Title Character
The Flashes (Barry Allen | Wally West)
Supporting Characters
The Flash Family | Other Speedsters
Rogues Gallery
Evil Speedsters | The Reverse-Flashes (Eobard Thawne | Hunter Zolomon) | The Rogues
Currently active characters and their codenames are in bold.
Independent Speedsters
These are speedsters who, even if related to a Flash somehow, are not "officially" in the Flash family in modern times.
Alter Ego: Walter "Wally" West
First Appearance: The Flash Vol 2 #150 (July, 1999)
Walter West is an alternate universe version of the Flash (Wally West). Walter West's life paralleled that of Wally West until the battle with Kobra which costs Linda Park's life. Walter was not able to save his Linda unlike Wally. Driven mad with grief at her loss, Walter embarked on a life of brutal enforcement against criminals crippling many until he encounters Wally and his Linda. Believing them dead, he travelled to their timeline to take Wally’s place, both as the Twin Cities' protector and on the Titans.
- Alliterative Name: Walter West.
- Alternate Timeline: His home is from an alternate timeline (of which Earth is unknown).
- Anti-Hero Substitute: After Wally and Linda were apparently killed in a fight with Abra Kadabra after he tried to dispose of Linda by sending her into Walter's reality, Walter travels back to Wally's world to take his place in recognition of his other self's sacrifice. He wore a darker outfit and was more brutal.
- The Atoner: Believes himself to be responsible for Wally and Linda's apparent deaths, which motivated him to protect Keystone in Wally's absence.
- Cast from Lifespan: He has a more potent Healing Factor than Wally, but using it ages him.
- Darker and Edgier: He become a dark version of Wally after Linda's death in his universe. Walter embarked on an anti-crime tear so vicious, brutal and single-minded he was pursued by law enforcement agencies. He wore also a darker outfit.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Despite being called “dark” Flash and having a darker-colored costume than his mainstream counterpart, he’s technically still a hero, albeit a colder and darker one who deals with criminals in a more harsh and brutal manner than the main universe Wally.
- Deceptive Disciple: To his world's Savitar, whom he killed after learning all he had to teach.
- For Want Of A Nail: He's what Wally might have been if Linda had been killed, specifically when Kobra attacked her and Wally first entered the Speed Force.
- Legacy Character: On his world, he was the third Flash, just like Wally.
- Put on a Bus: After Walter's presence in the main DC Universe starts to cause other realities in Hypertime to bleed over into the main one, Superman and Wonder Woman force Walter to transverse Hypertime and return home.
- Secret Identity: Like Wally, he disposed of his early in his career. However, once he crosses over into the mainstream DCU, he maintains one in order to hide from Abra Kadabra and to honour Wally's sacrifice. Initially, the only people he let in on it were Jay Garrick, Donna Troy and Superman so that each would give their "permission" for him to operate as the Flash with their respective teams.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: When he took over for Wally, he met a woman and they fell in love. However, once Wally returns, the universe itself won't let them be together — Walter just can't occupy the same universe as Wally. He leaves just as Wally gets married to Linda Park.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Although he leaves the main DC Universe, he appears to never make it back to his own reality. He seems to go from reality to reality with no success. After Hypertime was abandoned by DC, Walter West's continued existence becomes unclear.
Alter Ego: Jason "Jay" Garrick
First Appearance: Earth 2 #1 (July, 2012)
Jay Garrick was a college graduate who didn't know what to do with his life. His scores were average and his longtime girlfriend Joan left him to pursue larger things. One night, while pondering his future, the god Mercury crashed nearby. Mercury gave Jay his speed before dying. Together with Alan Scott and Kendra Munoz-Saunders, they signified a new age of Wonders.
Initially an updating of the original Jay Garrick, Rebirth revealed that the original does exist, making this Jay a separate character entirely.
See Earth-2 characters page.
Alter Ego: Bar Torr/"Bart Allen"
First Appearance: Teen Titans Vol 4 #1 (November, 2011)
In the early 21st Century, Bart Allen used his super-speed as the hero Kid Flash, one of the members of the Teen Titans. He initially had no memories and only recalled his name. In actuality, his name is Bar Torr and he's from the 31st Century, and he was sent back as a form of witness protection after helping stop a rebellion he started. While he uses the name Kid Flash, he's not associated with the Flash Family and isn't powered by the Speed Force. Not only that, but he doesn't even like the Flash.
- Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!: Still a trait of his, and he never thinks anything through.
