News

The Flash stands out as fiction’s most famous speedster, having been adapted many times in both animated and live-action formats. Over the decades, various actors have portrayed the iconic character, with some resonating more with audiences than others. Fans on Ranker recently rated all actors who have taken on the Flash roles, including both voice and live-action performances. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 based on their rankings. Let’s dive in!

10. Kenny Johnston DC

Kenny Johnston portrayed Barry Allen/The Flash for a brief period, appearing in the 1997 made-for-tv movie Justice League of America. This film, presented as a mockumentary about the titular superheroes, was originally intended as a pilot for a Justice League TV series that never came to fruition. Although his time as the Flash was short, Johnston’s role earned him a spot in the top 10.

9. Josh Keaton DC

Keaton voiced Barry Allen...

The Flash took a bit of a hit to his cultural credibility when 2023's "The Flash" became a box office bomb of super-heroic proportions. But the character himself shouldn't have to bear the brunt of the DC Extended Universe's missteps. After all, he's still the fastest man alive, which considering the amount of superheroes with super-speed should frankly make him a more popular character than he is. As successive comic book storylines have proven, The Flash can outrun anyone and anything. From evacuating entire cities in milliseconds to outrunning death itself, this super-hero isn't just super-fast, he's literally inconceivably fast. After all, can you imagine perceiving events that take place in 0.000000000000000001 of a second? Didn't think so. You know who can? The Flash.

As with so many comic book characters, there have actually been several individuals to take on the Flash mantle throughout his almost 90-year run. First appearing in...

"Smallville" ran for 10 seasons, but its impact can't be measured only by how long it stayed on the air. The CW's Arrowverse doesn't exist without "Smallville." Now, "Arrow" did not share a continuity with "Smallville" and it recast its Oliver Queen. But still, even without "Arrow" being a proper "Smallville" spin-off, The CW greenlighting a Green Arrow show clearly happened because "Smallville" had introduced the character to their audience.

But there could've been a Green Arrow-led TV series much sooner, one starring Justin Hartley. During "Smallville" season 6, writer Steven DeKnight was working on a Justice League spin-off.

Beginning in season 4 of "Smallville," Clark Kent (Tom Welling) slowly begins meeting other DC superheroes. In "Run," it's Bart Allen/Impulse (Kyle Gallner). Season 5 had Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Alan Ritchson) in "Aqua" and then Victor Stone/Cyborg (Lee Thompson Young) in, well, "Cyborg." Then season 6 brought in Green Arrow (Hartley) as a recurring character.

In the 2010s, the success of Arrow resulted in a Flash spinoff series and eventually the entire Arrowverse. Despite being its spiritual successor, Smallvillenever went down this path. However, it wasn't for a lack of trying, and as recently as two years ago, there was still interest in reviving the beloved Superman series.

Smallville was a smash hit that lasted 10 seasons, but none of its potential spinoffs even got a single season. Only one of the conceptualized spinoffs even had a pilot produced, even after the CW drama went out of its way to include multiple backdoor pilots. Every proposed spinoff would have starred at least one iconic DC hero, and with fans having only recently learned about some of them, it's possible there are still pitches that haven't been unveiled.

Aquaman Had a Full Pilot Produced

Arthur "AC" Curry, Aka Aquaman, made his debut on Smallville in Season 5, Episode 4, "Aqua.

Smallville could be making a comeback in the coming years, and a sequel of the beloved DC series would have to bring back at least a few major characters and actors from the original show. Smallville is easily one of DC's best live-action TV shows. Over ten seasons, the Superman prequel series followed Tom Welling's Clark Kent on his journey to becoming the Man of Steel. Clark would only turn into Superman in Smallville's series finale.

That made sense for the show, but it was not enough for fans. Now, Clark Kent actor Tom Welling and Lex Luthor star Michael Rosenbaum are working on an animated Smallville sequel series, which would finally follow Welling's Clark Kent as Superman. In October, Tom Welling told Screen Rant that they still need approval "from DC and Warner Brothers." Welling and Rosenbaum want to get as many actors from the show back as possible,...

More than a decade after Smallville came to an end, many DC fans are still imagining what Tom Welling's Superman and his Justice League could look like today. With a Smallville sequel potentially having a chance to come to fruition, this revival wouldn't only open the doors for Welling's Clark Kent to continue, but also for many of the Justice League characters who entered the series during its original run. While time will tell if a continuation is possible, fans are already picturing what Smallville's Justice League might be like in the modern day.

Buffy2Ville released a gallery of art pieces with multiple Smallville cast members, including Welling as the Man of Steel, leading his iteration of the Justice League that came to fruition during season 6. Check out the full slideshow below, featuring the Justice League characters with upgraded versions of their super-suits:

View this post on...

