The Flash is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. Throughout its publication, the series has primarily focused on two characters who have worn the mantle of the Flash: Barry Allen, the second Flash (1959–1985, 2010–2020), and Wally West, the third Flash (1987–2008, 2021–present). The series began at issue #105, picking up its issue numbering from the anthology series Flash Comics which had featured Jay Garrick as the first Flash.
Although the Flash is a mainstay in the DC Comics stable, the series has been canceled and restarted several times. The first volume, starring Barry Allen, was canceled at issue #350 prior to the character's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths. A new series began in June 1987 with a new issue #1, starring Wally West as the new Flash. The second volume was briefly canceled in 2006 at issue #230 in the wake of the Infinite Crisis event in which Wally disappeared, and was replaced by a new series titled The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive starring Bart Allen as the fourth Flash. The following year, The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive was canceled and The Flash resumed publication from issue #231 with Wally as the Flash once again; however, this volume was ultimately canceled permanently in 2008 at issue #247.
Following Barry Allen's resurrection in Final Crisis and return to being the primary Flash in The Flash: Rebirth, a third volume starring Barry debuted in 2010. However, this volume was ultimately cancelled in the lead-up to the miniseries Flashpoint, which in turn led into The New 52 continuity reboot. A fourth volume was later launched in 2011 as part of the new continuity, with Barry Allen as the sole Flash; this volume ultimately concluded in 2016. A fifth volume was launched soon afterwards as part of the line-wide relaunch DC Rebirth.
In 2020, the series reverted to original numbering as of issue #750The Flash #750 (May 2020) by adding together all issues of The Flash from each volume. Wally West became the main character of the series again as of DC's line-wide relaunch Infinite Frontier, beginning with issue #768.The Flash #768 (May 2021) Original numbering continued until issue #800. A sixth volume of The Flash, also starring Wally West, began as part of the Dawn of DC relaunch in September 2023.
Publication history
Volume 1 (1959–1985)
Volume 1 starred Barry Allen as the Flash and the series assumed the numbering of the original Flash Comics with issue #105 (March 1959) written by John Broome and drawn by Carmine Infantino. Comics historian Les Daniels noted that "The Flash" was a streamlined, modernized version of much that had gone before, but done with such care and flair that the character seemed new to a new generation of fans. The Broome and Infantino collaboration saw the introduction of several supervillains many of whom became part of the Rogues. The Mirror Master first appeared in issue #105 and the following issue saw the debuts of Gorilla Grodd and the Pied Piper.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 94: "Two popular villains debuted in The Flash #106...'Menace of the Super-Gorilla' saw Barry Allen battle Gorilla Grodd...[and] in 'The Pied Piper of Peril', Hartley Rathaway...hired himself out to criminals as the Pied Piper and became Allen's nemesis." Captain Boomerang first challenged the Flash in issue #117 (December 1960)McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 101: "Writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino kept even the Flash off-balance when they introduced George 'Digger' Harkness and his hand-held rebounding weaponry." and the 64th century villain Abra Kadabra was introduced in issue #128 (May 1962).McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 105: "A failed stage magician from the 64th century, Abra Kadabra debuted in this story by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino." Another villain from the future, Professor Zoom first appeared in issue #139 (September 1963).McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 109: "This issue saw 25th-century criminal Eobard Thawne use his era's advanced science on an old Flash costume. The suit gave Thawne reverse super-speed."
Kid Flash and the Elongated Man were respectively introduced in issues #110 and 112 as allies of the Flash.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 100: "Editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino introduced the Elongated Man, a stretchable super-sleuth." One of the most notable issues of this era was issue #123 (September 1961), which featured the story titled "Flash of Two Worlds".McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 103: "This classic Silver Age story resurrected the Golden Age Flash and provided a foundation for the Multiverse from which he and the Silver Age Flash would hail." In it, Allen meets his inspiration Jay Garrick, after accidentally being transported to a parallel universe where Garrick existed. In this previous continuity, Garrick and the other characters of the Golden Age only existed as comics characters in the mainline shared universe. This brought about a new concept in the formative stage of what would become the DC Universe, and gave birth to the current conceptualization featuring it as a multiverse.
Barry Allen married his longtime love interest Iris West in issue #165 (November 1966).McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 119: "Barry Allen and iris West's wedding day...was [DC's] most anticipated...Writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino were the team behind the nuptials in the story 'One Bridegroom Too Many!'" Infantino's last issue was #174 (November 1967) and the next issue saw Ross Andru become the new artist of the series as well as featuring the second race between the Flash and Superman, two characters known for their super-speed powers.
