Current Events
Origin
In the new 52 continuity Barry is acting as theDC's Flash. He is presently being featured in two titles. In The Flash he is nearer to the beginning of his superhero career and not yet fully in control of his powers. By running too fast he inadvertently triggers wormholes.Darwin Elias has helped him control this by creating a new cosmic treadmill for him, although he has used this treadmill to open controlled wormholes which he can travel through. He has used this to find Iris West who was sucked into one of his previous wormholes. Inside the ''Speed Force'', Barry learns that he was not responsible for the creation of the wormholes. The one responsible for all the disasters was Turbine, a man who was lost in the Speed Force all the way back in World War 2. The wormholes are created everytime Turbine tries to escape. Later, as Flash manages to get away from the abandoned place, he ends up falling in the lostGorilla City. There, he learns that if he ever stops running, the world will be lost. Once Barry leaves the city of super intelligent apes, he finds Dr. Elias, who was once presumed to be Flash's friend making campaigns against him. Just to make things worse, a new team of the Rogues is formed. The former leader is the Golden Glider, Captain Cold's sister. The members are Leonard Snart, the Mirror Master, Heat Wave and the Weather Wizard. For now, they have managed to knock Barry out, but while he is unconscious, an army of apes is attacking Central City. Gorilla Grodd manages to get Flash's powers, and now he is unstoppable. At the same moment, Patty Spivot finds out that the speedster is, in fact, her boyfriend. Later Flash defeats Gorilla Grodd by sending them both into the Spedd Force. While in there he finds Iris West and the other group of people she was with in the Speed Force and successfully rescues them while trapping Grodd in the speed force.
Barry has not been seen in the pages of Justice League due to him fighting Grodd and his minions in Central City (and the speed force).
Origin
When Barry Allen was only eleven, his mother was slained. His father was wrongly tried and convicted for the murder, and later died in prison where Barry watched him. However, the young Allen refused to believe that his father was guilty of the crime. His life ground to a halt as he dedicated himself to finding the real murderer and, more importantly, finding the motive behind the murder. To this end, Allen studied forensic science, and dedicated himself to solving not only his mother's case, but those of other people in his situation.
After graduating, Allen found work with the Central City Police Department as a police scientist, with a well-known habit for slowness and lateness. Working late in the lab one night, a rack of chemicals that he was working next to was struck by lightning, and Allen was doused in chemicals. Surprisingly unharmed, Allen cleaned up the mess and returned to work, but soon noticed that the world appeared to be moving much slower than normal. He soon realized that it was not the world that had slowed, but himself who had sped up. An avid fan of comic books, especially the adventures of the Jay Garrick Flash, Barry decided to follow in his hero's footsteps and fight crime, taking Garrick's superhero name as a form of tribute. Experiments with his powers revealed that not only was he super fast, but he could vibrate his molecules, allowing him to appear invisible and phase through solid objects. His girlfriend's adoptive father, Ira West, created a suit that could deal with his powers, and chemically shrunk it so it could fit into a ring for ease of portability. Though much of his crime fighting was limited to Central City, Allen constructed a Cosmic Treadmill to allow him to travel to alternate dimensions.
After Flashpoint, The Flash is partly responsible for the creation of a new timeline in which the entire universe has been compressed and altered into a five year timeline. For Barry Allen, his origin is only slightly altered. As it was originally, Barry's father is blamed for the death of Barry's mother. After his father goes to prison for the murder, Barry is placed in the hands of Darryl Frye, a police officer that may have had a relationship with Barry's mother. Barry is raised by Frye and because of his connections to the police force Barry becomes interested in working for law enforcement. During his college years Barry would meet with Manuel Lago at a party and soon become close friends until Manuel went into a military program, where the two would lose touch. For years Barry would visit his father in prison, much to his fathers pleads to stop and move on. Barry would do no such thing and would in his spare time at the science lab try to figure out his mother's murder and prove his father's innocence. One such night, Barry would get angry and throw one of the machines out the window, allowing an opening for a lightning bolt to shoot into the lab, hit Barry, and dose him in chemicals, connecting him to the Speed Force. After this, we would become The Flash. Some time later, Barry would be forced to join the Justice League during Darkseid's attack on planet Earth, locking himself in as a founding member.
Creation
Barry Allen was created by Robert Kanigher, John Broome and Carmine Infantino. He made his first comic book appearance in October 1956 in the pages of Showcase #4.
Character Evolution
Allen and a group of other heroes decided to form a crime fighting team after they banded together to defeat an attempted alien invasion. This team became an important part of Barry's development as a hero, as Barry, already immensely popular with the public, became close with other member's of the superhero community, especially Hal Jordan, who would become his close friend. An accidental trip to another dimension brought Allen face to face with his childhood hero, Jay Garrick, with whom he foiled a villainous plot.
