DC Comics’ Scarlet Speedster, the Flash, is one of the publisher’s longest-running characters (no pun intended). The original Flash, Jay Garrick, first appeared in Flash Comics #1 in 1940, only 18 months after Superman. After being canceled in 1952, the character was reinvented four years later, with a new costume, a new civilian identity, and a new sci-fi angle. The second Flash, Barry Allen, truly launched a legacy that continues to this day, which includes two live-action TV series, and a movie. And sooner or later, he’s guaranteed to appear in James Gunn’s new DCU. Before that happens, however, you might want to take a deep dive into some seminal Flash comics. We rank DC Comics’ Flash runs, from worst to best, below.
10. Flash: The Fastest Man Alive by Danny Bilson, Paul DeMeo, and Marc Guggenheim
with Ken Lashley, Tony Daniel, Art Thibert
Something had to go to the bottom of this list, and sadly, it was the Flash run by the creative team of Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo. The writing partners actually had a good Flash pedigree when coming on board to launch Flash: The Fastest Man Alive in 2006, as the showrunners of the 1990 -91 Flash TV series. But where the TV series focused on Barry Allen, Fastest Man Alive centered on a new Flash, former Impulse, Bart Allen. You see, Wally West died in the event series Infinite Crisis. (Or more accurately, he vanished.) Soon after, Barry’s grandson from the future, teen speedster Impulse, received a speed accelerated boost past adolescence into adulthood. He then became the fourth Flash.
There were a few nice concepts in this run, like the Speed Force now residing solely in Bart Allen himself. The art by Ken Lashley and others was definitely decent. But the stories and new villains in this run were very uneven. Even future Arrowverse writer Marc Guggenheim couldn’t fix it when he took over. Fans quickly begged DC to bring back Wally, which they did. By the end of this short-lived series, the Bart Allen Flash was dead, making him the shortest-lived hero going by the name. Wally would be back within months, and DC revived Bart and regressed him back to being Impulse soon after, making The Fastest Man Alive perhaps the most forgotten-about Flash series ever.
Issues in Danny Bilson, Paul DeMeo, and Marc Guggenheim’s Flash run:
Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1-13 (2006-2007)
9. The Flash (Vol.4) by Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
with Brett Booth
The second New 52 run of The Flash, by writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen, followed up Francis Manapul’s well-liked run. And while it’s not one for the ages, it has enough good stuff to recommend reading it. The art by penciler Brett Booth gives the book a distinctly ‘90s flavor, but that’s not really a bad thing. Perhaps the most noteworthy part of this era of The Flash is the introduction of a new Kid Flash. This new speedster sidekick had the familiar name of Wallace West. This Wallace was a bi-racial teenager, and a distinctly different character from the adult Wally West. (Although, that wasn’t made explicit for several more years.) This run has some fun stories featuring Weather Wizard, and the Reverse Flash. Nothing groundbreaking here for the character, but it’s a fun enough read.
Issues in Robert Venditti and Van Jensen’s Flash run:
The Flash vol. 4 #30-52 (2014-2016)
8. The Flash Vol. 2 by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar
with Paul Ryan, Pop Mhan
In 1997, writer Mark Waid had been writing the adventures of Wally West for five years, and needed a recharge. So for one year and 12 issues, Doom Patrol and JLA writer Grant Morrison, along with a relatively new writer who would go on to big things, Mark Millar, took the reins of Flash. Together with former Fantastic Four artist Paul Ryan, and later Pop Mhan, gave Wally a cosmic adventure for the ages. This run also had a crossover with Green Lantern and Green Arrow, who at the time were younger legacy heroes in the same mold as Wally West.
One of the best stories in this brief run, “The Human Race,” has Wally having to represent the Earth in a race that spans the entire cosmos. Another great storyline, “Emergency Stop,” has Wally breaking both of his legs, leaving the other speedsters to watch out for his hometown of Keystone City while he recovers. Speaking of the other speedsters, OG Flash Jay Garrick has a nice one-off story here, where he must face one of his Golden Age villains in an unexpected way. The coolest (and longest-lasting) contribution from this run is the Black Flash, the Speed Force’s embodiment of death. All in all, a very brief but extremely fun series of issues, written by two titans of the comics industry, both just having a good time with big concepts.
Issues in Grant Morrison and Mark Millar’s Flash run:
The Flash vol. 2 #130-141 (1997-1998)
7. The Flash (Vol.4) by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
After the events of 2011’s Flashpoint, Barry Allen changed the past, resulting in a new present with a new continuity. This is the era DC labeled as “the New 52.” Launching the Flash into this new era, DC recruited the creative team of writer/artist Francis Manapul and co-writer Brian Buccellato. Manapul had already drawn the previous pre-Flashpoint run of the Flash with Geoff Johns, giving him a strong speedster pedigree. He presented Barry as a much younger character without all the baggage of continuity (or having died to save reality). In many ways, this run was a breath of fresh air. These stories had a fun energy to them, even if they did play a bit like a “Flash Greatest Hits,” with heavy reliance on the Rogues, evil speedsters, and other classic Flash staples. But Manapul’s art was always incredible, elevating this brief run to loftier heights.