The series presented metafictional stories featuring comics creators appearing within the Flash's adventures such as the "Flash — Fact Or Fiction" in issue #179 in which the Flash finds himself on "Earth Prime". He contacts the "one man on Earth who might believe his fantastic story and give him the money he needs. The editor of that Flash comic mag !" Julius Schwartz helps the Flash build a cosmic treadmill so that he can return home.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 130: "Trapped on 'Earth-Prime', the Flash knew only one man could possibly help him: DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz." Several years later, the series' longtime writer Cary Bates wrote himself into the story in issue #228. Four months after the cancellation of his own title, Green Lantern began a backup feature in The Flash #217 (August–September 1972) and appeared in most issues through The Flash #246 (January 1977) until his own solo series was revived. Schwartz, who had edited the title since 1959, left the series as of issue #269 (January 1979).
Bates wrote The Flash #275 (July 1979) wherein the title character's wife, Iris West Allen was killed.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 182: "Life for the Fastest Man Alive screeched to a halt after writer Cary Bates and artist Alex Saviuk played 'The Last Dance' for the Flash's wife, Iris West Allen." Don Heck became the artist of the series with issue #280 (December 1979) and drew it until #295 (March 1981). The Flash #300 (August 1981) was in the Dollar Comics format and featured a story by Bates and Infantino. Doctor Fate was featured in a series of back-up stories in The Flash from #306 (February 1982) to #313 (Sept. 1982) written by Martin Pasko and Steve Gerber and drawn by Keith Giffen. A major shakeup occurred in the title in the mid-1980s. The Flash inadvertently kills his wife's murderer, the Reverse-Flash, in The Flash #324 (August 1983).Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 203: "Written by Cary Bates, with art by Flash legend Carmine Infantino, the story saw...[the Flash] accidentally break the Reverse-Flash's neck." This led to an extended storyline titled "The Trial of the Flash" in which the hero must face the repercussions of his actions. Bates became the editor as well as the writer of The Flash title during this time and oversaw it until its cancellation in 1985. "The Trial of the Flash" was collected in a volume of the Showcase Presents series in 2011.
Shortly before Barry Allen's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths, the series was cancelled with issue #350 (October 1985). In the final issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wally West, previously known as Allen's sidekick Kid Flash, stated his intent to take up his uncle's mantle as the Flash.
Volume 2 (1987–2006, 2007–2008)
Featuring Wally West as the main character, the second volume was launched by writer Mike Baron and artist Jackson Guice in June 1987.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 228: "Written by Mike Baron, with art by Jackson Guice, the Flash's new adventures began with his twentieth birthday party." The second volume originally went in a different direction from the series starring Barry Allen by making Wally West a public figure with no secret identity, as well as making him more flawed: this Flash could not constantly maintain his super-speed because of his hypermetabolism, and would consume gargantuan amounts of food in order to continue operating at top speed. This metabolic limitation would later be continued into Barry Allen's character for the brief television series The Flash broadcast in 1990–91, as well as The Flash series which debuted in 2014, though to a lesser degree.
From issue #15 (August 1988) the series was taken over by writer William Messner-Loebs and artist Greg LaRocque. The new creative team introduced many aspects to the series that would become mainstays of the character Wally West, including inventing his love interest and eventual wife Linda Park, moving him from New York to Jay Garrick's hometown of Keystone City, and reintroducing the Pied Piper (a former foe of Barry Allen) as an ally whose positive influence helps Wally become more responsible and altruistic. In recognition of issue #53 (August 1991), in which the Pied Piper is revealed to be gay, The Flash won the inaugural GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book in 1992. Messner-Loebs left the title at issue #61 (April 1992).
Mark Waid began his tenure on the title with issue #62 (May 1992); LaRocque departed the title with issue #79 (August 1993) and was replaced by Mike Wieringo. To help take Wally out of Barry and Jay's shadows, Waid made him much more powerful than either of his predecessors by introducing an extradimensional energy source referred to as the "Speed Force", through which he could channel near-limitless energy; the Speed Force has since become a cornerstone of Flash mythology. More emphasis was also placed upon the legacy of speedsters throughout DC history: Jay Garrick was reintroduced as a supporting character as of issue #73 (February 1993); former Quality Comics character Quicksilver was reinvented as the elder mentor character Max Mercury in issue #76 (May 1993); Barry Allen's future grandson Bart Allen, soon to become the speedster hero Impulse, was introduced in issue #92 (July 1994).Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 265: "The brainchild of writer Mark Waid and artist Mike Wieringo, Impulse burst onto the scene at quite a pace. Young Bart Allen, the grandson of the Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen, was raised in a future timeline." Brian Augustyn became co-writer with Waid from issue #118 (October 1996) to the end of his tenure. For a period of one year, over issues #130–141 (October 1997 – September 1998), Waid and Augustyn stepped away from the series and were replaced by co-writers Mark Millar and Grant Morrison. Wally West married Linda Park in issue #159 (April 2000),Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 285: "Wally West was going to marry his longtime love interest Linda Park...thanks to writers Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn, and artist Pop Mhan." Waid and Augustyn's last regular issue on the title.