In Season 3 of Smallville, Ian Somerhalder had a six-episode recurring role as Adam Knight. His mysterious character had a complicated relationship with Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), ultimately resulting in his death. After Lana was trampled by her horse, she underwent physical therapy. Adam pushed her to start walking faster, and they became close friends. He developed feelings for her, but as time passed, the audience soon realized his true intentions. Strangely enough, the Ian Somerhalder Smallville character was linked to Batman before his death. His name, a combination of Adam West and Batman's common nickname, the Dark Knight, along with his background that included deceased parents and martial arts training, led many to speculate that he was a version of Bruce Wayne.

Batman and Superman's relationship is complicated in most adaptations, but they almost always become allies and eventually close friends. If Somerhalder was supposed to be Batman in Smallville,...

The Flash is not only the fastest character in superhero comics, but one of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe. From Jay Garrick to Avery Ho and everyone in between, the Flash has the opportunity to ascend to godhood - he's just that powerful. And yet, something always stops him and keeps him humbly human.

The Flash has done many miraculous things in his superhero tenure, but there are a few limitations and weaknesses that keep him from his full potential, including his very own source of power. A number of power limits stop him becoming a true god, but those limits have also occasionally been broken. Because the Flash is always going to push the limit - on the universe and on himself.

The Flash's Speed Reading Doesn't Mean Infinite Knowledge Barry Allen Reads a Whole Library

The Flash can sometimes use his speed powers for something other than his feet.

Warning: Contains Potential Spoilers for Absolute Power #4!Green Lantern Hal Jordan has officially pushed his power to an unprecedented level with a feat so overpowered it makes some of Supermans greatest achievements pale in comparison. However, there is one feat by the Man of Steel that might measure up to what the Emerald Knight has just accomplished. Let the debate among the Green Lantern and Superman stans commence!

The final battle of the Absolute Power crisis event explodes in Mark Waid and Dan Moras Absolute Power #4, and while the finale delivers plenty of epic moments, its Hal Jordan who truly steals the show by single-handedly holding off the entire multiverse.

Fans following the event will remember that Absolute Power #3 ended with the revelation that Waller had struck deals across the multiverse, enlisting villains into her personal multiversal army. As the battle ignites in issue #4, these deals come to fruition, unleashing...

Warning: Contains Potential Spoilers for Absolute Power #4!Green Lantern Hal Jordan has just uncovered a loophole for achieving infinite willpower, elevating his Lantern abilities to an unprecedented level. However, what the Emerald Knight accomplishes with this power boost is even more impressive, marking one of his most badass and overpowered feats to date.

Jay Garrick, Wally West, Bart Allen, and Max Mercury lend their willpower to Hal Jordan, helping him hold back the multiverse.

Mark Waid and Dan Moras Absolute Power #4 brings their summer crisis event to a close as DC's heroes claim victory over Amanda Waller. The finale is packed with memorable moments, but one of the most badass highlights is Hal Jordan single-handedly holding off the entire multiverse.

As part of her contingency plan, Waller had struck deals with villains across the multiverse to aid her in the war against DC's heroes. When the final battle breaks out,...

Strange Darling is coming to Digital and Blu-ray. Horror fans will be able to add the movie, which has earned praise from both film critics and author Stephen King, to their physical media collections in November.

According to Variety, Strange Darling is now available to purchase digitally in 4K Ultra HD on Prime Video, Apple TV, and other video-on-demand platforms. The horror movie will then arrive on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Although not a major hit at the box office (it has only grossed $3.5 million worldwide after just over a month in theaters), Strange Darling has been well-received by critics, becoming certified fresh at 95 percent on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes. Among its fans is acclaimed horror author Stephen King, who wrote on X back in July that Strange Darling is "really terrific" and "a clever masterpiece."

Related Kathy Bates' Acclaimed Stephen King Movie Gets New Streaming...

2001's Smallville is fondly remembered as one of the most influential shows in the superhero genre. Following Tom Welling as a teenage Clark Kent, the CW series ran for 10 seasons, and it remains the longest-running live-action superhero show. Throughout its run, Smallville introduced a lot of Superman and DC lore to the small screen. Major DC characters like Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), Lois Lane (Erica Durance), Martian Manhunter (Phil Morris), Supergirl (Laura Vandervoort), and more play substantial roles in Clark's journey to become Superman. However, the biggest setup in Smallville is the foundation it laid for the Justice League.

The first major DC hero, aside from Clark, to appear on Smallville was Bart Allen/Impulse in season 4 episode 5 "Run." Impulse was followed by Arthur Curry/Aquaman and Victor Stone/Cyborg in season 5 before Oliver Queen/Green Arrow completed the roster in season 6. For all 4 of these heroes, Smallville was their live-action debut,...

