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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
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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Key Facts

First team-up of Kid Flash and Flash

Flash #123

DC ⋅ 1961

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Flash #123
 
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Key Facts

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

[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)

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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Key Facts

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

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 #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

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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Key Facts

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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Key Facts

"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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Key Facts

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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