Issues in Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s Flash run:
The Flash Vol.4 #1-29 (2011-2014)
6. The Flash (Vol.5) by Joshua Williamson
with Carmine Di Giandomenico, Howard Porter, Rafa Sandoval, Christian Duce, Davide Gianfelice, Pop Mhan, Scott Kollins, Jesus Merino
Writer Joshua Williamson took over writing duties for The Flash in 2016, during DC’s Rebirth era, which restored much of the classic DC continuity that the New 52 had erased. Williamson wrote The Flash for 101 consecutive issues, making him the writer with the longest consecutive Flash run ever. During his tenure, Williamson added interesting new villains like Paradox to the rogues gallery, while also giving new layers to Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, a character who had become a wee bit one-note. Williamson also cleverly expanded on the Speed Force mythology by introducing other primal forces, like the Still Force and the Strength Force. Another interesting Williamson concept was the Speed Force storm, which granted several people super speed, among them the intriguing new villain Godspeed.
Like any iconic DC hero, Williamson finally gave Barry Allen a definitive modern retelling of his origin story, in “Flash: Year One.” But the best story in Williamson’s run was “Flash War,” which pitted the two most famous Flashes, Barry and Wally, against each other. This story determined at long last who was truly the Fastest Man Alive. Williamson worked with a lot of artists during his run, due to the book’s bi-weekly schedule. Chief among them were Carmine Di Giandomenico and Scott Kollins. However, his best creative pairing was Howard Porter. All in all, Williamson’s take on Barry Allen is the best one since the character returned from the grave.
Issues in Joshua Williamson’s Flash run:
The Flash: Rebirth Special #1, The Flash Vol. 5 #1-88, The Flash Vol. 1 #750-762
5. The Flash (Vol.2) by William Messner-Loebs
with Greg LaRocque
Former Kid Flash Wally West took over the mantle of the Flash in the final issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985, after Barry Allen’s heroic sacrifice to save reality. But when Wally finally got his own series a year or so later, by writer Mike Baron and artist Butch Guice, Wally was kind of a womanizer and an immature jerk. At this time, he was supposed to be only 20 years old. Still, he just wasn’t very likable, and making him an indulgent lottery winner and new money bro didn’t help endear him to readers. Luckily, writer William Messner-Loebs took over Flash Vol. 2 with issue #15, and started a rehabilitation of the character.
During his tenure, Wally became friends with some of his mentor’s worst enemies, and forged new relationships with former enemies of his own like Chunk. He even started dating an older woman who was a genius scientist. Under Messner-Loeb’s guidance, Wally truly learned to appreciate life in the slow lane thanks to an elderly (and ordinary) neighbor named Mason. Artist Greg LaRocque drew almost the entirety of this run, and while his work wasn’t super dynamic, it got the job done. This was a soapy version of The Flash, but it helped pave the way for bigger and better runs down the line. And most importantly, it made Wally West someone the readers could root for.
Issues in William Messner-Loebs’ Flash run:
The Flash Vol.2 #15-61 (1988-1992)
4. The Flash (Vol.1) by Cary Bates
with Irv Novick, Alex Saviuk, Don Heck, Carmine Infantino
By the time writer Cary Bates took over The Flash, the series had become quite stale. Barry’s mostly bland personality was no longer in step with the times. Much like Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams did with Green Lantern, Bates infused the series with some serious drama and major status quo changes for the lead character. Cary Bates took over as writer in 1971 with Flash #209, early in the comic book Bronze Age, then spent a whopping 14 years on the title until its cancellation in 1985. Bates, along with his regular artists like Irv Novick, Alex Saviuk, and Carmine Infantino, took Barry Allen’s life into a darker and more adult direction.
The Bates run reached its crescendo when Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, murdered Barry’s wife Iris in cold blood. This led to the Flash getting revenge on his longtime enemy, killing him by snapping his neck. Needless to say, this was a big no-no in the superhero community. This was followed up with the intense “The Trial of the Flash” storyline, where our hero had to go before the court charged with first-degree murder. Before it was all over, Barry would reunite with his dead wife in the most bizarre way possible, as she was reborn in a new body 1,000 years in the future. Bates’ time on the title would end shortly before Barry Allen sacrifices himself to save all reality in Crisis on Infinite Earths, but he certainly left his mark on the adventures of the Scarlet Speedster.
