History Main / FastAsLightning

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''

** [[Characters/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaFateTestarossa Fate Testarossa-Harlaown]] is a FragileSpeedster--the fastest canon character in the series so far, in fact--as well as the wielder of powerful lightning-based magic. Her SpeedStripes when going at SuperSpeed even have lightning contrails woven into them.

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': while there are many lightning element users in this work, the one that exemplifies this the most is the Fourth Raikage, A. By channeling electricity through his body (in a move called "Lightning Release Armor"), his speed and reflexes would increase tremendously.

* Creator/DCComics:
** Franchise/TheFlash, as a superhero [[SinglePowerSuperhero based entirely]] around his SuperSpeed in all of his incarnations, has a lightning bolt as his insignia, and most depictions tend to have him leaving a trail of lightning as he runs.

** ZigZagged by ComicBook/{{Shazam}}. Captain Marvel / Shazam / Billy has a lightning bolt ChestInsignia, can summon and control lightning and has super speed. However, the powers are unrelated -- the lightning is inherited from Zeus, and the speed from Mercury. The end result, though, is still a super-speed character with a lightning motif.
* Creator/MarvelComics:
** ''ComicBook/NewMutants'' character Surge passively absorbs ambient electricity at all times and can discharge it in bursts of super speed.
** ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} is one of Marvel's fastest speedsters and has a lightning motif in his costume.
** ComicBook/SpiderMan's enemy Electro can use his electricity manipulation powers to [[ElectricSlide propel himself over electrical lines]] and similarly charged surfaces at speeds up to 140 miles per hour.
** Jolt from the Comicbook/{{Thunderbolts}} started just with super speed\agility but [[CameBackStrong after dying and resurrecting earned many more biokinetic energy-related powers]].

[[folder:Film]]
* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse:
** Flash is able to use the electricity itself to power a Mother Box in a Kryptonian genesis chamber, in order to [[BackFromTheDead revive Superman]] in the theatrical cut of ''Justice League'', [[spoiler:and his ''entire team'' in the [[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague Snyder Cut.]]]]
%%** The Flash has it, naturally, as seen in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', ''Film/{{Suicide Squad|2016}}'', ''Film/{{Justice|League 2017}} [[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague League]]'' and ''Film/{{The Flash|2023}}''. Before his solo movie, it was yellow with a blue outline instead of plain yellow (it reverted to yellow in said film). %%Example needs context to make sense on its own.
* In ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020'', Sonic has the ability to generate lightning when he runs. It's because of this he causes a huge blackout across the entire Pacific Northwest.

* In ''Literature/{{Survivor|Dogs}}s'', dogs and wolves [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personify nature]]. One of these dogs is Lightning, who is the fastest dog alive.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* The song ''Kung Fu Fighting'' by Carl Douglas featured the lyrics (and page image quote):

[[folder:Webcomic]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'': Battery has the ability to charge up her electrical powers for several seconds to give herself a significant speed boost.
[[/folder]]

%%* In the Creator/{{Pixar}} film ''Franchise/{{Cars}}'', the main character and one of the best racers, Lightning [=McQueen=], evokes this trope right in his name. %%Example needs context to make sense on its own.
* ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'': [[spoiler:During her fight against Isaac in season 4, Carmilla uses lightning magic to temporarily augment her speed, zipping across the battlefield as a flash of electricity]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}''[='s=] title character literally transforms into a cartoonish lightning bolt when using his super speed.

* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': In '"Draftee Daffy'', Daffy Duck turns into a lightning bolt when running from the little man from the draft board.

* ''WesternAnimation/PJMasks'': Connor / Catboy has lightning in his transformation sequence and leaves lightning in his trail when using his super speed.

So the next best thing is something most people are very familiar with: lightning (or electricity). As [[http://www.maine.gov/mema/prepare/prep_display.shtml?163524 stated]] by the US National Weather Service, lightning travels at about 1/3 the speed of light, making it a good symbol of speed since it can be drawn, and, because it doesn't move ''quite'' as fast as light, it makes a good symbol for SuperSpeed that isn't completely {{ludicrous|Speed}}. With this association, you can expect speedsters to move -- often via {{Flash Step}}s -- in a manner that resembles the erratic movement of electricity, like zigzag patterns, exceedingly straight lines, or jagged arches.

* ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'': In ''Dunk for Victories'' and its tie-in movie ''Dunk for Future'', Weslie has a move called "Lightning Break" that significantly boosts his speed and produces aesthetic lightning bolts.

So the next best thing is something most people are very familiar with: lightning (or electricity). As [[http://www.maine.gov/mema/prepare/prep_display.shtml?163524 stated]] by the US National Weather Service, lightning travels at about 1/3 the speed of light, making it a good symbol of speed since it can be drawn, and, because it doesn't move ''quite'' as fast as light, it makes a good symbol for SuperSpeed that isn't completely [[LudicrousSpeed ludicrous]]. With this association, you can expect speedsters to move -- often via {{Flash Step}}s -- in a manner that resembles the erratic movement of electricity, like zigzag patterns, exceedingly straight lines, or jagged arches.

[[ElementalPowers Lightning-powered]] super speed is sometimes {{Justified}} as {{Biofeedback}} powers because LightningCanDoAnything.

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': When Soga goes especially fast, his eyes [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glow]] while [[MagicalEyeStreamers trailing streaks of lightning]]. For this, he is known as the "Lightning-Fast Exorcist Ninja".
* ''Manga/BlackClover'': [[CuteBruiser Luck]] is known not only for his [[BloodKnight love of fighting]], but also for his speed, particularly when he has his boots made of [[InsubstantialIngredients lightning]].
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''
** Yoruichi is a master of the FlashStep and invented a move which channels lightning into her arms and legs for extra speed and strength.

** Inverted by Victoria Dahlgrün from ''[=ViVid=]'', who has lightning magic but is actually the franchise's first MightyGlacier.
* ''Manga/MakenKi'': [[AnimeChineseGirl Yan-Min]] is capable of moving so fast, that than even the well-trained eye [[http://www.mangatown.com/manga/maken_ki/c017/5.html cannot detect her movement.]] To them, it's as if she either teleported, [[http://www.mangatown.com/manga/maken_ki/c034/4.html or appeared suddenly.]] All that can be seen is the flicker of lightning she leaves in her wake, which has earned her [[RedBaron the title of "Leifu"]]: said to be "as fast as lightning and fierce as a tiger".
* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': [[MagikarpPower One For All]], having accumulated power over nine generations of heroes, tends to cause this in it's wielders when they use it, from the sheer power surging throughout their bodies. It's primarily demonstrated through the ninth holder, [[TheParagon Izuku Midoria]], once he figures out how to tune down the sheer power the quirk grants him to manageable levels with his 'Full Cowling' technique, becoming a LightningBruiser with emphasis on the 'lightning'- focusing primarily on the enhanced speed and mobility his new state grants him whilst his body constantly emits green-coloured lightning. The Eighth holder, [[WorldsStrongestMan All Might]] doesn't really show the same effect due to having long since mastered the quirk and made it his own, with Izuku's lightning emissions being a sign of both how ''much'' power he's channeling as well as how inexperienced he is at using it at All Might's level. However, at times where he's been forced to his limits in a fight, [[spoiler: such as his final battle with [[BigBad All For One]]]], All Might has demonstrated the same effect with [[LawOfChromaticSuperiority gold-coloured lightning]] around the body parts he's channeling One For All through.

