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- DC Comics
The Best The Flash Storylines in Comics
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1106 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #74-79
For years, the Flash has been the superhero identity of Wally West, but before he was the Flash, he was Kid Flash to Barry Allen's fastest man alive. Sadly, Barry gave his life during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths," but like most comic book characters who die, they don't stay dead forever, and now, Barry is back!
Wally must contend with the fact that his longtime mentor has returned, but he's not the same man he was before. He is violent and paranoid of everything and everyone around him. Will Wally be able to bring Barry back to being a scarlet speedster, or will Barry remain the poor reflection of what he once was?
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2175 VOTESStory Found In: Flashpoint #1–5
One of the Flash's most important abilities is how he is able to run so fast, he can travel through time. Granted, he requires some equipment and calculations to make this happen just right, but if there's one thing he knows, it's that messing with the timeline can be a dangerous prospect. The story picks up with Barry realizing that the timeline has changed, but only he is aware of it, and he must find out what happened.
Over the course of this 60+ issue crossover event, the entire DC Universe has changed, and it may all be Barry Allen's fault! Can he restore the timeline and undo what he did, or will the universe he knew be forever lost? Find out in this amazing crossover event called "Flashpoint!"
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372 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #1/2, 212, & 218-225
Like most DC superheroes, the Flash has a rather large rogues' gallery, but with so many villains to contend with, odds are things will come to a head sooner or later. In "Rogue War," the group of bad guys who make up his old gallery of rogues run afoul of the newest members of his rogues' gallery in a conflagration the likes of which the Scarlet Speedster hasn't seen before.
The conflict may result in the destruction of Keystone City itself! Will the Scarlet Speedster be able to stop the destruction of his beloved city, or will he sacrifice himself to save everyone? This pivotal tale was brilliantly written by Geoff Johns with pencils by Howard Porter and Steven Cummings and is one of the best villain-centric tales in the Flash's library.
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462 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #95-100
For years, the Flash knew his powers were augmented by the Speed Force, but it wasn't clear until "Terminal Velocity" that he was also being pulled from reality into another plane of existence! The Flash must confront his humanity as he tries to save the woman he loves from certain death at the hands of a madman, but the Speed Force itself may make his task impossible.
When it comes time to run into action, will the Flash sacrifice himself to the Speed Force, or will he find a way to stop the supervillain Kobra from taking over his beloved Keystone City? "Terminal Velocity" was written by Mark Waid in the pages of The Flash #95-100, and has been collected into a trade paperback you can nab off Amazon by clicking the link above.
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576 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #123
In what has become one of the most important single issues in the Flash's run, The Flash #132's story, "The Flash of Two Worlds" reintroduces the Golden Age Flash to the Silver Age of Comics! This was also the first mention of Earth-2 in what will become a massive multiverse that spreads across the entirety of the DC Universe, and ultimately leads to the "Crisis on Infinite Earths."
The meeting comes about when the Flash is performing tricks for children in Central City, but after a bit of a mishap, he is mysteriously transported to Keystone City, the home of the original Flash! What will happen when the Flash of two different worlds meet for the first time? This is easily one of the top books in the Flash's library, but more than being just a great read, it also set the stage for numerous changes made to the DC Universe, which would be impacted for years to come.
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6101 VOTESStory Found In: Crisis on Infinite Earths #8
The "Crisis on Infinite Earths" was a crossover event that turned the entire DC Universe on its head by destroying many of the worlds that made up the multiverse. The Anti-Monitor's desire to destroy the entire multiverse was nearly complete by the 8th issue, and just when it looks like the combined might of Earth's heroes are helpless, it's up to the Flash to save everyone.
In this harrowing tale, the fastest man alive jumps into battle with the Anti-Monitor to destroy his weapon designed to destroy all of existence. Barry Allen runs faster than he's ever run before, but doing so might just destroy him, and he is more than willing to sacrifice himself to save the universe. This event would go on to reshape DC Comics titles for decades and is one of the most important stories to feature the Scarlet Speedster.