- Characterisation Marches On: He was initially Fun Personified...but then his backstory was revealed and he's regretful and sad that he lied to his friends...then he's not, and is an outright asshole about it. Then he is again. This was also all under the same writer, by the way, so it's not a case of Depending on the Writer.
- The Chosen Many: Inverted. This version of him was introduced as the first Kid Flash and never went by Impulse. He was later retconned to be the second in the New 52 timeline after Wally.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: After terrible reception to him, an attempt was made to bring him back. However, by that point, the 2014 Flash TV series had began and plans were made to bring back Wally West as Kid Flash with an accompanying Race Lift to sync up with the show; Bar was put on a bus around the same time and hasn't been mentioned since, aside from a background appearance in The Flash/Speed Buggy, and that was drawn by Brett Booth, who designed him and is very obviously not canon. Even later still, the original Bart Allen would return, making the chances of Bar's return as a member of the Flash Family even smaller. When the history of the Flashes is shown in the Flash Museum, he isn't mentioned either, all but confirming he has been Ret-Gone'd.
- Civvie Spandex: His first costume was a cloth version of Wally West's Kid Flash suit with some goggles. He ditches it pretty early on.
- Commonality Connection: Averted. Not only is he not an Allen, but it seems he isn't even powered by the Speed Force. He has nothing to do with Barry Allen or the Flash legacy. In fact, it's never even revealed why he chose the Kid Flash name, as he doesn't even like the Flash.
- Darker and Edgier: His costume was much darker and had red eyes, and he was now the former leader of a rebellion and killed his oppressors.
- Decomposite Character: He was introduced as the New 52's version of Bart Allen, and even when it was revealed he had no actual connection to the Flash Family he was still the only version of Bart to exist in the DC Universe at the time. Then DC brought back the original Bart as a separate character in much the same way the original versions of Wally West and Jay Garrick were reestablished, thus turning Bar from the New 52's version of Bart to someone who was pretending to be him.
- In Name Only: He has next to nothing in common with the original Bart Allen. The only similarities are that he was on the Teen Titans with Tim Drake and Cassie Sandsmark, is from the future and goes by Kid Flash. To elaborate:
- His relation to Barry Allen is different, as in non-existent. The original was Barry's grandson, this one isn't even an Allen and it's seemingly pure coincidence that he ended up with that name as an alias.
- The source of his powers is different. In addition to not being derived from the Speed Force, he just...got them somehow instead of being born with them.
- Instead of being a kid raised in VR, he's now a rebellion leader.
- His personality is wildly different. While he initially had the original Bart's Fun Personified nature, that's revealed to be an act, and he's much more of a sociopath...or regretful? It doesn't just Depend on the Writer; it's the same writer, so it's just inconsistent.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Realised that
rebellions hurt people when he accidentally kills his sister. This causes him to call the entire thing off, because...yeah, he apparently didn't realise that people get hurt in armed rebellions. - Mythology Gag: His seemingly first costume in the future was basically Inertia's. Whether there's more to this, we don't know yet.
- Put on a Bus: Was left in the future to pay for his crimes, comes back somehow and works for Manchester Black and chews out the Titans, then disappears from the series again.
- Secret Identity: Two: first, Bart Allen. Second: Bar Torr, his real name, as Bart Allen was just a cover.
First Appearance: The Flash Vol 2 #136 (April, 1998)
Wally's imaginary friend from his childhood, who turns out to be a real extra dimensional being from a dimension called Kwyzz, and a speedster as well.
- Back from the Dead: Courtesy of the New 52 reboot, he is seen alive in Vibe's solo book as a "breacher" held in captivity by ARGUS, who is later freed by Vibe.
- Dark Secret: It turns out the reason he's so effective in the cosmic races is he has his entire race running at the same time and is siphoning off their speed. Him cheating to win these races has saved his planet and their people, but has resulted in the deaths of all they've raced against (as the cosmic gamblers forcing them to compete execute the losing planet), and has essentially locked his entire people into slavery to keep them alive. As a result, he feels so guilty that he repeatedly helps Wally during their race and eventually confesses how he's been doing it.
- Energy Beings: He and his entire world are made up of radio waves.
- Expy: Does his silhouette look familiar to you? If not, he's very clearly a legally safe version of Sonic the Hedgehog.
- Hero Antagonist: While he's racing against Wally, he's doing it because he has no other choice in order to save his world. As soon as there is an opportunity to save both worlds, he instantly joins up with Wally.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Allows himself to be pulled into the Speed Force in order to empower Wally with enough speed to save Earth and Kwyzz.