** '''''Agilitas Fulminis''''' (''Shippu Jinrai'', "With Lightning Speed") channels the spell '''''Jovis Tempestas Fulguriens''''' (''Ikadzuchi no Boufuu'', "Windstorm of Lightning"), turning him into a FragileSpeedster with [[ElementalPunch electrified attacks]].
** '''''He Astrape Huper Ouranou Mega Dunamene''''' (''Raiten Taisou'', "Might of the Great Thunderclap") channels the [[FantasticNuke extremely powerful]] '''''Khilipl Astrape''''' (''Sen no Ikadzuchi'', "Thousand Thunderbolts") to grant Negi a "Lightning Step" ability, allowing him to achieve [[FlashStep bursts of hypersonic speed]] by [[RideTheLightning transforming into lightning]]. However, [[TooFastToStop he can't change direction while moving]], and after meeting [[WorldsBestWarrior an opponent skilled enough to take advantage of this]] he develops...
** '''''Tastrapa Huper Ouranou Mega Dunamena''''' (''Raiten Sousou'', "Might of the Twin Great Thunderclaps") absorbs two ''Khilipl Astrape'' spells at once, transforming Negi into a humanoid [[ElementalEmbodiment lightning elemental]] who can think and react fast enough to keep up with his speed.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Enel, being basically [[ElementalShapeshifter a living lightning bolt]], can move just as fast as one.

* ''Animation/{{Lamput}}'': In "Zoom Oil", the docs creating lightning bolts around themselves as they move extremely fast after applying their zoom oil.

* DC:
** Franchise/TheFlash is the TropeCodifier. As a superhero [[SinglePowerSuperhero based entirely]] around his SuperSpeed in all of his incarnations, he has a lightning bolt as his insignia, and most depictions tend to have him leaving a trail of lightning as he runs.
** ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'': Lightning Lad has shown the ability to direct his electricity generation power inward for bursts of super speed, reportedly up to 1/3 the speed of light.
** ZigZagged by ComicBook/{{Shazam}}. Captain Marvel / Shazam / Billy has a lightning bolt ChestInsignia, can summon and control lightning and has super speed. However, the powers are unrelated -- the lightning is inherited from Zeus, and the speed from Mercury. The end result, though, is still a super-speed character with a lightning motif.

* Marvel:
** ''ComicBook/NewMutants'' character Surge passively absorbs ambient electricity at all times and can discharge it in bursts of super speed.

** Jolt from the Comicbook/{{Thunderbolts}}, who started just with super speed\agility but [[CameBackStrong after dying and resurrecting earned many more biokinetic energy-related powers]].

* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse: The Flash has it, naturally, as seen in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', ''Film/{{Suicide Squad|2016}}'', ''Film/{{Justice|League 2017}} [[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague League]]'' and ''Film/{{The Flash|2023}}''. Before his solo movie, it was yellow with a blue outline instead of plain yellow (it reverted to yellow in said film).
** Flash is able to use the electricity itself to power a Mother Box in a Kryptonian genesis chamber, in order to [[BackFromTheDead revive Superman]] in the theatrical cut of ''Justice League'', [[spoiler: and his ''entire team'' in the [[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague Snyder Cut.]]]]
* In ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020'', Sonic has the ability to generate lightning when he runs similar to ''Franchise/TheFlash''. It's because of this he causes a huge blackout across the entire Pacific Northwest.

''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': Aerokineticists can unleash bolts of lightning, and can learn to manipulate their allies' bioelectricity to improve their speed.

* Throughout the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' games, series veteran Pikachu's Up Special, Quick Attack, evokes this trope. Pikachu can quickly zip in a straight line in the direction in which the control stick is tilted, and can perform a second burst in succession when the stick is tilted in a different direction.

* In the Creator/{{Pixar}} film ''Franchise/{{Cars}}'', the main character and one of the best racers, Lightning [=McQueen=], evokes this trope right in his name.
* ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'': [[spoiler: During her fight against Isaac in season 4, Carmilla uses lightning magic to temporarily augment her speed, zipping across the battlefield as a flash of electricity]].
* The titular character of ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'' literally transforms into a cartoonish lightning bolt when using his super speed.

* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': In '"Draftee Daffy'', Daffy Duck actually turns into a lightning bolt when running from the little man from the draft board.

* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse: The Flash has it, naturally, as seen in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', ''Film/{{Suicide Squad|2016}}'' and ''Film/{{Justice|League 2017}} [[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague League]]''. This time around, it's yellow with a blue outline instead of plain yellow.

* In the Creator/{{Pixar}} film ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'', the main character and one of the best racers, Lightning [=McQueen=], evokes this trope right in his name.

