Best Flash Comics (Updated: September 2025)

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Despite being a long-standing and popular character with over a thousand comic book appearances, The Flash hasn’t always had great adaptations on screen. Because there are so many Flash comics to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. This list highlights some of the most beloved classic stories and is a great place to begin exploring the hero’s adventures.

Best Flash comics as of 2025

The Flash first appeared in comics during the Golden Age and has been a core DC character ever since, with only a short break in the 1950s. Every hero who has become the Flash shares one key ability: super speed. While simple, this power has been central to the character’s success and enduring popularity.

The Brave and the Bold

This story is a team-up between Green Lantern and The Flash, and it’s really well done. Taking place right before the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ event, the six-part series shows Hal Jordan and Barry Allen traveling across the DC Universe together. Originally published between 1999 and 2000, it’s a fun, classic hero pairing that fans love.

Mark Waid’s writing and Barry Kitson’s artwork bring The Brave and the Bold to life, charting the duo’s exciting journey from their initial encounter through thrilling adventures, wacky time travel, and memorable team-ups. It’s a consistently enjoyable and lighthearted read that even challenges their bond with time-bending twists.

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Flashpoint

Remember those childhood dreams where things just feel… wrong? Not a bad dream, but subtly unsettling – like someone familiar has a completely different face? That’s the feeling Geoff Johns captures in Flashpoint. This story explores an alternate reality where Barry Allen’s mother, who is normally deceased, is alive. However, Superman has vanished, Bruce Wayne died as a child, and his father, Thomas Wayne, became a harsher, more violent Batman.

The story gradually reveals the origins of this altered reality and what Barry must do to restore things. As with any time travel story, changing the past has widespread consequences. What truly makes this comic exceptional is how accessible it is to new readers – you don’t need prior knowledge of the Flash’s history. A key part of the enjoyment comes from piecing together how things *should* be, compared to how they currently are, as everyone begins with the same understanding.

Andy Kubert’s artwork is truly impressive. It’s raw and feels like a movie, often with a blurry, dreamlike quality that reflects the chaotic world Barry finds himself in. The art shifts between incredibly detailed and eerily surreal, and it’s good enough to be highlighted on its own. If you’re interested in seeing an animated adaptation of this story, check out Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.

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Blitz

The ‘Blitz’ storyline, featured in issues 192-200 of The Flash Vol. 2, marks the end of Geoff Johns’ initial run writing the character. Illustrated by Scott Kolins, this arc is considered a key story for Wally West as the Flash, focusing on a villain who attacks by targeting those closest to him.

The main antagonist is Hunter Zolomon, a friend and FBI colleague of Wally West who transforms into Zoom. Driven by personal tragedy, Hunter feels Wally hasn’t truly known loss and takes it upon himself to change that. What sets Zoom apart from other speedster villains is his ability to manipulate time, adding a complex and unsettling new dimension to his powers. He’s a particularly memorable and disturbing foe.

The ‘Blitz’ storyline wasn’t just a high point for the character Wally West; it also featured a truly memorable villain. The story’s exploration of a friendship turning into rivalry is deeply relatable, and it can be comforting to see that struggle reflected in fiction.

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Human Race

Everything starts when powerful cosmic beings decide to hold a competition – though ‘competition’ isn’t quite right, as no one really agrees to it. The stakes? The survival of Earth. If you’re a human, you’d probably like your chances with the Flash representing you. However, other super-speedsters exist, and the biggest challenge of all is time itself. While defeating time is impossible, someone like Wally West might just be able to escape it.

The idea of this story first appeared in the 1960s, but writers Grant Morrison and Mark Millar really increased the drama and emotional impact in their 1998 take. Morrison’s version isn’t always popular with fans, and sometimes appears on lists of the worst Flash comics. So why would we include a divisive comic on a list of the *best* Flash stories? Because challenging and thought-provoking material can actually be a good thing – give it a try!

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The Black Flash

The Black Flash, created by writers Morrison and Millar, initially appeared in a quick cameo in *The Flash* Vol. 2 #138 before being fully introduced in a three-issue story arc – issues #139 through #141.

Wally West is about to propose to Linda Park when he starts seeing a strange blur in his photos. Max Mercury and the Speed Force recognize it immediately: it’s the Black Flash, a sign that a speedster is going to die. At first, Wally fears the Black Flash is targeting Linda, but he soon realizes he’s the one in danger.

This story feels like a spooky, otherworldly thriller, building suspense as a powerful, cosmic force approaches. It really emphasizes how insignificant we are compared to the vastness of everything, following Wally as he travels to the furthest reaches of existence, beyond even death and time. This journey actually causes the entire DC Universe to momentarily fall apart – it’s a truly mind-bending experience.

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How we chose the best Flash comics

When choosing our favorite comics, we consider what fans think and how well the characters are written and fit into the overall story. Of course, great artwork is also important! We usually pick comics that are perfect for introducing newcomers to the series.

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2025-09-26 22:08