Reverse-Flash
Encyclopedia
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s in DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. All of them have super-speed and are enemies of the Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
dynasty.
Golden Age
The Rival first appeared in Flash ComicsFlash Comics
Flash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949. Although the name of the comic book was Flash Comics, the Flash was only one of many different series featured in the...
#104 (February 1949). He is Dr. Edward Clariss, a professor at the university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
attended by the Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
Flash, Jay Garrick. He believes he has recreated the formula that gives Garrick his speed, which he calls "Velocity 9." He heard Joan one night talking about how the Flash got his speed to another student, which helped him get the last formula. Bitter at the rejection of his claims by the scientific community, though he had become famous for other inventions in Europe, Clariss becomes a criminal, wearing a darker version of the Flash's outfit and giving it to several other criminals. He fakes his kidnapping to avoid suspicion. He then uses a machine to project his voice to the location. His men capture the Flash and bring him to the hideout. He tries to make the Flash the slowest man alive with a different formula, but the Flash uses his original formula to get his speed back. The Rival's version of the formula, however, proves to be temporary, and he is defeated with his crooks during an attempted bank robbery when it is expended and he is jailed.
JSA #16 (November 2000) reveals that the Rival battled the Flash several months after his first appearance; in doing so he reaches lightspeed and vanishes into the Speed Force. Following the reformation of the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
50 years later, Clariss is retrieved from the Speed Force
Speed Force
The Speed Force is a concept presented in various comic books published by DC Comics, primarily in relation to the various speedsters in the DC Universe.-Empowered:...
(which had been revealed as the Valhalla
Valhalla
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr...
of fallen speedsters, good or evil, as well as their source of power) by Johnny Sorrow
Johnny Sorrow
Johnny Sorrow is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Secret Origins of Super-Villains 80-Page Giant #1 Johnny Sorrow is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in...
, who invites him to join the new Injustice Society
Injustice Society
The Injustice Society is a group of fictional supervillains in the . They are the main antagonists of the Justice Society of America.-Original team:...
. The Rival, driven to insanity by his time in the Speed Force, races across the country on a super-speed killing spree. The Flash realizes that the Rival's path across the country spells out Clariss' name, and that the final murder will be Jay's wife Joan. The Flash is unable to prevent the Rival killing a young boy, but manages to absorb the Rival's speed before he can kill Joan.
The Rival returns in Impulse #88 (September 2002), posing as Joan Garrick's doctor. Now pure speed energy, he possesses Garrick's fellow Golden Age speedster Max Mercury
Max Mercury
Max Mercury is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero based on Quality Comics' Quicksilver.- Publication history :He first appeared in Quality's National Comics #5, cover dated November 1940, as Quicksilver...
. After battling Jay and Impulse
Bart Allen
Bartholomew "Bart" Allen is a superhero in the . Allen first appeared as the superhero Impulse. He would later go on to become the second Kid Flash and the fourth Flash. Allen's first cameo appearance was in The Flash #91, while his first full appearance was in issue #92...
, the Rival escapes, still in possession of Max Mercury's body. He has not been seen since.
There is another Golden Age Reverse Flash, a robot who wears a reversed-color version of Garrick's costume. The robot's only appearance was in one panel in The Flash vol. 2, #134 (February 1998), in which he is easily defeated by Garrick.
Pre-Crisis
Eobard Thawne aka Professor Zoom, first appeared in The Flash #139 (September 1963). Originally, he is a criminal from the 25th century, who found a time capsuleTime capsule
A time capsule is an historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a method of communication with future people and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians...
containing the Silver Age
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
Flash
Barry Allen
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe. He is the second character known as the Flash. The character first appeared in Showcase #4 , created by writers Robert Kanigher and John Broome and penciler Carmine Infantino. His name combines talk show hosts Barry Gray...
's costume. He is able to use a machine to amplify the suit's speed energy, giving himself the abilities of the Flash as long as he wears it. In the process, the colors of the costume reverse, with the suit becoming yellow, the boots and lightning bolt highlights turning red, and the chest symbol's white circle becoming black. He uses his speed powers to commit crimes. Flash had travelled to the Future as he discovered an atomic clock
Atomic clock
An atomic clock is a clock that uses an electronic transition frequency in the microwave, optical, or ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum of atoms as a frequency standard for its timekeeping element...
in the capsule would become an atomic bomb due to the process, and he defeated the Reverse-Flash by making his friction-protection aura
Aura
-Science and medicine:*Aura , a symptom experienced before a migraine or seizure*Aura , a satellite in the NASA Earth Observing System series*1488 Aura, a main-belt asteroid*Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy...
burn away, and stopped the bomb from exploding. Despite destroying the costume Zoom is still able to cause trouble for him. His knowledge of Allen’s dual identity enables him to strike at him by killing his wife, Iris, after she refuses to marry him he vibrates his hand through her skull, causing a hunt to discover the murderer, and later attempting to kill his fiancée Fiona. It was in saving Fiona’s life that the Flash broke Zoom’s neck, killing him.
