Black Flash

Fictional character background

Original depiction

The Black Flash essentially fulfills the same role as Death for those who possess super-speed in the DC Universe, returning the speedster to their power source: the Speed Force. It is reportedly seen before the deaths of Barry Allen and Johnny Quick. Max Mercury has also seen the Black Flash while having had several near-death experiences.

The specter speedster came for Wally West to draw back to the Speed Force, but instead took Linda Park. Having seen portents of Wally's death, Max Mercury and Jesse Quick intercepted Wally before reaching the museum where Linda was waiting, with Linda thus being struck by the lightning that was meant to kill Wally. It later returns to try to take Wally again, freezing time except for those who possess a connection to the Speed Force. Max Mercury, Jay Garrick, and Jesse Quick all attempt to assist Wally by distracting the Black Flash; Wally finally defeats the Black Flash by racing the creature to the end of time, to a point where Death would have no meaning, causing the creature to dissipate.

The Black Flash appears to Bart Allen when the Flash loses his powers while battling the Rogues at the Getty Center. Despite a clash with Inertia (another possible candidate for the Black Flash), Bart is killed shortly thereafter by the panicked Rogues when it appears Bart would win, even without powers.

The Black Flash is later revealed to represent the Speed Force's dark aspect, which is responsible for the empowerment of Wally's children. His connection to death is limited to those connected to the Speed Force. While an issue of Captain Atom suggests Death of the Endless, the Black Racer, and Nekron are all aspects of the same force, Neil Gaiman (creator of Death of the Endless) disagrees with this idea, stating that his creation is the ultimate personification of Death. DC Comics, however, tends to depict each character as a separate entity with no connection or relation to each other, seemingly giving merit to the idea presented in Captain Atom.

During the Final Crisis, Wally theorizes that the Black Racer pursuing himself and Barry is in fact the Black Flash.

The Black Flash's charred corpse was found in Iowa by two boys in The Flash: Rebirth.

The Black Flash is sent hunting after the Force Barrier's destruction, killing Psych and attacking Steadfast and Fuerza. Hunter Zolomon, cosmically-ehanced with the Sage Force, Strength Force and Still Force, takes Barry into the Forever Force to which the Black Flash chases Barry and Zoom to kill, hoping to heal the Speed Force. Zoom later sacrifices himself in order to finally heal the Speed Force, trapping the Black Flash.

Barry Allen

Main article: Barry Allen

The second Black Flash is Bartholomew "Barry" Allen due to Professor Zoom altering the Speed Force for a time.

Eobard Thawne

Main article: Eobard Thawne

The third Black Flash is the reanimated corpse of Eobard Thawne equipped with a power ring as a member of the Black Lantern Corps.

Other versions

An original incarnation of the Black Flash, Jesse Quick, appears in Ame-Comi Girls: Featuring Duela Dent #3.

In other media

Television

An original incarnation of the Black Flash, Hunter Zolomon, appears in the Arrowverse series The Flash (2014).

Video games

• The original incarnation of the Black Flash appears in Justice League Heroes: The Flash. Wally West / Flash is chased by the Black Flash when the player dies. Escaping the Black Flash is increasingly difficult after each death.
• The original incarnation of the Black Flash appears in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
• The Eobard Thawne incarnation of the Black Flash appears as an alternate skin for Barry Allen / Flash in Injustice: Gods Among Us.
• The original incarnation of the Black Flash appears in DC Legends.

Miscellaneous

A demonic version of the Black Flash (also known as the Speed Demon and Black Racer) appears in Smallville Season 11 #12. It seeks out Impulse and Jay Garrick's souls, but comes into conflict with the former and Superman. As the fastest of the two speedsters, the Black Flash primarily focuses its attention on Impulse until the latter sacrifices himself to destroy the demonic speedster, which goes on to inspire Garrick to come out of retirement and form the Teen Titans.

References

References

1. "''Flash'' #138 at the Grand Comics Database". Comics.org.
2. ''The Flash: Rebirth'' #1 (April 2009)
3. ''The Flash'' vol 5. #76 (August 2019)
4. Williamson, Joshua. (2019). "The Flash vol 5. #81". DC.
5. ''The Flash: Rebirth'' #2 (May 2009)
6. ''The Flash: Rebirth'' #3 (June 2009)
7. ''The Flash: Rebirth'' #4 (August 2009)
8. ''[[Blackest Night: The Flash]]'' #1 (December 2009). DC Comics
9. ''Blackest Night: The Flash'' #2 (January 2010). DC Comics
10. ''Blackest Night: The Flash'' #3 (February 2010). DC Comics
11. [[Johns, Geoff]] (w). [[Reis, Ivan]] (p), Albert, Oclair (i). ''[[Blackest Night]]'' #8 (March 2010). DC Comics
12. ''Ame-Con Girls: Featuring Duela Dent'' #3
13. (May 24, 2016). "The Flash: "The Race of His Life" Review".
14. Mitovich, Matt. (January 8, 2017). "The Flash's Zoom to Resurface as Black Flash, on Multiple CW Shows". TV Line.
15. (April 4, 2017). "DC's Legends of Tomorrow: "Aruba" Review".
16. ''Smallville Season 11'' #12