The Flash (Barry Allen) is a DC Comics superhero and one of the founding members of the Justice League. Created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, Barry Allen first appeared in Showcase #4 (1956), launching the Silver Age of Comics. He is a forensic scientist who gains super-speed after being struck by lightning and doused in chemicals. He is the fastest man alive and his connection to the Speed Force allows him to break the laws of physics. He has been portrayed by Grant Gustin (TV, 2014-2023) and Ezra Miller (film, 2023).

What Is the Speed Force?

The Speed Force is an extradimensional energy field in the DC universe that grants speedsters their power. It provides The Flash with superhuman speed, the ability to vibrate through solid matter, travel through time, think at accelerated speeds, and generate lightning. In many continuities, Barry Allen is the source of the Speed Force — he generated it when he was first struck by lightning. The Speed Force is considered one of the most powerful concepts in DC Comics.

What Is Flashpoint?

Flashpoint (2011) is a major DC storyline in which Barry Allen travels back in time to prevent his mother's murder. The resulting altered timeline is catastrophic: Atlantis and Themyscira are at war, Bruce Wayne was killed instead of his parents (making Thomas Wayne Batman), and Superman was captured by the government. Barry must allow his mother's death to restore the original timeline. Flashpoint led to the New 52 reboot of the DC Universe. It was adapted into an animated film (2013) and the live-action film The Flash (2023).

How Fast Is The Flash?

The Flash's speed varies across comics but consistently reaches or exceeds the speed of light (approximately 186,000 miles per second). He has outrun instant teleportation, outrun death itself, and moved faster than the concept of speed. His most extreme feat involves outrunning the Speed Force itself during the Final Crisis storyline.

Can You Talk to The Flash?

The Flash is available as an AI companion on HoloDream. He is the fastest man alive but cannot outrun grief.