Ranking Every Version Of The Flash In DC Comics By Speed

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The Flash has been a key hero for DC Comics since the beginning, first appearing as Jay Garrick in 1940. While the Flash has a long history, the character really took off with Barry Allen, leading to a whole “Flash Family” of speedsters. They’re generally considered the fastest characters in all of comics, no matter the publisher. Over time, there have been different heroes known as Kid Flash and other related characters, all considered part of the Flash legacy. However, even within this family, some speedsters are significantly faster than others.

As a huge fan of the Flash, I’ve always wondered which version is actually the fastest. So, I put together a ranking of all the different Flash speedsters, starting with the original and going through everyone who’s taken up the mantle. Here’s how they stack up!

10) Jay Garrick

Jay Garrick holds a special place in comic book history as the original Flash, appearing during the Golden Age. When DC Comics created Earth-Two, Jay and his team, the Justice Society, moved there. Though he wasn’t the quickest Flash – the concept of the Speed Force and fully developed speedster powers hadn’t been established yet – he remains highly respected by all who are part of the Flash legacy.

9) Wallace West

Wally West was a long-time fan favorite as the Flash in DC Comics. But after a big company reboot called the New 52, he was removed and replaced with Wallace West, a character first seen on the TV show The Flash. Now, both Wallys are back in the DC universe. Wallace West is currently known as Kid Flash. Like all members of the Flash family, he’s incredibly fast, but still developing his full potential. He’s young and still training, meaning he has plenty of time to get even faster.

8) Bart Allen

Bart Allen has gone by several names in the DC Universe. He started as Kid Flash, briefly became Flash after Wally West went missing, and is now known as Impulse. While he once tried to fill Wally and Barry Allen’s shoes as Flash, he wasn’t quite at their level and was even killed by the Rogues. He later returned as Kid Flash during the New 52 reboot, and most recently reappeared after Infinite Frontier. Although he’s faster than Wally West, Bart hasn’t quite reached the same heroic heights as previous Flashes.

7) Irey West

Irey West is the daughter of Wally West and Linda Park, and a member of the Flash family. She and her twin brother, Jai, were lost in the Dark Multiverse for years before returning. Initially known as Impulse (alongside her cousin Bart Allen), she now goes by Thunderheart. Though not currently a Flash, a glimpse into a possible future showed Irey becoming the next Kid Flash. As Wally West’s daughter, she’s incredibly fast – even faster than Bart and Wallace – but still not as fast as most of the adult Flashes.

6) Johnny Quick

Johnny Chambers, also known as Johnny Quick, was a superhero from the Golden Age. He fought alongside the All-Star Squadron and later married Liberty Belle, becoming her teammate in the Justice Society. His superpower was super speed, which he accessed using a special mathematical formula to tap into the Speed Force. While not as fast as other heroes in the Flash Family, he was still remarkably quick for his time.

5) Max Mercury

Max Mercurt was a legendary hero during the Golden Age of superheroes, earning nicknames like “Guru of Speed” and “The Whirlwind of the West.” He possessed a connection to the Speed Force, allowing him to travel through time on several occasions. Later in life, he became a mentor to Bart Allen. Though not as well-known as other members of the Flash Family, Max was incredibly fast and a more skilled speedster than Jay Garrick during his time.

4) Jesse Quick

Jesse Quick is Jesse Chambers, the daughter of two superheroes: Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle. Inheriting speed from both parents – her mother, Liberty Belle, also possessed super speed along with strength and stamina – Jesse surpassed even her father’s abilities. She assisted Wally West in fighting Savitar and eventually became one of the fastest heroes around, even temporarily taking on the role of the Flash.

3) John Fox

John Fox is a speedster from the 27th century, essentially a Flash from the future. He developed his super-speed abilities after being exposed to tachyon radiation. He traveled back to the present to protect his timeline when Wally West accidentally went to the future, making sure no changes occurred that would erase John’s existence. Though different from other Flashes, John is still a powerful speedster, eventually becoming the Flash of the 853rd Century.

2) Barry Allen

Barry Allen is the most well-known Flash, and one of the fastest heroes in the DC Universe. He originally became the Flash during the Silver Age of comics and famously sacrificed himself to save everyone during the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ event. Though he eventually returned after being gone for over ten years, he isn’t actually the fastest hero to ever take on the mantle of the Flash.

1) Wally West

After Barry Allen’s death in the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ event, Wally West became the new Flash. During his time as the main Flash in DC Comics, Wally actually surpassed Barry, becoming the fastest Flash ever. Though DC Comics briefly erased Wally’s entire history after the ‘Identity Crisis’ storyline—a move many fans consider a mistake—he has since returned. Wally is unique among Flashes for being the first to fully understand and control the Speed Force, granting him incredible speed beyond any other speedster.

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2025-11-14 23:15