Barry's girlfriend and later wife, Iris West, had a nephew named Wally. The son of distant and unloving parents, Wally longed to escape his home of Blue Valley and travel to Central City where the only family member he was close to lived, as well as his hero, the Flash. One summer Iris invited Wally to stay with her and Barry. Allen took Wally to the lab and, in an amazing coincidence, the sequence of events that gave Allen his powers occurred again, leaving Wally with the same powers as his uncle. Wally joined Allen in his crime fighting, becoming the sidekick Kid Flash.
During the 1980s, Allen suffered a series personal tragedies. His wife, Iris, was murdered by Professor Zoom. Allen eventually planned a marriage to another woman, but she was also targeted by Zoom. Allen was able to save her, however in so doing he failed to appear at their wedding, and his fiancee eventually went insane. Zoom, meanwhile, was dead by Allen's hand. Allen was put on trial for Zoom's murder, and found guilty, though it was revealed that brainwashing carried out by Abra Kadabra, disguised as the Reverse Flash, was the reason for this verdict. Allen fled to the future, and was able too defeat Kadabra. He was also reunited with Iris, whose spirit had been drawn forwards in time and reincarnated. He retired and moved to the 30th century with Iris.
His retirement did not last long, however; the Crisis on Infinite Earths disrupted his happiness. He was captured by the Anti-Monitor and dragged back to 1985. He was able to escape the Anti-Monitors' clutches, and destroyed the anti-matter cannon that was intended to destroy earth by creating a speed vortex. He was unable to handle the power of the vortex, however, and perished. His soul was absorbed into the Speed Force, and Wally took up the mantle of the Flash.
This was not the end of Barry Allen. He returned on three separate occasions to aid his nephew Wally West, helping him to deal with the worst days of his life. During the Infinite Crisis Allen, still residing in the Speed Force, entered into the regular universe along with other speedsters to combat Superboy Prime, dragging him into the Speed Force in attempt to cease his destructive rampage. Barry Allen was permanently resurrected during the Final Crisis, during which he was instrumental in bringing about the defeat of Darkseid. Unsure of why he is alive, Allen contemplates his duties in the universe. It is soon revealed that he is becoming the newBlack Flash, and that his resurrection was part of the machinations of Professor Zoom. Zoom was also responsible for all the tragedy in Allen's life, including the murder of his mother. He was able to defeat Zoom with the help of the other Flashes and several other super teams.
During the Blackest Night Allen, a beacon of hope for the entire planet, was selected as a Blue Lantern. He also briefly becomes a member of the White Lantern Corps. After these events, Allen returns to his job in the police department, his life in Central City and his job as the Flash. He is soon confronted by the Renegades, Rogues from the 25th century, and accused of murdering one of their members, the Mirror Monarch. Allen, determined to find the real killer, eventually uncovering a plot by the future version of the Top.
He was also briefly the host for the entity Parallax, but was able to escape with the help of Proselyte.
Major Story Arcs
Earth-Two
For More Information: Flash #123
While demonstrating his abilities at a charity event, Barry accidentally vibrated his body into another reality. There, he discovered a villainous plot to hypnotize and steal from the inhabitants of Keystone City. He recognized both the city and the villains from his comic books. He deduced that his hero, Jay Garrick, the man that inspired him must also be real. After finding and talking with Jay, Barry surmised that the comic book creator, Gardner Fox, had been unconsciously tapping into this dimension. This had wider implications for the DC Universe as it bought the Golden Age comics into Silver Age continuity. Jay and Barry went on to foil the villains schemes.
After this event, Jay retired, leaving Barry to continue the mantle. However, Jay would fluctuate in and out of retirement, helping Barry or Wally West out if needed. This was not the last time they met as both they, theJustice League, and the Justice Society of America would team up again.
Trial of the Flash and the 30th Century
Barry's arch nemesis Zoom killed Barry's bride Iris. Later, when Barry was at the altar with this second bride,Fiona Webb, Zoom attacked again. Barry lashed out at Zoom and killed him. Barry was put on trial for manslaughter, and was dismissed from the Justice League for violating their no kill policy. In the end, it is revealed that Iris was alive in the 30th century, and Barry travels there to live with his wife. He receives plastic surgery to alter his features, and Barry and Iris raise twin children in the future, Don and Dawn Allen.
Crisis on Infinite Earths
For More Information: Crisis On Infinite Earths
Barry Allen was living in the future, in the 30th Century, after the events of ''Trial of the Flash'', when he snapped Professor Zoom´s neck and subsequently went into retirement. In the future, natural disasters were occurring despite the technology that had been created to stop them, and reality itself was fraying. As one of the only people who could travel between dimensions unassisted, Barry was captured by the Anti-Monitor and mentally tortured by Psycho-Pirate.
