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Flash (Allen)
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Creation & Design

Barry Allen was created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino, debuting in 1956 as a modernized version of the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick.

Early Years

Barry Allen, a forensic scientist, gains super-speed abilities after being struck by lightning and doused in chemicals. He becomes the Flash, protecting Central City from various villains.

Character Development

Over the years, Barry Allen has evolved from a simple superhero into a complex character dealing with themes of legacy, sacrifice, and the consequences of time travel.

Cultural Reception

Barry Allen has been well-received by fans and critics alike, often regarded as one of the most iconic superheroes in comic book history.

Character Details

Real Name:
Barry Allen
First Appearance:
Showcase #4
Aliases:
The Flash, Scarlet Speedster
Species:
Human
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
Justice League, Flash Family, Central City Police Department
Abilities:
Super speed, Time travel, Phasing, Enhanced reflexes
Equipment:
Speed Force, Flash suit
Weight:
175lbs
Height:
6' 10"
Eye Color:
blue
Hair Color:
blonde

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Showcase #4
DC ⋅ 1956
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Showcase #4
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of the Flash, Barry Allen

1st appearance of Iris West, the wife of Barry Allen

This issue is credited for ushering in the Silver Age of comics

Showcase #8
DC ⋅ 1957
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Showcase #8
 
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Key Facts

2nd appearance of the Flash, Barry Allen

Showcase #13
DC ⋅ 1958
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Showcase #13
 
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Key Facts

3rd appearance of the Flash, Barry Allen

1st appearance and origin Mr. Element, later becomes Dr. Alchemy

Flash #105
DC ⋅ 1959
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Flash #105
 
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1st appearance and origin of Mirror Master

Barry Allen appears for the first time in the Flash title

Brave and the Bold, The #28
DC ⋅ 1960
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Brave and the Bold, The #28
 
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Key Facts

1st team appearance of the Justice League of America: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman

1st appearance of Starro the Conqueror

Flash #120
DC ⋅ 1961
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Flash #120
 
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First team-up of Kid Flash and Flash

Flash #123
DC ⋅ 1961
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Flash #123
 
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1st appearance of the Golden Age Flash in the Silver Age

Key issue of the Mutliverse concept

2nd appearance of The Shade

First mention of Earth-2, home of the Golden Age superheroes

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[March 2022 - rumor that Warner Bros. will incorporate a Crisis on Infinite Earths event (which was already adapted for TV) in The Flash movie in an effort to streamline their universe of live-action projects. If this is the scenario, a Multiverse concept will first have to be established as it did in this issue]

Secret Origins Special #1
DC ⋅ 1961
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Secret Origins Special #1
 
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Key Facts

Reprinted origin stories:

Adam Strange (Showcase #17)

Green Lantern (Green Lantern #1)

Challengers of the Unknown (Showcase #6)

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J'onn J'onzz (Detective Comics #225)

The Flash (Showcase #4)

Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman #105)

Superman/Batman team-up (World's Finest #94)

Superman #149
DC ⋅ 1961
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Superman #149
 
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"Death of Superman" story written by Jerry Siegel -non-continuity story

1st appearance of The Flash aka Barry Allen in the Superman title

Flash #125
DC ⋅ 1961
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Flash #125
 
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Debut of the Cosmic Treadmill, a device invented by Barry Allen that allowed time travel

1st team appearance of the Ornitho-Men, a race of creatures with avian bodies and human heads

Flash #126
DC ⋅ 1962
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Flash #126
 
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Introduction of Mirror World

1st appearance of Henry and Nora Allen, parents of the Flash, Barry Allen

Flash #129
DC ⋅ 1962
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Flash #129
 
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First team-up of the Golden Flash, Jay Garrick and the Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen

1st appearance of the Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott in the Silver Age

1st team appearance of the Justice Society of America in the Silver Age

Green Lantern #13
DC ⋅ 1962
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Green Lantern #13
 
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Key Facts

First meeting of Flash, Barry Allen and Green Lantern, Hal Jordan

Flash Annual #1
DC ⋅ 1963
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Flash Annual #1
 
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Key Facts

Collected reprints of early key issues

Flash #165
DC ⋅ 1966
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Flash #165
 
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Marriage of Barry Allen and Iris West

Flash #167
DC ⋅ 1967
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Flash #167
 
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Origin of the Flash, Barry Allen retold

Superman #199
DC ⋅ 1967
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Superman #199
 
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First Superman versus the Flash race, resulted in a tie

Adventure Comics #373
DC ⋅ 1968
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Adventure Comics #373
 
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1st appearance of The Tornado Twins, descendants of Barry Allen

Flash #200
DC ⋅ 1970
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Flash #200
 
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Key Facts

Anniversary of The Flash issue #200

Flash #215
DC ⋅ 1972
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Flash #215
 
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Crossover story featuring the Golden Age Flash and the Silver Age Flash

Flash #267
DC ⋅ 1978
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Flash #267
 
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Origin of Flash's costume

Flash #275
DC ⋅ 1979
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Flash #275
 
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Death of Iris Allen

Flash #323
DC ⋅ 1983
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Flash #323
 
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Key Facts

Battle of Flash vs Professor Zoom

Crisis on Infinite Earths #8
DC ⋅ 1985
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Crisis on Infinite Earths #8
 
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"Crisis on Infinite Earths" part 8

Death of Flash, Barry Allen

Quasar #17
Marvel ⋅ 1990
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Quasar #17
 
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1st appearance of 'Buried Alien,' appears once more in a Marvel comic as Fast Forward in Quasar #58

The Runner challenges all of Earth's speedsters to a race that is won by a stranger who bursts through a dimensional rift, crowning him 'the fastest man alive'

The stranger has amnesia but vaguely remembers his name sounds something like 'Buried Alien' - Barry Allen, The Flash

Speed Force #1
DC ⋅ 1997
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Speed Force #1
 
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1st appearance of Cobalt Blue, the lost twin brother of Barry Allen who has the power to siphon the Speed Force

Action Comics #892
Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2010
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Action Comics #892
 
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Variant cover art by Ivan Reis, celebrating DC's 75th anniversary

Cover inspired by Superman #199 (1967)

Flash #7
1:10 ⋅ DC ⋅ 2011
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Flash #7
 
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Variant cover art by Darwyn Cooke

DC 75th Anniversary cover

Flash #0
DC ⋅ 2012
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Flash #0
 
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1st appearance of Danny West, becomes Reverse-Flash

Origin of Barry Allen

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #15
DC ⋅ 2016
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Scooby-Doo Team-Up #15
 
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Team-Up featuring the Flash

Flash #70
DC ⋅ 2019
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Flash #70
 
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Begins The Flash: Year One

1st appearance of a war-scarred Barry Allen from the future

Nightwing #94
Non-Key
1:25 ⋅ DC ⋅ 2022
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Nightwing #94
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by David Talaski

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