The Flash is not only the fastest man alive - he's a pillar of DC Comics. He's been racing through the panels and pages since 1940, and his stories are some of the most fast-paced, most nail-biting, and most heartwarming that the comics industry has to offer, all told by the best and the brightest creators of our time.

Over his comic book history, The Flash has changed many times. He's a beacon of hope, he's somehow always late for social engagements, but most of all, he will never stop running the race. From Jay Garrick to Barry Allen to Wally West and more, it's incredibly difficult to pin down a character that can't exactly be caught, considering there is an 80-year-wealth of stories to choose from.

Yet, here they are: the best Flash stories that will make any beginner fall in love with comics, and any veteran fan remember why...

Smallville was a series that, by the middle of its run, had something of an identity crisis. Starting out as a sort of Superman prequel focused squarely on the youth of Clark Kent, it became a show that both wanted to embrace Superman's mythos while also actively avoiding it. To this end, other DC characters appeared, eventually forming an iconic team.

Simply referred to as "the League," Clark's group of allies in Smallville were meant to be a prototype version of the Justice League from the comics. While the roster included many of the heroes associated with the group in the comics, it also had a few somewhat unfamiliar faces. Given that they appeared in Smallville of all shows, there were also numerous changes to the source material.

Smallville's Scarlet Speedster Wasn't The Flash

Bart Allen/Impulse (The Flash)

Debut (Smallville)

Debut (Comics)

Actor

Creator(s)

"Run" (Episode...

The TV series Smallville ended over a decade ago, but it remains a favorite in the hearts and minds of various television and DC Comics fans. Telling the story of a young Clark Kent, it showcased his earliest adventures and his development on the road to becoming Superman. Now, the show is being considered for a followup, albeit in a different format.

According to actor Michael Rosenbaum, an animated Smallville sequel has been considered, with some even questioning if it will ever happen. The animated medium is much different than the kind of show that fans are used to, and it could provide for various new avenues to expand the series' story. Likewise, there are several loose ends and other elements that the Smallville animated sequel could excel in bringing to life.

The Smallville Sequel Should Feature a Married Lois and Clark

Related My Adventures with Superman Season 2's Biggest...

Brand-new fan art from a user on Instagram reveals how Tom Welling's Superman and the rest of the cast of Smallville could have looked had they formed into an official Justice League with more experience behind them. Smallville may have wrapped up the series that went into incredible detail about the origins of Superman and Clark Kent's early years learning to handle his powers, but for fans of the show, it never fails to get the imagination going when new fan art featuring the cast is released. And that is exactly what Instagram user, buffy2ville did in a recent post, taking these pre-dceu characters and making them equally super.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Buffy2ville (@buffy2ville)

The fan account frequently posts high quality images of the cast of Smallville in imaginary adventures that could have taken place some time after the show wrapped.

"Smallville" began as a Superman origin story, showing Clark Kent (Tom Welling) growing up as a Kansas farm boy in the early aughts. His best friend? Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), of course! About halfway through, it became a straight-up Superman show that just didn't have the title or costume. Once you introduce the Justice League, you're out of the "prequel" period.

As this change happened, "Smallville" got very liberal about bringing in DC Comics characters — Clark even fought friggin' Darkseid in the 10th and final season! That makes two big absences stand out all the more. Batman and Wonder Woman, Superman's closest comrades and fellow parts of the DC Trinity, never show up in "Smallville."

At the 2024 TerrifiCon convention, Welling revealed it wasn't only fans who wanted Batman to pop in on "Smallville." Welling, though, said his ideal crossover would've been more low-key and free of any black, pointy-eared costumes:...

The Flash faced formidable villains with metahuman powers, requiring more than just speed to defeat them. Godspeed, King Shark, and Gorilla Grodd presented unique challenges for Barry Allen with their diverse abilities. The Speed Force, the source of Flash's powers, proved to be the most powerful entity in the Arrowverse.

The Flash had many strong villains with metahuman powers in its nine-season run. Most of Flash's villains are superpowered, as his speedster abilities are no match for regular humans. Whether it be Reverse Flash or Bloodwork, villains who pose a great threat often prove a tough challenge for Barry Allen to overcome.

The Flash produced a high number of quality villains, as one of the strongest Arrowverse shows with a range of top-notch villains who were heavily entertaining. Flash had to use more than just his speedster powers to take down most of the show's big bads. As a result,...

The Flash is fiction’s most notable speedster, the character is so iconic that it’s been adapted numerous times both in animated form and live-action projects. Several names carried the mantle of Flash over the last several decades and some have resonated with the audience better than others. Fans gathered on Ranker to rate all actors that were associated with Flash roles in the past, both voice actors and live-action actors and we decided to bring you the 10 best. Let’s go!

