Flash (Barry Allen)

Bartholomew Henry ''Barry'' Allen, also known as the Flash, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Robert Kanigher, John Broome and Carmine Infantino, first appearing in Showcase #4 (1956).

Fictional character biography

He is a speedster and the second superhero known as the Flash. In his secret identity he is a police officer working in Central City as a forensic specialist. His legacy is the Flash Family, he was inspired by Jay Garrick of the Justice Society and has been succeeded by Wally West and Bart Allen. Barry's running generates the Speed Force, an enigmatic source of energy that all other speedsters tap into throughout time. There is an ever-present danger that as fast as he runs, he might lose himself as he approaches speeds closer to light, but his lightning rod is his wife Iris West. Although he died sacrificing himself to save the universe during Crisis on Infinite Earths, he was resurrected during Final Crisis and is now working alongside the full Flash Family as of Rebirth. He was also a founding member of the Justice League of America.

Powers and abilities

Like other heroes who go by the Flash, Barry is a "speedster", with powers that derive mainly from his superhuman speed.

In other media

Barry Allen has been featured in several media, first appearing in animated form in the 1967 The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure and then in the related Super Friends program. Since then he has appeared in several DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Actor John Wesley Shipp portrayed the character in the live-action 1990s television show The Flash and the Arrowverse. The character was portrayed by Grant Gustin in the Arrowverse shows in a main capacity, especially the 2014 television series The Flash, while Ezra Miller portrayed the character in the DC Extended Universe movies Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Justice League, the director's cut Zack Snyder's Justice League, the Arrowverse event Crisis on Infinite Earths, the HBO Max series Peacemaker, and the 2023 movie The Flash.