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766 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #62-65
Longtime Flash scribe Mark Waid explores the earliest days of Wally West and his rise to become the fastest man alive. Wally, once known as Kid Flash, had a childhood filled with perils and amazing adventures, but a tragedy that befell his uncle, Barry, pushed him to become the new Flash.
This story details how Wally's life was forever changed the day Barry died and explores the emotional turmoil and heroic choices Wally was forced to make to take up the mantle of the Flash so he could follow in his uncle's footsteps to become the fastest man alive!
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861 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #192–200
Wally West is known for being the fastest man alive, but when his hometown of Keystone City is assaulted by his arch nemesis Zoom, otherwise known as the Reverse Flash, his speed is tested. Somehow, Zoom can now move so fast, he can operate without being seen, and it's up to the Flash to stop him in his tracks!
Zoom has been one of the Flash's enemies for years, but whenever he shows up, you know things are going to get serious pretty fast. "Blitz" is a relatively long nine-issue maxi-series from the pages of The Flash #192 to 200, and was written by Geoff Johns.
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927 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #110
There are tons of people associated with the Flash, but they all had to start somewhere, and this book introduces one of the biggest of them all. Kid Flash, otherwise known as Wally West, Barry Allen's own nephew makes his amazing appearance in this important Flash book from 1959.
Thanks to the writing talents of John Boome who was joined by the inimitable Carmine Infantino, Wally West comes to life in an issue that also features the first appearance of a dangerous foe, the Weather Wizard, in a tale titled, "Challenge of the Weather Wizard!"
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1034 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #54
William Messner-Loebs penned one of the Flash's classic tales in this single issue story titled "Nobody Dies." The Flash makes a sweeping declaration that he won't allow anyone to die while he's in charge of protecting the people of Keystone City, but that philosophy is put to the test in this exciting issue.
Things go from bad to worse when a flight attendant is sucked out of an airplane, and it's up to the Flash to rescue her. His newest philosophy must contend with the forces of gravity and an inability to run while freefalling from a plane, but he's determined to ensure everyone's safety... can he save everyone, or will his statement be for naught?
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1133 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash: Iron Heights #1
Typically, the Scarlet Speedster puts crooks into prison, and we don't get to see him doing much else with such a facility, but when a strange and deadly disease threatens the prison's population, it's up to the Flash to stop it! He and Piper make their way into the prison to prevent the spread of the disease, while simultaneously trying to stop a riot.
New villains are added to the Flash's rogues' gallery as he works to stop the disease, but the mysterious warden may have a role in the madness that's gripped the prison. Will he be able to stop it in time before the disease kills off the prison population, and will his newest villains play a role in his future? Find out in this pivotal tale told by Geoff Johns with art by Ethan Van Sciver.
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1240 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #139
The Flash has many enemies, but few are as menacing as Professor Zoom, the Reverse-Flash! When a time capsule is sent directly to the future, it results in the creation of his greatest enemy, and the Flash must come to terms with a being who may be faster than he is!
This classic comic is important to the Flash's library as it is the first appearance of one of the most important characters in his rogues' gallery. How the Reverse-Flash came into existence, and the importance he plays in the Flash's life are all outlined in this incredible story written by John Broome with illustrations by Murphy Anderson and Joe Giella.
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1340 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #112-118
The Flash is truly stuck in a race against time when he is literally caught running through time trying to return to the present. Amidst his temporal adventures, he must face new and old enemies while fighting evil and running as fast as he can to get back to the woman he loves, Linda Park.
Unfortunately, he is replaced in his absence by the time traveler, John Fox, who not only seeks to replace Wally as the Flash, but he also is out to take his girlfriend from him as well! Time travel is always a fun element to Flash storytelling, and this one by Brian Augustyn and Mark Waid is a doozy!
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1432 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #275-284
Iris West is one of the most important characters in the Flash's books thanks to her being none other than Barry Allen's wife! She had been around since the beginning of Showcase #4, but when Barry and Iris go to a masquerade party, things turn from bad to worse when they unwittingly take Clive Yorkin along to the party.