Post-Crisis
After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Professor Zoom's origin was revamped. As seen in the Return of Barry Allen storyline in The Flash (vol. 2) #74-79, Eobard Thawne started out as a fan of the Flash. After gaining super-speed by replicating the electrochemical bath that gave Barry Allen his powers - even undergoing surgery to make himself look like Barry -, he traveled backward in time using the Cosmic TreadmillCosmic treadmill
The cosmic treadmill is a fictional time travel device in the DC Comics universe. The treadmill first appears in The Flash #125 written by John Broome.-Origins:The treadmill was first seen in The Flash #125 written by John Broome...
to meet his hero. However, Thawne became mentally unstable upon discovering he is destined to become a villain, though the true name of the greatest foe of the Flash was not known in his time it was known here, his mind - already disoriented by the stress of time travel as the Treadmill had changed over the years meaning he arrives years after when he intended to - seeking escape by convincing himself that he is Barry Allen. However, his true nature is eventually revealed due to his more violent nature, "Barry" attacking Central City in 'revenge' for 'forgetting him', until he is ultimately defeated by Wally West and he tricks Zoom into returning to his proper time.
Even though Thawne retained no memories of his trip through time, he was now left with a deep and bitter hatred of Barry Allen. This was due to feeling "betrayed" by Barry. Thawne began traveling back in time to battle the Flash to get revenge on him, using his knowledge of "history" to his advantage.
Professor Zoom has returned as the main villain in the mini-series Flash: Rebirth. Zoom claims to have a resurrection coming up soon, referencing the Blackest Night. In this appearance, Zoom claims to have not only traveled back in time, but also to have engineered Barry's return from the speed force. Zoom once tried to stop Barry becoming the Flash, hoping to get struck by the lightning, but nearly phased out of existence causing the lightning to pass through him and transform Barry, and realized Barry needed to become the Flash for him to become the Reverse-Flash. He erased Barry's best friend from existence, and murdered Barry Allen's mother, framing his father. He is behind the reality changing event Flashpoint
Flashpoint (comics)
Flashpoint is an American comic book crossover story arc published by DC Comics. Consisting of an eponymous core limited series and a number of tie-in titles, the storyline premiered in May 2011...
, and mocked Barry, who remembers how things should be, by placing a Reverse-Flash costume inside his ring. he appears briefly in Flashpoint #1, telling Barry's mother how nice it is to see her alive again, before appearing in the next panel traveling at superspeed. He finally appears in Flashpoint #4, confronting the Flash after Billy Batson is killed. He tells the Flash what really happened. Barry Allen travelled back in time to prevent Zoom killing his mother and pulled the entire speed force into himself. However this transformed history. He resets Barry's internal vibrations, allowing him to remember this. Zoom says this makes him a living paradox, he is not connected to any timeline and can kill the Flash. However he is stabbed by Thomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne is a fictional character in the Batman series of comic books. Dr. Thomas Wayne was the father of Bruce Wayne, and husband of Martha Wayne, as well as a gifted surgeon and philanthropist...
from behind and apparently killed. Later the timeline is restored to a more similar one to the original.
Modern Age
Hunter Zolomon aka Zoom first appeared in The Flash: Secret Files & Origins #3, created by Geoff JohnsGeoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
and Scott Kolins
Scott Kolins
Scott Kolins is an American illustrator, writer and creator for multiple different superhero and science fiction comic books. His main credits are as a penciler but he is an established inker as well as colorist and has some credits as a writer.-Biography:...
.
After arriving in Keystone City
Keystone City
Keystone City is a fictional city in the . Specifically, it is the home of both the original Flash, Jay Garrick, and the third Flash, Wally West...
, Hunter Zolomon was hired as a profiler, working with the police in their Department of Metahuman Hostilities. His work put him in constant contact with the Flash (Wally West
Wally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
), and the two became good friends. His insight was critical in solving a number of cases, but he always resented being stuck behind a desk.
One day, Hunter was severely injured in an attack by Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of The Flash. He debuted in Flash v.1 #106 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino....
, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He asked Wally West to use the time-travelling cosmic treadmill
Cosmic treadmill
The cosmic treadmill is a fictional time travel device in the DC Comics universe. The treadmill first appears in The Flash #125 written by John Broome.-Origins:The treadmill was first seen in The Flash #125 written by John Broome...
in the Flash Museum
Flash Museum
The Flash Museum is a fictional museum that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The museum is dedicated to the superheroes sharing the alias of the Flash, with its primary focus on Barry Allen...
to prevent this from occurring. West refused, saying that he couldn't risk damaging the timestream. Zolomon then broke into the museum and attempted to use the treadmill himself. The resulting explosion destroyed the museum (as well as his remaining sanity) and shifted Hunter's connection to time. He could now alter his personal timeframe, giving the effect of super-speed.
Zolomon concluded that West wouldn't help because, unlike Barry Allen, he had never suffered personal tragedy. Zolomon decided that if he became the new Zoom and killed West's wife (Linda Park
Linda Park (comics)
Linda Park is a fictional character in the DC Universe. She first appeared in Flash #28. Linda is Korean-American...