- Not-So-Imaginary Friend: Wally always believed he was imaginary, but he turns out to be a very real being from a dimension of radio waves.
Alter Ego: Anatole, Bebeck, and Cassiopeia
First Appearance: The Flash Vol 2 #6 (November, 1987)
A trio of speedsters created by the Russian scientist Dr. Pytor Orloff, the Red Trinity defected with the doctor to the US, where they became a for-hire group called Kapitalist Kouriers.
- Back for the Dead: After being mostly absent for the Waid run, they return in "Dead Heat", only for Cassiopeia to be killed.
- Big Guy Fatality Syndrome: Cassiopeia is killed by Savitar in "Dead Heat".
- Defector from Commie Land: All three of them.
- Funny Foreigner: Their over-the-top attempts to be "American" are Played for Laughs.
- Heroic Russian Émigré: Though their over-the-top capitalism can come across as a bit callous.
- Husky Russkie: Cassiopeia, The Big Guy of the team, definitely fits this trope.
- Nice Guy: For all their...quirks, they're usually very friendly and cheerful.
- Punch-Clock Hero: In their attempts to be more "American", they end up deciding the important thing is to make money, so they create a hero and delivery service where they hire out their abilities.
Alter Ego: Don and Dawn Allen
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #373 (October, 1968)
Barry Allen's children from the 30th century (long story) who gained superspeed from their father. They're inspired to become heroes of the 30th century by Wally during one of his trips into the future. Don would later marry Meloni Thawne and father Bart Allen (Impulse/Kid Flash II/The Flash IV), while Dawn would marry Jeven Ognats and give birth to Jenni Ognats (XS).
- Adaptational Villainy: Their Rebirth-era counterparts became villains as a result of Barry's lack of parenting. Well, at least according to Thawne. Unsurprisingly, this eventually turns out to be more of Thawne's lies and manipulations.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: The twins return in "Finish Line" working for Zoom. Turns out he's partially controlling them, but they return to their original time when it wears off.
- Fiery Redhead: From the information given in The Life Story of the Flash, we're meant to believe that Don was a subversion, and Dawn a straight example.
- Polar Opposite Twins: Don is levelheaded and rational, while Dawn is feisty and prefers to follow her instincts.
- Retcon: Originally, the twins were Barry's distant descendants; post-Crisis they became his children.
- Sibling Rivalry: Not the two themselves, but both the twins and Wally specifically refer to this trope when referring to each other. The twins feel that Barry will always see Wally as his true son.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Don and Meloni, since one was an Allen and the other a Thawne.
- Super-Speed: Use it for making tornadoes to hide their identities hence the nickname Tornado Twins.
- Theme Twin Naming
- Unto Us a Son and Daughter Are Born
Flash Legacy
These are speedsters who are either descendants of Wally West or Barry Allen (except John Fox who is neither) who have taken up and passed on the Flash mantle.- Heroic Lineage: With one or a few exceptions, it's a legacy of Wests and Allens.
First Appearance: The Flash Vol 2 #146 (March 1999)
Not much is known about him except that through time travel, he is friends with Johnny Quick. In addition, he was forced to watch Cobalt Blue kill his wife and cripple his daughter Sela and slow the electrical impulses in her brain. Sela's father took her to the Speed Force in hopes of returning her to normal. Eight months later, he beats Cobalt Blue to death out revenge. He is killed by a child possessed by the Cobalt Blue gem.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown / Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Beats Cobalt Blue to death for killing his wife and crippling his daughter Sela and slowing down her brain's electrical impulses to the point of being as slow as a sloth.
- Papa Wolf: See Roaring Rampage Of Revenge below. He also takes Sela to the Speed Force in hopes of restoring her brain to normal or to trigger her latent speed which would speed up her brain.
- Super-Speed
- Vengeance Feels Empty: Feels his life is over after getting his revenge.
Alter Ego: Sela Allen
First Appearance: The Flash Vol 2 #146 (March, 1999)
Sela was originally an ordinary girl who despite having The Flash as a father, lacked super speed. Then Cobalt Blue killed her mother and broke her spine and slowed down her nervous system, forcing her father to watch. Desperate to save her, her father takes her to the Speed Force which turns her into a conscious manifestation of the Speed Force. She becomes The Flash after the death of her father and assists the Flash Family in the fight against the first Cobalt Blue and his descendants.
- Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence: Taken to the Speed Force by her father and becomes a manifestation of it, able to lend objects speed but never to be able to physically interact with the world.
