Flash is a comic-book hero with the power of super speed. The Flash is also known as the Scarlet Speedster. With the help of a mysterious energy field called the Speed Force, the Flash can run faster than the speed of light. By running fast enough, the Flash can even travel through time or to parallel universes (different versions of our universe). The Flash is one of the earliest and most famous superheroes from the publisher DC Comics.
The Flash has had several identities over the years. The original Flash was Jay Garrick, a college student who gained his powers in a laboratory accident. He wore a red and blue outfit with a winged silver helmet modeled after the hat of the Roman god Mercury. The second Flash, Barry Allen, grew up idolizing Garrick. Allen’s powers appeared after he was doused in chemicals and struck by lightning. He wore a red outfit with yellow details. This costume could be shrunk down and stored inside a ring. It became the costume most associated with the Flash. The third Flash, Wally West, began as Allen’s sidekick, Kid Flash. West gained his powers in the same way Allen did. He took over as the Flash after Allen sacrificed himself to save countless parallel universes in the famous DC Comics series “Crisis on Infinite Earths” (1985-1986).
The Flash was created by the American writer Gardner Fox and the American artist Harry Lampert. The character first appeared in the lead story of the DC Comics anthology series “Flash Comics” (1940-1949). Anthology comics feature multiple titles grouped together by theme or target audience. The Flash has been an important part of the DC Comics Universe, the fictional universe in which many DC comics are set. Garrick’s Flash was a founding member of the superhero team the Justice Society of America. Allen’s Flash was a founding member of the superhero team Justice League of America.
The Flash has appeared in a number of television programs and motion pictures. Two separate TV series titled “The Flash” ran from 1990 to 1991, and from 2014 to 2023, respectively. The Flash also appeared in the movie Justice League (2017) and was featured in the film The Flash (2023). Both of the TV series and both of the movies include Barry Allen’s Flash.