10. Kenny Johnston

Kenny Johnston was Flash (Barry Allen) for a relatively short time. He appeared in ‘Justice League of America’ (1997 TV movie). ‘Justice League of America’ is a 1997 made-for-tv movie presented as a mockumentary about the titular superheroes. It was initially intended as a pilot for a ‘Justice League’ TV series, which ultimately did not materialize. Short but sweet, at least he made it to the top...

The Flash Family is physically fused into a lethal Speed Force Storm in a dark future. The Flash Storm can rapidly age or de-age anything it touches, exhibiting immense time powers. The Flash Family's cross-generational dynamic sets them apart as heroes, even as they face a horrifying fate.

The Flash Family is easily closer than the Dcu's Bat-Family or the Super-Family, and this closeness took on a twisted new form in a dark future. Instead of the members simply being there to support one another, they were horrifically fused into a single horrifying being.

During Batman: Last Knight on Earth by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, Batman wakes up in a nightmare-ish version of the world he once knew. Everything seems to have completely fallen apart, with the world in utter shambles. The Justice League is missing, and large sections of the world are destroyed. While searching for Superman, Batman...

DC almost had a Justice League series in the 2000s. The planned Justice League spinoff for Smallville involved Green Arrow, Cyborg, Flash, and more. DC's parent company possibly halted the Smallville Justice League series for movie plans.

The Justice League is DC's premiere superhero team, and while the squad has shown up in multiple live-action projects, the team almost appeared on TV before the Arrowverse and in relation to one of the best superhero series of all time, Smallville. While DC has faltered on the movie side with the Dceu, the shared DC universe on TV the Arrowverse mostly thrived for around a decade. Multiple popular heroes from DC Comics got their chance to shine in the Arrowverse, with characters like Green Arrow, Superman, Supergirl, the Flash, and more teaming up across the Arrowverse's many series.

While the Arrowverse is the best DC live-action shared universe, the franchise was not without its faults.

Warning! This article contains spoilers about the Smallville Season 11 comics.

DC fan shows what Smallville's Justice League would look like in a futuristic setting, with Batman joining Clark Kent's team. The Smallville Season 11 comics expand the TV show's Justice League with the introduction of DC heroes like Batman, Nightwing, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern. Bart Allen dies in Smallville Season 11, and Aquaman, Cyborg, and Black Canary don't show up. Meanwhile, Oliver Queen, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, and Red Tornado return to defeat the Monitor alongside Superman.

A DC fan shows what Smallville's Justice League would look like a few years after the show ended, with Tom Welling's Superman being joined by none other than Batman. Smallville follows Tom Welling's Clark Kent from the moment he lands on Earth to the moment he first wears the Superman suit, with feats like founding the Justice League and fighting Doomsday in between. Although...

Robin (Damian Wayne) and Beast Boy could be key members for the Teen Titans movie. Superboy (Conner Kent) brings exciting powers to the team with his brash attitude. Nightwing is an essential character for the Teen Titans as a mentor and leader.

With a Teen Titans movie coming to the new DC Universe, some of the heroes who have been a part of the team during its long comic book history are a must-have for the film. While DC has yet to officially comment on the news, a Teen Titans movie is reportedly happening. The Dcu project will be written by Ana Nogueira, who is a part of the Dcu family, as she is the writer for the Dcu's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

The report stated that Teen Titans is currently in search of a director, with no mention of which Teen Titans members are expected to be part of the team's live-action cinematic debut.

Wally West's decision to leave the Flash mantle led to Bart Allen's death and could have been avoided had he stayed. Wally's refusal to help his friend Hunter Zolomon led to him becoming the evil Zoom instead of finding a better path. Barry Allen's twisted timeline resulted in him becoming a murderer, throwing his life into chaos.

The Flash might be the Fastest Man Alive, but even he’s prone to costly failures that have huge impacts on the world around him. Ever since Jay Garrick started it all, the Flash mantle has been shared by numerous heroes in DC’s speedster family. And nearly every one of them has a mistake that haunts them.

Flashes tend to be overconfident thanks to their reality-breaking powers, but they’re just as likely to fail as anyone else. Read on to discover 10 of the greatest mistakes in Flash history.

This Blue Beetle article contains spoilers.

At the start of Blue Beetle’s second act, protagonist Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) asks an important question: “Who the hell was Blue Beetle?”

A lot of viewers wondered the same thing when the Warner Bros. movie came to theaters earlier this year and they’ll likely be asking it again now that the movie is streaming on Max. People don’t ask that same question of Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, but not because Blue Beetle is at best a C-lister in the DC Comics bullpen. Rather it’s because the man behind the Blue Beetle mask has changed several times since Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski debuted the character in 1939.