He was able to use 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, saving the remaining realities. His success came at great personal cost as Barry's body was consumed by the anti-matter weapon leaving behind just his costume and ring. After, Wally found Barry's costume ring and at the end of the saga, with a new sense of purpose he took the name and costume of The Flash, and was determined to live up to the example that Barry Allen had set for the world. Although there were no remains, a grave for Barry was placed in New York City.
In Blitz saga, Barry comes back in time to talk with Wally West. The Spectre (Hal Jordan) erased the knowledge of the Flash's identity from the minds of the world, including Barry Allen's public identity.
Identity Crisis
For More Information: Identity Crisis
It is revealed that Barry Allen was one of the heroes who decided to mind wipe Dr. Light and, in fact, Barry had been the deciding vote. Barry had just lost his wife and was having a hard time. During the Secret of Barry Allen in the fallout of Identity Crisis, Wally West discovers that Dr. Light was not Barry Allen's only mistake. Roscoe Dillon, the Top, had died and come back in the body of Barry's father. After getting the Top out of his father's body, Barry found him digging up his wife's body and snapped. Barry had Zatanna switch The Top to the side of good with her mind tinkering and it drove him insane. Barry left all this in a letter to Wally, asking Wally to give The Top his sanity back. A time traveling Barry Allen also comes to Wally West's rescue when Wally is attacked by the Reverse Flash. Barry Allen helps Wally change the past and save his twins. Barry mentions he will see Wally again. Upon his return, he snaps Reverse Flash's neck.
Final Crisis
For More Information: Final Crisis
At the very end of Final Crisis #2, he is seen running from theBlack Racer out of a time tunnel created by Metron's Time Chair. Barry was racing to save the New God Orion from aradion bullet fired backwards through time. Wally and Jay, who had both seen Barry, ran to help him but failed. Jay fell behind, and by the time Barry and Wally had stopped running time around Earth was altered and they stopped weeks afterDarkseid's forces had already taken over Earth.
After a quick reunion, Barry and Wally searched for Iris who had become a victim of the Anti-Life Equation and was a mindless slave. Barry kissed his wife and somehow freed her from the Anti-Life Equation. Barry and Wally were reunited with Jay, who had been spending the past few weeks saving people. Barry explains that some unknown force had brought him back, possibly to stop Darkseid. The group deduced that the personification of death, The Black Racer (who was also the Black Flash) was still after Barry, and that Darkseid's fall was causing chaos in the universe. Barry and Wally plan on leading the Black Racer to Darkseid. In the final battle with Darkseid, Barry and Wally lead the Black Racer straight to Darkseid, helping to defeat him.
Rebirth
For More Information: Flash Rebirth
Officially and permanently returned to life, the cities he once called home celebrate, while Allen contemplates why he has been brought back. Soon after he encounters Savitar, a speedster villain. He catches up to the villain, but when he touches him Savitar turns to dust, telling Allen that he was the beginning and also the end. At that moment a number of heroes who are connected to the Speed Force experience painful convulsions. Soon it is revealed that Allen is becoming the new Black Flash, and he flees to the Speed Force to avoid harming any innocents. There he encounters other heroes who tell him that becoming the Black Flash is not his fault, and soon Professor Zoom, appears, revealing that he was responsible not only for Allen's resurrection, but also a number of tragedies in his life, including the murder of his mother. Barry fights the villain with the help of several other speedsters. In the process of chasing the villain, Allen, Wally and Zoom become the lightning bolt that first gave Allen his powers. Running into the present, they are able to sever Zoom's connection to the negative Speed Force, and Allen is finally able to celebrate his return.
Blackest Night
For More Information: Blackest Night, Blackest Night: The Flash
Allen and Hal Jordan meet at the grave of Bruce Wayne and discuss the state of the world and their respective deaths. Reflecting on the deaths of many close friends, the two part ways, hoping for the return of friends they have lost. Later the pair is confronted by a Black Lantern J'onn J'onnz, who attempts to kill the pair. As they had been dead and returned to life, the Black Lanterns considered their deaths to be necessary to restore the balance in the universe. Defeating the Black Lanterns sent to kill him, Allen and West speed around the world to warn other superheroes of the Black Lantern threat. Allen is confronted by a Black Lantern Professor Zoom, who he battles briefly before going to Gorilla City, also under attack by a Black Lantern, the old leader Solovar. Allen then runs to Coast Cityand witnesses the arrival of Nekron and his disciples. Nekron reveals that all of the resurrected heroes are linked to him because he allowed them to rise, and he manages to bring a number of resurrected heroes into the Black Lantern Corps. Allen manages to save himself and Jordan from the ring by bringing them two seconds into the future. Allen was then selected to join the Blue Lantern Corps, and fought against the Black Lanterns using his new power ring. In the closing moments of the Blackest Night, he briefly became a member of the White Lantern Corps.
