shazam]

Animal Man # 8.

Think he became a member during Underworld Unleashed.

[Shazam]

Animal Man # 8.

Joined the Rogues in Underworld Unleashed.

[Alucard_11]

Can anyone be so kind and tell me which comic book/Series/Issue # this image came from? I believe it is from the Flash comics, but i might be wrong.. Thanks Alot :)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i108/Alucard_11/TheFlashEpicness.png

[JamesJesse]

Can anyone be so kind and tell me which comic book/Series/Issue # this image came from? I believe it is from the Flash comics, but i might be wrong.. Thanks Alot :)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i108/Alucard_11/TheFlashEpicness.png

I understand that's from a Justice League comic book. I can't remember which one right now.

[show name]

Can anyone be so kind and tell me which comic book/Series/Issue # this image came from? I believe it is from the Flash comics, but i might be wrong.. Thanks Alot :)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i108/Alucard_11/TheFlashEpicness.png

That's from JLA, the Trial By Fire story arc if I remember correctly

[Jorriss]

Whoa, that might just be one of the coolest pages I've seen.

[Jorriss]

Whoa, that is one extremely epic panel. Is that Wally west?

[show name]

Whoa, that is one extremely epic panel. Is that Wally west?

Oh yeah, that's Wally. It was great story, too.

[SaKick]

Since Ive got some experience under my belt I was going to try and tackle this FAQ sometime this week.

Any input from you guys as far as what should be covered?

[Major Zod]

I know this has probably been answered but I'm still confused. How exactly did Barry Allen die? I thought he was just trapped in another dimension or something. I know a bit about the superhero genre however I just started reading comics seriously this year so I might need a lot of details.

[Apathy Lad]

I know this has probably been answered but I'm still confused. How exactly did Barry Allen die? I thought he was just trapped in another dimension or something. I know a bit about the superhero genre however I just started reading comics seriously this year so I might need a lot of details.

Barry disintegrated into the Speed Force by running too fast, he was able to occasionally pop out, however, and that's how Prof. Zoom was able to pull him out.

[Elayis]

Has it ever been explained what the loop hole was in Crisis on Infinite Earths that would allow Barry Allen to be brought back without a retcon?

Was this the way Morrison and Johns brought Barry back?

[Wildbird]

Has it ever been explained what the loop hole was in Crisis on Infinite Earths that would allow Barry Allen to be brought back without a retcon?

From an archived page of Marv Wolfman's site (http://web.archive.org/web/20080327053909/http://www.marvwolfman.com/Q&A.html) (said page has promptly been deleted...) (warning: tl;dr, I divided it into several paragraphs for ease of reading)

I read in the Crisis On Infinite Earths collection that you didn't want to kill Barry (The Flash) Allen and put in a loophole on how to bring him back. Care to share that with us?

So many people actually saw that comment I made in my forward and have asked me how I'd bring back the Flash, that I've finally gotten tired of explaining it. So that I don't ever have to explain it again, here it is now, once and for all. Please remember, this is a very comic booky answer and you can probably blow holes in it somehow (but then nobody really complained how an anti-matter villain could co-exist with a positive matter good guy, so maybe physics isn't anyone's strong suit).

This is what I proposed to DC back in 1985. Please note that I didn't think it was a good idea to kill The Flash but those were my marching orders, so I did the best I could to make his death as moving as I could.

Here is the given I worked from: Much of the reason the people in charge didn't care for Barry Allen was that he was considered dull. I felt if I could come up with a way of making him vital again while keeping him alive, then perhaps Barry would be given a second lease on life.

I came up with the idea of Flash moving back through time, flashing into our dimension even as he was dying. So, thought I, what if Barry was plucked out of the time stream at one of those moments he appeared? What if that meant from this point on Barry knew that he was literally living on borrowed time, that at any moment the time stream could close in on him and take him to his inevitable death. What would this mean to Barry?


From now on the Fastest Man Alive would literally be running for his life.
He knew he didn't have much time left and believed (as Barry would) that he had to devote it to helping others.
This meant Barry would become driven and desperate to help others with each passing tick of the clock.


I felt this new revitalized attitude might be enough to make the formerly dull police scientist into someone who now had to push himself as he never had to before. I was hoping that this would make the character interesting enough to live.

Earlier, I said my explanation was comic booky. In many ways it is because none of us knows when we are going to die. But this knowledge would haunt a man like Barry Allen and change him from an unassuming character into a driven hero. At least that was the plan!

***

Was this the way Morrison and Johns brought Barry back?

It wasn't; that route of resurrection makes it clear he was flat-out dead before that point.

[ChargerKB]

Quick question about the Rogues' powers: Near the end of Flash #3 Captain Cold appears on a piece of ice in what appears to be a reflection. Is this him working together with Mirror Master or is it just one of them?

[Billigm]

Quick question about the Rogues' powers: Near the end of Flash #3 Captain Cold appears on a piece of ice in what appears to be a reflection. Is this him working together with Mirror Master or is it just one of them?

I think its him working toward the mirror master, given the series of events up until then I had never considered another option other than my initial reaction. Good point!

[YoungG03]

Why does Captain Cold always wear that eskimo getup? And does he ever have to recharge his gun?

[Alejandro]

Who was so bright that could create the clod gun of capain cold, I mean, if I understand correctly it beats MR.Freeze´s one, is Cap that smart? how did he become that genius?

[StarWitch]

Can someone tell me in what comic did Golden Glider die? Thanks.

[Mainline]

Flash v2 #182 written by Geoff Johns addresses these questions:

Why does Captain Cold always wear that eskimo getup? And does he ever have to recharge his gun?
1. It was literally the coat on his back the day he left his abusive guardian. (see page 9); the glasses cut were given to him by a fellow robber to cut down on blindness from muzzle flash and it served a similar purpose with his cold gun (page 10, 11).

2. No. "A simple form of centralized radiation, like the magnetic circles of cyclotron radiation, would activate the engine in my gun indefinitely." (page 11)

Who was so bright that could create the clod gun of capain cold, I mean, if I understand correctly it beats MR.Freeze´s one, is Cap that smart? how did he become that genius?3. Cold did not invent his gun per se, he studied motion because he had been busted by the Flash and became interested in halting kinetic energy, and thus absolute zero, and when he was paroled he broke into labs working on the science he had read about... by using their blueprints he was able to build a weapon meant to slow Flash.

[Ben D]

apologizing ahead if this has already been answered

did Flash's origins change that much after COIE (Rebirth retcons don't count seeing as how thats Infinite Crisis/Final Crisis) and was it anything drastic?

[mills]

Golden Glider died in issue 112 of the wally run.

[phantom1592]

apologizing ahead if this has already been answered

did Flash's origins change that much after COIE (Rebirth retcons don't count seeing as how thats Infinite Crisis/Final Crisis) and was it anything drastic?

The biggest change I remember was power based. Now instead of moving past lightspeed whenever he wanted... he was NEVER that fast. Wally kept getting pushed to newer and newer speeds and breaking Flash Milestones that were DRASTICALLY slower than what Barry did on a regular basis in the silver age...


As he was 'dead', He kind of escaped the Origin Retcons that Supeman, Wonder woman, and Green Lantern got stuck with :)