- Death by Origin Story: Two deaths actually. Her "death" allows her to become a manifestation of the Speed Force while her father's death allows her to take up the Flash mantel.
- Taking Up the Mantle: When her father, the previous Flash dies, she emerges from the Speed Force, calling herself The Flash.
Alter Ego: Jonathan Robert "John" Fox
First Appearance: Flash Special #1 (July, 1990)
A historian from the 27th century. When a supervillain attacks his home city, he is sent back in time to get the assistance of a Flash to help combat the problem. While the time travel didn't work, it did end up granting him superspeed, and he stopped the villain. He took up the identity of the Flash, dyed his hair to protect his identity, but was soon made into a glorified guard dog. However, after spending some time as a hero in the 20th century, temporarily taking the place of Wally West, he returns to the future. He later journeys to the 853rd century, where he is a member of the Justice Legion Alpha.
- Casanova Wannabe: Tries to woo Linda Park. It doesn't work.
- Connected All Along: Thanks to his trips through time, John Fox is considered an expert on the subject. A desperate couple comes to him for help in sending their baby girl to a safer time period. The name of this couple? Eric and Fran Russell, the biological parents of Iris West.
- Dark Is Not Evil: He wears a blue and black costume, but other than being a bit of a dick, he's not a bad person.
- Glory Hound: Even bigger than Wally initially was!
- I Just Want to Be Special: He wanted to be able to be a superhero, which he really wasn't in his time. In fairness, he actually did start off heroic, gaining super speed and saving his time from a threat that had fought the original three Flashes. However, it turns out after this happened, his people decided to copy his speed powers and empowered robotic law enforcers with super-speed, leaving him redundant. Anti-time travel laws turn him into a fugitive when he tries to find a new time period to be a hero in.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Wally was trapped in the Speed Force travelling through time all because he's losing his connection to Linda, thanks to John trying to court her.
- Super-Speed:
- Tuckerization: He's named after John Broome, who co-created Barry Allen and Wally West, and Gardner Fox, who co-created Jay Garrick.
Alter Ego: Blaine Allen
First Appearance: Speed Force #1 (November, 1997)
The Flash of the colony world Petrus, a micro-planet in the Massara System.
- Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence: is taken by the Speed Force.
- Papa Wolf: When Cobalt Blue of the 28th Century injects Jace with a deadly virus, Blaine freezes all of Petrus to prevent Jace's death. Then he takes Jace to the Speed Force so he may live forever without sacrificing the lives of all the colonists. Instead it took Blaine and gifted Jace with super speed, curing him.
- Super-Speed
- Take a Third Option: When Blaine freezes time, Cobalt Blue presents him with two choices: unfreeze time, killing Jace and giving back the colonists their lives or keep time frozen, saving Jace but sacrificing the colonists. Instead Blaine takes him to the Speed Force, saving Jace and the colonists.
Alter Ego: Jace Allen
First Appearance: Speed Force #1 (November, 1997)
Jace Allen is the son of Blaine Allen from the colony micro-planet Petrus. He did not possess super speed until the Speed Force granted him super speed in 2754. He took up the Flash mantel in memory of his father.
- Casanova Wannabe: Asks one woman out and flirts with another and is shot down by both.
- Death by Origin Story: The death of his father grants him super speed which allows him to take up the Flash mantel.
- Flirting Under Fire: Attempts this with Jesse Quick during their fight with Cobalt Blue, but she shoots him down. He also flirts with another Flash during battle with a different Cobalt Blue but is shot down, too.
- Kissing Cousins: Played With. Jace asks a female Flash on a date. If she's an Allen, she's either his ancestor or descendent. If she's a West, then she's his distant cousin. Either way they're still related. Fortunately, she turns him down.
- Super-Speed
- Taking Up the Mantle: After his father - the previous Flash - is absorbed into the Speed Force, he becomes the Flash in his father's memory.
- You Killed My Father: has this attitude towards Cobalt Blue, but he does not kill her nor does he consider it.
Alter Ego: Thondor Allen
First Appearance: The Flash Vol 2 #146 March, 1999
A fifth generation Jupiter colonist. While he does possess super-speed, his very large girth (due to Jupiter's gravity being greater than of Earth's) slows him down.
- Acrofatic: Still relatively fast despite his girth.
- Fat Comic Relief: Mainly exists due to the comedic visual of a massive speedster.
- Super-Speed: Obviously though his weight makes it hard for Thondor to use his full potential.
First Appearance: Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Vol 1 #1,000,000 (November, 1998)
Not much is known except that he will be an ally of the 67th century's Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and others.