After Barry is drugged and put into an unconscious state, the worst happens, and Iris is killed! While nobody stays dead forever in comics, this was one of the 'big ones' that would have a serious and lasting impact on the Flash for years to come.
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1533 VOTESStory Found In: Showcase #4
Every superhero has an origin and first appearance with Showcase #4's story, "Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt" being the one for Barry Allen. Not only is this an important book in the history of the character, but it's also one of the most important single comic book issues in the history of the medium as its publication launched the Silver Age of Comics!
Barry Allen is introduced as the new Scarlet Speedster alongside his wife, Iris West. This book changed comics in a big way by relaunching the age of superheroes. Previously, superheroes had waned in popularity following the conclusion of World War II, but they came back in a big way thanks to the Flash's first appearance in this pivotal book from 1956.
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1632 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #207-211, & 213-217
In "The Secret of Barry Allen," the Flash teams up with Nightwing when a familiar threat comes calling. Both heroes must face off against Gorilla Grodd, but a decision Barry Allen made long ago comes back to haunt him as Wally must make some difficult decisions of his own. In this story, the Scarlet Speedsters battle familiar enemies amidst long-buried secrets.
Like so many amazing tales of the fastest man alive, Geoff Johns wrote "The Secret of Barry Allen" with pencils provided by Howard Porter. This is another of those stories fans of the character are sure to enjoy, but it's also a great read for anyone looking to break into the Flash's library.
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1776 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash: Rebirth #1-6
Years ago, Barry Allen ran through the DC Universe as the fastest man alive, but during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event, Barry gave his life to save everyone. Now, following several key events in the DC Universe, Barry Allen has returned, but how will he manage to live in the 21st-Century now that everything has changed and his nephew has taken his place?
Fans of the original Flash are sure to enjoy seeing their favorite Scarlet Speedster return to life, but what will happen now that Barry has returned? This brilliant story was written by the team who put together Green Lantern: Rebirth and The Sinestro Corps War, Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver.
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1844 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #1-8
Back in 2011, the DC Universe got a shakeup in the form of the New 52, which saw the relaunch of most of the publisher's most important characters. The Flash was not immune to the changes the New 52 brought, and his origin and entire story were retold in this collection from the first eight issues of his new run titled, "Move Forward."
In this New 52 retelling, Barry Allen becomes the Flash after being struck by lightning while he is doused in chemicals in Central City. He goes on to fight against his newest supervillain, Mob Rule, a rogue who can be everywhere at once. Will the Flash be able to save Central City from certain defeat, or will Mob Rule win in the end? With the words of Francis Manapul and the pencils of Brian Buccellato, this impressive story drew in new readers and old fans as well with the Flash's return in the New 52!
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1933 VOTESStory Found In: The Flash #136-141 & Secret Origins #50
The Flash has always touted himself as the fastest man alive, but is the fastest man on Earth truly the fastest in the universe? In this tale, famed scribes Grant Morrison and Mark Millar put the Flash's speed to the test when a powerful alien called Krakkl plucks the Flash away to enter him into a contest.
As it happens, Krakkl enjoys pitting the fastest beings from various worlds against one another to see who is the fastest. In a race through time and space, the racers' homeworlds are the stakes in a game designed to determine who the fastest being in the universe is. When a powerful new Black Flash comes onto the scene, a speedster meets their ultimate end, but will he come for the Flash, and will the Earth be lost?
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2033 VOTESStory Found In: The Adventures of Superman #463
Everyone knows that the Flash is the Fastest Man Alive, but what about Superman? He's certainly one of the fastest super heroes in all of comics, but is the Man of Steel faster than the Scarlet Speedster himself? In this incredible issue of The Adventures of Superman #463, the question of who is the fastest of the two is put to the test by none other than Mr. Mxyzptlk!
The annoying Imp from the Fifth Dimension is back at his old tricks, and the only way to get him to return to his own reality is to put on a race between Superman and the Flash! Who will be dubbed the Fastest Man Alive once the race is complete, and will it even get that far? Find out in this fun and exciting story by Dan Jurgens!