The big-screen adaptation introduces Blue Beetle as Jaime Reyes, who is a recent college grad forced to the superhero identity after receiving an alien scarab from Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine), the daughter of inventor Ted Kord,...

Danica Williams is a remarkable future Flash who has the unprecedented ability to run on air molecules, setting her apart from other speedsters. Her extraordinary skill elevates her to the pinnacle of the Flash hierarchy and reshapes the traditional benchmarks of speed and power. While Danica currently holds the title of the fastest Flash, Wally West's daughter Irey has the potential to surpass her, showcasing the ongoing evolution of speedster powers.

The future Flash, Danica Williams, has shattered expectations by harnessing the final speed power that has even eluded speedster legends Barry Allen and Wally West. This remarkable new power has placed her on the cusp of being anointed the fastest speedster in history. Yet, a challenger looms on the horizon, potentially poised to surpass Danica's remarkable speeds.

In Justice League Beyond #25 by Derek Fridolfs, Marcus To, and Ian Herring, a remarkable discovery is unveiled by Danica Williams: she...

Smallville's Justice League is brought to life in stunning fan art, showcasing Tom Welling's Superman alongside his co-stars in their respective costumes. Bart Allen, also known as Impulse, finally gets to wear an armored Flash suit in the artwork, resembling the one worn by Ezra Miller's Scarlet Speedster. The fan art not only gives fans the Superman hero shot they never got in the series but also provides upgraded versions of characters like Green Arrow, Aquaman, Cyborg, Supergirl, and Lex Luthor.

Young Clark Kent’s Justice League appears as never before in jaw-dropping fan art. The WB and later the CW’s television series Smallville slowly but surely began assembling its own version of the DC superhero team to surround the Last Son of Krypton, before he became Superman in the series finale. In an inspiring collection of new artwork from @buffy2ville, fans can witness Tom...

When naming the strongest superhero or most powerful superhuman, it's ultimately a question of Marvel vs DC Comics, who have been creating superheroes and gods for decades.Of all the most powerful beings and entities within the Marvel and DC universes, who reigns supreme, and who will fall short?

Marvel and DC fans are constantly comparing the heroes from their respective franchises. Each series of comics boasts a number of compelling and powerful characters, with every new installment to the cinematic universes expanding upon their range of skills and abilities. To make things simple, we took all the complicated flow charts of powerful superheroes in Marvel and DC (from comics to film) and separated them out in a neat and orderly ranked list. Rankings were conceived through power obtained and held by each character.Ultimately one brand features a roster even stronger than the other! But which one?

DC: The...

The following contains spoilers for Blue Beetle, now playing in theaters.

Blue Beetle focuses on the adventures of Jaime Reyes, who takes on the heroic mantle after bonding with an alien Scarab. Comic book fans know, however, that Jaime was only the third hero to use this name. Thankfully, the movie adapts this legacy in an incredibly accurate way, and it showcases one way to deal with the problem of superhero legacies.

Usually, each individual hero within a mantle legacy has their own fans, which can make it difficult to give them all their due in adaptations. That's definitely the case with heroes such as Dan Garrett, who debuted during the Golden Age of Comics. While Jaime is the one who gets center stage in the movie, he's clearly made to not be the only Blue Beetle, with Dan and Ted Kord getting more than mere name-drops.

Related: Blue Beetle...

In DC Comics, The Flash is quite literally “The Fastest Man Alive,” with his roots as a super-fast superhero stretching back to the 1940s. Not only has this speedster been involved in some of the most memorable comic stories of all time, but the fact that there are more than a few incarnations of his character running around the multiverse proves he’s a huge part of DC history that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Whether it be Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West, or even Bart Allen under the cowl (to name a few), Flash is an integral part of what makes the DC Universe tick, sometimes literally. Here are fifteen key moments that defined Flash and the comic book world he calls home.

Related: 15 Most Likable Villains in DC (Ranked)

Jay Garrick's Debut

Racing onto the scene as the very first person to hold the mantle of...

Cbr supports the hard work of creators and industry professionals to create movies fans all know and love, but it's important to remember the ongoing controversy with Ezra Miller. You can find Cbr's continuing coverage of Miller here.

The following contains spoilers for The Flash, now playing in theaters.

As The Flash proceeds, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) has to rectify his error. Barry's messed the timeline up trying to save his mom, Nora, from dying. But apart from an amalgam world where Michael Shannon's General Zod is running riot, he's accidentally destroying other worlds by being selfish.