Issues in Cary Bates’ Flash run:
The Flash (Vol.1) #209–212, 216, 218–292, 294–305, 307–312, 314–350 (1971-1985)
3. The Flash (Vol.2) by Geoff Johns
with Scott Kollins, Howard Porter
Writer Geoff Johns became synonymous with DC Comics throughout the 2000s. He wrote game-changing runs on Teen Titans, JSA, and most famously, Green Lantern. But he made a name for himself first by taking over the reins from writer Mark Waid on The Flash in 2000. In a very short time, he proved he was a worthy successor to Waid’s already iconic run. During Johns’ tenure, during which he worked mostly with artists Scott Kollins and Howard Porter, he introduced memorable new villains like Cicada and Girder, expanding the Rogues. Meanwhile, he made a Flash foe for the ages in Hunter Zolomon, a.k.a. Zoom, who was an adversary who believed that only tragedy could make Wally West a better hero—so he attempted to cause the tragedy himself by hurting those he loved.
Great storylines continued in quick succession like “Rogue War,” where the Flash’s main villains go to battle with each other. At the end of Johns’ run, he did what was once unthinkable at DC. He brought Barry Allen back to life after two decades dead and buried in Flash: Rebirth. This story cemented the modern idea of Barry Allen losing his mother as a child when she was killed, with his father framed for her murder. He capped off eight years of Flash with the first ongoing Barry Allen series in three decades. This would inform not just the Flash TV show and movie, but also lead to Flashpoint. That event would change the entire DC Universe. Johns’ love for Wally as a character and Flash history pours through every issue, making this one of the very best runs ever for any Scarlet Speedster.
Issues in Geoff Johns’ Flash run:
The Flash Vol.2 #164-225 (2000-2005) The Flash: Rebirth #1-6 (2009-2010) The Flash Vol.3 #1-12 (2010-2011)
2. The Flash (Vol.1) by John Broome, Gardner Fox, and Carmine Infantino
In 1956, DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz ushered in the Silver Age of comics when he reinvented the 1940s super speedster hero the Flash for a new era. Reimagined by writers John Broome, Gardner Fox, and artist Carmine Infantino, the Flash was now police scientist Barry Allen instead of college student Jay Garrick. The nerdy and perpetually late Allen was splashed with chemicals while being hit by lightning in his lab one night. Gaining super speed and becoming the Flash, he fought a colorful assortment of villains. Many of these villains ended up as the best in comics history. He did this all while trying to maintain a relationship with his reporter girlfriend Iris West.
During the Broome/Fox/Infantino run of The Flash, the entire stage for DC Comics’ Silver Age was set. Everything from the multiverse, to Gorilla City, to other ‘40s heroes like Green Lantern and Hawkman getting modern updates started here. Which, of course, led to the Justice League of America forming. Broome’s stories were simple but fun, and tried to incorporate many science facts for kids (a.k.a. “Flash Facts”) as to be educational and entertaining. In addition, Infantino’s art was dynamic, leaps and bounds over most other DC Comics pencilers at the time. Sure, Barry himself was a bit one-dimensional. Maybe even a little bit boring. But these stories of “The Human Thunderbolt” set the template for all Flash runs to come in later years. And they are still a blast to read, decades later.
Issues in John Broome and Gardner Fox’s Flash run:
The Flash (Vol.1) #105-174 (1956-1967)
1. The Flash (Vol.2) by Mark Waid
with Greg LaRocque, Mike Wieringo, Oscar Jimenez, Salvador Larocca, Paul Ryan, Paul Pelletier
Writer Mark Waid would eventually become a comics legend thanks to his work on titles like Kingdom Come, among many others. But his greatest run on any one character came with Wally West’s The Flash series, from 1992-2000. During his tenure, Waid created the Speed Force, where speedsters draw their power. It becomes a major aspect of Flash lore going forward, particularly on TV and film. For much of Wally’s comics career until Waid, he lived in the shadow of the deceased Barry Allen. He saw himself as never as fast as “St. Barry,” or as good a hero. Waid blew that all up, revealing that Wally is not only a worthy Flash, he’s the greatest Flash. Perhaps most importantly, he took Linda Park, (a character created by William Messner-Loebs) and made her the true love of Wally’s life, his wife, and his tether to this world.
If all that wasn’t enough, Waid’s run introduced Bart Allen/Impulse, Wally’s cousin and protégé, who would become a major character in his own right. Among the seminal stories in this run are “The Return of Barry Allen,” which forced Wally to finally come to terms with his heroic legacy, and “Terminal Velocity,” which introduced the Speed Force, but also the speedster cult leader Savitar. Other great stories in Waid’s run include “The Dark Flash Saga,” which introduced Walter West, an alternate version of Wally with a tragic past. Waid even did the “evil twin” trope the right way with “Chain Lightning,” a story introducing Barry Allen’s twin brother, Cobalt Blue. The artists with whom Waid worked in his run, Mike Wieringo, Oscar Jimenez, Paul Pelletier, and others, were all complimentary to his storytelling style. When most people say Wally West is the greatest Flash, it’s because of this seminal run.
Issues in Mark Waid’s Flash run:
The Flash (Vol.2) #62-129, 142-162 (1992-2000)