** Franchise/TheFlash is one of the most iconic examples of this. As a superhero [[SinglePowerSuperhero based entirely]] around his SuperSpeed in all of his incarnations, he has a lightning bolt as his insignia, and most depictions tend to have him leaving a trail of lightning as he runs.

Regularly overlaps with RideTheLightning, which is using electricity itself as a mode of transportation, and ElectricSlide, which is moving along power lines. The characters may or may not have [[ShockAndAwe lightning-based powers]], or it may just be a ElementalMotifs.

Regularly overlaps with RideTheLightning, which is using electricity itself as a mode of transportation, and ElectricSlide, which is moving along power lines. The characters may or may not have [[ShockAndAwe lightning-based powers]], or it may just be a visual {{Motif}}.

* In ''Series/TheFlash2014'', all speedsters leave a trail of lightning behind them when they run. With some effort, they can even weaponize this lightning by directing it towards an opponent. Strangely, this happens with the Flash of Earth-90 as well, even though he didn't leave a trail in [[Series/TheFlash1990 his own show]]. Most speedsters learn to throw lightning bolts. XS can use a lightning whip, Impulse can throw lightning shurikens, Jay Garrick can charge up his metal helmet with lightning and throw it like Cap's shield. Godspeed solidifies lightning into what is basically a [[Franchise/StarWars lightsaber]], with Barry and [[spoiler:Thawne]] following suit. During his final fight with Despero, Barry uses lightning in ways that are reminiscent of [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]]. And thanks to his golden boots, he learns to RideTheLightning by throwing bolts in front of him and leaping off them onto the next one in the air (naturally, while "Ride the Lightning" by Music/{{Metallica}} is playing in the background).

* In ''Series/TheFlash2014'', all speedsters leave a trail of lightning behind them when they run. With some effort, they can even weaponize this lightning by directing it towards an opponent. Strangely, this happens with the Flash of Earth-90 as well, even though he didn't leave a trail in [[Series/TheFlash1990 his own show]]. Most speedsters learn to throw lightning bolts. XS can use a lightning whip, Impulse can throw lightning shurikens, Jay Garrick can charge up his metal helmet with lightning and throw it like Cap's shield. Godspeed solidifies lightning into what is basically a [[Franchise/StarWars lightsaber]], with Barry and [[spoiler:Thawne]] following suit. During his final fight with Despero, Barry uses lightning in ways that are reminiscent of [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]].

* In ''Series/TheFlash2014'', all speedsters leave a trail of lightning behind them when they run. With some effort, they can even weaponize this lightning by directing it towards an opponent.

** Flash is able to use the electricity itself to power a Mother Box in a Kryptonian genesis chamber, in order to [[BackFromTheDead revive Superman]] in the theatrical cut of ''Justice League'', [[spoiler: and his ''entire team'' in the [[Film/ZackSyndersJusticeLeague Snyder Cut.]]

** Flash is able to use the electricity itself to power a Mother Box in a Kryptonian genesis chamber, in order to [[BackFromTheDead revive Superman]] in the theatrical cut of ''Justice League''.

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': [[MagikarpPower One For All]], having accumulated power over nine generations of heroes, tends to cause this in it's wielders when they use it, from the sheer power surging throughout their bodies. It's primarily demonstrated through the ninth holder, [[TheParagon Izuku Midoria]], once he figures out how to tune down the sheer power the quirk grants him to manageable levels with his 'Full Cowling' technique, becoming a LightningBruiser with emphasis on the 'lightning'- focusing primarily on the enhanced speed and mobility his new state grants him whilst his body constantly emits green-coloured lightning. The Eighth holder, [[WorldsStrongestMan All Might]] doesn't really show the same effect due to having long since mastered the quirk and made it his own, with Izuku's lightning emissions being a sign of both how ''much'' power he's channeling as well as how inexperienced he is at using it at All Might's level. However, at times where he's been forced to his limits in a fight, [[spoiler: such as his final battle with [[BigBad All For One]]]], All Might has demonstrated the same effect with [[LawOfChromaticSuperiority gold-coloured lighting]] around the body parts he's channeling One For All through.