The Dastardly Death of the Rogues!
For More Information: The Flash
An alternate Mirror Master appears dead in the streets of Central City where Barry Allen has returned to the life that he led before his death. Soon a group of people who call themselves the Renegades and closely resemble the Rogues appear, accusing Allen of murdering one of their members, Mirror Monarch. He manages to fend them off and rescues a building full of people that they inadvertently destroyed in their departure. He quickly becomes dedicated to the search for the real killer, though his efforts are cut short by the reappearance of the Renegades. They are then themselves attacked by Captain Boomerang, who attacks both the Renegades and Allen. Eventually, Allen is arrested by the Renegades and taken to the 25th century. He realizes everything has been part of a plot by the Top to stop Allen from uncovering Top's criminal ancestor. Escaping custody, Allen pursues the Top and beats him, turning him over to justice and ensuring that his ancestor was convicted of his crime.
Flashpoint
For More Information: Flashpoint
Barry Allen awakens in a universe greatly changed from that he knew. Most of the heroes of his universe are unknown, including himself; his mother is alive; and Batman isThomas Wayne. He encounters Wayne in a small and cheap Batcave, and is attacked by Wayne while attempting to explain the alternate universe and his own secret identity. A sudden return of memories reveal that this universe is in fact his own. He attempts to activate his costume ring, but inside he finds the Reverse Flash's costume instead of his own. He determines that the way to set things right requires first that he regain his powers. To this end, he and Wayne construct a device that closely resembles an electric chair. The chair is struck by lightning and Allen catches on fire. When the flames are doused by Wayne, Allen is revealed to be unconscious and covered in severe burns. Later on Barry Allen wakes up back in the Batcave and is covered in bandages. He is told by Wayne that he has third degree burns over 75% of his body. Despite this, he convinces Wayne to allow him to try again, and the pair return to the roof. Before they can make a second attempt, however, Allen is again struck by lightning, which causes him to regain his super speed. He and Wayne contact Cyborg and begin looking into the possibility of Superman having landed in this universe, uncovering the secret Project Superman, which had imprisoned the Kryptonian shortly after he landed on Earth. Experiencing a seizure, Allen is brought to Billy Batson, who it is hoped can help him. Instead, Batson receives a vision of Allen's original timeline. Allen awakens and attempts to explain his origins, but is interrupted by reports of a massacre in the United Kingdom, and is distracted by attempts to put an end to the war between Wonder Woman and Aquaman. While in the war zone, he is confronted by Professor Zoom, who reveals that Allen caused the alternate timeline when he absorbed the Speed Force. He resets Allen's internal vibrations to give him full access to his memories, then attempts to kill Allen. Before he can strike, he is himself killed by Wayne, who sends Allen to restore the timeline. Allen first speaks with his mother, then travels into the timeline. There, he witnesses the three timelines, DC, Vertigo and Wildstorm, and is told by a mysterious hooded woman that the world must be reunited. He witnesses the merging of the three timelines, which creates the new DC Universe. Allen then awakens in his office, paralleling the opening scenes of the Flashpoint arc.
The New 52
After Flashpoint, The Flash is partly responsible for the creation of a new timeline in which the entire universe has been compressed and altered into a five year timeline. The Flash is shown to be in two major books,Justice League, of which he is a founding member, and the self title book The Flash, where his Rogues gallery is slowly being introduced.
Mob Rule
Five years after the League's formation, Barry would accompany Patty Spivot, his girlfriend, on a trip to a science exhibit in Central City. While meeting a very famous scientist known as Darwin Elias, a group of masked soldiers would crash the party and steal a Genome Re-Coder, a device that can alter a person's DNA. It's revealed that the soldiers, known as Mob Rule, are clones of Manuel, Barry's old friend from college. While trying to fix their own decomposing DNA with a machine similar to a Re-Coder, a black-out, based from an E.M.P. Blast, rocks the twin cities and causes mass-hysteria. While The Flash tries to issue peace in the city, Mob Rule is able to kidnap Dr. Elias to help them in their predicament. Patty, willing to help Barry, finds a list of doctors that had a connection to the project Manuel was apart of. Going to a lab owned by a Doctor Guerrero, they encounter Mob Rule and try to help Manuel escape. Barry, believing his power of 'speed thinking' believes that he can hold the soldiers off while Patty and Manuel can make a run for it. This, however, proves both futile and successful. Barry, too occupied with his thinking, is shot (although is able to vibrate through the bullet just in time) and Patty and Manuel make a clean escape. Riding through the city, Manuel becomes overrun with guilt and decides to face his clones head-on, leading to his capture. Manuel is then forced to undergo a process headed by Dr. Elias that could forever stop the genetic breakdown of the clones but is stopped by The Flash. With most of the clones dying around him, Manuel is enraged by The Flash and escapes, vowing revenge.