Thankfully, the Scarlet Speedster mends the timestream and goes back to what he thinks is the Snyderverse. However, all's not well, which leaves Barry scared for the future. With that in mind, let's discuss how The Flash sets up a sequel, as well as other properties the DC Universe could mine from this journey.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #2!With the Reverse-Flash more powerful than ever, he's shining a light on which member of the Flash Family is its most powerful. According to the madman himself, only one hero can withstand the might of Eobard Thawne's new fused form.

In Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow's #2's backup story, "Kid Flash: The Speed of Fear" by Brandon Easton and Travis Mercer, Wallace West is going about his day and saves a construction worker from being flattened in an industrial accident. But during the rescue, Kid Flash notices a storm containing Speed Force lightning appears over Central City. Wallace is struck by the lightning, and the Speed Force reveals that the Reverse-Flash has become the new host to Parallax, the living embodiment of fear and the Sinestro Corps' avatar.

A flash-forward shows Kid Flash fighting against the new and improved Thawne.

Thanos creator Jim Starlin has seen The Flash and has a few things to say about how DC celebrates comic book writers very differently than Marvel does.

This week The Flash finally hits theaters, being one of the most anticipated superhero movies of recent times, and also one of the ones that have suffered the most from delays caused by the pandemic, changes in Warner Bros. Discovery, and the scandals starring its main star, Ezra Miller.

Since months before the debut, several actors and celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Stephen King have praised the work done by Andy Muschietti in the film, and now the creator of one of the greatest villains in the Marvel universe joins them.

Jim Starlin shared a brief review of The Flash on his social media, where he celebrates an important difference between the two largest comic book companies:

“Was really surprised by how...

Barry Allen will have his first solo movie in the upcoming film The Flash, but Ezra Miller’s iteration is hardly the first live-action version of the Scarlet Speedster. The Flash has been a major DC Comics superhero since the Golden Age of comic books. Barry Allen and other iterations of The Flash have appeared in numerous live-action adaptations, making the hero one of DC’s most popular characters outside of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.

Fascinatingly, Barry Allen’s introduction set DC Comics on a course toward a plethora of reboots and multiversal storytelling. Allen’s debut acknowledges Jay Garrick, prompting DC to later explain that the two heroes are each The Flash of their respective realities. Moreover, Barry Allen’s powers (later explained as a connection to a cosmic energy force known as the Speed Force) allow him to travel through time and into other realities, further popularizing the concept of the multiverse.

The Flash guest star Stephen Amell recently revealed the special Arrowverse Easter egg hidden in the show's series finale.

Speaking with ComicBook.com, Amell shared his thoughts on The Flash's final episode, stating, "I think it's good. I think it did well." The actor, who played Oliver Queen/Green Arrow/Spectre through the entirety of the Arrowverse, added that he "was there for Blake Neely to score the last episode of The Flash," revealing that "The last cue that he did was called '641' because that's how many episodes that he scored in the Arrowverse. So, I think 641 episodes of anything is pretty good." Neely was the series composer for Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman. However, the 641-episode total does not include the late Arrowverse addition Black Lightning, which Kurt Farquhar scored.

Related: The Flash: Why Bart Allen Didn't Return for the Series Finale...

Warning: Spoilers for The Flash season 9, episode 13

Several long-awaited moments will never happen if The Flash series finale was really the last time Grant Gustin plays Barry Allen. After nine seasons, the last remaining show in the Arrowverse came to an end. Though the finale did indeed mark the end of an era, it didn’t necessarily close the door on Barry Allen’s story.

The Flash season 9, episode 13, titled “A New World, Part Four,” made it abundantly clear that while the series is over for good, Barry’s superhero journey is far from complete. In-universe, he’s still active as the Flash and will continue to hold the mantle until at least 2049. But though plenty of storytelling potential remains with his character, there’s no guarantee Grant Gustin will suit up as the Scarlet Speedster once more. Gustin has expressed a willingness to reprise the role, but opportunities for that are sparse.

Many people have held the title of the Flash throughout DC Comics history, which has shaped it into the iconic mantle comic fans know today. The two most popular and formative Flashes are Wally West and Barry Allen, both of whom have contributed to major changes in Flash lore in significant ways. Both of them hold the title today, showing their take on the hero in different ways, but Wally is the current face of the Flash Family.

While Barry Allen is perhaps the most famous of all the various Scarlet Speedsters, the very first Flash in DC Comics was actually Jay Garrick. First appearing in 1940 in Flash Comics #1 by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, Jay gained the powers of super speed in a laboratory accident and decided to use his newfound abilities to fight crime. The idea of the Flash really took off in 1956 when Barry Allen first appeared,...

The following contains spoilers for the series finale of The Flash, "A New World Part 4," which aired May 24 on The CW.

While the series finale of The Flash saw three new Speedsters introduced, leading man Grant Gustin revealed that he had another idea about how the show could have ended -- one that uses a fan theory with a link to Barry Allen's origin in the comics.

