Flash, at lightning speed!
Who hasn't dreamed of travelling as fast as lightning? Stuck in endless traffic jams or in the security checkpoint queue at an airport, you imagine yourself running like lightning to your destination. The Flash, the DC Comics superhero, can. And he uses his abilities to fight evil. But who is "he"? Because there have been 5 different Flashes in the DC Universe...
The Flash's multiple identities
The adventure of the super-fast superhero began in 1940 (or 1939) in the first issue of "Flash Comics" in America. He was the creation of Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, writer and illustrator respectively. In this original version, his true identity is that of Jason "Jay" Peter Garrick, a high school student. While accidentally inhaling hard water vapour, he acquires the power of "super-speed", with the agility and reflexes that go with it.
To make things a little more credible, it is thought that the fumes activated a latent gene in Jay Garrick, while in other versions he inhaled heavy water fumes.
Subsequently, other characters took on Flash's traits when they acquired his powers:
The Flash's powers
Who's faster, Flash or Superman?
This age-old question has actually been answered several times in the course of the adventures of Flash, Superman and the Justice League. The writers have organised several races between the two superheroes, usually ending in a tie. But fans' feelings couldn't be spared for too long without losing credibility... a winner had to be chosen. A solution was found in issue 463 of The Adventures of Superman: Flash runs faster than Superman, on foot.
Superman has a tendency to fly fast. To explain his defeat without frustrating his fans, it was therefore suggested that Superman is not used to running at high speed.
In the cinema, the Barry Allen version of Flash appeared in 2016 in the film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice", in preparation for his role in "Justice League". He is played by Ezra Miller, who will reprise the role in 2023 in his own film, "The Flash", directed by Andy Muschietti. In "The Flash", fans of the 1990s had the pleasure of seeing Michael Keaton in the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne.
Figurines, bottles, T-shirts and key rings: all your favourite Flash goodies are waiting for you in our geek shop.