The Rogues
During the Mob Rule storyline, Iris West, once the wife of Barry in the previous DC Universe, visits Iron Heights Prison during the time of the E.M.P. blast. With all of the security down, she witnesses the freeing of several supervillains including the newly superpowered Captain Cold. After the end of Mob Rule, The Flash is instructed by Dr. Elias that the cause of the E.M.P. blast was based from The Speed Force, or more importantly, The Flash himself. Afraid that if a blast such as the one the city just experienced or something of a much greater threat happens again, Elias instructs The Flash to watch his outtake of his speed powers. The next day, Captain Cold visits his sick sister at the hospital after stealing a laser from a lab that could help in his sister's recovery. The doctor, however, tells Cold that because of the power outage they cannot operate. Cold, just as everyone else in Central and Keystone City, know that The Flash was the cause of the E.M.P. Blast, and so takes out his revenge. Using his new powers, Cold attacks the boats carrying Barry, Patty and Iris and The Flash is forced to act. In the issuing battle, The Flash goes over the danger limit on his Speed Force outtake and opens a portal that takes the ship containing Iris and several other citizens into the Speed Force. Entering into a treadmill designed by Elias to take in some of the excess Speed Force energy, The Flash makes a promise to get those people back to Earth and opens up another portal, disappearing and leaving Elias with a fuel source powered by Speed Force energy that would later be used to help give Central and Keystone City back it's power. In the Speed Force, The Flash meets a man known as Turbine, a world war two pilot lost to The Speed Force. Turbine explains the nature of the Speed Force and what Barry's role in it is. During their conversation Turbine explains that he's tried several times to get out of the Speed Force by using his tornado-like powers. This is actually what caused the E.M.P Blast in Central City as well as other places throughout time (The Speed Force existing outside of time). The Flash tries to fight the deranged Turbine and is thrown back to the present day Gorilla City. Encountering the newly appointed King Grodd, Barry is shown to be The Runner, a symbol of the Gorilla's own mythology based around The Speed Force, which had evolved them to their present state. The Flash would eventually fight Grodd, who was driven mad by power, and escaped the city and back to his own Central City. In the time that he was gone, Barry was declared dead during The Flash's battle with Captain Cold and Elias is seen as the real hero of Central City by turning the power back on and putting The Flash in a bad light. Barry is forced to create for himself a new persona and got a job at a bar where The Rogues were famous for attending. Patty, horrified at Barry's death, decides to continue with a case she was working upon Barry's death and travels to Mexico where she encounters the cartel run by Weather Wizard in place of his dead brother, whose murder Patty is researching. The Flash comes to her aid and helps to reveal to Wizard that the death of his brother was ordered by his fiancé, a woman he himself had been seeing. In his rage, Wizard tries to kill both himself and the woman, but somehow survives. Here, he is recruited by Golden Glider. Back in Central City, an angry Heat Wave barges into the bar that Barry works at and attacks Cold, blaming him for his new powers, which he sees as a curse rather than a blessing. The Flash intervenes and the two are sent to Iron Heights. However, on their way, Glider appears and extracts Heat Wave, showing little remorse for her brother. Cold, however, survives the crash caused by Glider thanks to the help of The Pied Piper, a reformed villain, and The Trickster. The new Rogues, led by Glider, attack Elias, who is the cause of their new powers, and actually pull off stealing a train powered by The Speed Force energy. While Glider stands to gloat about her success, Cold shows up and he and The Flash battle the new team of Rogues. Cold, however, betrays Flash and knocks him out, once again in control of the Rogues.
Gorilla Warfare
The victory for The Rogues, however, is suspended when suddenly Central City is hit by Gorilla City. Grodd, in his search for power, learned about the speed force energy, and craved to have it. The Flash is forced to team up with The Rogues to battle the attacking gorillas until he learns about Grodd's plans. Racing to Dr. Elias' lab, Flash arrives just in time to see Grodd become super-charged with Speed Force energy. The two race across the city, both equal in speed but Grodd far surpassing Flash in strength and because of this, Grodd gains an upper hand. Before this, Patty, back in Central City, meets Turbine, who had finally escaped the Speed Force after his battle with Flash. The man says that he may know a way to find Barry Allen and this urges Patty to follow him, her love for Barry greatly influencing her to act. During the gorilla onslaught, Patty and Turbine travel to The Central City Zoo where they meet the first gorilla effected by the Speed Force, Solovar. Based on his instructions, the trio make their way through the city until they find The Flash about to receive a killing blow by Grodd. Solovar jumps in front of Flash and takes the blow himself. The Flash is knocked into a coma, leaving his bare face for Patty to see, and experiences three possible futures he now faces with the gorilla onslaught. Finally finding an answer, Barry declares that he has to give himself over to Grodd, who has already lost his speed powers.