Gustin talked about said idea while speaking to Entertainment Weekly, bringing it up after discussing why he liked how The Flash ended. "It was a fan theory I saw online about Barry sacrificing himself to the Speed Force and becoming the lightning bolt that struck him in this full circle moment," he began. "I thought it was cool, and I remember I talked to [showrunner] Eric [Wallace] about it and he was really set on Barry and Iris having a happy ending. He...

The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace recently revealed that scheduling conflicts prevented him from bringing back Jordan Fisher for the long-running Arrowverse show's series finale.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Wallace shared that the "timing just couldn't have been worse" regarding Fisher returning to reprise his role as Barry and Iris' second child, Bart Allen, in the series finale, "A New World, Part Four." Wallace explained that Fisher was busy starring in Broadway's Sweeney Todd at the same time The Flash was filming its series finale. Fisher previously portrayed Bart Allen, who fights crime as the speedster Impulse in the year 2049, in Seasons 7 and 8 of The Flash.

Related: The Flash: Grant Gustin Breaks Down His Favorite Parts of the Final Season

Although Fisher's Bart Allen was absent from the series finale, another member of the West-Allen family did make an appearance -- Nora West-Allen/Xs (Jessica Parker Kennedy). Patrick Sabongui, John Wesley Shipp,...

The following contains spoilers for The Flash Season 9, Episode 13, "A New World, Part Four: Finale," which aired May 24 on The CW.

The final season of The Flash on The CW wrapped up the story for the show's characters and the entire Arrowverse. This means that the entire final season was a bevy of guest appearances and cameos. Plenty of returning champs came back for the series finale, including villains and allies of Team Flash. After nine years and more than 100 episodes, it can be difficult to remember just who everyone is.

One of the most important returning characters was Rick Cosnett's Eddie Thawne, who came back for the final four episodes. Along with Iris's ex-fiancé, her daughter from the future Nora West-Allen, played by Jessica Parker Kennedy, is another holdover from the penultimate episode of The Flash. However, several other characters returned, many of them former Big Bad villains from past seasons.

Warning: Spoilers for The Flash season 9, episode 13

The Flash series finale set up three characters to eventually replace Barry Allen as the Scarlet Speedster. The Flash season 9, episode 13, titled “A New World, Part Four,” saw Barry pick three people to wield the powers of the Flash. In Barry’s words, their job will be to help create a “better” world.

Based on what was known of the future Grant Gustin's Barry Allen would have after the series, there wasn’t much room for surprises in the series finale. Because of the involvement of his future children, it’s been understood for a while that Barry Allen will be the Flash until at least 2049 in the Arrowverse timeline. For that reason, it was expected from the very beginning that no matter what challenge Cobalt Blue would throw at him, Barry would defeat the villain and carry on as the Team Flash leader.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Flash #794!It looks like Wally West's daughter Irey has finally found her place in the expansive Flash Family. After wondering for months what her speedster name should be, Irey has finally settled on the perfect codename for herself.

In The Flash #794 by Jeremy Adams and Roger Cruz, the Speed Force-powered Fraction is continuing their assault on the Earth, and they've just sent one of their most deadly weapons to reclaim their organic conduits. Irey West stands guard, refusing to let Miss Murder reclaim heroes like Captain Atom or Superman for the Fraction's empire. With no other option, Irey uses her brother Jai West's invulnerably to act as a wrecking ball to send the alien invader running.

Irey brings Jai along and uses their combined powers to help Impulse, Kid Flash, and Max Mercury escape the clutches of several Fraction warriors. Inspired by the words from Jai's comic,...

Barry Allen's (Grant Gustin) story will come to an end with the upcoming ninth and final season of The Flash. While speaking to TVLine, showrunner Eric Wallace teased what's coming in the show's final 13 episodes. One storyline that Wallace is focused on wrapping up is the relationship between Barry and Iris West-Allen (Candice Patton). When the series began, Barry and Iris were best friends, with Barry keeping his feelings for her a secret. Over the course of the show's run, the two began dating, and later got married during the show's fourth season. They've even met their future children Nora West-Allen (Jessica Parker Kennedy) and Bart Allen (Jordan Fisher).

After a number of second printing announcements for books featuring Superman and Flash characters, it's clear DC Comics' new initiative, "Dawn of DC," is seeing an early success. Fans have embraced DC's new era with open arms—and open wallets. Four issues have sold out, prompting second printings for each of them.

DC announced second printings for several recent issues on Wednesday, only hours have announcing three new titles as part of 2023's "Dawn of DC" storytelling initiative. Creators Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Jeremy Adams, and Skylar Patridge announced second printings for each of their attached projects on Twitter, celebrating the success of their books.

