How Many Characters Have Taken on the Mantle of The Flash in DC Comics?
Let‘s kick this article off by clearly answering the question posed in the title – so far, there have been at least 9 separate characters in DC Comics history that have taken on the superhero name of "The Flash" for some period of time.
I know, that seems like a ton, right? Well let‘s zip through the history of all these quick-footed speedsters and what makes this mantle so special…
Why So Many Flashes?
Unlike say, Superman or Batman, DC has seen no shortage of heroes ready to race into the role of the Flash. Ever since the original Flash, Jay Garrick, first blazed onto the scene in 1940, this has been a remarkably legacy-heavy superhero identity.
So why has the Flash set such a precedent for sidekicks and successors? A few key reasons:
The Power Set Appeals to New Characters
Gaining incredible super-speed is wish fulfillment for any hero or writer looking to sprint into their own fiction. It opens the door to kinetic action and fast-paced storytelling.
Passing Down the Mantle Feels Logical
The idea of "inheriting the Speed Force" from a predecessor or being inspired by past Flashes feels like a natural passing of the torch. It taps into the mythology behind the source of their powers.
Allows for New Character Dynamics and Story Angles
A new Flash shakes up the status quo and allows writers to explore different personalities, backgrounds, relationships as each Flash steps into the spotlight.
Now that we understand both the appeal and precedent behind the mantling, let‘s analyze the full legacy!
Legacy of the Flash
Here is a comprehensive list of the many Flashes of DC history along with quick profiles:
| Character | Profile |
|---|---|
| Jay Garrick | The original Flash of the 1940s Golden Age of Comics. Gained powers accidentally in a science lab mishap. Old-school and beloved. |
| Barry Allen | Silver Age Flash starring from 1956-1985. Police scientist who gained powers replicate Jay‘s accident. Most iconic modern Flash. |
| Wally West | Original Kid Flash; succeeded Barry Allen from 1986-2011. Fun-loving but powerful speedster. |
| Bart Allen | Barry‘s grandson from the future who had brief stint as Flash before being killed off. |
| Ivana Molotova | A Soviet Russian Flash introduced in 1990s for strained US relationship plotline. Never caught on. |
| Eobard Thawne | Barry Allen‘s nemesis from the 25th century who poses as Flash at times. Complex anti-hero motivation. |
| Hunter Zolomon | Disfigured by Caitlin Snow, became psychopathic villain Zoom believing tragedy strengthens people. Arch-rival to Wally West as Flash. |
| Jesse Chambers | Daughter of Golden Age hero Johnny Quick. Brief stint as speedster Jesse Quick. Speed Force powers through special formula chant inherited from father. |
| Avery Ho | Chinese Flash written to appeal to international audience as part of the New 52 DC comics revamp. Lesser known. |
This table summarizes the lengthy list of key Flashes from Jay Garrick in the 40s to today‘s comics!
Why Do Certain Flashes Stand the Test of Time?
Looking at the overview above, we can see that certain Flashes like Jay Garrick, Barry Allen and Wally West stand tall above the rest in terms of popularity, story significance and longevity as THE Flash of their respective eras in DC history.
Jay Garrick will always have a place as the OG scarlet speedster who pioneered the concept. Plus he has that sweet, Wing-tipped helmet as a callback to his Golden Age design. He represents the roots of Flash‘s legacy.
Barry Allen clearly struck a chord as the Silver Age reimagining of Flash in 1956. His more modern science fiction bent, sleek red uniform and origin as a police scientist gave the character mass appeal. Grant Gustin‘s likeable performance as Barry Allen in CW‘s hit Flash series has also cemented this character‘s enduring status for a new generation.
Finally, Wally West won over legions of fans during his time succeeding his mentor Barry from the mid-1980s to 2011. Wally brought a new personality as a relatable, goofy former sidekick growing into the role his own way. His friendships with the Flash family and Titans made him a centerpiece hero of the DC universe at the time.
Based on comic sales and cultural impact in their eras, Jay, Barry and Wally demonstrate having the secret sauce as THE definitive Flash among discerning fans.
Expanded "Flash Family" of Speedsters
In addition to the many direct successors to the Flash namesake, there is an entire extended family of speedster heroes allied with them over the years.
This includes sidekicks like Wally West as the first Kid Flash…
Teenage successors such as Bart Allen as Impulse/Kid Flash and then briefly, The Flash…
Mentors like Max Mercury who guided the up and coming speedsters…
As well as next generation progeny like Barry‘s twin children Don and Dawn Allen, seen in future timelines.
When you count the expanded web of speedsters who fight alongside Flash as partners and successors, it really adds up!
Having this rich cast surrounding Flash has allowed even more diversity of personalities and stories in DC comics lore. The Flash Family feel like an in-universe club of its own.
Era By Era Popularity of Flash
Beyond individual characters, it‘s interesting to callout how the prominence of Flash as a top-tier DC hero has fluctuated decade by decade:
Golden Age – Jay Garrick was one of DC‘s big three in the 1940s alongside Batman and Superman.
Silver Age – Barry Allen triggered a landmark reboot leading the charge of DC‘s Silver Age revival era.
Bronze Age – Barry still frontlined although Flash stories got more outrageous to match contemporaries.
Modern Age – Wally West stepped up as a fan favorite Flash, especially among the Titans bands of teen heroes. But comics as a whole slumped.
2000s – Present- Flash comics themselves had ups and downs but breakout media adaptations like the hit CW TV series with Barry Allen launched Flash back into the public zeitgeist
So we can see that Flash‘s place in DC comic history shows a rollercoaster of high peaks but also fallow periods, especially compared to evergreen A-listers like Batman and Superman.
Luckily the present day with breakneck digital media and viral fandom allows Flash to blitz faster than ever before!
Who Could Be the Next Flash?
Given the history of replacing Flashes rather frequently, who might take up the mantle next?
With Barry Allen having ruled comics and live-action for the past decade and Wally West back in the comics, we likely won‘t see a new inheritor too soon.
But speculate we can! Perhaps Barry‘s children or descendants traveling back in time? Another parallel universe doppelganger making a permanent crossover? No road is too winding or tangled when it comes to DC continuity!
For now we can enjoy the current Flash status quo but eventually I‘d expect the starting line to open up for another worthy speedster from past or future to burst through the time barrier when we least expect it!
Phew, that was a brisk jog through the history of DC‘s speed sensitive sensation! Getting to know the figures behind the Flash mask across many eras shows both the legacy and evolution of this fan favorite mantle.
We explored the reasons why Flash has spawned so many successors compared to his Justice League peers as well as analyzed why a chosen few Flashes ascend to greatness.
Beyond the names in the headlines, we glanced at the incredible supporting cast of Kid Flashes, Impulses and allies like Max Mercury who filled out the pages around them.
As with running a marathon, being the Flash requires incredible stamina. We traced the rise, fall and rise in popularity of DC‘s standard bearer speedster from his debut in 1940 to racing towards tomorrow. While the journey hasn‘t always been smooth, those red boots were made to walk, jog and sprint the long road!
So whether your favorite scarlet racer is old school Jay, legendary Barry or radical Wally, the enduring spirit of the Flash legacy continues to charge forward one thrilling issue at a time!