Powers & Abilities
Super Speed
Barry's primary super power is super speed, which he gets from tapping into the Speed Force. When Barry runs, everything around him (as seen in comics) slows down, but he can still make out crimes/people and is even seen talking while moving in super speed.
His current prowess with the Speed Force allows him to run faster than the Speed of Light, but it is possible that he is capable of moving beyond even that. He does not usually exceed Mach 10, as doing so would pose a danger to his surrounding environment.
Barry keeps his usual running speed is subsonic, to limit the destruction he might cause to people and structures. He is capable of running across water and up the sides of buildings. Barry has used his super speed to quickly rebuild damages that he might have caused, and he can also take apart objects in mid air within a blink of an eye.
Phasing
Allen can control his body at the molecular level, allowing him to vibrate his body through solid objects. While in this intangible state, he is able to breathe, but is immune to any airborne viruses. He is also able to vibrate so fast that light doesn't reflect off of him, rendering him invisible to the human eye. He retains sight even in this state. Barry can also extend this ability to solid object and phase them through other matter. Though the larger the object the more tired he becomes.
Human Tornado
Related to his super speed, Allen is able to run in a circle and create a vortex. This vortex can be used for numerous purposes, such as pulling air out of the centre to suffocate an enemy, levitating whatever is in the centre, send a person in the centre to another dimension, funnel toxic gases, and create a barrier, among other uses. He is also able to create tornado-like winds by spinning his arms quickly, and can use these to various effects, usually offensive.
Speed Force Aura
A required secondary power tied to his speed, Allen's body is surrounded what he refers to as the "Speed Force aura," which can absorb kinetic energy. This aura protects him and anyone he is carrying from the effects of the speed, especially the effects of friction and airborne particulate matter. It also prevents him from sustaining injury from high-speed impacts, and affords a low-level of superhuman resistance to injury.
Intelligence
Allen's brain moves as fast as he does, meaning he is able to think extremely quickly. He is able to read a book at super speed, and retains this information in his short term memory just long enough to implement whatever he has learned (example is with the rebuilding of an apartment which was destroyed when he was battling the renegades). He is also a skilled forensic scientist. He is able to alter his perceptions in such a way that time appears to pass differently for him. In the span of a second he may have experienced years, and been able to alter elements of his environment while the time was passing, such as replacing a falling object or disarming an opponents weapon within a blink of an eye and also faster. he has also been shown to be able to mentally tap into the Speed Force to give him a sense of pre-cognition, where he can anticipate certain chain-reaction events.
Invisibility
Barry can tap into the speed force and use it as a powerful tool to turn invisible. Just like how he is able to vibrate through solid objects, Allen can move his body fast enough to appear invisible. In the new 52, Barry himself has stated that this ability to become invisible is very limited.
Statistics
Height: 5 ft 11 in
Weight: 179 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Predecessor: Jay Garrick
Successor: Wally West
Legacy: Bart Allen
The Fastest Man Alive?
Allen and Superman have competed on a number of occasions to determine who was the fastest man alive. Often these races were held for charity. It has been implied that all the cases of ties were actually engineered by Allen, who was much faster but wanted to ensure a spectacle for the charities. The races in Superman #199 "Superman Races the Flash" and Flash #175 "The Race to the End of the Universe" both resulted in a tie, while the races in World's Finest #198-199 "Race to save the Universe," DC Comics Presents # 1-2 "Chase to the end of time," and The Flash Rebirth #3 resulted in a victory for Allen. They also raced in the DC Universe Halloween Special ''To the Finish Line: Flash vs Superman''. In more recent days, the Flash and Superman had a race in Superman #709. Also Kid Flash and Superboy have raced too.
A similar race occurred in the episode of Superman: the Animated Series entitled "Speed Demons," wherein Superman and the Flash (implied to be Allen though he is never identified in the episode) race a hundred times around the globe in a charity race to determine the fastest man on Earth. The race is cut short by the machinations of the Weather Wizard. The episode ended with the question of who was fastest left unanswered.
Alternate Versions
The Brave and the Bold
Allen travels to Belgium to participate in an experiment that deals with the speed of light. He runs along a beam of light, and in so doing travels back in time, arriving in the middle of the Second World War with a broken leg. He is nearly killed by a German patrol, and encounters some Blackhawks, who help him. When they are attacked by German soldiers, Barry decides to put off his Flash costume and put on the uniform of a soldier, forsaking his promise not to kill for this mission. When he returns home he finds that almost no time has passed in his time despite the length of time spent in the past.
Batman: In Darkest Night
Allen receives his powers through the intervention of the Guardians of the Universe, who sought him, Supermanand Wonder Woman out to defeat the threat posed by Sinestro.
