DC Just Fixed the Worst Thing About the Flash (And It’s About Time)

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For the first time in years, DC Comics has provided a comprehensive account of its canonical history to readers through “The New History of the DC Universe”. Unlike previous attempts such as the “History of the DC Universe” post-“Crisis on Infinite Earths” and “Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time”, this guide offers clarity amidst the complexities of DC’s ever-evolving narrative, riddled with retcons and reboots. This undertaking requires a team of writers and editors to create a definitive timeline of the DC Multiverse’s history, which can be challenging given DC Comics’ rich yet fluid history. “The New History of the DC Universe” serves as an essential guide for understanding the sequence of events in DC metahuman history and distinguishing between canonical retcons and those that are not.

One significant alteration in DC Comics lore, often debated among fans, revolves around the character Barry Allen, who serves as the narrator in “The New History of the DC Universe“. This retcon took place following Allen’s resurrection in “Final Crisis” #2 and was explained in detail through “The Flash: Rebirth“, a work by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver. The aim of this book was to reinstate Barry Allen as the main Flash after more than two decades, during which his former protege, Wally West, held the role. This retcon redefined the essence of the Speed Force, the energy source powering DC’s speedsters, and is one of the most contentious alterations to The Flash. It was suggested that Barry Allen was instrumental in creating the Speed Force. Now, DC Comics is addressing this controversial change.

Geoff Johns Was Trying to Make Barry the Best Flash Again

In the second volume of The Flash comic, writer Mark Waid introduced the concept of the Speed Force in issue #91. This entity served to interconnect all speedsters within the DC Universe, offering an explanation for their ability to defy physical laws. Barry Allen, who was the fastest Flash, could reach light speed but not surpass it; his demise resulted from moving too fast, causing an explosive energy that destroyed the Anti-Monitor’s anti-matter cannon. The Speed Force, initially alluded to in “The Return of Barry Allen” by Max Mercury, allowed Wally West to attain superhuman speed abilities beyond what Barry could ever dream of. With aid from other speedsters like Mercury, Jay Garrick, and Johnny Quick, Wally mastered the Speed Force, acquiring powers such as pulling beings out of the Speed Force, freezing them in time forever (as he did with Inertia, who killed his former sidekick Bart Allen), and absorbing the speed of others to increase his own velocity. West became one of the most formidable heroes in the DC Universe.

Geoff Johns, who wrote Wally for many years and was instrumental in reviving Silver Age characters like Hal Jordan, found it problematic that Wally held greater power and significance than Barry. In The Flash: Rebirth, Johns posited that when Allen was struck by lightning and covered in chemicals, the Speed Force was created. However, since the Speed Force had already been established as a vital component of the DC Universe that existed from the dawn of time, this alteration didn’t make sense. To reconcile this inconsistency, Johns devised a solution: once the Speed Force came into existence, it retroactively appeared throughout history and the multiverse.

Essentially, Barry Allen is the originator of the Speed Force, acting as both its creator and power source. It felt a bit simplistic to alter this, but Wally West eventually became the standout Flash in the DC Universe due to the Speed Force. The team behind DC at the time, including Johns and DiDio, weren’t fond of Wally surpassing Barry, so they rewrote the narrative. However, in the new retelling of DC history by Mark Waid, who initially conceived the Speed Force, this change was deemed unnecessary. In issue 2 of The New History of the DC Universe, Waid corrected this, allowing Barry to access the Speed Force using lightning and chemicals instead of creating it.

The New History of the DC Universe Fixes a Pointless Retcon

The comic book series, “The Flash: Rebirth,” isn’t as well-loved by fans as other Rebirth books written by Johns, and there are several reasons for this. Francis Manapul’s artwork in this series is not on par with his work on “Green Lantern: Rebirth” (a comic that, in retrospect, is not highly regarded either). Additionally, the story made some questionable choices regarding Flash lore, and the alteration of the Speed Force was particularly criticized. Barry Allen is a significant character, his sacrifice in “Crisis on Infinite Earths” being one of the most pivotal moments in DC Comics history and him having assumed the role of a sort of protector for the superhero community. Essentially, making him the core of the Speed Force could be seen as implying that the version of the Flash fans admire less is superior.

Fixing this retcon in the DC Multiverse eliminates one of its more perplexing elements without diminishing the esteem of Barry Allen in any way. Mark Waid, who is perfectly suited for the task, has crafted a solution that not only makes sense but also has left many DC fans delighted.

The New History of the DC Universe #2 is on sale now.

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2025-07-26 20:10