), this would help the Flash become a better hero.
Tangent Comics
- In DC's Tangent ComicsTangent ComicsTangent Comics was a DC Comics imprint created in 1997–1998, developed from ideas created by Dan Jurgens. The line, formed from various one-shots, focused on creating all-new characters using established DC names, such as the Joker, Superman, and the Flash...
reality, Reverse Flash is an evil holographic duplicate of Lia Nelson (the Flash), created by a sinister government agency. She was charged with negative ionic energy to disperse Flash's photonPhotonIn physics, a photon is an elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic interaction and the basic unit of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is also the force carrier for the electromagnetic force...
-based form. However Flash's lightwave powers outmatched Reverse-Flash's and Reverse-Flash was destroyed.
Television
- In the live actionLive actionIn filmmaking, video production, and other media, the term live action refers to cinematography, videography not produced using animation...
seriesTelevision programA television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
The FlashThe Flash (TV series)The Flash is a 1990 American television series that starred John Wesley Shipp as the superhero, the Flash , and co-starred Amanda Pays. The series was developed from the DC Comics characters by the writing team of Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo, and produced by their company, Pet Fly Productions, in...
(1990), Barry Allen temporarily takes the false namePseudonymA pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Professor Zoom while investigating the Mirror MasterMirror MasterMirror Master is a fictional character and a supervillain in the DC Universe. He is a recurring foe of the Flash with considerable technical expertise and skills involving the use of mirrors. Four individuals have donned the guise of Mirror Master...
in the episode "Done With Mirrors." In the episode "Twin Streaks," a scientist Jason Bressell and his assistant Ted Witcome create a clone of Barry they name Pollux. Though this blue-suited character bears a resemblance to the Reverse-Flash, Pollux has no direct relation to any comic anti-Flash, but more similar to BizarroBizarroBizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68...
.
- In the Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
episode, "Divided We Fall", BrainiacBrainiac (comics)Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
/Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
creates robotic copies of the League's villainous counterparts, the Justice Lords; since the Flash died before the Lords were formed, instead Brainiac/Luthor creates a duplicate wearing the red-on-yellow costume of the Reverse-Flash.
- In the TV show Robot ChickenRobot ChickenRobot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created and executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich along with co-head writers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root. Green provides many voices for the show...
, a Reverse-Flash (voiced by Seth GreenSeth GreenSeth Benjamin Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show, and the voice of Chris...
) made an appearance robbing a bank, while Flash, SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, and Wonder WomanWonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
stand idly by, commenting about how "lame" they think opposite-themed villains like Reverse-Flash, BizarroBizarroBizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68...
and Negative Wonder Woman are.
Video games
- Zoom appears in the Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy AdvanceThe is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
and Nintendo DSNintendo DSThe is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
game Justice League Heroes: The FlashJustice League Heroes: The FlashJustice League Heroes: The Flash is a side-story which complements the main events during Justice League Heroes of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles...
, as the fourth level boss.
- Zoom appears as a mini-boss in DC Universe OnlineDC Universe OnlineDC Universe Online or DCUO is an MMORPG by Sony Online Entertainment – Austin. Jim Lee serves as the game's Executive Creative Director, along with Carlos D'Anda, JJ Kirby, Oliver Nome, Eddie Nuñez, Livio Ramondelli, and Michael Lopez...
in the Gorilla GroddGorilla GroddGorilla Grodd is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of The Flash. He debuted in Flash v.1 #106 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino....
Duos instance.
See also
- Blur, a White MartianWhite MartianThe White Martians are one of three fictional extraterrestrial races native to Mars in the DC Comics' shared universe. White Martians, also known as Pale Martians, appear in the comics of the DC Universe, chiefly JLA, Martian Manhunter, and Son of Vulcan.-History:As a race of shapeshifters,...
/Human hybrid who appeared in the Son of VulcanVulcan (DC Comics)Vulcan, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the second character to star in a book titled Son of Vulcan, the first being Johnny Mann, who was created by Charlton Comics in 1965 and later purchased by DC Comics in 1983.In the modern version, Miguel...
mini-series. - Züm, a White Martian with super-speed and member of the Hyperclan.
- InertiaInertia (DC Comics)Inertia or Kid Zoom is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics universe.-Creation:When questioned as to who created Inertia, Ethan van Sciver wrote that he could only accept five percent of the credit. The rest was offered to Mike Wieringo , Grant Morrison , and Todd Dezago...
, The Reverse-Impulse, an evil clone of Bart AllenBart AllenBartholomew "Bart" Allen is a superhero in the . Allen first appeared as the superhero Impulse. He would later go on to become the second Kid Flash and the fourth Flash. Allen's first cameo appearance was in The Flash #91, while his first full appearance was in issue #92...
. - Johnny Quick, the Flash's evil counter part from the anti-matter EarthMultiverse (DC Comics)The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
- List of Flash enemies
External links
- Crimson Lightning - An online index to the comic book adventures of the Flash.