The Dark Knight Strikes Again
In a future where superheroes are illegal, Allen is kept as a source of cheap fuel by Lex Luthor. Powering most of the Eastern seaboard by constant running on a treadmill, he is held prisoner by the threat of the execution of Iris West. He is rescued by Batman and aids in the plan to restore order and balance, though they clash somewhat over ways and means.
Flashpoint (Elseworld)
Allen became the Flash in 1956, and was very closely involved in politics, helping to end the Cold War and driving communists out of Vietnam. He was paralyzed from the neck down when he took a bullet meant forPresident Kennedy. Still extremely intelligent, he founded Allen Industries, and several years later begins exploration of Mars. Sometime after this a "flashpoint," which killed all life on Mars, is discovered there by Wally West. Barry is eventually cured and fights Vandal Savage, who was the one who paralyzed him, before entering the flashpoint and being absorbed into the Speed Force.
Justice
Allen is a member of the Justice League; he is put out of commission early on by Captain Cold, when Cold, masquerading as a waiter, serves him soup that causes him to lose control of his super speed.
JLA: Age of Wonder
Allen works as a scientist alongside such great scientists as Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, as well as with Superman.
JLA/Avengers
Allen appears in the crossover, and is determined to set right the changes to their timelines, despite the fact that he has been shown the future and knows that doing so will ultimately bring about his death in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. He helps the teams invade Krona's base, and rescues Hawkeye, becoming important in the ultimate defeat of the villain's plan.
JLA: The Nail
This version of Allen closely resembles the original, however he travelled to the future and had adventures with the Legion of Superheroes in place of Superboy. He defeated Amazo by becoming intangible and taking the android's brain too quickly for the android to react.
Justice Riders
In this Elseworld story, Barry Allen was a Federal Marshall who was killed by Wally West.
League of Justice
Allen appears as "Phaeton," who wears a mystical brooch and protects himself from the dangerous friction created by his speed by bathing in dragon's blood.
Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths
Tanaka Rei is the Japanese version of Barry Allen on Earth-D, and drew inspiration from stories of the Flash.
Quasar: Reborn to Run
In the Marvel series Quasar, the Marvel Universe speedsters are facing off in a race between the Earth and theMoon that has been set up by a being called the Runner, member of a race called the Elders. During the race a surge of energy hits the track, and leaves behind a blonde man who is dressed in the tattered remains of a red outfit with yellow boots. He retains no memory of how he got there or who he was before arriving on the track, but has a great desire to run. He does so, winning the race easily despite competition from some of Marvel's fastest speedsters. After the race is concluded he is asked for his name, but can only recall that it was something along the lines of "Buried Alien". He takes the name Fast-Forward, and soon disappears, vanishing into the universe in the hope of aiding Makkari, who was stuck at hyper speed.
In Other Media
Animation
Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure
Allen appeared in several episodes of the Superman/ Aquaman Hour of Adventure, and was one of the founders of the Justice League. He is played by Ray Owens.
Super Friends and Related Titles
In Super Friends he appears as a member of the JLA. He later acted as an important member of the team. He was played by Ted Knight, and later by Jack Angel.
The DCAU
Allen has never technically appeared in the DCAU, however an episode of Superman: the Animated Seriesfeatured a Flash who may well have been Allen. This Flash is played by Charlie Schlatter. As well, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited featured a few references to a character who may well have been Allen (Wally West mentions an uncle, a few characters bear a resemblance to him). While the Justice Leagueversion of the Flash is nominally Wally West, he shares a number of similarities with Allen, including his job, origin and position in the League.
The Batman
Allen appeared in a cameo in the episode "The Joining, Part 2". He later made a significant appearance in fifth season episode "A Mirror Darkly," and was captured along with several other heroes by Hugo Strange in the episodes "Lost Heroes Part 1" and "Lost Heroes Part 2." This version of the Flash is again not identified by name, however creators on the project have intimated that this version of the Flash is Barry Allen. He is portrayed by Charlie Schlatter.
Young Justice
Allen appears in the Young Justice episodes "Independence Day" and "Independence Day: Part 2" as the mentor of Kid Flash and a member of the JLA. He is played by George Eads.
Flash and Kid Flash stopped Captain Cold after he robbed a jewelry store. Kid Flash was very impatient, and excited about the events that would come later.
Flash took Kid Flash to the Hall of Justice for the first time, as a first step to his induction into the Justice League. Flash then joined the League in battling the sorcerer Wotan, who was attempting to block out the Sun by using the Amulet of Aten.
He is the last League member to arrive at the destroyed Cadmus facility, after the Team's battle with Blockbuster.
Superman and Flash respond to a disturbance at Central City Mall. They find Kid Flash and Superboy fighting the Terror Twins. Flash is disappointed his protégé couldn't keep a low profile for three days.
Flash accompanied Wally to the Cave where Batman formed the Team. After meeting everyone, they left together.
