The Flash's Speed Is Starting to Cause Problems, And DC's Solution Can't Last Forever

The Flash is one of DC's most powerful heroes around thanks to the super-speed he can tap into at will, but he might be too overpowered for his own good. His abilities have evolved to a degree where no one can possibly keep up with him, and although that's helped him take down dangerous foes, it's also written him into a corner. Simply put, the Flash has become too fast.

When Jay Garrick became the first Flash in 1940, he held the title of the Fastest Man Alive, but the rate at which he ran wasn't so insurmountably fast that no one could possibly keep up with him. Nowadays, after Barry Allen and Wally West have taken over and made the Flash mantle their own, the hero has reached speeds that the human mind can't even properly fathom.

As awesome as the Flash's speed is, it's begun to pose a big problem for his writers at DC Comics. Flash's battles against villains are less believable now that he can defeat them before they can even blink, which means he's essentially become unstoppable.

It's Time to Admit The Flash Is Becoming Too Fast For DC to Handle

The Flash's Speed Has Created A Major Issue For His Writers

In Superman #709 by J. Michael Straczynski, Chris Roberson, Eddy Barrows, and Allan Goldman, the Flash confirmed that he can "perceive events that last for less than an attosecond" - an attosecond being equal to a quintillionth of a second. Moreover, he can move miles upon miles in a single microsecond, which is much faster than an average person could even form a coherent thought. When a protagonist can run at such unimaginable speed, it becomes difficult to find obstacles that can block his path. Wally West in particular has outrun Superman, other Flashes, and death itself, becoming the fastest being in the entire DC multiverse.

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Since the Flash can outrun thought, there's nothing stopping him from dealing with enemies in the time it takes them to throw a single punch. Therefore, DC has navigated this tricky situation by introducing enemies with their own Speed Force connections, such as the Reverse-Flash. These characters can pose a proper threat to the Flashes when other villains find themselves falling behind. From speedsters like Savitar and Godspeed to cosmic gods like the Arc Angles, DC has found ways to keep the Flash on his toes. However, with each powerful new challenger, the Flash's classic enemies fall further into irrelevance.

The Flash Can Outrun Most Villains, Making His Rogues Obsolete

To Stand a Chance Against Flash, His Enemies Require Major Upgrades

One of the biggest issues with a hero as fast as Flash relates to his villains. If the Flash can process time in attoseconds, then how could any opponent possibly stand a chance against him? The short answer is that, a majority of the time, they can't. "Don't Come to Central City" from The Flash #800, written by Jeremy Adams with art by Fernando Pasarin, illustrates just how disadvantaged DC's villains are against the Flash as they recall their failed attempts at committing crimes on his home turf. Even the Joker was instantly blown back to Gotham by the Flash's speed tornado in the blink of an eye.

The Flash has faced a roster of iconic villains, and though they used to give him more trouble when he was still used to his powers, he's now surpassed most of them. While speedster enemies like Reverse-Flash and Zoom can catch up to him, it's members of the Rogues like Captain Cold who have to find workarounds to keep pace. For instance, in Simmon Spurrier's ongoing run on The Flash, the Rogues receive super-powered upgrades from the Arc Angles that help them slow the Flash down or otherwise weaken him. Villains can't keep getting artificial boosts, though, so something must be done to level the playing field.

The Flash's New Powers Bypass His Speed Problem, But Are They Enough?

Wally West's Side-Stepping and Duplication Abilities Are A Temporary Fix

To circumvent the problem of the Flash running too fast, DC has introduced new superpowers to his arsenal that vary his tactics and thus can give him options aside from speed. The first of these is the ability to shift between dimensional planes by side-stepping in and out of reality. He unlocks this technique in "Between Love and You" from The Flash #800, and it's helped him beat Gorilla Grodd when regular speed isn't an option. His duplication power, which he's utilizing in the current Flash arc by Simon Spurrier and Vasco Georgiev, also gives him an innovative skill that translates his speed in a less overpowered way.

Unfortunately, these Flash powers are a temporary solution to a problem that can't be fully rectified. Even if the Flash doesn't always outrun his enemies traditionally, he still can, which causes the reader to wonder why any of his fights last longer than a page or so. All writers can do is keep pitting him against speedsters on his level, unless a more creative solution to bridge the widening gap between him and his classic villains is implemented. For now, it's only going to get more and more challenging for DC to integrate the Flash's usual Rogues into stories as his powers continue their evolution.

The Flash

Created By

Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert, Carmine Infantino

First Appearance

Flash Comics

Alias

Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West, Bart Allen, Avery Ho

Alliance

Justice Society of America, Justice League, Teen Titans

Race

Human

Franchise

D.C.

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