Action Comics #1051 is getting a 2Nd Printing! Huge thanks for all the support, and stay tuned to see what's in store for this New Era of #Superman comics! #ActionComics@DCComics @RafaSandoval75 @thedanjurgens @Inkdropinc @mymonsterischic @S_Marguerite @MattHerms @Paul_Kaminski pic.twitter.com/1FW2PS4V7o...

Smallville's Bart Allen actor Kyle Gallner gets turned into the Green Arrow for the new DC Universe in gritty fan art. The slate of movies and TV shows for DC is now under the capable hands of new DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. The duo is set to reveal by the end of January a few characters and projects that will be part of the first chapter of storytelling for the new Dcu, and an artist makes a compelling case for Superman prequel series Smallville actor Gallner to play the Dcu version of iconic archer Green Arrow.

Artist Spdrmnkyxxiii shared on Instagram an exciting peek at what Gallner's Green Arrow could look like in the Dcu.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by...

As the DC Universe continues to develop its new direction under the auspices of DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, Smallville star Kyle Gallner explains why he would be the perfect Green Arrow in a new film. Green Arrow is the mantle worn by DC Comics hero Oliver Queen, an expert archer who originally debuted in 1941. Much like Batman, the character uses his status as a rich playboy to hide his activities as a vigilante. While the character has been mentioned in an episode of The Suicide Squad spinoff series Peacemaker, he has not officially appeared onscreen in the Dcu.

Gallner, who starred in four episodes of the Superman prequel series Smallville as Bart Allen, took to Twitter to respond to a recent Tweet from Gunn, saying that hundreds of roles need to be cast for the Dcu. Gallner shares reasons why he would be perfect to play Green Arrow.

Warning: Spoilers for The Flash #790Even though Kid Flash is an essential part of the Flash's legacy, one speedster freely admits that he hated his time as Kid Flash: Bart Allen. Bart spent his first years as a hero working under the codename Impulse, so it's no wonder he never felt fully connected with the Kid Flash name.

Bart Allen crashed into the Flash's world in the 1990s: the grandson of the original Flash, Barry Allen, and Iris West-Allen, Bart is a native of the 31st century and only returned to the "present" in order to get the current Flash, Wally West, to help slow down his hyperactive metabolism. Though it would seem like, by introducing a young speedster during Wally's early years as the Flash, Bart Allen was meant to be the next Kid Flash, he proved to be too much for Wally to handle. Instead, Bart took...

Bart Allen proved he was the perfect Flash for Smallville. The Superman-prequel series Smallville follows the story of a young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) in the time before he becomes the Man of Steel. Beginning in 2001, Smallville ran for 10 seasons and was followed by the Smallville season 11 sequel comic. Tom Welling would also later return as his incarnation of Clark Kent on the CW's DC multiverse event, Crisis on Infinite Earths, in 2019.

On Smallville, Clark is far from the only metahuman, with many other DC superheroes appearing on Smallville throughout the course of the show. Clark even joins with other heroes to form the Justice League, which includes the young speedster Bart Allen (Kyle Gallner), a.k.a. Impulse. One of several characters in the comics to take up the mantle of The Flash, Bart's role on Smallville was the first appearance of another DC hero on the show, which...

After being pitched as Green Arrow in the new DC Universe, Smallville actor Kyle Gallner, who played Bart Allen, responds to the fancasting ideas. The Dcu (formerly known as the Dceu) is seemingly getting ready for a reboot in some capacity. With James Gunn and Peter Safran in charge of DC Studios, a lot of reports have emerged over the last few weeks about the future of the franchise. While Gunn has debunked and addressed what is and isn't true, there is still a lot of unclarity about the Dcu. With a new Superman movie happening without Henry Cavill, it appears DC Studios is possibly starting from scratch.

While it remains to be seen if they are doing an entire restart of the Dcu, the audience is already fancasting various heroes for the new universe. One superhero many are hoping to see is Oliver Queen, a.k.a. the Green Arrow,...

Warning: Potential Spoilers for The Flash #794West family fans can rejoice: the Flash's daughter, Irey West, is finally getting a new codename and costume of her own. Wally West's daughter is a speedster just like him, and she's been helping him save the world. In an upcoming issue of The Flash, Irey will debut a full-fledged costume and hero name of her own.

DC revealed that Irey would be getting a new codename in the solicitation information for March's The Flash #794. Along with that teaser, the main cover for the issue—which is part of the Flash family's latest event, "One Minute War"—shows a side profile of Irey preparing to run alongside her father, Wally West. With her red hair free, she's wearing a brand new costume featuring the Flash's classic red and gold color scheme. The full solicit reads as follows:

The Flash #794 Written by Jeremy Adams...