August 2010
The League battles Amazo, and eventually manages to defeat him. The android copies Flash's super speed.
Flash attended the funeral of Kent Nelson at the Tower of Fate.
The Allens, the Wests and the Garricks celebrated Jay Garrick's birthday at the West family home
September 2010
After communications with the Cave broke down, the League investigated. Flash found his protégé trapped in molten steel, and helped free him and Superboy with help from Captain Atom.
October 2010
Flash, Captain Atom and Blue Devil fight one of Poison Ivy's giant plant creatures at a nuclear power plant near Taipei. The plant crushes one of the chimneys, but Captain Atom manages to absorb the radioactive spill.
November 2010
Flash was at his nephew's surprise party, though spent most of the time talking with Aqualad and Superboy. After Batman called in for an emergency, Flash received orders to head to one of five mysterious ice fortresses.
With Batman, Robin, Aquaman and Aqualad, Flash attacked the first fortress. He managed to destroy one of its defensive guns by running circles around it.
Flash accompanied Batman to talk to Hugo Strange about the ice fortresses, but they did not get the information they were hoping for.
At a Justice League meeting about expansion of the ranks, Flash's suggestion for extra power in the form of Guy Gardner was strongly opposed by the other Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart. His second suggestion, to reconsider Captain Marvel's admission because he lied about his age, sparked a more lively debate
December 2010
Flash was present at the press conference about the induction of Atom, Doctor Fate, Icon, Plastic Man and Red Arrow into the League.
After being made a slave of the Light's mind control, Flash welcomed Vandal Savage aboard the Watchtower with a silent kneel of obedience.
Along with Aquaman and Green Arrow, Flash attacked Red Arrow.
Flash was battling Kid Flash and Artemis along with Aquaman and Green Arrow. When Aqualad arrived he opened the airlock and Flash would have been sucked into the void of space but Aqualad shut the airlock and Flash was knocked out. The Team put Cure-tech on his neck and he was freed from Vandal Savage's control but was left unconscious.
Young Justice: Invasion
After Gamma Squad saved the hostages from the Kroloteans, Flash arrived on the scene with the rest of the Justice League members and the Team.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Allen made a cameo in the episode "Sidekicks Assemble!", and later made a full appearance in the episode "Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!" wherein he was presumed dead until discovered being held captive in an alternate dimension. He is played by Alan Tudyk.
Film
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
The version of the Flash in this animated movie is identified as Allen, though his personality and costume are similar to Wally West's. He proves to be much faster than his alternate universe equivalent, Johnny Quick. He is voiced by Josh Keaton.
Justice League: The New Frontier
Allen is instrumental in defeating the menace posed by The Centre. He is played by Neil Patrick Harris.
The Flash
A live-action Flash movie is currently in production, scheduled for release sometime in 2013. Allen has been confirmed as the version of the Flash who will appear.
Live-Action Television
Legends of the Superheroes
Allen appeared in this two-part special that was based on the Super Friends. He was played by Rod Haase.
Flash
The series ran between 1990 and 1991, and featured a version of Allen that shared some similarities with Wally West, and also had several new elements introduced, including his brother Jay, a police officer killed in the line of duty. In this show, his fastest speed was around the speed of sound. Allen was played by John Wesley Shipp.
Justice League of America
Allen was the Flash in an unsuccessful pilot for a Justice League series. Many of the characters were barely recognizable next to their comic book counterparts, and Barry was no different. Instead of a police scientist, Barry was unemployed and seemed to be most slow-witted of all the characters. He is portrayed by Kenny Johnston.
Smallville
Though Allen himself does not appear in Smallville, a version of the Flash who goes by the name Bart Allen does. In the episode "Run," Bart is shown to possess a number of fake IDs, among them ones that identify him as Barry Allen, Jay Garrick and Wally West.
Other
DCOX Rules
Allen appeared in this off-Broadway musical. He was played by Jeffrey Hammond.
Music
The song "The Ballad of Barry Allen" by Jim's Big Ego focuses on the tragic aspects of Allen's life, specifically his dissociation from humanity as a result of his superpowers, which cause him to perceive life much more slowly than other people, and resultant depression.
Allen has also made numerous appearances in popular culture.
Video Games
Mortal Kombat Vs. The DC Universe
Though bearing some physical similarities to Wally West, Allen is confirmed by the Bios section as the version of the Flash in this video game. He has a psychic bond with Liu Kang that they use to monitor for cross-universal breaches. He is voiced by Taliesin Jaffe.
DC Universe Online
Allen appears as the Flash in the MMOG DC Universe Online. He is portrayed by Dwight Schultz.
Injustice Gods Among Us
Barry/Flash is set to appear as a playable character in Injustice Gods Among Us
Lego Batman 2
The Flash appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 2. His special ability is he can put de-constructed Legos back together. He is also the fastest character in the game.
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